Instagram is still one of the best places for your business either to build trust, boost sales, or just grow your following. And the best part? Learning how to grow your business on Instagram takes a few simple steps you can start today.

In this article, we’ll cover account setup, content planning, growth strategies, along with listing smart tools that save you time. Let’s jump in.

Covering the basics: setting up your Instagram business account

Before you start posting, make sure your account is ready to help your business grow. It only takes a few minutes.

1. Open Instagram and go to Settings & privacy.

2. Tap Account type and tools. Then, choose Switch to professional account.

3. Select Business.

4. Pick your category, then add your business details.

Having the Instagram business account setup helps a great deal with brand promotion. Cause now you can optimize the profile for your audience. You can write a bio, add website link, and also turn on quick replies.

You can also see your account’s insights (like page visits, interactions, and even monthly recap) and your audience demography.

Now, with your account set up, let’s get to the steps on how to grow your business on Instagram:

1. Create content your audience loves

Cracking the right content for your audience (or at least to get traction) can be hard. People scroll fast, so aside from using the right hook, you also need to focus on value. Create content like behind-the-scenes, product demos, and customer stories.

You can also sort your post ideas based on goals, like awareness or engagement. It’s a classic strategy that still works. And don’t forget Reels, they have the highest reach on Instagram (IG) right now.

Here’s how to create the right content:

• Find our what your audience wants. If you have existing posts, look at the top-performing ones.

• Use Reels to reach new viewers. Short and simple content might just be what your business needs to grow.

• Focus on one message per post.

Always add a call-to-action as the cherry on top. Then, you can view the content insights and see which ones fit your audience.

2. Work with the algorithm to boost reach

The IG algorithm decides which posts people see. The more your content checks the algorithm boxes, the more people you’ll reach.

Right now, it focuses a lot on user interactions, like when someone comments, reacts to your Stories, sends your post to a friend, or saves it for later.

How to use the algorithm for reach:

• Ask simple questions in the content and in your captions.

• Share tips or relatable posts users will want to DM to friends.

• Add stickers and polls in Stories.

• Reply quickly to comments to keep the conversation going.

Some accounts trick viewers into leaving comments by leaving intentional mistakes. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s called “fishing for comments.” While it’s not exactly a by-the-book strategy, it works.

But do note that the algorithm is always changing. So stay flexible with your content (or the whole Instagram account) and keep testing what works best for your audience.

3. Use reels to increase discoverability

Reels are IG’s favorite content format. They help your brand show up on the Explore page, and it’s marketers’ favorite way to reach people and increase discoverability. You can also get more profile visits, followers, and even potential customers.

Here are a few tips for your Reels:

• Keep your message clear in the first two to three seconds.

• Add captions so people can watch without sound. You’ll be surprised, but over 85% of users watch Reels on mute.

• Regardless of the previous tip, you can still use trending audio (and we recommend it) when it fits your brand.

• Teach something useful or show a product benefit.

We also want to say that, as one of the content types that audience loves, you can get creative with Reels. Don’t be afraid to try different styles and formats.

4. Maintain a consistent posting schedule

Yes, the best days to post on IG is still a thing, and still works too. But the role has shifted because of the algorithm. Like previously said, the algorithm favors relevance and engagement now, so what does that mean for you?

You might need to adjust your posting schedule and fit it with your audience’s most active time. Some argue it’s midday or early afternoon on weekdays, especially from Tuesdays to Thursdays. But, some also say that late morning or evenings can be as effective.

Knowing what works for you is to simply just post your content. But stick with a time and do it consistently. If you’re sticking with Wednesday afternoons, then try this out until you see results and your account starts growing.

5. Optimize your hashtags

Hashtags can also be your best bet to grow your instagram. When you use the right ones, the hashtags can increase your reach and connect your posts to relevant conversations.

Start by exploring IG search to find related and trending tag, and check what successful influencers and competitors in your niche are using. Then, take these tips into account:

• Mix broad, niche-specific, and branded hashtags in each post/

• Avoid overloading posts with too many hashtags. Best to stick to 8–10 that matter most.

• Track which hashtags drive engagement, then refine accordingly.

• Rotate your hashtag sets regularly.

Like the posting schedule, stay flexible with your hashtags and keep testing.

6. Partner with content creators or brands

Simply put, collaborating with creators or small brands helps you reach new audiences. It’s a great way to show your products in fresh, authentic ways.

Plus, the audience of those said creators or brands you’re collaborating with can also be yours too. Meaning, people who might never have found your business can now see, engage with, and follow your brand.

Here’s how to do it:

• Find creators or small brands in your niche that aren’t direct competitors.

• Reach out with a clear, mutually beneficial proposal.

• Create content that feels natural for both you and the creator or brand.

• Pay attention to the creator’s rate card (if it applies).

• Track performance and repeat with partners who work well.

Start small, test a few collaborations, and focus on partners who align with your brand. In the long run, these relationships can do more than just grow your business on IG.

7. Run targeted ads to reach your audience

IG ads can help small businesses reach people who don’t yet follow you. With the right approach, ads can increase brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, or boost sales on your products.

Ads give you a way to expand your reach beyond organic posts. You can target specific audiences based on interests, location, or behaviors, making your marketing more efficient and measurable. Here’s how you can start:

• Start with a small budget to test different ad types.

• Promote posts that are already performing well organically.

• Use Instagram’s targeting options to reach your ideal audience.

• Try different formats: single image, carousel, or Reels ads.

• Monitor your campaigns and adjust based on what gets the best results.

We can’t stress enough to test, track, and tweak. Ads work best when you focus on what your audience responds to, not just how much you spend.

AI Tools to Help Grow Your Instagram Page

Using AI 

Now, here are some of the best AI tools that can help grow your IG:

• Holo – Generated content, captions, and visuals quickly. Perfect for saving time while keeping your posts unique and on-brand.

• Canva AI – Design posts, Stories, and Reels covers with AI-assisted templates and layouts. Makes creating eye-catching visuals simple.

• Lumen5 – Turn blog posts or written content into engaging short videos and Reels, boosting reach and engagement.

• Flick – Find the best hashtags for your posts with AI insights to expand reach and attract the right audience.

• Buffer – Schedule posts, monitor analytics, and stay consistent without the stress of manual posting.

Use these tools alongside your Instagram strategy to save time, experiment with content formats, and grow your business faster. The key is to combine AI efficiency with creativity and authentic engagement.

Conclusions

Growing your business on IG takes more than just one strategy and hoping it’ll work. From creating content your followers love to running ads, each tips we share takes you one step closer to reaching the growth you want.

Use AI tools to help make the labor work easier. Need content? Use Holo. Don’t know what hashtags will work? Use Flick. Invest in these tools so you can focus on earning each follow and grow your business.