14 New Ways to Get More Followers on Instagram

14 New Ways to Get More Instagram Followers

14 New Ways to Get More Instagram Followers

With more than 1 billion monthly users, an ultra-intelligent algorithm, and plenty of smart and creative accounts, Instagram is a competitive place if you want to expand your account and boost your following.

Fortunately, we know exactly how to elevate your business, showcase your brand, and gain more followers on Instagram – so you can work smarter, not harder.

We’re sharing 14 new ways to reach your target audience and get more Instagram followers in 2021:

How to Get More Instagram Followers in 2021

Growing an Instagram account doesn’t have to be as easy as it used to be. However, there are several strategic tips and tricks you can try.

In short, here’s how to get more followers on Instagram:

1. Use Instagram Reels
2. Optimize your profile for search
3. Create an IGTV series
4. Be more inclusive and diverse
5. Collaborate with micro-influencers
6. Create authentic shared content
7. Promote Instagram content on other social platforms
8. Write longer captions
9. Experiment with Instagram Lives
10. Create a viral Instagram challenge or game
11. Introduce a branded hashtag
12. Share memes that resonate with your audience
13. Create your own Instagram Stories filter
14. Collab with amazing brands
    
    Ready to jump into the details? Get the full breakdown by watching this video – or continue reading the full blog post below.
    

1: Use Instagram Reels

If you’re not sharing on Instagram Reels in 2021, you could be missing out on a huge opportunity for your brand or business!

What are Instagram Reels?
Since Instagram decided to put Instagram Reels front and center on Instagram, there’s significant pressure for users to browse and share Reels more frequently in 2021.

You’ll find Reels on their own separate tab in individual Instagram profiles

You’ll find Reels on their own separate tab in individual Instagram profiles (and also on the Instagram Explore page!).

Similar to TikTok videos, Instagram Reels have a chance to become seriously viral. Instead of users only seeing reels from accounts they follow, users will see reels from all accounts. This is a game-changer.

Sharing your reel both on your feed and on the Explore page is an incredible way to increase your reach far beyond your followers – and potentially go viral!

There are so many creative ways you can use Instagram Reels for your business! If you need some inspiration, check out here for 15 ideas.

And because Reels is a new feature, it’s good to jump on the bandwagon while competition is still low, especially since Instagram is giving Reels extra importance in the main feed and on the Explore page.

2: Optimize Your Profile for Search

Optimizing your profile for search is a vastly underutilized Instagram hack for growing your following – and it’s definitely something you should try in 2021!

Thanks to a recent announcement from Instagram, English-speaking users in 6 countries will be able to search Instagram using keywords. This is a huge game-changer in the app!

Previously, if users searched for home workouts, they would only see hashtags or accounts with the words “home workouts” in their username. Now, posts with captions, names, or bios that contain home workouts should appear in search results, even if that hashtag isn’t in the post.

According to an Instagram spokesperson via The Verge, the team considers “a number of factors,” including “the type of content, captions, when it was posted,” and others to display relevant results. It also uses machine learning to “surface the highest quality content that’s relevant to you.” For now, only posts in the grid will be shown.”

If you want to stay organized and optimize your Instagram captions for search, you can plan your Instagram posts in advance using Later!

With the calendar view and Saved Captions feature, you can create and edit all your captions at once:

You can also use the Saved Captions feature later as a way to save and organize keywords!

Instagram states that keyword search is limited to topics of general interest and keywords that align with Instagram’s Community Guidelines.

With this change, it’s more important than ever to optimize your username and bio for search.

Instagram expert Elise Darma has taught thousands of creators, freelancers, and entrepreneurs how to grow their business on Instagram. Her favorite way to optimize for Instagram search is by optimizing the username and name fields!

And the best part? The words you put in your Name field and Instagram bio are actually searchable on Instagram – making them prime real estate for keywords in your bio!

“Most people nail the username, but the name field is the secret weapon.” For your Name field, think about what your niche is, what industry you’re in, who you’re targeting, what solution you offer, etc. If you’re unsure, plug that term into the Instagram search bar and see what comes up,” says Elise.

Leverage your bio by changing the Name field to something related to your brand or business. It’s a great way to boost your chances of appearing in top results if someone searches for your target keywords.

“If a bunch of other profiles are using that term, that’s a great sign – you don’t want to use a search term that no one else is using,” adds Elise.

