19 Ways to Get More Instagram Followers

Primary account transformation

First, you need to prepare all starting positions. Popularity won’t happen for an empty account, so adapting your profile to work with a large audience is the first key to achieving the desired result.

Everything you're already doing or planning to show in your account must be interesting! Audiences are drawn to vibrant accounts that meet their needs. However, these needs are often very different, which is why it's important to use the right techniques to hook your viewers.

Let's list the necessary steps you need to take to prepare your account for a growing following.

1. Create an attractive profile biography

Your bio, or "profile header," is a brief description of your account's content located right under your avatar. It's your business card and the first thing users see when visiting your page. Besides the text itself, your bio includes your account name, page category (public figure or business – which can be selected in settings), description, and a link to your activities for further information. You should aim to "catch" potential followers at this stage.

Engaging Bio

You're limited to just 150 characters, but typically you won't even need that many. Write a short and memorable description. It should interest people who visit your page and make them want to explore your profile further. For example, let them know that the information below is useful, interesting, or unique. You can even directly state that your account contains information that can't be found anywhere else. Special and necessary knowledge with an interesting presentation is what users want, and it’s the thing that will keep them coming back.

Use Emojis and Formatting

Style your bio consistently. If it's an education blog, try using relevant emojis – for example, a book or graduation cap. Think about how it will look, how it will be arranged, and how it will appear overall.

Add a Call to Action!

For example, if your content is educational, inspiring and provocative phrases will strongly resonate with users. Write something like "Start taking action now!" People should understand that their personal transformation or access to valuable new information will begin when they explore your content.

2. Choose a professional profile photo

You can't go anywhere without a properly selected photo! It's one of the first things audiences notice when they see your profile.

Study the Requirements for Avatar Image Quality and Size

The size for an Instagram profile picture is always 110 by 110 pixels, so you don't need to try fitting a huge photo or logo into the frame. It's better to keep things small-scale. If you're using your own photo, with this format, you're unlikely to fit a full-body shot while maintaining quality. A shoulder-up profile photo is the solution.

Think About Style

If you want your profile picture to be a brand logo, consider consulting a designer, as your audience should see a neat, beautiful, and perfectly polished profile. Even if you're using a photo of yourself as an avatar, you should still take it in a photo studio with professional lighting and equipment. Think about your image – clothing, hairstyle, facial expression. The image should reflect your profile's atmosphere.

Periodically Change Your Profile Photo

Dramatic changes aren't necessary, but to maintain freshness, try to slightly vary your avatar while maintaining its style.

3. Switch to a Business Account

This type of account will be incredibly valuable for you.

Analytics

Business accounts provide access to analytics. You'll be able to see how many people interacted with your content over a specific period, how many people visited your profile, how many shared it, and lots of other data.

Advertising

Switching to a business account will also give you enhanced advertising capabilities. Instagram offers more tools to business accounts for analyzing advertising performance.

Professional Appearance

The overall appearance of your profile header will be significantly improved. Most can agree that it looks more professional when your profile displays the account type or has a contact button allowing people to reach you. Instagram has even introduced an order button feature (for food, for example), which makes audience interaction even easier.

Content creation

4. Develop a content strategy

This point plays a crucial role in attracting that coveted number of followers. Planning will allow you to move steadily and confidently toward growing your popularity. Let's examine what's needed for this.

Identify Your Target Audience

The concept is simple – these are the people who will "connect" with your content. The process of identifying your target audience, on the other hand, is complex.

If you're selling something, you need to start with your product and relate it to different groups of people. Think about what age group, income level, social status, and education level your product is aimed at. You should also consider how it might be important to other groups. If you're, say, a café owner, you need to focus on the geographical factor – local residents. In short, imagine the person who will use your product or who will be interested in your content. Visualize! Approach this creatively but with a degree of calculation.

Create a Content Plan

A content plan is everything! Without a pre-planned route, you can't move forward with confident steps. A clear plan will also give you peace of mind! You need to create a precise schedule indicating when you’ll post and what specific posts, stories, or other content you'll publish.

