How to Get More Followers on Instagram

Let’s not sugarcoat it – in the social media age, followers are the hottest commodity. That’s why it’s no surprise that many creators are on a relentless quest for more followers. But as most of them soon realize – this quest is a marathon, not a sprint.

So, let’s discuss the best ways to advance in this highly competitive race. In other words, let’s explore how to get more followers on Instagram.

Why Do I Need More Followers on Instagram?

Gaining more followers on Instagram is no easy task. Depending on the tactics you use, this can take a while, leading many to get discouraged and give up. But that’s the last thing you should do. Why?

Because a higher follower count can lead to many incredible opportunities.

If you’re an individual creator, a higher follower count allows you to become an influencer and start earning money from Instagram. If you run a business, having more Instagram followers means having more potential customers for your products and services.

For that reason, follower count is much more than just a number. It’s a getaway to measurable success in the digital world.

Why Am I Not Getting Followers on Instagram?

Let’s say you already run an Instagram account and struggle with how to get more followers on Instagram. The best course of action is to identify the reason(s) behind your lack of followers and address them head-on.

Now, the reasons might be of a technical nature. Your Instagram account might not be optimized for search engine optimization (SEO), you might post at bad times, or you might not be using hashtags effectively.

However, your content might also be the culprit for your low follower count.

Though this is undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow, your Instagram content might just be not engaging, relevant, or visually attractive to your target audience. So, before implementing any strategies to get more followers on Instagram, you should probably revamp your content strategy first.

Make your Instagram feed visually appealing for first-time visitors, enticing them to hit that “Follow” button. Take photos and videos of better quality and accompany them with highly engaging and attention-grabbing captions. And finally, do some competitor analysis (or analyze your own Instagram analytics) to see what type of content works best for your target audience. And then? Then you fill your Instagram account with it!

Do this first, and you’ve built a proper foundation for getting more followers on Instagram.

How to Get More Followers on Instagram: The Top 5 Tips

Now that your Instagram profile itself is no longer preventing you from gaining more followers, it’s time to tackle this task decisively. Here are the top five tips on how to get more followers on Instagram.

Tip 1 – Post Only When Your Followers Are Online

To succeed in the world of social media, you must be authentic. Now, many creators interpret this as being true to themselves (and their brand) and posting whenever they feel like it. But this certainly isn’t the way to go.

You can be authentic andstrategic in your approach to Instagram. How? It’s simple, really. Make the posts authentic and make the posting strategic. In other words, only post when your target audience is online.

You see, the Instagram algorithm prioritizes recent postings. As a result, your posts will be right at the top of your followers’ pages. This will help them reach more existing followers, earn more engagement, and, in turn, go out to more new Instagram users.

Tip 2 – Get Personal With Your Audience

Now, Instagram followers might be a commodity in the digital age. However, they’re also people with real emotions and desires who crave human connection. So, if you are to gain more followers on Instagram, you must show them the person behind your account.

Share authentic stories, behind-the-scene glimpses, and personal anecdotes to connect with your audience on a deeper level. This humanizes you (and your brand) and makes your followers feel more connected. The result? They’re more likely to engage with your content.

And when they do engage with your content, you should be there to engage right back! Reply to comments, answer direct messages (DMs), and like your followers’ posts. This will make them feel valued and heard, strengthening their connections with you.More importantly, this will also make new people want to join this wonderful community of yours.

Tip 3 – Use Instagram Advertising

Sometimes, the Instagram algorithm gets a little stubborn and doesn’t recommend your posts as much as it should. If this happens, don’t despair. Just give the algorithm a little push with an ad or two.

Running Instagram ads is a great way to get your posts to more existing and new followers. Just be careful about the posts you choose to boost. These should be authentic to you (and your brand) yet intriguing enough to get the attention of Instagram users new to your content. Of course, eye-catching visuals and compelling captions are also a must.

Tip 4 – Give Collaboration a Chance

As your Instagram following grows, so will the opportunities you have in the space. One of the opportunities that will open up is the chance to work with other Instagram creators in a mutually beneficial way.

You might make a video together, post a photo, or simply do a fun series of Instagram Stories. Whatever the case, the goal should be for their followers to follow your account and vice-versa.

Of course, for these followers to matter, you should only collaborate with influencers in the same niche. If your account is more personality-based, an influencer with a similar vibe would also be a good fit.

Tip 5 – Boost Your Followers Artificially

The few figures standing above the word “Followers” on your Instagram account can make or break your social media success. Unfortunately, these figures don’t always grow at the rate you want them to. If this happens, it’s perfectly OK to give them a little (artificial) boost.

When done strategically, buying Instagram followers can do wonders for your account. It can make your account appear more popular, credible, and influential. This will, in turn, attract more organic followers who want to be a part of this thriving community.