Want to get more Instagram followers but don’t know where to start?
There are many ways to increase Instagram followers – some people buy them or boost posts, but these tactics only work temporarily and can backfire over time.
Today, Instagram has become a popular social network for sharing photos and videos with more than 2 billion active users.
As a result, Instagram marketing and a high number of followers can increase exposure and visibility for businesses that want to reach their target audience.
Here are 15 strategies to get more Instagram followers without making any money. All of these tips are tried and tested, from increasing your likes to posting high-quality images:
Have a plan and create a content calendar full of great ideas
When we create great content, we usually focus on ideas, delivery and optimization.
It shouldn’t be any different when we share photos and videos on a business or brand’s Instagram account.
It’s important to spend time brainstorming interesting content ideas that align with the seasons, holidays, upcoming events for your business, and (most importantly) your overall traffic and sales goals.
Although you can still be flexible and post spontaneously as ideas come to you.
But having a library of ideas and a (preliminary) plan will keep you ahead of the game instead of scrambling for something to post.
And depending on your business, you can post several times a day or several times a week.
So create an Instagram content plan and stick to it.
Only post well-composed images and videos
Businesses should only use high-quality photos and videos when posting on Instagram.
High-quality (I mean crystal clear) non-pixelated shots. Instagram is primarily a visual platform.
Businesses cannot post blurry photos or images that have part of the image cropped.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be up to National Geographic standards. You just need to focus.
Low-quality content will not get engagement and may even cost you some followers.
Experiment with different filters and dimensions
Just because you’re a business doesn’t mean you can’t play around with filters and use different dimensions.
In fact, you should be using filters on your content.
The more creative and original your photos are, the more likely people will share and follow your account.
You can also download photo editing apps to edit your photos.
When it comes to dimensions, don’t feel like you’re relegated to a square – use the width and height options.
Use Instagram Analytics to feed your personality research
With an Instagram business account (which is free), you’ll have access to analytics that show when your audience is most active.
Use this data to optimize your publishing plan.
Instagram also gives you information about the age, gender and breakdown of your audience, which can be a starting point for your customer persona research.
Tag people who interact with your brand in your photos
Another way to get discovered by people who don’t follow you is to tag relevant accounts to appear in their tagged feed.
If you own a fitness studio, you can take a group photo after a Body Pump class and tag everyone in the photo. It will then fill all their marked resources.
Their followers will see the post and discover your studio.
But this strategy also applies to other brands and business accounts.
If you can share the spotlight and tag others, do it. It will backfire to bring you more Instagram followers and leads.
Optimize your Instagram Bio with branded hashtags and CTAs
Your Insta bio should be used to display branded hashtags, a link and a call to action, which is key when finding new Instagram users.
This section allows users to find out who you or your brand are and whether to follow you.
But don’t seem desperate and spammy.
You want to let users know who you are and why they should follow you.
Make sure this section is updated when needed.
Ask questions in your posts and include calls to action
Include a clear call to action or question at the end of each post to increase engagement.
CTAs include things like:
- More information – link in bio!
- If you want to see more similar videos, double-tap!
- Follow us so you don’t miss any updates.
- You can also ask questions. This will help keep your audience engaged, show you care about what your audience wants to see and give you ideas for what to post in the future.
Add an Instagram link to your website and email
Make sure existing clients and customers find your Instagram by adding an icon to your social links or by embedding Instagram content on your website.
You can also link to your brand’s Instagram account from your email signature.
And with the plugin, you can push your latest Instagram posts directly to your website.
This can be a great way to promote your new account to people who visit your website regularly and gain client loyalty.
Post your Instagram content to Facebook and Twitter
Cross-posting Instagram content to Facebook and Twitter can drive users back to your Instagram profile.
Users who didn’t know you were on Instagram and follow you on other platforms will also find out you’re on Instagram because the post will say it was shared from Instagram.
You can adjust the settings for each post to cross automatically, or you can do it manually for selected posts.
Run contests and campaigns to increase brand reach
Once you start building your follower base, you can run contests and campaigns that can attract more users to your page.
For example, you can increase traffic to your website or sell your product by running an inspiring contest on Instagram.
You can either ask users to like, comment, use a specific hashtag, or ask your followers to tag a friend.
Asking users to tag a friend will expose your brand and page to more Instagram users online.
It’s an effective way to increase your brand awareness and reach and a key hack to get more Instagram followers.
See what your competitors are doing
Another best practice for gaining Instagram followers is to look at what your competitors are doing and learn from it.
Researching their accounts can reveal hashtags you hadn’t thought of, influencers you’ve yet to reach, or other strategies that can inform your own.
Also, note which of their posts perform best – this can serve as another clue as to what might work for your account.
Interaction across Instagram (follow, like and comment on other posts)
Strategically communicate with users who may like your profile.
Practically speaking, this means interacting with potential customers and brand allies by liking, following and thoughtfully commenting on their posts.
Start with your hashtags: Click on your frequently used, relevant hashtags to discover others posting similar content.
Another good practice is to interact with those who already follow you. You should follow them back and like their content.
The more you engage, the more you’ll appear in others’ feeds and get noticed.
Plus, it shows that you’re an authentic, real account that believes in reciprocity!
Don’t use too much text on your photos
Generally, you want to save the words for your subtitles. People go to Instagram for visual content.
So posting a lot of text on an image is out of the norm.
A short positive quote or statement is great, but try to fit only a partial product description or long message into the image.
If you’re looking for ways to add text to your photos, Canva is a free tool that fits the bill.
Never put logos and watermarks on your images
Stamping a logo on your Instagram post detracts from your content and user experience.
People don’t expect to see logos or watermarks on Instagram posts. While placing a logo on your content is not recommended, you can include branding.
For example, if you’re a B2B company that posts behind-the-scenes footage of your employees, have them wear shirts with your logo.
Or, if you’re a fashion retailer, you can occasionally include a strategically placed bag in a photo with your store name on it.
Keep it low-key or you risk being unfollowed.
Use the right hashtags to capture new audiences
Using hashtags on Instagram will get you in front of new audiences who are looking for the type of content you post, whether they follow you or not.
If you have a local business, be sure to include local hashtags as well.
Take the time to research hashtags and find the best ones for your specific content.
It’s easy to determine which hashtags are gaining the most traction.
When you start typing # and your word, Instagram will show you how many posts have been created around that word.
Hashtagify.me is also an excellent tool for finding hashtags that are very attractive.
You can enter your primary hashtag and it will show you its reach, related hashtags and their reach, all related hashtags, and so on.
How many hashtags should I add to an Instagram post?
It’s common to stick to five to seven to avoid looking spammy. But you can add up to 30 hashtags.
Where do I add hashtags to an Instagram post?
You can add them directly to the post or in a separate comment immediately after posting – it’s an aesthetic choice.
Some users prefer to add single dots separated by line breaks after their caption and then add hashtags.
Whatever you decide to do is fine, but keep it consistent across all posts to have an efficient and professional look.