5. Improve photo quality

High-quality images in your profile are another must. First, your account needs to look attractive and professional. When the audience sees that the content owner takes care of their page and invests time in improving every detail, this guarantees bringing viewers closer to loyal follower status!

Secondly, remember: Instagram is a visual social network, a network of images. This is the most important aspect, so the emphasis should be on photo quality.

Learn Basic Photography Principles

This won't take much of your time. Fortunately, modern phones will do half the work for you. Nevertheless, knowing the basics is important: understanding horizon lines, how to manage light in the frame, how to compose more interesting shots, and so on will help you immediately get ahead of many other beginning bloggers!

Study Photo Editing Recommendations

Knowing which apps to use and how to work with existing images will allow you to align photos with your profile's aesthetics, adjust lighting, remove unwanted elements, improve quality, and use other types of post-production features. The main advantage of photo editing knowledge is the ability to fix things in existing pictures without having to reshoot. Also, note that some effects can only be achieved through photo editing, not during the shooting process.

Maintain a Consistent Style

Again, it's about aesthetics! By maintaining a consistent style and aesthetic in your profile, you make your account visually appealing. People will want to keep viewing your content.

6. User Reels

Reels are Instagram's short video format. They're the algorithm’s favorites, which not only evaluates uniqueness and quality but immediately offers them to a large number of users beyond your followers. The audience reach can be enormous. This means that everyone has the opportunity to create a video that can get many views and bring in crowds of new followers.

Understand the Format's Features

This isn't the place for telling long stories. Everything needs to be lively, quick, and engaging. If you don't catch the viewer's attention in the first few seconds, they'll easily swipe past your Reel without noticing. In your statistics, you can see how many seconds on average users watch a specific Reel. This helps creators to understand what content (shooting style, idea, etc.) truly engages people. And if it's your target audience – that's an absolute win!

Study Your Competitors

Yes, you definitely need to follow top creators in your niche and trends that are currently gaining views. Browse the general Reels feed, learn what’s working, get inspired by the best, follow popular hashtags, and check out new Instagram templates. We also recommend creating a convenient table to record everything – this way you won't miss or lose anything.

Get Creative

Sit down and brainstorm! It's important to try to be creative and unconventional in order to attract people. Ask yourself: how can you connect your usual content with a trending topic? How can you present familiar scenarios in a new way?

Tip: Read our article where we discuss Reels in detail, including their advantages and disadvantages.

7. Carousel posts

A carousel post is multiple photos in one publication. Why can't we ignore this format? Unlike a single photo, a carousel allows you to tell a complete story, show more details, and touch readers deeply. Thus, your content generates more interest from people, and they're more likely to follow you.

Plan Your Structure

The right sequence is about creating intrigue, like in a good TV series. First, the pilot episode hooks you, and then you can't stop watching until the end.

A good option for the first frame is an intriguing headline: "In this post, you'll learn how to write music that everyone will listen to."

Then, in the following slides, continue breaking down the topic point by point. Usually, each point gets its own slide.

At the end of the day, you can structure your post however you want. You're the main screenwriter and director in this analogy. Just don't go overboard with originality. The post should be clear and understandable, and the structure should follow logical storytelling if you're conveying information.

And Again About Design!

You need to visually "attract" the viewer. For example, make each subsequent slide in a post brighter. Or, you could try alternating slides with contrasting colors. The design should match both your account's overall aesthetic and the information in the specific post.

Optimize your publications

8. Create attractive descriptions

Be Logical and Concise

Start with the main point – decide what story you want to tell. It's like putting together a puzzle: first, you need to see the big picture, then you can select the right details.

Start by studying storytelling basics – this is your foundation. There, you'll find many techniques to help you understand how text "works." The right story structure (visual or textual) always attracts the desired reader.

Start with an intriguing introduction to hook the reader. Then, gradually reveal your cards and delve into the details of your story. Periodically emphasize intermediate and key thoughts. But don't overdo it, so the reader doesn't lose the thread of the narrative or run out of patience. Keep on course straight to the goal! In the finale, which is what it is all about, end with a clear and bright conclusion that will make users enjoy your story.