Ready to grow your following? We partnered with Instagram expert Elise Darma to create a free Instagram workshop on how to get your first 1,000 followers on Instagram:

How to Get Your First 1,000 Followers on Instagram

3: Create an IGTV Series

One of our main predictions for 2020 was that IGTV would become an important part of Instagram – and it doesn’t look like that’s slowing down anytime soon!

With the COVID-19 lockdown, more and more social media users are turning to Instagram for entertainment. And thanks to the IGTV tab on profiles, it’s easy to connect your Instagram audience with your IGTV content.

Creating an IGTV series is a creative way to connect with your community while also casting a wider net and reaching a new audience.

If you haven’t created an IGTV channel yet, 2021 is a great time to get in the game. Think about what kind of longer-form video would interest your audience, and start creating content around that!

Plus, video content tends to get more traction on your feed – higher engagement and views on your videos could result in more followers.

4: Be more inclusive and diverse

Having an accessible, inclusive, and diverse Instagram account is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also a way to boost your engagement, follower count, and strengthen your community.

There are so many ways you can make your Instagram account more accessible and inclusive. You just have to start!

The first and easiest step you can take is to start adding captions to your Instagram video content.

85% of videos on Facebook are watched without sound, so ensuring your content is digestible without sound is a no-brainer.

Captions are not only great for people who watch without sound, but they’re also essential for those who have hearing difficulties.

ICYMI: Instagram introduced automatic captions for IGTV in 16 languages.

In 2020, there was also a major shift when brands and influencers took responsibility for the lack of diversity in their marketing. And in 2021, the importance of diversity is through the roof.

By choosing not to collaborate with more diverse content creators or showing support for social causes, brands could seriously miss out on reaching a wider audience that could potentially support their brand and products.

In fact, 74% of consumers expect brands they love to take a stand on important issues. Plus, it helps humanize your brand, increase brand loyalty, and in turn increase your follower count!

5: Work with micro-influencers

If you’re looking to reach new audiences in 2021, one of the best ways to go is to collaborate with micro-influencers.

While blue verification and high follower counts can be appealing, these influencers may not be the best choice for your brand or business.

According to a recent study by Makerly, micro-influencers – between 10–100k followers – offer the best combination of engagement and reach.

We asked Later’s PR and Influencer Manager Chrissy Abram about the benefits of working with micro-influencers in 2021:

“Partnering with micro-influencers has the potential to tap into a truly engaged audience without having to fight for their attention.”

Because micro-influencers operate on a smaller scale, they tend to have fewer sponsored posts and are known for specific interests or expertise.

“Think of micro-influencers as local names in your local community,” says Chrissy.

6: Create authentic shareable content

The power of authenticity on Instagram for growing your follower count is huge – and we predict it will grow even more in 2021.

One of the best ways to reach a larger group of people is by creating authentic shareable content. On Instagram, shareable content is one of the best ways to spread your message. Users can share posts on their Instagram stories or via direct messages

Whether it’s struggling with your own business or your step-by-step skincare routine, when you’re open with your audience, your followers will feel it.

When you make your followers feel like friends, they may feel a natural pull to share your content with their own community of followers.

Instagram’s algorithm tends to prioritize posts that get a lot of engagement, so when your posts are shared, they hit people’s feeds. And if a post gets enough engagement, it could even end up on the Explore page. Hello, new followers!

Simple sharing can go a long way for your brand or business – so it’s worth the effort to create (authentic) shareable content.

TIP: Make time to be active on Instagram! In addition to responding to comments and DMs, don’t forget to interact with the accounts you follow and those that have similar audiences to you. There’s a good chance their followers will check you out!

When you see a post you really love, comment on it! Plus, your comment could get pinned and easily seen by hundreds of potential new followers.

Interacting with other accounts also lets the Instagram algorithm know that you have a “relationship” with them. This will help your account appear in related and suggested account recommendations.

ICYMI: Instagram launched Instagram Guides – a new way for users to share and use helpful recommendations and tips in an easy-to-digest format.

Instagram Guides are a great way to create shared educational (and fun!) content with your followers in 2021.

Creative opportunities are endless. You can share guides compiled from products, places, or posts. You can share guides, gift guides, travel guides, inspiration, tell stories, provide advice or tips, and much more.

