Want to know how to get more Instagram followers? You don’t need to pay for fake followers or use bots – just follow our guide.
Starting fresh on social media or just trying to build your online brand? You’re probably wondering how to get more followers on Instagram.
Check out our detailed guide where you’ll learn how to organically increase your Instagram followers.
5 simple steps to get more Instagram followers
Step 1. Lay the foundation
Step 2. Create great content
Step 3. Make sure you’re discoverable
Step 4. Engage your community
how to get more Instagram followers
Step 1. Lay the foundation
Thoughtful Instagram marketing strategy
If you want to be effective on social media, you need a clear plan.
Getting more followers on Instagram is a great starting goal. However, followers alone don’t make a successful Instagram account. Your goal must be part of a broader plan that aligns with your business strategy and social media marketing objectives.
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Think about why you want more followers on Instagram. What do you really want to achieve? Maybe you want to:
- increase brand awareness
- increase product sales
- increase traffic to your website.
Focusing on these business goals will help you keep your Instagram account consistent. It will help you tell a compelling brand story that appeals to new profile visitors and helps you build (and maintain) loyal followers.
Define your target audience
Ask yourself a few questions about who you’re trying to reach:
- Where do they live?
- What do they do for work?
- When and how do they use Instagram?
- What are their pain points and challenges?
Answers to these questions will help you create content that connects you with people on Instagram who are most likely to follow you.
They will also help you consistently provide content that engages your audience in the long term.
Creating a consistent brand story and aesthetic
You might want to show how your product is made. Or humanize your brand by sharing an employee perspective. An aspirational brand might showcase a lifestyle or your customers’ achievements.
Regardless of what you’re trying to do, it’s important to maintain a consistent brand voice, personality, and appearance.
Your posts should be easily recognizable at first glance. Think of your Instagram network as one cohesive unit. To share content that doesn’t quite fit the look of your main channel, you can always use Instagram Stories.
Your products don’t have to look the same either. You can use styling to give your grid a unified look, as @themillerswifecustomcookies does:
Source: @themillerswifecustomcookies
Using keywords for search visibility
Before people start following you on Instagram, they need to find you. However, not all text on Instagram is searchable. Only two fields on Instagram contribute to search results: name and username.
Your username is your login name on Instagram. It should be consistent with the username you use on other social networks, because this also makes it easier for people to find you. Use your brand name or a variation that people would likely use when searching for your brand.
Your name can be in any format, but is limited to 30 characters maximum. You don’t want to use keywords, but including the most relevant keyword in your name field can make it easier for people to find you.
For example, writer Claudia Laroye (@itsclaudiatravels) includes the key phrase “travel writer” in her Instagram name. Now people searching for travel content or writers are more likely to find her.
Source: @itsclaudiatravels
Optimizing your Instagram bio and profile
Two-thirds of visits to business profiles on Instagram come from non-followers. If your bio and profile convince them to click the follow button, these visitors can become followers.
Your profile contains a field with your name and username (mentioned above), your website, and your biography.
Your bio can have a maximum of 150 characters, so make the most of it. Express your brand identity and show new visitors why they should follow you. What content can they expect?
This bio from @abstractaerialart summarizes the purpose and promise of the account in a quick and easy-to-digest way:
Source: @abstractaerialart
If you have a professional account (business or Creator), you can include additional information in your profile, such as contact details, type of business, and location.
Step 2. Create great content
Design a beautiful Instagram grid
Sure, it may seem obvious, but it’s crucial when thinking about gaining followers on Instagram. Every post in your Instagram feed must be quality and visually engaging.
When new users visit your profile, your content should make them want to see more (and click the Follow button).
Give a shout-out to commercial photographer @nelsonmouellic for this visual achievement.
Write compelling, long captions
Instagram is a visual social media platform, but great Instagram captions will help you gain more reach and engagement.
Here are a few key strategies to keep in mind:
- Put the most important words at the beginning. If the caption is longer than 125 characters, users will need to click “more” to see the full text. Make the most of those first words to inspire them to click further.
- Ask a question. This makes it easier for your audience to leave a comment. This increased engagement will help boost your account visibility to more people.
- Use emoji. Emoji add some flair and can make your caption more appealing. Just make sure you’re using these emoji correctly!
- Try different caption lengths. Our data shows that long captions are more likely to increase engagement, but ultra-short captions can also be very effective, when the visual speaks for itself.
Will Tang from Going Awesome Places posts great photos with detailed captions that tell the story behind the shot. In his Instagram bio, he refers to himself as a “creator of ridiculously detailed itineraries and guides”. This means that this approach to captions is very fitting.
Share Content That’s Meant to Be Shared
Your audience wants to engage with content that is useful and inspiring. When planning posts, think about the types of content that other people might like to share.
