How to Get More Instagram Followers in 2026: The Definitive Guide

How to Get More Instagram Followers in 2026: The Ultimate Guide

With more than 1.4 billion people using this app, increasing your follower count can be challenging, and getting noticed on this platform sometimes can seem impossible.

However, by following Instagram best practices and using specialized tools, you can gain more Instagram followers in no time.

In this article, you’ll find more than 30 tips, tricks, and hacks you can use to learn how to gain more real Instagram followers.

Ready? Let’s dive into the list.

The best ways to get more Instagram followers

1. Publish More Content

Social media is a numbers game, and Instagram is no exception. The more content you publish, the greater the chance you’ll gain followers, which is why it’s so important to post content regularly and consistently.

To stay on top of posting on Instagram and ensure you still have a life and won’t spend all your time publishing content, you can plan your content ahead using an Instagram scheduling tool, such as Pallyy.

Instagram Followers Tip 1 – Publish More Content
Instead of being constantly glued to your mobile phone, you can easily and quickly plan content in batches that will be automatically published at your chosen dates and times.

With this content planning, you can publish as many posts to your feed as you want each week, and still have time left to share posts in Stories and create content for Reels.

2. Launch Instagram Giveaways

Instagram giveaways are a great way to get people to like and share your content and follow your account. With giveaways, it’s key that you clearly tell your followers what they need to do to enter the giveaway. If you want to reach new followers, here are a few types of giveaways you can run:

For followers to enter the contest, they must like and share your post.
Tag-a-friend giveaways – followers must tag a friend to enter.
Follow-to-win giveaways – By following your account, users are entered into the giveaway.
You can also create content-based giveaways, such as caption contests and photo contests, which can be good for generating user-generated content that you can reuse and share.

Instagram Followers Tip 2 – Host a Giveaway
Once you’ve selected a prize and created content for your giveaway, make sure to share it far and wide to get as much attention as possible.

Choose an appropriate hashtag for your giveaway to reach new Instagram users, and share it across all your social channels. Using a tool like SweepWidget, you can even embed a giveaway widget on your blog or website to encourage more participants.

If you want to learn more about hosting Instagram giveaways, read our complete guide here or our article on IG giveaway ideas.

3. Find Out What Content Works and Post More of It

When planning what content to create, it doesn’t have to be based on guesswork. Using powerful analytics insights, you can find out what your followers and other Instagram users love to see.

If you have a business account on Instagram, you can access some profile insights directly through the app, but if you want to gain deeper insights into what kind of content works best, you’re best served using an Instagram analytics tool like Pallyy or Agorapulse.

Instagram followers tip 3 – subsections in the analytics panel
Using these tools, you can gain insights that will help you develop an ongoing content strategy, and test everything from what type of posts performs best to which captions engage your followers the most.

4. Optimize your bio and profile

When a new user clicks on your profile, the first thing they see is your Instagram bio. What you write in your bio and how engaging it is can make the difference between whether they hit the follow button or move on elsewhere, which is why it’s so important to get it right.

Instagram followers tip 4 – optimize your bio and profile
You should use the limited space you have in your bio to tell users who you are and what your brand is about. You can also make your bio visually appealing by adding emojis relevant to your brand.

While there is space for a link in the bio section, you should try to make it as clear as possible so users can comfortably click on the link and aren’t distracted by long and confusing URLs. You can try using a link shortening and optimization tool for your bio to do this.

5. Experiment with posting times

When posting on Instagram, timing is key. However, figuring out the right time to post can be a challenge.

There are plenty of “studies” on the internet that will claim to have the answer to when is the best time to post, but the truth is that the right time is completely different for everyone. It all depends on where your followers are located and when they are most active.

However, by experimenting and analyzing your own Instagram data, you can figure out the optimal posting times for your specific account. Using tools like Pallyy, you can track post performance and run tests to decide when is the best time to post to your feed, Stories, and more.

6. Cross-promote your Instagram on other social platforms

If you already have followers on another social platform, such as Facebook or Twitter, don’t hesitate to promote your Instagram to those followers. No matter how small your follower count is, it’s worth regularly sharing links to your Instagram account.

When sharing your Instagram profile, you may want to consider motivating your followers to check out your Instagram. You can do this by sharing exclusive coupon codes and running giveaways specific to Instagram.

