Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, so there are plenty of people willing to follow you if you get the right content in front of them. Creators have a hard job that requires continual evolution to be sure that posts are high quality and engaging.
But I’m going to be upfront with you and let you know that there’s no magic button to get followers.
You need to:
- Put in the effort to create great content
- Remain consistent with your posts
If you can commit to doing both of these things and follow the recommendations below, you’ll be well on your way to growing your account.
Start using some of these strategies today, and you’ll start to get more followers on Instagram faster than ever before.
How to Get More Followers on Instagram in 2025
Getting more followers requires doing a bunch of the small things over and over again until you see results. None of these tips are “secrets,” but most creators don’t follow them or remain consistent to build up a following.
1. Post Consistently and at the Right Time
Data-driven approaches to social media growth are always a must-follow because they’re proven to work. Posting consistently is one of the easiest things that you can do, and you can even schedule posts out if you like.
Some of the tools that allow you to schedule posts are:
- Hootsuite is one of the most famous platforms in the world, but they are very expensive. You’ll gain access to a bunch of tools you might not use, but there is a 14-day free trial that you can use to see if you like it. I only recommend Hootsuite if you have a larger budget.
- Sendible is another all-in-one platform that creators use to grow their audiences. You can schedule posts, create ideas, view engagement and more right on the platform. Pricing is more affordable and there is a free trial, too.
- Buffer has a free tier where you can schedule ten posts on Instagram at one time, and the next tier is just $5 a month for one channel. Advanced analytics, an engagement inbox and other features are available on Buffer.
Of course, there are many other schedulers worth considering that you’ll need to research to see if they’re a better fit for you.
But you need to take consistency a step further and post at the right time, too. Every audience is slightly different, but a general rule of thumb is to post between 11am and 4pm most days to maximize engagement.
You’ll want to experiment with your own posting schedule to see what works best for you.
2. Optimize Your Bio and Instagram Username 🚀
Most creators sign up for an account, add something random to their bio and just start posting. You can get more followers on Instagram if you optimize your:
- Bio
- Username
And you may be wondering why it all matters, right? Followers may be unsure if they should follow you and will make their decision based on your bio. Give a succinct explanation of who you are and what you do.
If you have a website or you use a link in bio service, be sure to add it to your bio.
Let your personality shine in your bio and don’t forget to optimize your username, too. If you have a business or want to be called by a certain name, update your username to match it.
While you’re at it, check your profile picture and update it if it’s outdated.
3. Write Awesome Captions ✍️
Captions are becoming ever more important in recent years because it’s a way to connect with people viewing your posts. You’ll find reports that state the best captions are:
- 20 characters or so
- 2,000 characters
You can fall between any of these spectrums, but be sure to use emojis to help with formatting, add in hashtags and write witty, inspiring captions that intrigue viewers. You can also add a call to action to ask people to follow you in the caption – it really works.
4. Use Analytics to Make Better Content
Instagram has insights that you can access by doing the following:
- Tap your profile picture on the bottom right.
- Tap the hamburger icon.
- Go to Insights.
And you can see what types of posts perform the best for your audience. If you create more of the types of posts that people want to see, you’ll get more followers. I will say that Insights are limited and you’re better off using a scheduler’s analytics if you have one.
Buffer has great analytics for your posts that offer better overall data about your content so that you can work on making even better content.
If you make the best content for your audience, you’ll notice that your follower count will continue to grow.
5. Host a Giveaway
Your niche may or may not warrant hosting a giveaway. If you have a budget for it, giveaways are a great option, but you have to be sure that you do the following:
- Post the giveaway.
- Ask people to share and like the post.
- Ask people to follow your account.
- Ask people to tag 1 – 3 friends.
Why? If you create these rules, people will organically help you grow your following. Followers will adhere to the rules and follow your account if the freebies are that good. Host a giveaway as often as you can, and if you have sponsors, ask them to sponsor this type of post.