People love sharing infographics. Feed this desire by providing your followers with your expert insights. If someone embeds your Instagram posts on their blog, you’ll reach a completely new audience of potential followers.
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People can also reshare your posts in their Instagram Stories. These posts are clickable, so anyone who wants to learn more can click through to your original post. It’s another easy way to extend your reach to new audiences and potential new followers.
Embrace Instagram Stories
If you want to get more followers on Instagram, you need to use Instagram Stories. Half a billion Instagram accounts use Stories every day, and 45% of the most-watched Stories are from businesses.
People who use Stories are highly engaged. Plus, you can use hashtag and location features in your stories and expose them to people who don’t follow you yet.
Leverage the Most Interesting Story Moments
You’ve put effort into an Instagram story and aren’t ready to say goodbye to it after 24 hours? Pinned highlighted stories are a great way to introduce your brand to people visiting your profile. So fill these highlighted moments with great information and content to show new visitors why they should follow you.
Remember to also customize the cover photos on your highlighted stories. Vega, a nutritional supplement company, maintains its brand through its own green highlights and plant-friendly approach.
Source: Vega on Instagram
Post Consistently
Your current followers want to see content from you. That’s why they followed you in the first place. So give them what they want!
When users interact with your posts, these engagements tell Instagram’s algorithm that your content is valuable. These interactions then increase your reach. So if you provide your existing followers with something great to interact with, it can help bring new Instagram followers.
How often should you post? According to our analysis, 3-7 times a week.
Post at the Right Time
Instagram uses an algorithm, not a chronological feed. However, timing is still important for the algorithm.
Hootsuite’s social team found that the best time to post on Instagram is on weekdays between 8:00-12:00 PST or 4:00-5:00 PST.
However, your audience may have different habits than ours. A tool like Hootsuite Analytics can show you the best time to post for your audience based on previous engagement, impressions, or visits.
Schedule your posts and stories
What if the best time to post on your account is three in the morning? (Hey, it happens.) Use a desktop Instagram tool like Hootsuite to schedule and publish directly to Instagram.
Planning Instagram posts in advance allows you to plan a cohesive grid that tells an overarching story. It also gives you time to create great captions instead of trying to come up with something clever on the fly.
Step 3. Make sure you can be found
Use relevant hashtags to reach new users.
Unfortunately, Instagram post text is not searchable. But your hashtags are. Thoughtful use of hashtags can be a good way to gain Instagram followers for free. You can even create your own branded hashtags.
Relevant hashtags can help people find your content. Instagram users can even follow hashtags. This means your content tagged with a hashtag can appear in the feeds of people who don’t yet follow your account.
You can include up to 30 hashtags in an Instagram post, but don’t overdo it. Instead, experiment a bit to find out how many hashtags work best for your specific account.
Avoid hashtag tricks like #likeforlike, #tagsforlikes, or #followme. These can temporarily boost your follower count. However, these people aren’t interested in what makes you and your content special. They won’t help you build a meaningful and engaged Instagram audience.
Instead, focus on using highly targeted hashtags specific to your photo, product, or business, like stylist Dee Campling does in this shot #wfh.
Tag Your Location
If the location of your post or story is clear, it’s worth adding a location tag. It’s another easy way for people to find your content on Instagram.
If your business has a physical location, tag it and invite customers to do the same. Users can then click on this location and view all photos and Stories posted from your store, restaurant, or office.
For example, this is what appears when you search for the Van Wonderen Stroopwafels business location in Amsterdam:
Source: Instagram
If you’re posting content from a conference or event, adding your location can help you connect with other attendees. Your account will be exposed to a highly relevant group of new potential Instagram followers.
Tag relevant users
You can easily tag Instagram users who appear in your photos. Simply use the @-menu in the caption or Instagram’s tagging feature within the post.
Users are notified that they’ve been tagged, so tags encourage them to view and share the post. Your post will also appear on the Tagged tab in their Instagram profile.
You can also tag users in your Instagram Stories. They can then share the content in their own Story with just a few taps. If they do, their viewers can click through to your account.
However, be careful. Tagging someone just to get their attention is not a good idea. Instead, only tag users who are in your photo or relevant to your post’s content.
Potentially relevant users you can tag include:
- Customers
- Suppliers
- Other relevant businesses
- Colleagues or employees
- Someone who taught you a skill or told you about something you’re sharing in the post
- Anyone who appears in the photo
Encourage others to tag you
Another way to introduce your Instagram account to a new audience is to ask other Instagram users to tag you. When they tag you in a post, their audience will see your tag and can click on it to learn more.
Your bio is a great place to ask people to tag you on Instagram.
For example, Visit the USA asks Instagram users to tag them for a chance to be featured on their account.
