17 Tips on How to Get More Followers on Instagram in 2026

17 Tips on How to Get More Followers on Instagram in 2026

Promoting your brand on Instagram requires building engaged followers – and that’s not an easy task.

If you’re just starting out and wondering how to get more followers on Instagram, make sure you know who you’re trying to reach. Build a strategy that describes your target audience and outlines how you plan to attract them to your account.

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Remember that buying followers is not the right way to expand your presence on Instagram. Similarly, it’s not appropriate to create clickbait content. Good audience research and quality content will help you build a real audience of people.

Read on to find out how to get more followers on Instagram (the right way).

Or check out a video from our friends at Hootsuite, where you’ll find a list of tactics in TL;DR format:

How to Get More Followers on Instagram for Free

1. Define Your Brand’s Tone of Voice and Personality

It may sound obvious, but your brand should have its own tone of voice and attitude that leaves a consistent impression. You want to make sure your online personality comes across as approachable and personal.

Creating content where an employee or, better yet, a customer explains your product or service can make your brand feel more familiar. If your brand is in the lifestyle space, you can create an aesthetic that communicates your customers’ lifestyle.

Regardless of your ultimate goal, all your posts should have consistent brand personality and visual language so they are easily recognizable as, well, yours.

2. Build a Social Media Marketing Strategy

A good social media strategy should be linked to your overall business goals and include social media marketing objectives.

Do you want to build brand awareness? Increase sales? Or drive traffic to your website?

The first step to achieving this goal is knowing where you want to go. The team at Hootsuite has prepared a useful template to help you create a social media strategy – you can download it for free here.

3. Understand Your Perfect Audience

Without a good understanding of who you’re targeting, you’re just throwing feathers in the wind.

Your target audience can be defined by age, location, occupation, and how they use Instagram. They most likely share common problems and concerns or life aspirations, and your content should address these concerns, inspire them, and engage them. The way you acknowledge them will increase the likelihood that your target audience will follow you and continue to follow you long-term.

If you’re unsure where to start, follow our guide to creating audience personas and buyer personas.

4. Create a Consistent Look for Your Brand

Think of your Instagram feed as an important first impression.

Instagram is a visually-focused social network, so a consistent visual approach will help build your brand’s personality and ensure that your posts are recognizable at first glance.

Each post in your Instagram grid should captivate and show viewers that your impressive visual standards are worth following. Together, your posts should look aesthetically cohesive as a whole. And if you don’t have products with a uniform appearance, you can style them in your Instagram grid so that the posts complement each other through their placement, similar to advertising in a glossy magazine.

Check out this example from @margotmacaron:

A well-curated Instagram profile grid

5. Use the right keywords

To attract followers, you need to be findable. Your name and username contribute to how you appear in search results and should be consistent with the handle you use on other social networks.

Using a relevant keyword as part of your name will lead to more successful searches. You have 30 characters available, so don’t hesitate to weave this keyword into the name field.

For example, personal stylist Michelle Addison @michelleaddisonstyle includes the keyword “style” in her Instagram name, thereby increasing the chances that those looking for style and fashion advice will find her.

Instagram bio containing company information and a link

How to get more followers on Instagram?

6. Use relevant hashtags

Instagram users can follow hashtags just like they follow users. So if you want to get more followers on Instagram, you should consider identifying hashtags that your target audience is likely to follow and add them to your posts.

You can include up to 30 hashtags in a post, but make sure they relate to your photo, product, or business. Targeted hashtags attract a more engaged audience. Avoid tricks like #followme, #likeforlike, etc. because those only attract bots or people who follow you just to be followed back.

Photographer @vas_photographs included hashtags like #sculpture and #publicart in a post where he showcased an artwork he discovered.

Instagram caption containing hashtags

7. Make the most of your Instagram bio

Two out of three visits to business Instagram profiles come from followers. That sounds like an opportunity, doesn’t it?

However, to get clicks on the follow button, you need a clear, concise, and engaging profile (and website if you’re linking to one). Use the allowed 150 characters in your bio to introduce your brand to new visitors. Give them an idea of what they can expect from your content and reasons why they should follow you.

If you have a business account or creator account on Instagram, you can add additional details to your profile, such as contact information, business type, and location. Use all relevant fields because the more information your profile visitors have at hand, the more likely they are to follow you.

Read more about how to optimize your Instagram bio profile:

8. Leverage your other social media profiles

Your followers from Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms are a group that you can relatively easily convert into Instagram followers.

