The journey to learn how to get more followers on Instagram is a subtle mix of creativity and strategy.
In this blink-and-scroll era, getting the digital spotlight can be as fleeting as your 24-hour Instagram story. One moment you are basking in the glory of newfound followers, and the next, you wonder if your account got lost in the algorithm abyss.
But fear not! This post will decode the formula to secure your place in the Instagram Hall of Fame. 😎
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1. Get to Know the Algorithm
No, you don’t have to become a data scientist to know how to get more followers on Instagram.
But you can gain Instagram followers by learning from Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram. In his words, the Instagram algorithm is not a single, monolithic entity but a collection of many different algorithms, each responsible for ranking content.
This multi-layered algorithm works separately for the Feed, the Explore page, Reels, and Stories. The design of each of these algorithms aims to predict what content a user is most likely to be interested in based on a variety of factors, including:
Look at Past Behavior
What posts has the user interacted with in the past? What accounts have they followed, liked, and commented on?
If a user has been interacting with many posts about fashion, the algorithm is more likely to show them more fashion-related content in their feed. 🤔
Check for Proximity
Is the poster a close friend, family member, or favorite influencer?
If a user is a close friend of the poster, frequently interacts with them, or exchanges DMs, the algorithm is likely to show them a post from that person, even if it's not very recent or popular.
Timing is Important
To get more followers on Instagram, it’s essential to understand how time works on the platform. How recent is the post?
Instagram's algorithm prioritizes newer posts but may also show older posts that are relevant to the user's interests or have high engagement.
Post Popularity
How many likes and comments has the post received from other users? 🧐
Type of Content
What type of content does the user typically interact with? (e.g., photos, videos, Reels, Stories).
If a user typically interacts with photos, the algorithm is more likely to show them more pictures in their feed. It works the same for Reels.
The Instagram algorithm gets constant updates as Instagram learns more about user behavior. What works today to get your content seen may not work tomorrow.
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2. Don’t Buy IG Followers
It’s tempting to put some money to get more followers on Instagram, but it's not worth it in the long run.
Purchased followers are often fake accounts or bots that usually look like the image below. No posts, no profile picture, which means they won't engage with your content or help you grow your Instagram. 🔥
Buying followers can hurt your account. Remember the algorithm? That little complex thing can detect fake followers and remove them, which can lead to a drop in your follower count and engagement.
3. Create a Marketing Strategy
If you made it this far, you're serious about organic Instagram growth.
To get more followers on Instagram, it's crucial to have a strategy in place to help focus your efforts and ensure you're using the right tactics to reach your target audience and measure your results.
Define your Goals
What do you want to achieve with your Instagram account? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? Once you know your goals, you can tailor your strategy accordingly. 🚀
Identify your Target Audience
Who are you trying to reach with your Instagram content? Creating a proto-persona can be an innovative approach. This character is a fictional representation of your ideal customer based on your understanding of their needs, wants, and behaviors.
Once you know it, you can create content relevant to their interests and needs.
Research your Competition
What are other accounts in your niche doing well? What kind of content are they posting? What type of engagement are they getting? You need to research your competition to get ideas for your content and strategy to get more followers on Instagram.
Be Consistent with Branding
No matter your industry, visual appeal is always a win. You should aim for recognition at first glance. Make sure to maintain a consistent visual identity that aligns with current trends. Use a cohesive color scheme, fonts, and themes that reflect your brand. 🧡
Apply the Strategy
After knowing the direction you want to take, execute it through a content strategy that aligns with your brand and resonates with your audience. Consider a mix of images, Stories and Reels.
Getting people to read captions can be more challenging, but followers will read them if you have their attention. To get more followers on Instagram, write them for SEO, start with a strong hook and keep it short and to the point. Marketers agree that the target should be 125-138 characters.
Example:
Hook: Did you know that the average person eats over 100,000 microplastics annually?