Source: @visittheusa
Cross-promote your Instagram account on other networks
If you want to gain Instagram followers for free, you need to make it easy for people to find you.
Your Instagram profile should be easily discoverable. If you’ve already built a following on another social network, let those fans know about your Instagram account.
Share the link to your Instagram profile and give your existing followers on that social network a reason to check it out. (For example, an exclusive coupon code, event, or Instagram contest.)
When BlogHer hosted Jameela Jamil for Instagram Live, they remembered to promote her on their Facebook page as well.
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If you’re just setting up your Instagram account, make sure you’ve posted some content before promoting the account elsewhere. Aim for at least 12 posts.
You can also highlight some of your best Instagram posts on your other social channels. Consider boosting these posts with paid advertising so your other social media followers can find and follow you on Instagram.
Embedding Instagram posts in your blog
You’ve already seen several embedded Instagram posts in this blog. These clickable posts allow users to go directly to the respective Instagram post or profile.
Embedding your own Instagram posts in your blog is an easy way to share your content and increase traffic to your profile. Every new visitor to your Instagram profile is a potential new follower.
Let’s say, for example, that Hootsuite wants to announce the transformation of our mascot. Sure, we could share some photos of Owly’s new look.
But we could also embed an Instagram post like this:
Whenever you share visual content on your blog, such as photos, charts, or infographics, you can embed an Instagram post instead.
Sharing Your Instagram Account on Other Communication Channels
When sharing your Instagram account, think beyond just your social channels.
You can include a link to your Instagram account on your website, in your email signature, and in online newsletters. The link doesn’t have to be large either. You can use a small Instagram icon.
If you’re promoting a new Instagram account, a quick email blast is a great way to quickly gain free Instagram followers.
And don’t forget about your offline materials. You can include your Instagram handle on coasters, posters, packing slips, business cards, or packaging. It’s a simple way to bring more free Instagram followers to your account.
Using Instagram QR Codes
Your Instagram QR code is a scannable code that allows other Instagram users to follow you instantly. It’s another easy way to promote your account on physical materials like packing slips, signage, and product packaging.
Your QR code is also a great way to gain new followers in real-time at networking events and conferences. People you connect with in person can scan your code and follow you without having to type your handle. Try printing it out and slipping it into a name badge holder for easy access.
Find your Instagram QR code by tapping the three-line icon in the top right corner of your Instagram profile and selecting QR code.
Try Getting a Repost from Someone Bigger
Feature accounts are Instagram accounts that curate and share content based on hashtags or tags. Some of these accounts have massive followings. If they share one of your posts (along with your brand), they can send you a new stream of Instagram followers.
There’s a feature account on Instagram for almost every niche and interest, so start exploring.
For example, @damngoodstitch offers posts about embroidery. This account is followed by more than 180,000 people.
Focus on the Explore Page
The Explore page appears when you click the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the Instagram app. According to Instagram itself, it’s a place where “you can find photos and videos you might like from accounts you don’t yet follow”.
Half of Instagram accounts visit Explore monthly. That’s a huge opportunity for brands looking to expand their audience.
Getting onto the Explore tab isn’t easy. Fortunately for you, we have a whole article to help you get there.
You can also pay to enter the Explore feed by selecting Explore as your ad placement location.
Source: Instagram
Step 4. Engage Your Community
Follow Relevant Accounts
People should only be tagged in an Instagram post if the content directly relates to them. However, you can follow anyone you like. And when you follow an Instagram user, there’s a good chance they’ll check out your channel and consider whether to follow you back.
The “Suggestions For You” section on Instagram is also a helpful resource for finding relevant accounts to follow. These suggestions appear in your Instagram feed between posts, between Stories, or on the right side of your screen on desktop.
Just remember not to follow too many other accounts too quickly. Your follow ratio—the number of people following you compared to how many you follow—is important for credibility.
And don’t follow people just to get their attention, then unfollow them once they follow you back. That’s a bit of a lazy move and will damage your reputation on Instagram.
Engage With Existing Communities
Like all social networks, Instagram is about the communities that form within it. So make sure you’re participating in those spaces.
Get involved by liking, commenting, and sharing content from other trusted users in your community. Avoid generic comments (like “Amazing post!”) that look like they’re coming from bots.
Engaging with other posts helps attract attention (and potential new followers) in two ways:
- People get notified when you like and comment on their posts. They may check out your profile to return the favor.
- If others find your comments thoughtful or interesting, they may check out your profile.
Collaborate With Influencers in Your Industry
Here’s an important statistic for anyone thinking about how to get more Instagram followers: 60% of consumers say they would follow a brand on Instagram if it’s promoted by an influencer they trust.
If you’re not collaborating with influencers now, you should definitely consider it. Fortunately for you, we have a complete influencer marketing guide to help you.