Your giveaway doesn’t need to be extravagant or costly. Even small giveaways can net you hundreds or thousands of followers when you run them properly.
6. Cross-Promote Your Content
Simple and easy. If you have other social media channels, cross-promote your content and account on them. For example, if you have a YouTube channel or TikTok, encourage your subscribers or followers to also follow your Instagram.
It costs nothing to ask people to follow you, and you’ll find that people are more than happy to follow good creators across multiple channels.
7. Try Buying Followers 💵
I bet you weren’t expecting this list to have buying followers on it, but it is the closest thing to a “secret button” to getting followers, as you’ll find. I won’t go into specific platforms that you can purchase followers from, but I will say that you want to:
- Read through the terms of service
- Avoid sellers who offer bot or fake followers
- Try finding a service with a refund guarantee
- Read through reviews and testimonials to see what other people say
Buying followers may or may not be in your budget. If you have even a small marketing budget, you can purchase hundreds of followers overnight.
8. Try Instagram Ads
If you have a budget and want to grow your followers, you can try using Instagram Ads to promote your account and content.
Ads will put your best posts in front of people who have yet to discover your profile. The beauty of this tool is that you can target audiences based on their interests, locations and age. You can choose to show your ads to people who are similar to your other followers, making it more likely that they will follow you and engage with your content.
You don’t have to set a crazy budget for Ads for it to boost your exposure and following. Set a realistic daily budget and experiment with different posts to see which ones drive the most new followers to your account.
9, Find Your Aesthetic
Do you have an aesthetic or theme for your Instagram? If not, now is a great time to define one. Having a theme or “look” for your account can help you create a consistent brand that’s instantly recognizable. It can also help you attract more followers who prefer your kind of theme. At just a glance, people who visit your profile will get an idea of what your account is about and your tone or style.
A consistent theme will make it easier for people to decide whether they should follow you.
Once you find an aesthetic that resonates with your audience, stick with it. Staying true to your theme will help you grow your following and build a strong brand at the same time.
10. Interact with Your Competitors’ Followers
Want to get your account in front of the right people? Start engaging with your competitors’ followers.
After all, they share the same audience, so their followers are likely to be interested in your content, too.
How can you engage with your competitors’ followers?
- Like their posts
- Reply to their comments on a competitor’s post
- Comment on their posts
- Tag them in your content
- Send a direct message
- Save one of their posts
The goal is to get the attention of these followers so that they check out your profile and, hopefully, give you a follow.
Try to take a subtle approach to this strategy. Don’t overdo it or be too overbearing. The last thing you want is for one of your competitors to call you out for trying to poach their followers.
11. Use Location Tags to Reach New Audiences 📍
Another simple way to expand your reach and get more followers is to start adding location tags to your content.
Location tags help your content get discovered by locals or anyone interested in the areas you’ve visited. The great thing about locations on Instagram is that they have their own feed and stories. That makes it easy for people in the area to see your content and what’s going on in the area.
So, the next time you’re out and about in a popular location, create a post and tag your location. You never know who may discover your content and start following your account.
Not sure how to add locations to your posts? Follow these steps:👇
Step #1: Upload or record your post.
Step #2: Add filters, music or whatever else you want, and tap Next.
Step #3: Tap Add location.
Step #4: Search for a location and tap it to add it to your post.
Go through the rest of the steps to publish your post, and your location should be tagged.
12. Go Live
Going live on Instagram can help you reach more people, engage with your audience on a deeper level and ultimately, get more followers.
The great thing about live sessions is that they offer you opportunities to make money, but you can also repurpose that content after you’re done going live to get more views and followers.
And if you have some great connections on Instagram, you can even collaborate with other influencers or brands to expand your reach even more when you go live.
Getting more followers on Instagram is the ticket to growing your audience, increasing your engagement and reaching your goals, whether that’s to be an influencer or increase brand awareness. If you’re consistent and follow the tips above, you can start getting more followers fast.