7. Include popular hashtags in your posts

Hashtags are essential if you want to make it easier for new users to discover your profile. Using popular and relevant hashtags will help you get on the Explore page and increase the chances of your content reaching IG users from your target audience.

Given the number of different hashtags you can choose from, however, it can be difficult to decide which ones are best for promoting your posts.

Instagram followers tip 7 – include popular hashtags
Fortunately, there are tools available to help you plan your hashtag strategy. Tools like HashTagsForLikes will help you identify hashtags that are trending and relevant to your niche. Using them, you can also find out what hashtags your competitors are using, which can help you develop your own strategy.

8. Make sure your Instagram grid looks appropriate

When a new potential follower lands on your profile, they will likely scroll down and browse through your grid of posts. That’s why it’s important that your grid is well-organized, aesthetically pleasing, and representative of your brand.

Instagram followers tip 8 – Instagram grid appearance
Many Instagrammers spend a lot of time planning their grid so that all images are consistent in terms of color schemes and photo types. Here are a few examples of what we mean:

The profiles above have taken care to keep their grids consistent and appealing to users, and that’s something every creator trying to grow followers should strive for.

However, if your content is more varied, it may not be easy to keep your grid looking amazing at all times.

As a general rule, try to avoid posting unedited posts in a visible place in your grid and try to achieve some consistency and you should be fine.

9. Make the most of your captions

Although the visual elements of a post are the main priority on Instagram, written captions also play a major role in determining how successful your posts will be.

By making your captions long and interesting, you can get people to pay more attention to your post, which in turn will lead to your post reaching more users. Some ways you can use captions to increase engagement include:

Asking questions – asking questions to your followers will encourage them to leave a comment.

Ask people to tag a friend – encouraging followers to tag a friend will increase engagement and your post will be shared with new users.
Using emojis – Using emojis can also increase the appeal and interest of your captions.
Instagram captions can have up to 2,200 characters, so it’s worth experimenting with longer and shorter captions to find out which works best for you.

10. Use Instagram location tagging features

When creating a post about a specific location, you should always add a location tag. This will make your post easier to discover for Instagram users who are interested in content related to that area.

You can use location tagging on almost any post, whether you want to share the location of your favorite tourist spot, mention the address of your favorite stores, or let IG users know about events you’re attending.

Instagram followers tip 10 – location tagging
Location tagging can help you reach an audience that wouldn’t normally see your content, and that can lead to gaining new followers.

If you also run a business and want to reach Instagram users in your area, don’t forget to tag your location on every post so people know where to find the products or services you’re showing in your post.

11. Engage in trending conversations

Want to get noticed on Instagram? Then don’t be afraid to speak up on new trending topics. Whether it’s a political event or a new hot fashion trend, don’t forget to get involved and share your opinions with the IG community.

Sharing comments, posts, or Stories related to trending topics can get your account on the Explore page, and if your posts in conversations are compelling, high-profile influencers may even share your content.

When posting content related to trends, remember to use hashtags associated with the topic so your post can be easily found.

12. Pin comments to increase engagement

Pinned comments are a little-known but very useful feature that can help you increase engagement on your posts. You can pin up to 3 comments to each post so they stay at the top of the comment feed.

We recommend pinning comments from followers that inspire conversation or debate. When new users see the post, they will immediately see the discussion in the pinned comment thread and are more likely to engage.

Greater engagement helps posts reach more platform users and this can lead to an increase in followers.

Another way you can use pinned comments is by pinning your own comments as a way to extend the post caption. If you find that your followers find longer captions more convincing than shorter ones, then using the pin feature this way could also help increase engagement on your posts.

13. Follow other accounts in your niche

If you want to increase your followers on Instagram, it’s important to be an active user and engage in communication with other Instagram creators and users. You can’t just sit around and wait for people to find your profile. You need to engage with communities within your niche and connect with people who will be interested in the content you create.

One way to do this is to follow other accounts in your niche. Following other successful creators in your niche is a great way to connect with followers who are interested in the type of content you create, and it can also be a way to connect with influencers for future collaboration.

To get started with this strategy, try following five successful creators in your niche. Remember to leave comments on their posts, communicate and engage in communication with other followers, and inform others about your content. Before you know it, you’ll have engaged followers on your own account.

