How Do You Get More Instagram Followers?

Get More Instagram Followers

Instagram has grown into one of the most influential social media platforms in the world, with more than 1 billion active users. Whether you’re a business owner, influencer, or simply someone who wants to connect with like-minded people, growing your Instagram followers is essential for visibility, engagement, and credibility.

In this guide, we’ll cover 14 proven methods to get more Instagram followers for free, along with strategic tips you can implement today.

Why Growing Instagram Followers Matters

Instagram is no longer just about sharing photos. It’s a platform for branding, marketing, e-commerce, entertainment, and social causes. Having more followers means:

Greater brand visibility
Increased trust and credibility
Higher chances of sales or conversions
More opportunities for collaboration and growth

1. Using Instagram Reels

Reels are short, engaging videos (up to 30 seconds) where you can add music, effects, and creativity. Since Reels appear on the Explore page, they are an excellent way to reach new audiences beyond your existing followers.

How to use Reels effectively:

Share quick tutorials or tips related to your niche
Use trending music and hashtags
Add text overlays to highlight your message
End with a call-to-action like “Follow us for more tips!”

Pro Tip: Create a mini teaser with Reels that leads viewers to your IGTV or profile for longer content.

2. Make Your Own IGTV Series

IGTV allows you to publish long-form videos (up to 60 minutes). Creating a series builds anticipation and keeps users coming back.

Content ideas for IGTV:

Cooking tutorials
Fashion styling tips
Educational series
Behind-the-scenes brand stories

Why IGTV works: Longer content builds stronger connections and increases watch time, which boosts your visibility in the algorithm.

3. Be Inclusive and Diverse

Accessibility:

Use closed captions (IGTV supports 16 languages).
Speak clearly and ensure captions are accurate.

Diversity and causes:
Audiences expect brands to take a stand on social issues. Share your opinions, highlight charities, or raise awareness for causes you believe in. This builds authenticity and loyalty.

4. Work with Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers typically have 10K–100K followers but often boast higher engagement rates than major influencers.

Why collaborate with them:

Their audiences are more niche-specific
They engage directly with followers
It’s more affordable compared to macro-influencers

Action step: Partner with micro-influencers in your niche and run co-branded campaigns or giveaways.

5. Create Authentic, Shareable Content

Being real and authentic wins. Share your struggles, wins, and personal stories. Users connect better when they see the human side of your brand.

Examples:

Behind-the-scenes moments
Challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame them
Memes or humor related to your niche

Bonus Tip: Posts with higher engagement are more likely to appear on the Explore page.

6. Be Human and Interact

Users don’t just want polished content; they want interaction. Responding to comments and DMs shows followers you care.

Ideas:

Reply to direct questions publicly
Share relatable stories
Collaborate with followers to share their solutions

7. Promote Instagram Content on Other Platforms

Where to promote:

TikTok
Pinterest
Facebook
Twitter
Your website/blog
Email newsletters

Pro Tip: Use teaser posts on other platforms and direct people to your Instagram for exclusive content.

8. Write Detailed Captions

While visuals attract attention, detailed captions keep people engaged. Long-form captions have doubled on Instagram in recent years.

Best practices:

Tell stories connected to your brand
Share experiences, emotions, or social stances
Use relevant keywords for searchability

Example: Instead of “Love my new shoes,” write:
“These black leather sneakers are lightweight, durable, and perfect for running errands in the city.”

9. Optimize Your Profile for Search

Think of your profile like a website—it should be SEO-friendly.

Tips:

Add keywords in your bio and username
Use niche-related terms like “photography,” “fitness coach,” or “digital marketing”
Keep your bio clear, concise, and benefit-driven

10. Go Live on Instagram

Instagram Live gives you instant engagement with your audience.

How to use Instagram Live:

Host Q&A sessions
Demonstrate a product
Talk about trending topics
Run live contests or giveaways

Extra Tip: Use Instagram Checkout during lives to sell directly.

11. Create Challenges and Games

Challenges are fun, shareable, and often go viral.

Examples:

The Ice Bucket Challenge (ALS awareness)
The Bathtub Challenge (quarantine trend)

Pro Tip: Create a unique branded hashtag for your challenge to make it recognizable.

12. Make Your Own Hashtag

A custom hashtag helps you build community and track engagement.

How to create:

Keep it short, memorable, and unique
Encourage users to post with your hashtag
Offer a prize or feature user-generated content

Case Study: Coca-Cola’s #ShareACoke campaign drove massive awareness through personalized Coke bottles and user participation.

13. Create Memes for Your Audience

Memes are quick, relatable, and highly shareable. They tap into pop culture and humor, helping you reach a broader audience.

How to use memes:

Add text overlays to trending meme templates
Relate them to your niche or brand voice
Share consistently to build recognition

14. Create Custom Filters

Instagram AR filters are fun, creative, and brandable.

Benefits:

Filters showcase your brand
Every time someone uses it, your account gets visibility
Requires creativity, not coding expertise

Example: A clothing brand could make filters showcasing their signature colors or styles.

15. Collaborate with Brands

Partnering with other brands helps you reach audiences similar to yours.

Why this works:

It’s cheaper than paid ads
You tap into already engaged communities
Cross-promotion builds credibility

Pro Tip: Find non-competing brands with overlapping audiences (e.g., a coffee shop partnering with a local bakery).

Conclusion

Getting more Instagram followers isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building authentic, lasting connections.

Use Reels and IGTV for visibility
Be inclusive and authentic
Collaborate with micro-influencers and brands
Optimize your profile for search
Create shareable content like memes, challenges, and filters

Stay creative, stay consistent, and your follower count will grow naturally.

FAQ: Instagram Followers Growth

1. How can I increase Instagram followers quickly?
The fastest ways are using Reels, running giveaways, and collaborating with influencers. However, for long-term success, focus on authentic growth.

2. Do Instagram bots help grow followers?
No. Bots and fake followers reduce engagement, damage credibility, and may even get you penalized by Instagram.

3. How often should I post on Instagram?
Aim for 3–5 posts per week and use Stories or Reels daily if possible. Consistency is more important than posting too frequently.

4. Is it worth buying Instagram followers?
Buying fake followers is risky. If you choose to buy, only purchase real and targeted followers from trusted sources.

5. What type of content attracts the most followers?