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

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

With more than 1.4 billion people using this app, increasing your follower count can be challenging, and getting visibility on this platform can sometimes 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 will find more than 30 tips, tricks, and hacks that you can use to learn how to gain more real Instagram followers.

Are you ready? Let’s dive into the list.

The best ways to get more Instagram followers

1. Post More Content

Social media is a numbers game, and Instagram is no exception. The more content you post, the greater your chances of gaining followers, which is why it’s so important to post content regularly and consistently.

To keep track of your Instagram posting and ensure you still have a life and won’t spend all your time posting content, you can plan your content in advance using an Instagram scheduling tool, such as Pallyy.

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

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

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 participate in the giveaway. If you want to reach new followers, here are several types of giveaways you can use:

For followers to enter the contest, they must like and share your post.
Tag-a-friend giveaways – followers must tag a friend to participate.
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 – Run a Giveaway
Once you select a prize and create content for your giveaway, be 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 running 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 discover what your followers and other Instagram users like 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 insight into what kind of content works best, then you’ll do best by using Instagram’s analytics tool, such as Pallyy or Agorapulse.

Tip for Instagram followers 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 perform best to which captions your followers find most engaging.

4. Optimize your bio and profile

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

Tip for Instagram followers 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 more appealing by adding emojis relevant to your brand.

Although 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 are not distracted by long and unclear URLs. To do this, you can try using a link shortening and optimization tool in your bio.

5. Experiment with posting times

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

There are plenty of “studies” on the internet that will claim to have the answer to 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 find the optimal posting times for your specific account. Using tools like Pallyy, you can track post performance and run tests to determine the best times to post in the 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 these followers. No matter how small your follower count is, it pays to regularly share 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 hosting giveaways specific to Instagram.

7. Include popular hashtags in your posts

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

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

Tip for Instagram followers 7 – include popular hashtags
Fortunately, there are tools available to help you plan a hashtag strategy. Tools like HashTagsForLikes will help you identify hashtags that are trending and suitable for your niche. You can also use them to 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, aesthetic, and representative of your brand.

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

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

However, if your content is more diverse, it may not be easy to keep your grid looking amazing all the time.

In general, try to avoid posting unedited posts in a visible place on your grid and try to achieve some consistency, and it should work for you.

9. Use captions as much as possible

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

By making your captions long and engaging, you can get people to engage more with your post, which in turn will get your post in front of more users. Among the ways you can use captions to increase engagement are:

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 2200 characters, so it’s worth experimenting with longer and shorter captions to find out what 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 tags on almost any post, whether you want to share the location of a favorite tourist spot, provide the address of your favorite stores, or inform IG users 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, make sure to tag your business location on every post so people know where to find the products or services they see in your post.

11. Engage in trending conversations

Want to get noticed on Instagram? Then don’t be afraid to speak up about new trending topics. Whether it’s a political event or a new hot fashion trend, remember to engage 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 contributions to conversations are compelling, your content may even be shared by high-profile influencers.

When posting content related to trends, don’t forget to use hashtags related to 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 on 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 then 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 the number of followers.

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

13. Follow other accounts in your niche

If you want to increase the number of your Instagram followers, it is 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 collaborations.

To get started with this strategy, try following five successful creators in your niche. Remember to leave comments on their posts, communicate and engage 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 creators on Instagram

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

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

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

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

15. Consider going live

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

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 when 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 broadcasting
Going live can sometimes be nerve-wracking, so it’s worth planning some content in advance, such as games or quizzes. You can also do a live stream with a Q&A so both your old and new followers can learn more about you.

16. Try filming 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 the Instagram 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 trend 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, the Instagram QR code feature can help you gain new followers by promoting your account offline.

People can scan your QR code on their smartphones and it will immediately take them to your Instagram account, where they can click 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 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 may be to buy followers from pages that offer 100,000 followers on IG overnight, just don’t do it. It’s a waste of money, and it can even make your account less successful in the long run.

Buying “followers” will have no return on investment, they won’t interact with your posts, and they can make new followers doubt the authenticity of your account. And not only that, buying followers violates Instagram 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’ve collaborated with a brand or influencer on a project, 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 increase the visibility of your content on the platform, you should only tag people who are somehow connected to your posts.

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

20. Encourage your followers to tag you

Speaking 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 as your name will be seen by the followers of everyone 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 on content creation.

21. Like and comment on other posts

One of the most organic ways to gain new followers is to directly interact with people and acknowledge the content you create. To do 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, it really just takes communicating naturally and authentically with other users.

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 have to be particularly exciting or edited; instead, you can use them to share updates and start conversations with your followers.

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

To increase engagement through Stories, try using a poll or sticker Ask Me Anything to encourage your followers to engage and have a direct conversation 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 get your profile noticed. 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 a filter, it will be listed under your profile name, which can prompt people to check out 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 forms around your filter, you’ll definitely gain quite a few followers in a short amount of time.

Instagram Followers Tip 23 – Create Augmented Reality Filters
And it will allow you to add a bit of creative flair 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 any number of highlights, so organize your Stories into clear categories to make it easier for new users and your existing followers to find exactly what they’re looking for.

Instagram Followers Tip 24 – Create Highlighted Stories

25. Consider Launching an Instagram Ad Campaign

If you have money to spend on promoting your Instagram account, one of the best things you can do is launch an Instagram ad campaign.

Unlike buying fake followers from a third party, using Instagram ads is a legitimate and safe way to 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 most suitable 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. Things you can do to promote your Instagram page on your blog include:

Links to your social media accounts in the blog footer.
Embedding images from your Instagram account into blog posts
Pop-ups encouraging visitors to follow you
Contests and giveaways for blog readers that can be entered using a Follow-to-enter button.
Link to your Instagram in emails to your subscribers
If your blog name and your Instagram brand are similar or the same, blog readers will find your profile more easily. If not, be sure to include your Instagram handle whenever possible to maximize the 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 amount of 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 planning your content, try to find your own style and stick to it. Be unique and original and don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s also a good idea 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 easy, but often overlooked way 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 will see that you’re actively trying to grow your account, and many users will appreciate your content and be happy to help you reach your goals.

29. Make your account public

Making your account public is absolutely essential if you want to maximize the number of followers you gain. When your account is public, users just need to click the follow button and then your posts will start appearing in their feed. However, when your account is private, users must 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 will make life easier for both you and your new followers. To change your account to public, go to Settings > Privacy > Private account.

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