1 billion. That’s the number of people currently on Instagram each month — making it hands down one of the best ways to reach your audience as a small business owner right now. Your people are definitely out there, you just need to connect with them. But creating organic growth on your Instagram is about more than just sharing incredible content (although, you’ll need this too). It’s also about using the right combination of Instagram tools to make the most of what you’ve got.

Think of your Instagram tools like a kitchen full of different ways to prepare delicious meals for your people. You could just use the microwave, but if you also consider ways to use the oven, the stove, the mixer, and the instant pot, you’re all of a sudden opening yourself up to so many more options. And let’s face it, probably waaaaay better meals. 

Thankfully, there are multitudes of tools out there to help you create explosive growth on your Instagram. And with so many ways to share content on this platform — from posts to reels to IGTV to stories (oh, my!) — you are sure to find a combination of tools that work for you, your content, and your audience. 

As I tell all of my clients, as a small business owner, you can’t do everything when it comes to your marketing, but you can always do something to improve your growth and reach. And when you approach social media growth with curiosity and even a bit of playfulness, you will find something that feels right for you and your tribe. 

With that being said, let’s dive into 4 Instagram Tools for Explosive Growth in your business.

Instagram Tool #1 for Growth: Hashtag Expert

One of the best ways to grow your following on Instagram is through the use of hashtags. There are many ways to research which hashtags you should be using, including…

• Suggestions from your social media scheduler (like Later)
• Researching your audience, competition, and industry leaders to see what hashtags they are using
• Employing the help of hashtag apps

One of my favorite hashtag apps is Hashtag Expert (available for free in the App Store). This handy little app helps to automate your hashtag research process by finding relevant hashtags for any given post not just on Instagram, but also for other platforms. 

If you’re an Android user, try AutoHash for your autogenerated hashtags. It is also a free app.

Instagram Tool #2 for Growth: url.bio (otherwise known as link in bio)

Your bio is prime real estate on your Instagram account and being able to incorporate multiple links in this section is a fantastic way to up your game on the platform. Plus, having multiple links allows you to use a wider range of calls-to-action in your posts since you are able to direct people to multiple links without changing them out constantly.

Url.bio allows you to put unlimited links in your profile for free and also gives you the option to see your total number of clicks and views from those links. This gives you insight into what people are most interested in learning more about.  Other alternatives include Shorby, Tap.bio, and Linktr.ee.

Instagram Tool #3 for Growth: Canva

If you’re looking to create popping graphics or videos for your posts, reels, stories, or IGTV, Canva will always be my first recommendation as an Instagram tool for small business owners. 

Canva is a web-based graphic design platform and freaking amazing content creation tool that is simple to use and collaborate with – even if you don’t have a background in design (and if you do, all the better!).

The free version has plenty of options to get you going and if you choose to upgrade to Canva Pro it starts at only $12.95 per month. It’s the perfect solution for entrepreneurs and small businesses of all kinds.

Canva has all of the preset sizes and templates you need to create whatever marketing materials your business requires. No more wasting time trying to find the optimal dimensions or image sizes for each social media platform or printable you need to create. Plus, all of the templates are searchable and allow for plenty of customization along the way. 

You definitely don’t have to be a graphic designer to create beautiful, eye-catching graphics on this app. 

Instagram Tool #4 for Growth: Planoly 

Planoly is an Instagram tool for scheduling that allows you to visually plan, schedule, and analyze your Instagram posts and stories. Because Instagram is such a visually driven platform, I love how this app supports your content planning largely from a visual perspective.

Planoly also includes valuable features like… 

• The ability to post videos, carousels, and GIFs in addition to stand-alone photos
• Auto-posting the 1st comment (for hashtags)
• Suggesting the best time to post
• Built-in hashtag research.

Later is also a wonderful scheduling tool to consider for Instagram. Both have free and paid options.

Whatever scheduling platform you choose, I feel confident in saying that this particular kind of Instagram tool may be one of the most crucial to achieving the growth you are after. 

If you need help growing your Instagram or other social platforms, the team at Amazing OBM would love to connect. You can start by scheduling a FREE 30-minute consultation. We are happy to chat, offer you some valuable tips, and determine if we are a good fit for one another in future endeavors!