People find you on Instagram because of your current content, but they follow you because they want to see your future content. Sticking to your niche keeps your current followers connected while also encouraging new growth. Micro influencers (usually defined as between 10k and 100k followers) are attractive to advertisers because of their niche audiences. [1] X Research source Every time you share something new on Instagram, think about your target audience every step of the way. Who are they? What do they need? And how will your post fill that need and mesh with your niche?

To calculate a post’s engagement rate, find the total of engagements (likes, comments, shares, and saves), and then divide that number by your follower count. Once you have 10k followers on your account and a healthy engagement rate, advertisers will consider you an expert in your niche, making your account very attractive to advertisers and far more lucrative for your brand.

Content that entertains. Short videos and other posts that are relatable, funny, or otherwise engaging. Check out trending Instagram Reels for inspiration. Educational content. Life hacks, tips, step-by-step tutorials, and interesting history lessons. Relatable stories: Photos, videos, and text that takes viewers through funny, sentimental, emotional, life-changing, or inspirational experiences. Aesthetically pleasing photos and graphics: Posts with an attractive aesthetic, photos with great lighting, and well-crafted graphics are all worthy of sharing.

Use between 5 and 10 well-known hashtags for your niche per post. Keep tabs on popular hashtags that fit your content. Get into the habit of checking the posts of similar creators to see which hashtags they are using.

When Instagram introduces new features to the platform, give those features a try! Instagram will likely promote your use of their new features to a wider audience.

Following other creators also gives you a chance to see what’s working well for others, as well as network for future collaborations. Don’t spam your account on other peoples’ posts—engage in natural conversations for organic results.

Some great places to find niche engagement pods are Reddit’s /r/IGPods and Facebook Groups. The larger engagement pods are typically found on Telegram, but try to avoid those—the engagement won’t look natural, and Instagram may think you’re trying to manipulate their algorithm.