14. Collaborate with other Instagram creators

Instagram collaborations are a great way to reach new users and gain followers. To get started with Instagram collaboration, you first need to connect with other influencers in your field. Before you start talking to them about collaboration, start talking to them and establish contact.

Once you understand each other, propose a collaboration and introduce a few ideas for the type of content you would like to create together.

If you have a similar number of followers as the other influencer, then Instagram collaboration can have a positive impact on both your follower counts and your current followers will definitely like it too.

Among the most popular types of Instagram collaborations are story takeovers and funny reels, but you can do really anything as long as you tag each other in the posts.

15. Consider live streaming

Like many other social platforms, Instagram today has a feature that allows you to broadcast live videos. If you want to connect quickly and effortlessly with your followers and potentially reach new users, Live can be a good way to do it.

To go live, simply go to the Create tab and select the Live option. You can add a title to the video and even schedule it in advance so users know to tune in. If you want your followers to contribute to your stream, you can also add fundraising features.

Tip 15 for Instagram followers – live streaming
Going live can sometimes be nerve-wracking, so it pays to plan some content in advance, such as games or quizzes. You can also do a live stream with questions and answers so both old and new followers can learn more about you.

16. Try making film reels

Reels are Instagram’s answer to TikTok, and if you haven’t created any yet – where have you been?

Since the Reels feature was launched, creators have noticed how effective it is for better discoverability of your account. Most people agree that Instagram’s algorithm pushes reels a lot, so if you’re trying to gain more followers, it’s worth trying Reels.

Instagram followers tip 16 – creating reels
If you’re not sure where to start, spend some time watching the Reels channel and find out what’s trending. Jump on the bandwagon and use trending sounds and filters to maximize the visibility of your clips.

17. Use your Instagram QR code

If you run a physical store or restaurant, then Instagram’s QR code feature can help you gain new followers by promoting your account offline.

People can scan your QR code on their smart phones and it will instantly take them to your Instagram account, where they can press the follow button.

You can display it at your physical locations and also add it to business cards or present it on your own phone so new acquaintances can scan it at networking events and conferences.

Instagram followers tip 17 – Instagram QR code
Finding your Instagram QR code is very easy, just click on the three lines at the top of your profile page and click on the QR code. You can also send it to contacts in your phone and share it on other social networks.

18. Don’t buy fake followers

No matter how tempting it is to buy followers from sites that offer 100,000 followers on IG overnight, just don’t do it. It’s a waste of money, and it can even cause your account to be less successful in the long run.

Purchased “followers” will provide no return on investment, will not interact with your posts, and can cause new followers to question the authenticity of your account. Not only that, buying followers violates Instagram’s community guidelines and can result in account suspension or deactivation.

19. Mention and tag other users in your posts

Tagging is a great way to increase the reach of a post and encourage users to engage with it. If you collaborated on a project with a brand or influencer, received products from a company, or want to connect with certain followers, you can use tagging to reference the relevant posts.

When you tag someone, they will be automatically notified of the post and are more likely to leave a comment or share it with their own Instagram followers.

However, while tagging other IG users is a great way to make your content more visible on the platform, you should only tag people who are somehow connected to your posts.

Tagging random people in posts and tagging many people in the same post is considered bad form on Instagram, so avoid this behavior.

20. Encourage your followers to tag you

While we’re on the subject of tagging, another great way to gain more real followers on Instagram is to encourage your existing followers to tag you in their posts. This will help increase your visibility because your name will be seen by the followers of anyone who tags you.

To encourage users to tag you in posts or stories, you can run contests or competitions, such as photo contests.

Another great thing you can do when asking users to tag you in their content is that you can also reshare their posts and fill your Stories, which will help you save some time creating content.

21. Like and comment on other posts

One of the most organic ways to gain new followers is to interact directly with people and show that you care about the content you create. To achieve this, you need to engage with other users’ posts by liking and commenting on them.

Every day, try to like and comment on posts from your favorite creators and engage in conversations in the comments section.

Don’t be afraid to mention your own account if it’s relevant, but you should avoid leaving unsolicited, irrelevant comments where possible. To gain followers this way, you just need to communicate with other users naturally and authentically.

22. Make the Most of Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to connect with your audience on an authentic level, and when used correctly, they can help increase engagement on your account and gain more followers.

Stories don’t need to be particularly exciting or polished; instead, you can use them to share updates and start conversations with your followers.

