7 Tips For Photographers to Increase Their Social Media Following

o, you're scrolling on Instagram and come across other photographers with huge followings. Maybe they've even earned that coveted blue "verified" checkmark. You've probably wondered how you can achieve the same results on your social media accounts. While having a large social media following doesn't guarantee a successful business, it allows you to get your photography business in front of more potential customers. Keep reading to learn some practical ways you can increase your social media following starting today.  There's no formula to gaining more followers on social media, but the tips below can help increase your chances of growing your following long term.

1. Determine Your Goals

Having a clear idea of what you want to accomplish through social media will not only help as you plan your content strategy, but it will also help you say no to tasks that don't line up.   Take time to think about ways social media can potentially help your photography business and the best ways to use it to grow a following.

2. Post High-Quality Images

This might be obvious for photographers, but use high-quality images when posting on social media. There are times when it's ok to not "look perfect" or show life behind the lens, but potential clients want to see the type of work you're capable of doing if they hired you.  

3. Be Consistent

Like most things in life, you make more progress on social media when you are consistent. You can be consistent with how often you post and with the type of content you post. An online search will reveal plenty of advice on how often to post on each social media platform, but the reality is there's no magic formula to the ideal number of posts per day or week. The more often you post, the more chances you have for someone to see your work, but you can also post too often. Find a schedule that works for you and use your posts to highlight your style and what clients can expect if they hire you.  

4. Link Your Instagram and Facebook Accounts

One simple trick to increase your presence on social media is to link your Instagram and Facebook accounts. Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 and since that time they have slowly found ways to integrate the two platforms.   You can create and link accounts on both platforms. Then, when you post anything to Instagram, it automatically appears on Facebook. Integrating the two accounts is a huge time saver, allowing you to create content once for two audiences.  

5. Use Relevant Hashtags and Other Tools

Take advantage of social media tools and features to drive more traffic to your account and ultimately your business. Use relevant and trending hashtags. Experiment to see what hashtags work best to draw more attention to your posts. Use popular hashtags, but don't be afraid to niche down with more targeted hashtags aimed at a more specific audience.  

6. Only Use Platforms that Make Sense

Yes, you could set up social media accounts for your photography business on every social media platform. You may even be able to build an impressive following on each with enough time and attention. But the best social media platforms are the ones you enjoy using the most and often require less of your attention.   If you don't like to make videos, you shouldn't be on TikTok. Depending on your business, your target audience may not even be on certain platforms. Know your target audience and only use social media platforms that give you the most bang for your buck. Using platforms you don't like will make all the work seem more like a chore.  

7. Adapt Your Content For Different Platforms

Along the same lines, if you're going to be on multiple social media platforms, you need to make sure your content fits that audience. The people following you on Facebook may not be the same people that follow you on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or TikTok. Each platform follows a different format and what works in one spot may not work elsewhere. Understand each platform's audience and adapt your content accordingly to fit.  

Focus on Your Audience, Not Numbers

In the end, having an engaged audience is better than having a big following. Having thousands or hundreds of thousands of followers looks great and can open the doors to some opportunities. You can accomplish the same or better with only a few hundred followers who are loyal and frequently like, comment, and share your content. These types of followers are more likely to become clients and recommend your photography service to their friends.   Interact with others on social media, including your current followers, provide relevant, useful content and the right followers will find you.  

Kevin Payne is a personal finance and travel writer. His work has appeared on websites like Forbes Advisor, Investopedia, Credit Karma, and FinanceBuzz. He is the family travel and budget expert behind FamilyMoneyAdventure.com. Kevin lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife and four kids.