You can also find other Instagram support tools here

7: Promote Your Instagram Content on Other Platforms

If you’re looking for new ways to grow your Instagram, cross-promoting your Instagram on other platforms could be the solution.

As of 2021, we predict that TikTok and Pinterest will be two of the best ways to grow your Instagram beyond Instagram itself.

Thanks to TikTok’s unique algorithm and Pinterest’s growing recommendation traffic, many creators and brands have noticed an increase in their Instagram following since connecting with TikTok and Pinterest.

On TikTok, one of the first things you can do to drive Instagram traffic is to link your Instagram account with TikTok.

Other ways you can gain followers? Create TikToks showcasing what you offer on Instagram, tease your Instagram content, and take advantage of your TikTok bio. Learn more ways you can convert your TikTok audience into Instagram followers.

Similarly, claiming your Instagram account on Pinterest brings a number of loaded benefits. By promoting your account and pinning your Instagram posts, you can increase your traffic and engagement on your Instagram content over time!

If TikTok and Pinterest aren’t part of your marketing strategy, you can redirect people to your Instagram through your website, email newsletter, podcast, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!

8: Write Longer Captions

Long captions were huge in 2020 and in 2021 they’re so long they have no end – especially thanks to Instagram’s new keyword search feature.

Instagram was once all about visuals – cohesive aesthetic, high-quality photos and on-brand images were a necessity. But now viewers are trying to learn more about you, your brand, and your mission.

According to an influencer survey by Fohra, the average caption length has actually more than doubled since 2016.

And in 2021, our feeds will be filled with an average caption length of 405 characters – which averages 65-70 words!

Influencers were the first to jump on this trend – sharing lengthy captions on their posts to provide better insight into their world or share their perspective on current events.

However, brands are also beginning to use this trend – especially when it comes to raising awareness about causes they care about.

When you share more with your audience through your Instagram posts, you build a stronger and larger community.

And because Instagram allows users to search for specific keywords, like “healthy recipes” and “gold jewelry,” including keywords in longer captions can help you gain more organic views of your content.

9: Go Live on Instagram

Video is the future of Instagram – and Instagram Live could be one of the best ways to gain engagement and followers through video in 2021.

Instagram Live is a completely unedited video stream that your followers can tune into and engage with – meaning your audience can send comments and questions in real time.

Many brands jumped on the Instagram Live bandwagon, particularly with the shift to remote work in 2020.

The content possibilities for Instagram Lives are endless. You can host weekly shows, games and contests, online webinars, tutorials and much more. And now you can even showcase your products, which will help boost your sales.

ICYMI: Instagram launched Instagram Live Shopping – a new way for brands and creators to sell products during Instagram Live broadcasts. This means accounts with access to Instagram Checkout can tag products from their Facebook Shop or catalog and let their audience purchase on the spot.

10: Create a Viral Challenge or Game for Instagram

From #FliptheSwitch to #BathtubChallenge, 2020 was the year of challenges and games on social media.

Influencers and brands have realized the power of viral Instagram challenges and games, especially when it comes to building brand awareness and expanding your audience.

Take Bailey Stanworth, founder of PLAY Digital, for example. Inspired by @hunterrae, Bailey launched the #BathtubChallenge, where she challenged her followers to get dressed, take a selfie in the bathtub, and tag 3 friends.

Suddenly her followers were posting and tagging friends and the hashtag grew to over 2,000 posts!

Another way to grow your following? Be creative and create your own Instagram game!

Bailey created a second highly interactive Instagram moment with her PLAY Pong tournament – an online version of a beer pong tournament. The weekly event, held on Instagram Live, was in support of a COVID-19 humanitarian fund.

“At first I thought it would just be a fun little way to give back when we were quarantined in our homes, but it quickly became a viral event and up to 100,000 people tuned in.”

Consider turning your Instagram game into a branded series that you commit to monthly, twice a week, or even weekly.

And you can spend more time interacting with your audience by planning your Instagram challenges and games in advance.

11: Create a Branded Hashtag

Instagram branded hashtags are a great way to help spread the word about your business, find user-generated content (UGC), build community, and attract new followers.

A branded hashtag is a hashtag that is unique to your business. It can be as simple as your company name, slogan, or the name of one of your products, events, or campaigns.