Tip 22 for Instagram Followers – Instagram Stories
I like to use Stories as an alternative to Instagram posts, especially when I just need to share a quick update with my followers.

To increase engagement through Stories, try using a poll or ask me anything stickers to encourage your followers to engage and chat directly with you. You can also add hashtags and location tags to your Stories so they can be found by users who don’t follow you yet.

23. Create Your Own Augmented Reality Filters

AR filters are very popular on Instagram and represent a great way to gain visibility for your profile. Using a tool like Spark AR Studio, you can design custom filters for Instagram and make them available to people on the platform.

When you upload the filter, it will be listed under your profile name, which can prompt people to view your profile and hit the follow button.

When creating a filter, try to create something that is funny or engaging. This will give it greater viral potential, and if a trend develops around your filter, you’ll definitely gain a good number of followers in a short time.

Tip 23 for Instagram Followers – Create Augmented Reality Filters
And it will allow you to add a touch of creativity to your Instagram Stories.

24. Create Highlighted Stories

Instagram Stories are only visible for 24 hours. However, by creating story highlights, you can make your content permanently accessible.

Story highlights are located between your bio and your feed of posts and are one of the first things a potential new follower will see when they visit your page.

Story highlights can be a great way to introduce your account and show new followers what you’re about. When creating story highlights, remember to use only the best and most relevant content from your archive.

You can create as many highlights as you want, so organize your Stories into clear categories that make it easier for new users and your existing followers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Tip 24 for Instagram Followers – Create Highlighted Stories

25. Consider Running an Instagram Advertising Campaign

If you have money to promote your Instagram account, one of the best things you can do is run an Instagram advertising campaign.

Unlike buying fake followers from a third party, using Instagram advertising is a legitimate and safe way you can increase your follower count by investing money.

Instagram has an extensive advertising structure that allows you to target ads to specific users based on demographics and location. You can also choose where you want your ads to appear, such as in Stories or on the Explore page.

Ads are best suited for businesses that sell products or services, but you can also use them as a way to share your content and encourage people to follow your account.

26. Share Your Instagram Profile on Your Blog

If you run a blog that gets visitors, you can convert those visitors into Instagram followers by promoting your Instagram page within your blog posts. Some things you can do to promote your Instagram page on your blog include:

Links to your social media accounts in your blog’s footer.
Embedding images from your Instagram account into blog posts
Pop-up windows encouraging visitors to follow you
Contests and giveaways for blog readers that can be entered using a Follow-to-enter button.
A link to your Instagram in emails to your subscribers
If your blog name and your Instagram brand are similar or identical, blog readers will find your profile more easily. If not, make sure to include your Instagram name every time you get the chance to maximize your chances of converting website visitors into followers.

It’s a great way to get more eyes on your Instagram content.

27. Focus on Creating Engaging and Unique Content

When it comes to growing your Instagram followers, you can try all the tips, tricks, and hacks in the book, but one of the most important factors is the quality of the content you create.

If your Instagram content is boring, repetitive, or low quality, no effort will encourage people to follow your account. That’s why it’s so important to focus on creating unique and engaging content that will entertain your followers.

When it comes to content planning, try to find your own style and stick with it. Be unique and original, and don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s also good to vary the types of content and use all of Instagram’s features, such as Reels, Live, and Stories, as well as posting images to your feed.

Not sure what content your Instagram followers want to see? Start by creating a persona for your ideal audience.

28. Encourage People to Follow You

One of the easy, but often overlooked ways to gain new followers is to directly ask people to follow your account. For example, if you’ve created a post or story that you think could get good engagement, don’t be afraid to caption it with a CTA like “like and follow”.

It may seem like a basic technique, but through such things people learn that you’re actively trying to grow your account, and many users will appreciate your content and be happy to help you achieve your goals.

29. Make Your Account Public

Making your account public is an absolute necessity if you want to maximize the number of followers you gain. When your account is public, all users need to do is click the follow button and then your posts will start appearing in their feed. However, when your account is private, users need to request to follow you, and you will need to manually approve their request.

While privacy is important, if you don’t have a specific reason why your account should be private, then we recommend switching to public. Public Instagram accounts are very common and making your account public makes life easier for both you and your new followers. To change your account to public, go to Settings > Privacy > Private account.