We invite you to read these tips we’ve learned while enjoying Instagram. Instagram is the one social network that I’ve personally become addicted to.

1. Share your photos on other social networks. These include Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr, Flickr , and Posterous. If you don’t have accounts for those social networks, start one up today.

I tend to share every photo on Flickr and and Posterous, but the others I’m more conservative. For instance, we post daily deals solely on Twitter so people who sign up for that network don’t necessarily want to see all my Instagram photos and foursquare check-ins. I share a photo once in a while on Twitter to push that fact we’re on Instagram, but its rare and special.

2. Link to your web.stagram profile (here’s ours) somewhere from your website. Most of us strongly push Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, but if you’re serious about Instagram, then link to it as well…especially from your mobile website.

Be sure to blog that your company is participating on Instagram. Also think about using Instagram photos on your blog occasionally and link to your profile or Instagram itself.

3. Follow “Suggested Users” by clicking “@(YourAccountName)” tab and selecting “Find Friends” then ”Suggested Users”. Following users that have similar interests as you may encourage them to follow you in return. Just following everybody will gain minimal followers.

4. Make sure “Photos are private option” is off. It should be by default. This is a no-brainer. Obviously if you wish to gain followers, your photos should not be private.

5. Invite friends. This is a no-brainer too. Invite your friends, customers and followers of other social networks. You can do this through Instagram. These are the people most likely willing to follow you or your business. We now invite a handful of customers each day.

6. Only post your best pics. Quality is better than quantity. Try to make each picture interesting, engaging, mysterious, colorful, with unique angles or just plain funny. Read our article “3 Newbie Tips For Better Instagram Photos” for some help.

7. Thoroughly describe your images. You can comment on each picture so put some time into the writing.

8. Use hashtags, especially popular ones. Popular tags include #sky, #cat, #dog, #flower and #sunset. Tagging your photos with these hashtags, when appropriate, can increase the odds of your images being seen by others.

8b. Copy hashtags from “Notes” app. After you’ve used Instagram for awhile, you’ll notice specific hastags you’re commonly using. Keep them stored in “Notes” so you only have to copy/paste into Instagram. You can add the most popular or effective hashtags to the list so you don’t forget to use them. Be sure to only use hashtags appropriate for the photo being shared. This is an important step in helping you remember to use effective hashtags for each post. Hashtags will attact likes and folllowers if your posts/photos are worthy.

9. Engage by following others and commenting/liking. By engaging with others, you will likely attract some followers, especially if your photos are interesting. Commenting on a persistent basis will help tremendously in attaining followers. Commenting on popular photos works very well, but be authentic with your comments and not advertorial.

10. Geotagging is important like hashtags, geotagging provides another data point that can be used to categorize and display content. On Instagram, each defined location has its own page, which includes a map of the location and any photos taken there.

11. Announce your profile in an email blast to current customers letting them know you’re now on the photo sharing app.

11a. Add Instagram to your website too. Don’t just email blast the fact that your on Instagram. Be sure to add Instagram on your website somewhere like you might do with Facebook and Twitter. If you have other social network icons floating around your company website, add Instagram too.

Update: The following are more tips I’ve added after using Instagram for awhile.

12. Keep up with Instagram’s blog and participate with the numerous photo contests. One person to follow in particular is by Instagram team member, Jessica Zollman ( @jayzombie) who holds a contest every weekend where everyone tries to snap a photo concerning a specific hashtag. Participating in the contest each week will gain you popularity and a few new friends.

13. Don’t be afraid to comment on popular photos by celebrities, but be genuine with what you say. If you have nothing to really say, then don’t.

14. Use “like” a bunch! People will return the favor and possibly start following you. You can use “like” liberally, but don’t get TOO crazy with it or people may actually stop following you. Instagrammers appreciate when you “like” their photos and generally return the love.

15. Only follow iphoneographers you care about or enjoy. I promise that you will enjoy Instagram more this way, and you’re more likely to continue participating and building your own circle of friends if you’re having fun.

16. Sign up with followgram.me to make it even easier for people to find and follow you. This service offers an easy way for people to follow you outside of the actual Instagram app.

17. Use Instagram analytics services like Statigr.am to help put things in perspective with all kinds of historical data concerning your account. Statigr.am shows which of your photos have received the most “likes” over time, and which ones received the most comments. Try to look for consistent trends in your most popular images and try to capitalize on those strengths moving forward. Plain and simple: This service gives amazing insight and understanding of your Instagram account.

18. Be humorous with your comments. Everyone appreciates a good laugh and if you’re consistent, it will lead to more followers.

19. Offer tips and advice. I started sharing iphoneography-related app names and how I use them which lead to more likes and eventually will lead to more followers.

20. Thank people. At the end of the day, be sure to send a thanks to everyone who commented on one of your photos. For instance, you would type something like: @printkeg @lovingmyrtlebeach thanks for your comments! This is not only considerate but also represents social at its finest.

21. Be genuine. Instagram is my favorite social network right now so I ask everyone to be genuine, have fun and snap away!

BONUS

Another way to gain more followers on Instagram is to hold a photo contest. Give away an iTunes card or something and require contest participants to follow you to qualify. You may have to do some legwork to market the contest, but it’ll be worth your time.

Before hosting photo contests, you may want to participate in them first.