Encourage People to Take Action

Motivate! Make people want to change their lives when they see your content! If you're selling a product, let users believe that only with this product will their life definitely change for the better. For example, first talk about the product's uniqueness, then show how a person's life will look when your product appears in it. Visualize this picture and support it with a verbal description.

Work With User Emotions

People love stories. The human mind tries to find a story in every object it encounters. People instantly put themselves in the character’s place and try to experience the same feelings.

Therefore, even if you're posting just one photo, always try to tell a story and evoke feelings and associations. Maintain interest through narrative logic and convey emotions through appropriate vocabulary choice. You can also share personal experiences and impressions – this will strengthen the connection with the reader.

9. Use hashtags correctly

We discuss all hashtag secrets in detail here . Using them is critically important, as it's a direct tool for promoting your content. Through hashtags, users can find your content with targeted searches.

Use Relevant Hashtags

Try to avoid hashtags that aren't related to your topic but are popular. If your content is about cars and technology, hashtags like #love, #family, or #thoughts will look inappropriate. These hashtags have nothing to do with your content and will bring random users to your page. Additionally, Instagram's algorithms don't like such manipulations, and you might get banned. Act purposefully – only use hashtags that relate to you!

Research Hashtags!

You can use our free service INSTAGRAM HASHTAG AI WIZARD to find the most suitable words for your niche. The general rule is: choose several high-frequency hashtags (used millions of times), several medium-frequency ones (used tens to hundreds of thousands of times), and several low-frequency ones (used only hundreds to thousands of times).

Tip: Create your own unique hashtag to make your publications easy to find.

Additionally, you can study which hashtags other popular bloggers use and test them out.

Use the Optimal Number of Hashtags

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags. However, this typically creates a cluttered feeling and looks ridiculous. It's better to use 5-10 well-chosen keywords or phrases.

10. Best time for publications

This point is clear. And we can say with certainty that every minute matters here: the first hour after publication now decides everything. Your post will either soar to the heavens or quietly get lost in Instagram's vast expanse before anyone can like it. Therefore, if you post during peak audience activity, your post is more likely to gather more likes, comments, reposts, etc.

We've written separately, in detail, about choosing the best time for publications here .

Interact with you audience

11. Actively use comments

Remember: access to a million-strong audience means nothing by itself! It's important to also know how to work with these followers! Respond to comments under your posts, as this is direct user interaction. People like a personal approach, and their interest in the content naturally increases if they can discuss it with the creator.

Respond Quickly and Effectively

There's no point in delaying. Instagram is a fast-paced social network. If you don't manage to discuss content with your audience right after its release, interest and relevance in the discussion will soon fade.

What makes a quality response? It's a meaningful, friendly, and concise reply. Don't write boring paragraphs. Don't be aggressive, even if you dislike some comments. This can damage your reputation, and you risk getting banned for rudeness or numerous hate-related complaints.

If someone asks you something, answer concisely, and be to the point. You should also thank everyone who left a comment (if there aren't too many) or just the authors of the most interesting replies (if you have many commenters).

Stimulate Discussion

People love to debate, and everyone is always looking to express their opinion. Imagine: a person sits tired after work, having spent all day completing tasks in front of a computer. What a relief it will be when they can blow off steam by discussing their favorite topic! Ask people directly in posts and comments what they think. It's a simple but effective tool. It will naturally help increase activity for your profile and attract new followers.

Handle Negative Comments

We mentioned above how dangerous it is to get into Instagram arguments. It's better to always respond to constructive criticism clearly and calmly. By projecting this calmness, you'll earn your audience’s respect. And non-constructive comments can be ignored.

Many of us have witnessed content creators responding to dozens of replies (often very offensive) left by so-called "trolls." Such comments have no purpose other than to anger the author. So, it's better to ignore them. Or, you can delete them if you're not too lazy.

12. Post Stories

Instagram Stories are a must-have when it comes to activity. When used properly, Stories can compete with Reels. This isn't just talk, either – research shows an interesting picture: most users first "scroll through" Stories, and only then do they switch to the feed and Reels sections.

