Are you losing followers on Instagram?

#1 Check If You Have Been Shadow Banned

There could be several reasons why your account might be rapidly losing followers on Instagram with seemingly no explanation. One of the key culprits to this issue is ‘Shadow banning’. In this process, Instagram will ‘shadow’ or hide your posts within hashtags that you use regularly. 

If your Instagram strategy involves using multiple hashtags on each post then the chances are that a large majority of your daily followers have found you through a hashtag search. When your content becomes shadow banned you no longer show up under the hashtags that you are using, thus eliminating your prospective audience and ultimately decreasing your follower frequency. 

Have a search through a hashtag that you have recently used. Try and wade through the explore page and find your posts. If you have no luck finding anything then the likelihood is that you’ve been shadow banned. There are several reasons why you may have been shadow banned:

If You Had Been Using A Bot

If you had been previously using a bot, then you are a prime target for Instagram’s shadow ban policy. Bot’s function through a follow/unfollow process in order to gain the attention of fellow accounts with the hope of securing a follow in return.

You Have Been Using Repetitive Hashtags 

If you have been spamming hashtags and using the same ones time and time again, then you are likely to raise a red flag to Instagram.

Your Content Has Been Reported

Have you posted anything that might not abide by the Instagram guidelines? If so, there might be grounds for your content to have been reported, which would result in a shadowban of your post and ultimately run the risk of your losing followers on Instagram.

Rectify Your Shadowban

Receiving a shadowban is not the end of the world, although it will take some time to rectify. If you lay low from your account for at least a week, delete any inappropriate posts, and commit to not hashtag spamming in the future, then your account should be back in business in no time!

#2 Readdress Your Instagram Strategy

If you have been losing followers on Instagram, it might be time to calibrate your Instagram strategy. The chances are that your follower base has not been engaging with the kind of content that you have been providing, and it might be time to try a new strategy and a change of direction.

#3 Address Your Creativity

Maybe it's time for a creative upheaval? Evaluate the following questions:

• Are all of the photographs you are posting clear, crisp, and optimized for Instagram?
• Are you posting text-based images as well as photographic content?
• Do you have a consistent aesthetic that clearly communicates your brand?

Maybe it is time to bring a professional designer on board and to optimize your brand direction by taking things in a new direction. Maybe it is time to book a professional photography session and book new headshots or product photographs for some variety on your feed!

#4 Clarify Your Brand

If you are losing followers on Instagram, it might be because you are not clearly communicating who you are. People want to follow accounts that they trust and support. Are you clearly communicating your products, your services, your value propositions, and your personality to your potential audience? Make sure that they know what they are buying into. There are several ways to do this:

• Make sure that your bio is clear and specific, giving people an immediate overview when they follow you! 
• Make sure that your copy language is consistent and you are developing a strong sense of your brand tone with every caption that you post! 
• Try to follow accounts that are on-brand for you - you want to stay in association with accounts that you admire by engaging with them and aligning your brand to theirs.

#5 Utilize All Of Instagram’s Features

One way to avoid losing followers on Instagram is to utilize all of Instagram’s latest features to ensure that you stay ahead of the curb and perform well within Instagram’s algorithm. Make sure that you update your app regularly so that you don’t miss out on new features that Instagram is unveiling. 

Create a compelling and try to use the following features when telling your brand story:

• Instagram Lives - Better yet, schedule an Instagram live interview with an individual or a company who supports your brand. That way, you are optimizing their follower reach as well as your own.
• Instagram Carousels - Share more information on a single post through Instagram Carousels. These are a great way to present multiple photographs or graphics and tell a story with a single post.
• Instagram Guides - Do you have educational content? Instagram Guides is one of Instagram’s latest features and it allows you to share more text copy with your audience. Use this space to educate your following about your brand identity and encourage them to check out your services. 
• Instagram TV - Instagram is the new hub for long-form video content. If you aren’t utilizing this content then you are missing out! 
• Instagram Filters - Want to create a bespoke filter to advertise your brand? Creating an Instagram filter is an ingenious way to build brand awareness and add a playful touch to your marketing campaign! 
• Instagram Shopping - If you have a product or service, why not sell it directly from your Instagram page. This is a great way to put your products directly in front of your audience and make immediate sales.

Bonus Tip: Try A Paid Promotional Post

One way to counter losing followers on Instagram is by creating a paid promotional post, which guarantees to put your content in front of a new audience! By tailoring a bespoke target demographic audience, you can create sponsored posts that directly target accounts that should be following you! This is the best way to expand your reach and maximize your growth potential!

Don’t Be Disappointed if You're Losing Followers on Instagram

If you do find yourself losing followers on Instagram, my biggest advice to you would be to not get disheartened. With the ever-evolving algorithm changes, there are so many reasons that you might experience a follower lull - it happens to the best of us! Instead of being discouraged, focus your energy on researching and exploring whether other accounts are experiencing a similar issue. The chances are, it isn't you - it’s them!

Part of the joy of a platform like Instagram is committing to the changes, the research, and the calibration involved in creating a marketing strategy that is adaptable to weather through these kinds of changes! 

Searching for all things Instagram when it comes to your business? Check out our blogs about How to Make Money on Instagram and 6 Things That Are Killing Your Instagram Posts.

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