Do it for the finsta

In case you are unfamiliar with the term, let me save you a Google search: a ‘finsta’ is a second Instagram account people use to post with aesthetically pleasing themes, dedicated topics or passions that are separate from their primary Instagram they use to connect with friends.

Now that we’ve established the basics, how do you grow your finsta? Let me provide a few suggestions:

1. Stay consistent

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Both with your post and story frequency and with your content. The more you post, the more content there is for users to interact with and get a feel for your brand. Your brand should have a consistent theme both aesthetically and substance-wise so potential followers know what to expect.

2. Find similar accounts, like, and follow

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Find accounts with similar focuses as yours and interact with their content by following their account and liking their posts. This will get the attention of the account holder, who will likely follow you back, and this will prompt the Instagram algorithm to recommend your account to potential followers who follow that person’s account.

You can also scroll through a similar account’s followers to find people who are interested in the content you’re interested in and like and follow their content.

3. Use hashtags. Hashtags allow people to find the content they’re looking for.

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The more hashtags you use, the more people who can potentially find your content. Feel free to even start your own hashtag to create a unique signature for your content. Another tip is to search what the most searched hashtags currently are on instagram and use those in your post description.

4. Get on the bandwagon

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When you see things trending, find a way to make the trend relevant to your account. Keep your content genuine to your goals that way your messaging is consistent but when people search for the popular trend, they might just come across your page!

5. Don’t sleep on Instagram Stories

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According to Instagram themselves, over 500 million people watch Instagram stories every day [1]. Use stories to develop a more personal bond with your viewers by providing an inside look at the behind-the-scenes to your posts, or your personal life (if it’s on brand – remember consistency!), or anything you find relevant to your account that might not warrant an actual post. Get fun, get creative, use links, use hashtags and watch your audience grow.

6. Bonus tip

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Use Instagram’s free business profile configuration for your finsta to track your analytics. These numbers will give you insights on the most popular days and times for your content as well as the number of new people visiting your profile.

Now that you’ve made it to the bottom of this post feel free to test some of these suggestions out. Let us know how they work for you. Feel free to follow along with my finsta to see how taking my own advice is working for growing my passion project @TheRedPlaylist on Instagram.

Happy scrolling!

Want to see more from Meghan?

Not your average Civil Engineer. I've always colored outside the lines and defied stereotypes I'd seen for women in STEM. I am a practicing Civil Engineer, but as an undergrad I also found time to pursue my interest in music.

My senior year I submitted to a competition to sing the national anthem at a Red Sox v. Yankees game at Fenway Park...and won. It was incredible. I was most proud of myself because when I sang the anthem, it was only my second time singing publicly as an adult. That was when I learned that preparation really is key and it's okay to ask for help. When I walked off the field that day, I felt unstoppable and ready to do it all again (this inspired my second IG or 'finsta' as the kids say, @theredplaylist).

After graduating I got a full time job, discovered adulting, and then decided I wanted to go back to school part-time for my MBA to facilitate and expedite my path to becoming a #GIRLBOSS. I listen to podcasts 24/7, have an overly active appetite for books, and would love to share my interests with fellow students from the unique perspective of both a graduated undergrad and current graduate student. I think I'll be able to provide undergrads with the advice and perspective I wish I had when I was in their shoes.

Find me on Instagram @mkbruckman and @theredplaylist

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