What's the secret of these fleeting publications? It’s simple: they create a "here and now" effect. In Stories, you can share what's happening right now — fresh emotions, thoughts, events, promotions, and discounts.

Content Types

Here, you can post lighter, more casual content, like funny incidents, sudden ideas, or even atmospheric moments from your day.

Movement, energy, and quick scene changes are what make Stories so captivating! Therefore, you'll simply waste time if you decide to post some static photo or long text bubble in Stories.

If you're a lifestyle blogger (filming your life), Stories can become an essential tool. Stories are typically narrative, where you are telling something to the viewer. They can also be short and quick, where you briefly tell what's happening with you now in one or several Stories.

Use Interactive Elements

This is another way to interact with your audience – and we want to repeat again how important this is. Create a poll, attach reaction buttons to your story, or simply ask your viewer a question! This usually results in high engagement. All interactive tools are easy to find in the Story creation panel. So, before publishing, you'll have many tools to choose from for creating your masterpiece.

Publish Regularly

This might be the main advice for running your Instagram account. Regularity is what will keep your viewers' attention for a long time. Where there's attention – there are followers! And if you don't publish anything, algorithms might start suggesting you less frequently to your own readers. You'll lose relevance.

Without doubt, regular publications help maintain visibility on social media. But let's set priorities: quality content and your peace of mind are much more important than chasing daily posts. Creativity should bring joy, not become an exhausting obligation.

It’s better to make three excellent Stories per week than seven rushed ones at the cost of burnout. This will directly affect your blogging activities. This is when you should return to our advice above about the importance of a content plan. Stories are also part of it, so plan ahead and then act regularly and progressively.

13. Conduct live broadcasts

This is a bold step that will help engage your audience even more. In Instagram Live broadcasts, you can both advertise new ideas and simply chat with your audience. The fact remains – this won't go unnoticed, as followers receive notifications when you go live. And, in general, this type of content is very interactive.

Prepare for the Broadcast

Spontaneity has its advantages, but if you're a beginning blogger, you need to plan everything in advance. At the very least, the topic, purpose, and main ideas should be clearly thought out.

Decide your course of action: will you answer any questions or only questions on a specific topic? Maybe you'll just share important information/announcements with viewers. Such real-time delivery will be received with greater attention.

In any case, you need to anticipate questions that might be asked and what you'll answer. Also, don't forget about how you'll look and what mood you'll project.

Engage the Audience

You need to maximize audience attraction and generate interest. Provoke with unusual ideas, ask viewers' opinions, and engage in small discussions so users feel their opinions are heard.

Show what hasn't yet appeared in your main account content –for example, unfinished artwork or your current location. Be open, as viewers tend to like this.

To start, join a live broadcast of a blogger similar to your format and theme, and observe how they conduct their broadcast. Don't copy their style, but choose the most interesting techniques and think about how to adapt them for your own broadcasts.

Broadcast Frequency

Here’s where you need to make decisions. If this format seems successful and works for you, it makes sense to conduct broadcasts regularly –say, once a month. This will be sufficient for any announcements that come up, as well as new viewer interactions.

If desired, you can significantly increase the number of broadcasts. But remember – subscribers have their own lives, and if they constantly receive new broadcast notifications, they won't be pleased, to put it mildly. Intrusiveness irritates users, even if the content is good.

Collaborations and promotion

This organizational component is essential. How far could you get with account promotion if you didn't interact with others on the platform? Exactly (not far at all). Additionally, other bloggers and organizations likely have an audience overlapping with yours. You need to be competitive enough to attract these audiences.

14. Collaborate with other bloggers

This should be easy, regardless of the size of your following. Sometimes, popular bloggers actually look for lesser known ones to attract audiences from other niches. If your content is interesting enough and you have something to offer other bloggers, this will be a direct path to collaboration.

Find Partners

You can do this in several ways. The first suggestion is to use special services. Typically, they match bloggers with similar audiences and requirements. But you can also find accounts you want to collaborate with yourself. Everything again depends on your goal. In this case, it's follower growth. So, first look for bloggers with similar themes and accounts roughly equal to yours in audience size.