Partner With Other Brands
Don’t be afraid to reach out to other brands and see if you could collaborate on Instagram. The right kind of partnership could help everyone involved gain more Instagram followers.
Think about companies you already work with in other ways. Maybe you’re connected through a local business improvement association or shopping district. How could you collaborate on Instagram?
One common option is to organize a contest with products from multiple companies, as the Rocky Mountain Soap Company did with Annika Mango from @borntobeadventurous.
Try Collaborating on Instagram Live
Live videos are becoming increasingly popular, and Instagram is a great place to take advantage of this trend. Users are notified when an account they follow starts broadcasting live, so a live video really captures attention.
To get your Live video in front of a new audience, use the “Go Live with a Friend” feature and host a live video together with someone else in your industry. Ask the other person to host the Live video and then invite yourself as a guest. The two of you will appear on a split screen and introduce yourselves to all your followers.
For example, Design Emergency hosts a live broadcast on Instagram every week where they interview key figures from the design world.
Using Interactivity Features in Stories
Instagram Stories offer a lot of interactive features that engage users, such as polls, questions, and chat stickers. These stickers represent a simple and easy way to involve your audience in your content.
Poll stickers increased the number of views of three-second videos in 90% of Instagram’s beta campaigns for this feature.
Source: Instagram
If users come across your story from a hashtag or location page, they can immediately engage. It’s a great way to get them to learn more about your brand by following you.
Pin Your Best Comments
One of Instagram’s lesser-known features is the ability to pin up to three comments to each post.
You can use this feature in several ways to get more followers on Instagram.
- With pinned comments, you can expand your caption to more than 2,200 characters and continue the story in the comments. This way you can engage in more detailed and deeper storytelling, which can be useful for some accounts.
- Pin favorite comments from other users, especially if they generate great engagement.
This feature will help you manage the conversation about your posts and create more opportunities for engagement.
Step 5. Keep Learning
Creating an AR Filter
Augmented reality filters for Instagram Stories are photographic effects that Instagrammers can use to edit photos taken with the front and rear camera of their mobile phone.
Those posts with puppy ears? They’re created using an AR filter (augmented reality). Those “Which [vegetable/pizza/emoji/etc.] are you?” posts? Yes, those use AR filters too.
Every Instagram user can now create an AR filter. Created filters live in their own section of your Instagram profile.
Source: @paigepiskin
If your filter is not an advertisement or brand filter, it will also appear in the Instagram Stories effects gallery, where any Instagram user can find it.
How will creating an AR filter help you get more followers on Instagram? Your account name will appear in the upper left corner whenever someone uses your AR filter. It can be clicked and can bring more new visitors to your profile.
Source: @gucci
Run Contests
Instagram contests are a great way to get more followers. Just make sure the entry process includes a request to follow and comment on one of your photos with a tag of a friend.
Your post will also be seen by tagged friends who may decide to follow your account.
Supporting user-generated content within a contest can also help you reach more people. People will learn about your profile from posts created by their friends. This is an effective way to build trust with new followers and get more eyes on your page.
Consider Instagram Advertising
Okay, this isn’t exactly a way to get free Instagram followers. But Instagram ads can be an effective way to quickly gain new followers by getting your content in front of people who wouldn’t otherwise see it.
And unlike buying followers, using Instagram ads is completely legitimate and an effective way to quickly get more Instagram followers with minimal investment.
Target your audience by location, demographics, and even key behaviors and interests. You can also create a lookalike audience based on people who already interact with your business.
In addition to the feed, you can also advertise in Instagram Stories and the Explore feed.
Learn from Instagram Insights
Instagram’s analytics tools will provide you with data on impressions of individual posts, their reach, engagement, top posts, and more. You can also find out demographic information about your followers, including gender, age, and location.
Regularly checking this data will help you identify areas where you can adjust your strategy to gain more Instagram followers.< >
Track what time of day your Instagram followers use the platform so you can post content when people are most likely to see and engage with your content.
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Michal Záruba je specialista na digitální marketing a konzultant v oblasti sociálních médií a SEO. Více než 8 let pomáhá značkám růst online prostřednictvím strategického obsahu, optimalizace pro vyhledávače a efektivní komunikace na platformách jako LinkedIn, Instagram a YouTube.
Na svém blogu sdílí praktické tipy o tom, jak propojit SEO, sociální sítě a brand building do jedné funkční strategie. Zaměřuje se na to, jak firmy mohou využít moderní nástroje a algoritmy k tomu, aby jejich značka nezískala jen dosah, ale i důvěru.
Když zrovna netvoří obsah, přednáší o digitálním marketingu, školí týmy a sleduje nové trendy v AI a vyhledávání.