Short caption: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic polluting our oceans and food supply. To learn more about the dangers of microplastics and what you can do to reduce your exposure, visit the link in my bio.
You can add text to your Instagram Reels for a better user experience.
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Hashtag Strategy
You can apply two approaches: use trending/niche hashtags and create branded ones.
Identify popular hashtags within your industry or niche. Then, identify the most used ones and mix them. Be mindful of the competition for popular Tiktok hashtags, and balance them with specific, less competitive tags related to your content. 👍
Create a branded hashtag to encourage user-generated content and increase discoverability to help you increase Instagram followers.
Post Calendar
With everything in place, you can start posting!
A content calendar helps maintain a consistent posting schedule. Consistency is crucial to getting more followers on Instagram, as it helps keep your audience engaged and builds anticipation for your content.
Determine the optimal posting frequency based on your audience's behavior and overall strategy. 😎
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4. Optimize your Instagram Bio
Your Instagram bio is your digital calling card.
Tell people who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you. Add keywords for your account to appear in the search results.
Include a call to action. Tell people what you want them to do, whether visiting your website or subscribing to your newsletter. At last, using emojis helps you to get more followers on Instagram as they make your bio more visually appealing and engaging.
Example:
Help bloggers get more followers on Instagram. Free tips and tricks to grow your Instagram audience. Visit my blog for more info! 😊
Don’t forget to add the link to your external pages and other platforms.
5. Engage & Collaborate with Other Brands and Influencers
Instagram is an extensive digital community that can become a physical one with the right connections.
Engaging with other brands and influencers is a significant growth. Not only are you promoting yourself, but also supporting your mutuals. 🧡
When you comment on or collaborate with accounts that share your interests, you're promoting your profile and contributing to a community beyond your own. Try to engage with creators from other countries and learn how to add subtitles to Instagram Reels to break the language barrier.
Be sincere and thoughtful and avoid interacting just to get more followers on Instagram.
Also, collaborating with influencers with a dedicated and trusting audience is a strategic move. Partnering with other Instagrammers as @s.nova.vintage and @iddavanmunster did, provides access to potential free Instagram followers
6. Promote Your Instagram on Your Other Platforms
Allow yourself to be found. 🧐
Only some people are active on Instagram. Some people prefer to be active on other social media platforms. However, if your content is attractive enough, you can still get followers by promoting your Instagram on other platforms.
Include your Instagram handle in your bio and social media posts on other platforms.
Share snippets of your Instagram content, showcase behind-the-scenes moments and encourage your followers on other platforms to join you on Instagram.
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7. Go Live!
Nearly half of US social media users under 35 watched Instagram Live in 2021.
Using Instagram Live is a great way to interact face-to-face with your followers and build relationships with them. It's also a great way to promote your latest content and get more followers on Instagram. 🙂
On IG Live you can:
Host a Q&A Session
Answer your followers' questions about your business, products, services, or niche.
Do a Product Demo
Show off your products or services in action and explain how they work.
Live Events
Broadcast live from events that you're attending or hosting.
8. Analyze the Big Successes… and the Big Losses
Look closely at your high-performing content and understand what resonates with your audience, just like Instagram marketer @elisedarma did.
👉 Conversely, study the posts that didn't fare well and identify any patterns or areas for improvement.
This analytical approach allows you to get more followers on Instagram by refining your strategy, replicating successful tactics, and learning from setbacks, ensuring a continuous trajectory towards a more significant and engaged following.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I attract more followers on Instagram?
Post high-quality content consistently, use relevant video hashtags and engage with your audience through comments and collaborations to get more followers on Instagram.
How can I get 1,000 followers on Instagram?
Consistently post engaging content aligned with your niche, leverage relevant hashtags, and interact with your community to reach 1,000 Instagram followers organically.
How to gain followers on Instagram fast?
There is no fast method for organic growth on Instagram, but posting consistently and using relevant hashtags is a good start.
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