When you set out on your journey to do big things on Instagram, you need to have a clear idea of what that means. In other words, you should set both short and long term goals so that you know the direction to head and whether or not you are on the right path.
Since no two people take the exact same approach to Instagram, no two people will have the same goals. But even though you need to blaze your own path, it doesn’t mean you can’t learn from others. For example, there are people and brands out there that buy automatic Instagram likes as a means of reaching their goal in a hurry. This may or may not be right for you, but it’s something you should consider at the very least.
As you begin to create new Instagram marketing goals, keep an open mind while also focusing on the fact that you have to be realistic. If you get ahead of yourself, setting goals that you are unable to reach, it will end up in disappointment. It’s okay to set your sights high, but being unrealistic is a recipe for failure.
With that entire in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common Instagram goals:
1. Specific Number of Followers
Everyone wants a bigger Instagram following. The more people who follow your account, the better chance you have of making a name for yourself. However, boosting your number of followers is easier said than done. It can take some time, especially if you are working your way up from the ground floor.
Even if you’re taking your time and things are moving slowly, don’t forget to set goals for the number of Instagram followers you want to gain. Small numbers are okay. In fact, when you are just getting started, it’s better to dabble in smaller numbers as it allows you to build some confidence.
As your account picks up steam and you better understand what does and doesn’t work, you can once again adjust your goals with the idea of pushing yourself to the limit.
2. Specific Number of Likes
It is one thing to boost your followers, but another thing entirely to do the same with your likes on each post. While some posts are sure to be more popular than others, you always want to focus on this number. Engagement is a big deal on Instagram, so you can’t afford to ignore this data.
Set goals related to a specific number of likes per post. And once again, be realistic in the approach that you take. You don’t want to throw out such a high number that you never reach it. Start small, make progress, and then adjust as you go along. It’s the best way to pick up steam and gain confidence while doing so.
3. Posting a Specific Number of Photos Every Day
This has nothing to do with anything that is going on around you, and everything to do with the actual strategy that you have in place. According to ViralRace, look at what you have done in the past, determine if it has worked for you, and then decide what makes the most sense in the future.
For example, you could set the goal of publishing once per day. Or maybe you find that two or three times per day is your sweet spot. As long as you have a goal in mind, you can work to meet it. Just keep in mind that your quality should never suffer. You don’t want to post just to post.
4. Engaging With Your Audience
Make sure you are spending time engaging with your audience, as opposed to simply posting new content and hoping for the best. If you want to get something on Instagram, you have to give it first. And this means things such as commenting on other posts and clicking the like button every now and again.
Yes, it takes time to engage with your audience, but it’s one of the biggest keys to success on the Instagram platform. The more time you put into this, the more you’ll get out of it.
Once again, you can set goals to help track yourself, such as those related to the number of comments you leave on a specific day.
5. Traffic to Your Website
Some people care about converting Instagram activity to traffic to their website. Others find that this doesn’t do anything for them. However, you won’t know if it’s a good idea until you give it a try.
If you want to do this, make sure you include a link to your site in your bio. Without this, you are making life much more difficult for your audience.
As you track traffic to your website, also pay close attention to what you are getting in return. Are these people reaching out to connect with you? Are they bouncing off the site within a few seconds? Are they taking the desired action, such as placing an order?
Traffic to your website is always a good thing, even if you don’t want it. If you play your cards right on Instagram, it can turn into one of the biggest sources of website traffic. And from there, you can focus on how to convert it.
Final Thoughts
Maybe you set short and long term goals associated with all of the above. Or maybe you take a step back and realize that you can only chase a couple of these goals at the same time.
The goals that you set should align with what you want to accomplish on Instagram, as well as the amount of time and money you can put into growing your account.
Do you have Instagram goals? Have you met them in the past, or do you continually come up short? What steps do you take when setting new goals? Share your thoughts and advice with the rest of us in the comment section below.