According to a Visual Objects report, one of the best ways to see engagement on your branded hashtag is to motivate your customer base.

For example, the bridesmaid clothing company Birdy Gray encourages its audience to use the hashtag #birdyinthewild so they have a chance to be featured on their Instagram and website.

You can also challenge users to use your branded hashtag on their own posts for a chance to win a prize, as Later did with the LaterCon hashtag.

In addition, all posts using your branded hashtag double as user-generated content (UGC). And UGC can seriously help boost your sales and build real brand loyalty.

Ready to start implementing UGC into your Instagram strategy?

Find UGC from your Instagram hashtags

Search by hashtag to find valuable user-generated content in seconds, then add your favorites to your media library

12: Create Memes That Resonate with Your Audience

Brands have realized the power of clever Instagram memes, especially when it comes to building brand identity, increasing product interest, and gaining more followers.

In fact, memes have become one of the main methods of online communication, with 55% of people aged 13-35 sending them every week.

See how @smartsweets creates branded pop culture memes to fill their Instagram channel:

While most of us will instantly recognize a meme when we see it, it’s surprisingly difficult to define.

In the broadest sense, a meme is any type of media that spreads from person to person on the internet. They usually have some cultural significance, are often funny or clever, and typically contain a combination of text and images (it can be a photo, GIF, or even a video).

Some brands like @girlboss and @hellosunshine have gained millions of followers thanks to their witty and playful use of memes in their Instagram strategy.

When it comes to creating memes, there can still be challenges, such as integrating memes into your profile without compromising your aesthetic. But there are ways to do it. Apps like Canva and Over have a range of templates that make it easier for you to create memes.

13: Create Your Own IG Story Filter

“Augmented Reality”, or AR for short, may sound like space-age jargon, but on Instagram it’s starting in a BIG way.

What started as cute puppy ears or heart filters in Instagram Stories has now evolved into an entire library of thousands of filters that enhance your story content.

In addition to content creators and AR on Instagram who use Facebook Spark AR Studio to create camera effects, color gradients, and fun face-changing filters, we’ve noticed a lot of brands and influencers who have also jumped on this trend.

Christine Colling, Later’s social media manager, explains how Later used AR filters to promote and raise brand awareness for Later:

“For LaterCon we created 2 AR filters and promoted them by asking our audience to use them to win some prizes.” On the day of LaterCon, our AR filter got over 230,000 impressions and over 5,600 uses – which exposed our brand to many potential new followers. “

We’ve also seen other brands jump on this trend. A simple cloud background created by @summerfridays made a fun, highly usable, and branded filter for their followers. It’s even named after their bestselling face mask, Jet Lag.

The advantage of creating your first Instagram Stories filter is that when someone uses your filter, their viewers will see who created it in the top left corner of the screen.

From there, the viewer can tap on the filter name or creator and try it for themselves.

It’s a creative and carefree way to get your filter in front of new eyes and increase your Instagram followers.

Ready to make the AR jump? Watch as Rik Lomas, CEO and founder of SuperHi, walks you through your entire first AR filter!

14: Collaborate With Amazing Brands

The power of collaboration or co-marketing campaigns for your business is enormous – it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to grow your followers.

Collaborating with like-minded companies and brands will introduce your profile to a new and engaged audience.

So when an Instagram user discovers your profile through co-marketing, they’ll likely click that button if they have similar interests or have the right demographic fit for your brand.

Plus, co-marketing campaigns don’t have to be complicated or expensive! Most importantly, who you collaborate with matters. You want to make sure you have a mutually beneficial partnership that will benefit your audience.

We spoke with Jess Ruhfus, founder of Collabosaurus, a marketing tool that connects brands for smart collaboration and partnerships, about her insights on trends.

“Brand collaborations can be incredibly powerful,” says Jess.

“Based on our experience, brand partnerships can double your organic reach without any monetary investment.” And they’re up to 25 times cheaper than digital advertising! “

Instagram story takeovers, giveaways, contests, or content collaborations are fantastic ways for your business to quickly and cost-effectively reach a new audience.

Growing your Instagram account can often seem like a challenge, but if you follow the right techniques and strategies, you can definitely gain more Instagram followers in 2021!

Remember, it’s about a combination of creative content, targeting the right audience, and promoting your business the right way. Try some of these tips in 2021 and see how much your account can grow this year!