Share a link to your Instagram account on your other profiles and give your existing followers a reason to check it out. You may want to offer an exclusive coupon with an Instagram code or plan a giveaway that will attract more people. You can also share some of your best Instagram posts as a preview of what new followers can expect.

However, don’t just stick to social channels. Include a link to your Instagram profile on your website, in your email signature, and in online newsletters.

How to get more followers on Instagram?

9. Embed Instagram posts into your blog posts

If you have a blog or website where you feature visual content, such as photos, charts, or infographics (like we do here), try embedding Instagram content into some of your articles. A clickable embed – like the one below – enables an interactive experience and can drive traffic to your account.

10. Create Instagram Reels

Lately, Reels (Instagram’s competitor to TikTok) have been Instagram’s favorite child.

The Instagram algorithm favors Reels on the Explore page. These short videos also have their own dedicated tab in the app. There, users can scroll through an endless feed of Reels selected by the algorithm to match their individual taste and interests.

Because of Instagram’s effort to expose Reels to as many users as possible, using this content format gives you a unique opportunity to reach people who don’t yet follow your account.

If you’re just starting out with this type of content, check out Hootsuite’s beginner-friendly guide on how to use Reels for business.

11. Post content worth sharing

When planning your Instagram content, keep in mind that people will often re-share things they like, such as an inspiring quote or an informative infographic.

And once a user shares your post to their Instagram Story, their audience can tap to click through to your account. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to a new audience and another opportunity to find new followers.

12. Try to get on the Explore page

Instagram promotes the Explore page as a place where “you’ll find photos and videos you might like from accounts you don’t follow”. And people really do use it to explore – half of all Instagram accounts visit the Explore tab. Every month.

On the Explore tab, you’ll find posts, Stories, and Reels. Users first see a grid of content selected by Instagram’s algorithm. Then they have the option to choose whether they want to dive deeper into specific content topics using themed channels at the top of the screen.

You can find the Explore page by clicking the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen in the Instagram app.

Screenshot of the Instagram Explore page
Learn more about how to get on the Instagram Explore page.

13. Follow relevant accounts

When you follow an Instagram user who posts content similar to yours, they’re likely to check out your channel in return. And if you impress them, they’ll follow you.

Instagram provides you with recommendations of who to follow in the “Suggested For You” section. You can find it in your feed between posts in the app, or on the right side of the screen if you’re using Instagram on your computer.

Another way to identify accounts worth following is to click on the three lines in the top right and then select the Discover People option. There you will find a selection of relevant Instagram accounts compiled by Instagram’s algorithm specifically for you. (Keep in mind that one of the factors affecting your credibility on Instagram is the ratio of the number of accounts you follow to the number of accounts that follow you back).

To laser-focus on relevant accounts you should follow and identify creators your audience will love, try the Social listening service:

How to get more followers on Instagram?

14. Find influencers relevant to your brand

60% of consumers will follow a brand promoted by a trustworthy influencer. This means you should identify influencers your audience trusts and try to collaborate with them.

For example, digital creator @camilla_akerberg is an influencer it would be ideal to connect with if you are in the fitness business or want to promote your luxury travel brand or accommodation.

Example of an influencer profile on Instagram
Check out the complete influencer marketing guide from Hootsuite.

15. Collaborate with other brands

Beyond influencer marketing activities, you should also consider partnering with brands that also target your target audience (but are not competitors).

For example, you can host a giveaway for your combined audience and offer products and services from both companies as prizes. Promote the giveaway cross-platform on the accounts of all participating brands and remember to ask participants to follow all brands involved in the giveaway. This will allow you to leverage the audience of other brands on Instagram in an interesting and organic way.

16. Post at the best times

And when is that, you may ask?

Your audience may be most active online outside your working hours. Using a tool like Hootsuite Analytics, determine the best time to post, or find out when you’re most likely to reach a lot of people and drive engagement. Then schedule your posts in advance so your content is always perfectly timed, even on weekends and holidays.

17. Launch a contest or giveaway

Simply asking someone to follow you might seem a bit pushy. But not if you’re willing to offer them something in return.

Contests and giveaways are a great way to attract new, engaged audiences to your profile. A simple phrase like “follow to enter” can be effective on its own, but consider asking participants to tag a friend in the comments. This way, your existing followers get the opportunity to introduce their network to your brand.

How to get more followers on Instagram?