Once people see my Instagram  the first question I am asked is “how did you get so many followers?” Often, those who ask are looking for a one sentence answer, so my typical response is something along the lines of my account getting exposure from my work. However, it’s really more of a science than anything else.

Regardless of the content – supercars, stance cars, racecars – or the style – Nikon, Cannon, or an iPhone – what the most popular feeds have in common is a focused sense of purpose and an excellent eye for composition.

That proposition seems simple. Though if it were, we’d all have millions of followers, monetized feeds and pop bottles as the yacht steams into the South of France. The reality is most of us need help to crack 1,000 followers.

Here my advice on how to grow your Instagram following:

Post Relevant Content

The best way to become and remain relevant is, and always has been, posting captivating content. These days, people look at an IG feed as a whole, and it is important to showcase a clear focus and direction within that. You won’t want to dilute that focus by posting images of your mundane day to day – that’s what the IG story is for. You will want to make sure your visuals are relevant to your niche to attract the right followers.

Always be authentic with what you post and don’t be afraid to self-promote things that are new and exciting, your audience is likely to be already familiar with what you are about, but they will want to see your latest modification or what automotive event you attended last.

Consider your subject

Is your Instagram dedicated to just your car? Or are you showcasing your automotive photography skills? Maybe your a car spotter or auto influencer? Rare, race and classic cars get the most double-taps and let’s be real… taking a bad picture of an old race car is hard.

With modern rides, exotic brands understandably get more likes, but unless it’s a McLaren SLR or a 918, skip newer Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsches. People have seen those plenty. When it comes to Bugattis and vintage Lamborghinis, you’ll always find an interesting angle; those are shared and liked 30 percent more.

Odds are you don’t open your office door to a sea of Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and Porsches, so head to where those cars are. I recommend Cars and Coffee meetups, races, auto shows, dealer unveilings, historic meets, and fancy neighborhoods. You might even get lucky with some at a high-end valet. People love the street parked stuff. In a dense city, you’ll find a bunch walking around.

Use the Right Instagram Filters

The filter options on Instagram can be entertaining and can result in more views and engagement. The filters that work well are high exposure, higher contrast, and warm temperatures. The best native Instagram filters for this are Mayfair, Valencia, Hefe, Rise, and Nashville.

Along with this, ‘no filter or normal’ images also attract people.

Try matching the background and the color of the vehicle you’re shooting. For example, if you have a shot with a bright blue sky and a matte black car, it won’t necessarily pop, but a bright yellow coupe at the beach will. Accordingly, monochromatic shots get 40 percent more likes.

Consider the surroundings during shot composition

You can find a fantastic car…parked at Walmart. And sometimes when you try to fit the whole vehicle in the photo, you will also get the ugly Walmart sign. Instead, shift into a closeup of a corner of the headlight or a cool detail on the car. On the other hand, if the backdrop is interesting, include as much as possible.

Get your lens low

If you take your picture at eye level, it will look normal and boring. Cars almost always look better down low. I recommend putting the phone or camera on the ground and looking up.

Polarized sunglasses give you cleaner pictures

The polarized lens from your shades can help control reflections. Hold your sunglasses directly in front of the iPhone lens and tilt the camera around. If a car is under direct sunlight, you can minimize the flare and get a black car reflection-free.

Be Consistent

Just as you wait for a specific time on a particular day to see the latest episode of your favorite show, your Instagram audience will expect the same. To grow your Instagram followers, you have to be serious and consistent in posting. I recommend posting at least once a day, sometimes twice a day if not more.

A single image is good, but unless you’re at an auto show with world premieres, or in the pits of a famous race, there’s no need to fire off eight or nine shots in a row. People will skim over and miss a lot when you post in batches.

Consider the time you post as well, I try to stick to something in the morning, lunchtime, and around dinner because people like to escape their work day and see something fun. On the weekends, most people are out having their own fun and less likely to be on the gram unless at a highly-instagramable event. I recommend always having a few shots to share during lulls to keep your feed fresh.

Additionally, consider Eastern Standard Time and how that affects your audience. My audience demographics are made of Californians and New Yorkers. So I try to think if I am posting something at 9 pm in California, its midnight in new york.

Use Hashtags the Right Way

In the last Driven By Instagram article, I mentioned using hashtags like search words. The same theory will apply here as using the right Hashtags will help people searching with those particular keywords, find your images.

I adhere to a few proprietary tags that are unique to me, like #automotivejournalist and #Alkuhmee, and I only add special event tags when warranted.

If you have attended an event where car-enthusiasts are involved, then it’s more likely that you can get new followers with event-specific hashtags. Also check for the Instagram posts related to that event by targeting the location, and engage them in conversations. This will draw the attention of potential followers to your Instagram account.

I recommend some of those other generic lifestyle tags to help increase views but make sure they are pertinent to the subject and the image. For example, if it’s a Challenger, ill search for the top Challenger tags and incorporate some of those.

Look for Followers at Events & Particular Locations

If you have attended an event where car-buyers are involved, then it’s more likely that you can get new followers with event-specific hashtags.

Also check for the Instagram posts related to that event by targeting the location, and engage them in conversations. This will draw the attention of potential followers to your Instagram account.

Connect & Engage with Followers

Just as your followers are easily accessible to you, so are the followers of similar accounts as well as your competitors. They have an interest in the very type of vehicles you are posting. Engage with them by liking and commenting on their photos, and gradually draw them towards your Instagram account.

Keep regularly liking and positively commenting on other people’s posts. You’ll earn follows. Send a few direct messages to compliment someone. (Who doesn’t love seeing that?) They’ll remember you for taking the time.