9 Ways to Get Traffic to Your Blog Using Instagram

It’s no secret that social media is a great way to attract prospects to your blog. However, when it comes to specific platforms, we often consider Facebook as the most popular source of social media traffic.

Something to be aware of is that the number of Instagram users is growing very rapidly. The current Instagram penetration rate among internet users in the United States is 32 percent with the number of Instagram users in the United States projected to surpass 95 million users in 2020

What this means for you, as someone who just started a blog, is a tremendous opportunity for growth. However, due to the fact that Instagram, as a great traffic source, is rarely discussed, makes it hard for many bloggers to realize and maximize its full potential.

Here are 9 tips to create a flood of blog traffic using Instagram

1. Get More Followers

It’s impossible to drive people to your blog without having a huge Instagram audience in the first place.

Since you’re probably running a business blog, you can make it easy for everyone to follow you by making your profile public. That way, you’ll be able to attract audiences who might immediately be interested in your content.

Another way to increase the number of your followers is to promote your Instagram account to your existing followers on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Invite them to follow your Instagram page and include a link to your profiles or posts.

The beauty of Instagram is that it automatically suggests your profile to your Facebook friends so, getting followers from Facebook should be easy.

2. Create a Great Bio

There are profiles on Instagram that just seem to capture everyone’s attention and get instant followers. No, you don’t need to post explicit images to captivate people! Without scrolling through your feed, you can get more audiences by creating a killer bio.

One way to stand out is to add a real photo of yourself. It makes you more human and relatable. Make sure that your photo is properly sized, has a high resolution, and reflects your niche. If you have a brand logo, use that to boost brand recall.

Add some personality by including a compelling description of yourself. Don’t forget your “emojis”. They help break up your text, spark emotion, and make your bio more interesting.

In the screenshot above, you’ll see that one of the people I follow on Instagram includes exact, brief descriptions of what she does and breaks them up with emojis.

3. Add a Link in Your Bio

By now, you already know that you are only allowed to include one clickable link in your bio. That’s if you don’t leverage Instagram advertising. Since people can access your blog from a single place, it’s important that you make the most out of promoting your link.

Don’t stick to one link. If you’re not linking to your blog homepage, you can link to each newly published blog post or to a sales page on your blog where you promote your latest e-book, or course.

Entice people to click through your link by writing a compelling call-to-action. Add an emoji finger that points to your link to draw attention.

For example, if you want your followers to read your blog post on fitness, you can write in your bio: “Are you struggling to fit exercise into your day? Read my tips in my latest blog post.”

Related: 10 Instagram Automation Tools Every E-Marketer Should Use

4. Post Short Video Clips Related to Your Brand

Instagram’s 100% visual nature makes it naturally appealing to humans. This explains why the platform has drastically grown its user base in less than two years.

Since videos garner more interaction than static images, use them to inspire people and spark action by telling stories and spreading your marketing messages. You have 60 seconds to engage your audiences.

You have tons of creative options to use Instagram videos depending on your niche. Share a fun fact or tip/s of the day. Showcase your portfolio if you’re into art. Do a quick tutorial. Invite people to join your contest.

To make your video more useful, add a description in the description field. Ask your followers to click through your link in your bio that’s related to your video.

5. Apply Branding Techniques on Your Images

Take the opportunity to post beautiful photos that consistently relate to your brand. It’s important to plan the context of the photos that you’re going to share. Make sure that the kind of photos you post meet your blogging and brand goals.

Whether it’s developing a personal connection with your audience through sharing behind-the-scene photos or promoting your products, remember to use branding techniques.

Stick to a color palette. Use the same fonts if you post quote images. Be consistent with the mood of your design. Brand all your images with your blog logo.

These visual branding tips will unify your content, increase your brand value, and attract qualified prospects to your blog.

6. Add a Call-to-Action to Your Posts

Whether you post a short video or image quote, you can attract blog traffic by reminding people to visit the link in your profile. This is a great call-to-action.

But, before inviting people through your CTA, make sure that your visual content is relevant, and that you have thoroughly explained the benefits of clicking on your link.

Related: How to Incorporate Email Marketing and Instagram for Your Brand

7. Use Hashtags

Hashtags are popular on social media. If you’re wondering what a hashtag’s main purpose is, it’s to boost the reach of your post so that more people who aren’t connected to you can discover you. People click through hashtags to find content that matches their interests.

When used strategically, you’ll be able to attract massive engagement and tons of targeted traffic to your blog. Remember that every post you create, whether photo, video, or GIF, should be accompanied by a message and several hashtags.

Keep your hashtags short, so they can be easily remembered. Limit each to 1 to 3 words per hashtag. Lastly, it’s also a good idea to create a brand hashtag that is unique to your company.

8. Respond to Comments

People on Instagram want to be heard, and that includes your potential audiences. Whether your readers are showing appreciation for your posts or asking for help by commenting, you should win their affection by responding to their comments.

The problem is that most businesses aren’t responding to their Instagram comments. Instagram is a social network so treat it as such. Thoughtful and sincere responses enhance your engagement and improve your image.

Don’t make the mistake of neglecting those who care enough to interact with you on Instagram. By making sure that you respond, you are more likely to meet your goal of generating blog traffic.

If you think that you don’t have enough time to answer these comments then hire someone to manage your social media for you. If not, commit to a regular schedule. Dedicating 30 minutes a day won’t hurt. After all, your efforts will be worthwhile.

9. Invest in Ads

Advertising on Instagram is a surefire way to get people to visit your blog without having to revisit your page profile. The platform allows you to include a call-to-action (“Learn More”) which, when clicked, leads visitors to your desired URL.

And since Instagram ads are purely visual like their regular posts, they aren’t intrusive. When running an ad, you can choose from four formats: Photo, video, carousel (multiple photos), and stories.

Since Facebook has acquired Instagram, you’ll be able to run the same ad on both platforms. This means more blog traffic for you. Another benefit of Instagram is that it uses the same targeting system as Facebook.

You can target potential blog visitors based on their geographical location, behaviors, personal interests, and recent interaction with you.

Related: 8 Top Tips for Getting 250K+ Followers on Instagram

Instagram is fast growing. If you’re still not going to use Instagram now to promote your brand, you’re going to miss out on a lot of targeted blog traffic. Take action today and reap the benefits of more traffic sooner.