Collaboration Formats

You have several options here – obviously, the first is basic advertising. You buy advertising from a blogger, and they tell their audience about you and recommend following you in return. The second option is to simply create content together, combining your followers and thus attracting new ones. And last but not least, you can unite for joint broadcasts.

15. Participate in themed challenges

Challenges are when different creators perform the same action. For example, trying an unusual food combination. Why is this useful? Because it gives you a chance to be involved in coveted trends and capture a new audience. Challenges go viral easily, which affects algorithms. They will suggest you to new users with doubled enthusiasm.

Choose a Current Challenge

Avoid deterring your audience with an attempt to jump on a train that's already left the station – in other words, stay as current as possible. Open Instagram's Explore page and scroll through it. Don't try to repeat the first trending challenge you find. For success, you must also like the challenge yourself! Also, there should be a connection with your content, so not every viral challenge will be suitable.

Create Your Own Challenges

Yes, this step is quite difficult, but it guarantees not just trending status, but literally creating your own trend as well. When creating your challenge, you definitely need to base it on your activities. The key to success is giving an original view of familiar things in your field. However, trying to create a wave is only possible with a serious number of followers. Try to attract other bloggers in advance to repeat this idea.

Engage the Audience

Set a reward for completing the challenge; it creates incentive to participate in your idea. Such incentives can be material things or simply mentioning someone's name or nickname in your profile.

Analytics and optimization

To successfully attract more Instagram followers, you must remember to constantly analyze your account. Without understanding your own activities and their results, it's impossible to develop and move forward. You need to identify your account's weaknesses and find growth points.

16. Work with statistics

Studying your account statistics is the first and main tool for finding your successes and failures.

Study Key Statistical Metrics

This includes account views, number of accounts reached, total number of times any of your content appeared on someone's screen, number of actions taken when someone visits your profile, and much more. Instagram has many metrics and data points, so the right decision initially is to focus on the key ones – those listed above.

Analyze Effectiveness

Pay attention to dates: look at when activity dropped and when it increased. Think about why such changes occurred and identify trends. Focus on the moments when your reach and activity grew so you can try to repeat the elements of success.

17. Regularly review your account

Keep Your Finger on the Pulse

Periodically look at your account from an outsider's perspective, visiting the page as a follower would. Maybe that great profile header doesn't look so good anymore. Or, perhaps your services have improved but the description is still old. Scan your posts, and you'll likely find things to fix in texts or hashtags. Such an "audit" helps keep your profile in excellent shape.

Analyze Followers

Over time, you might attract bots or inactive users who don't speak your language and aren't your target audience. If you don't want your account to end up shadowbanned, it's better to remove such followers. The thing is, Instagram might see a large number of strange accounts in your profile as "artificial inflation." Hence the ban risk.

18. Study competitors

Analyze Successful Accounts

Look for leaders – especially in your niche and with similar content. Then, you can see new working techniques or, conversely, confirm the uselessness of the ones you're using.

Adapt Best Practices

Adopt trends and concepts. Catch up with what's currently popular. However, never abandon your own concept or change your style!

Look for Unique Ideas

After studying lots of other accounts, you can create something of your own by combining ideas seen elsewhere.

Strategy adjustment

19. Don’t be afraid to change!

Sometimes, your audience doesn't grow, views drop, or people unfollow your account. This means something was done incorrectly. Analyze your content, presentation, posting time, and other parameters. Find the most successful publications and, based on them, think about what changes in account management you could try.

From there, you can create a new content plan and calmly continue your journey. Almost no one succeeds on the first try. Be creative and positive. In the battle for popularity, the most active and fearless always win. Implement new ideas and fear nothing! Everyone is equal in the fight for attention.

Lastly, carefully monitor the entire social network, and keep your finger on the pulse without falling into habitual assumptions about how Instagram should be managed. Everything changes and moves forward. To avoid being left behind, you need to be attentive yourself, and better yet – be at the very forefront of the battle for attention.