8 Mistakes That Will Kill Your Instagram Growth
If you’re looking to grow your Instagram presence as a real estate agent, there are some major mistakes you’ll want to avoid. These missteps can hurt your engagement, limit your reach, and ultimately slow down your business growth. Let’s dive into the eight things you should NEVER do on Instagram.
1. Paying for Followers
It might be tempting to boost your follower count with a quick purchase, but don’t do it! Buying followers leads to zero engagement, making your account look fake to both Instagram and potential clients. The algorithm notices when you have a large following with little to no interaction and will stop pushing your content to real users.
2. Follow/Unfollow Tactics
Following a bunch of people just to unfollow them later might seem like a quick way to grow, but it actually damages your account in the long run. Instagram’s algorithm picks up on these patterns and stops promoting your content, leaving you with minimal engagement and a disengaged audience.
3. Keeping Your Profile Private
If your goal is to attract potential clients and grow your brand, having a private Instagram account is a huge mistake. When your account is private, new visitors can’t see your content, and you’re limiting your reach. Make sure your profile is set to public so people can easily discover and engage with your posts.
4. Ignoring Comments and Engagement
Instagram is a SOCIAL platform, meaning interaction is key. If someone takes the time to comment on your post, make sure you reply! Engaging with your audience builds relationships, encourages more interaction, and signals to Instagram that your content is valuable, leading to increased visibility.
5. Using Irrelevant Hashtags
Hashtags are a powerful tool—when used correctly. If your post is about a home for sale in California, don’t use random hashtags like #fashion or #travel just to get more reach. Instagram’s algorithm is smart and will penalize you if your hashtags don’t match your content. Stick to relevant hashtags that align with your niche.
6. Posting at the Wrong Time
Timing matters! If you’re posting when your audience isn’t active, your content won’t get the engagement it deserves. Use Instagram analytics to determine when your followers are online and schedule your posts accordingly. Generally, 2 PM is a peak engagement time, but check your specific insights for the best posting window.
7. Uploading Poorly Scaled Photos & Videos
Nothing kills a great post faster than bad formatting. On Instagram, vertical videos work best for Reels, while horizontal videos are ideal for YouTube. Make sure your images and videos are properly cropped so nothing important gets cut off. High-quality visuals that are correctly formatted will make your content more appealing and professional.
8. Being Too Salesy
People don’t come to Instagram to be sold to 24/7. If your feed is nothing but ‘Just Sold’ and ‘Under Contract’ posts, you’ll lose engagement fast. Instead, follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of your content should provide value (tips, market insights, behind-the-scenes, personal branding), and 20% can be promotional. When you consistently offer value, people will naturally want to work with you!
Final Words
Avoiding these common Instagram mistakes will set you up for long-term success and steady business growth. If you’re a real estate agent looking to scale your business using social media, I’d love to help! Shoot me a text or send me an email—I’d love to connect and help you take your Instagram presence to the next level!
