We totally get it; everyone wants more followers! Seeing a new one come in is a new type of serotonin boost we all know too well, and waking up to lost followers…well, not so much. Since the dawn of Instagram, the rat race to grow a following has been on everyone’s priority list, and while some of the intentions can be in vain, there are a lot of benefits to having a big following. 

Welcome to the new age where your Instagram followers are not just a sign of popularity. Whether you have 100 million followers or 1000, your followers are your digital tribe, contributing to your community's vibrancy and success. They are the ones who have chosen to see the content you create, are most likely to share your posts, and might even be contributing to your sales…so not only is it important to grow your following, but it’s also important to have a good following. 

So, where do you begin? For today’s blog, we thought we would get you started on your follower growth era with 20 actionable strategies that will help boost your Instagram following and cultivate meaningful connections with your audience.

Say No To Fakes

Avoid the temptation to buy followers; genuine engagement trumps inflated numbers. Building a real and engaged audience takes time and effort, but it's the foundation for long-term success on Instagram. Focus on creating valuable content that resonates with your target audience, and let your follower count grow organically. Pro tip: Instagram can definitely tell when you’ve bought your followers, and you will get penalized for this by a potential shadow ban where none of your posts will be shown on the feed, leading to a drastic dip in engagement.

Have A Brand Identity

Craft a compelling personal brand and value proposition to attract like-minded followers. Your Instagram profile should clearly communicate who you are, what you offer, and why people should follow you. Consistency in messaging, visuals, and tone helps strengthen your brand identity and makes your profile more appealing to potential followers.

Create Visual Harmony

Curate a cohesive Instagram feed with consistent themes and aesthetics. A visually appealing feed attracts new followers and keeps existing ones engaged. Use editing tools and filters to maintain a consistent look and feel across your posts, creating a harmonious visual experience for your audience…and if you need some aesthetic video to add to your visual appeal, you know where to find them!

Optimize That Bio

Optimize your Instagram bio with keywords and a clear call-to-action. Your bio is prime real estate for showcasing your personality, promoting your offerings, and directing traffic to your website or other social media profiles. Craft a concise and compelling bio that entices visitors to follow you and learn more about what you have to offer.

Make Your Captions Magic

Write descriptive captions infused with relevant keywords to enhance discoverability. Captions are an opportunity to provide context, share stories, and connect with your audience on a deeper level. Use a mix of informative, entertaining, and engaging captions to capture attention and encourage interaction.

Have A Hashtag Strategy

Research and use the best hashtags tailored to your target audience's interests. Hashtags increase the discoverability of your posts and help you reach a wider audience. Use a combination of popular, niche-specific, and trending hashtags to maximize your post's visibility and engagement.

Post Consistently

Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your followers engaged and informed. Consistency is key to staying top-of-mind with your audience and building a loyal following. Use analytics tools to determine the best times to post for maximum reach and engagement.

Timing Is Everything

Identify and leverage peak posting times to maximize reach and engagement. Timing plays a crucial role in the visibility and success of your posts. Experiment with different posting times and monitor engagement metrics to pinpoint the optimal times when your audience is most active.

Be Accessible

Ensure your content is accessible to a diverse audience, including alt text for visuals. Accessibility improves user experience and makes your content more inclusive and welcoming. Provide alternative text descriptions for images and videos to accommodate users with disabilities and improve SEO.

Collaborate With Others

Partner with other brands, creators, and influencers for mutual exposure. Collaborations introduce your profile to new audiences and provide valuable networking opportunities. Choose partners whose values align with yours and collaborate on projects that benefit both parties and engage your followers.

“Reel” In New Followers

Embrace Instagram Reels to captivate and entertain your audience. Reels are a powerful tool for showcasing your creativity, sharing quick tips, and engaging with trends—leverage Reels' algorithmic advantages to reach a broader audience and increase engagement on your profile. We’ve got plenty of ready-to-use videos that make creating consistent Reels easier than ever here at Packsia. 

Highlight Your Most Important Content

Organize and optimize your Instagram Stories Highlights for easy navigation. Highlights allow you to showcase your best content, stories, and promotions beyond the 24-hour lifespan of regular stories. Curate themed highlights that reflect different aspects of your brand and make it easier for followers to explore your content.

Be A Shareable Account

Create shareable memes and content that resonate with your followers. Shareability is key to expanding your reach and attracting new followers through viral content. Keep your content relevant, relatable, and entertaining to encourage sharing and engagement.

Branch Out

Encourage user-generated content to foster a sense of community and participation. User-generated content showcases customer loyalty and increases brand authenticity and credibility. Create campaigns or challenges that encourage followers to create and share content related to your brand.

Host A Giveaway

Host Instagram giveaways to incentivize engagement and attract new followers. Giveaways are an effective way to reward your existing followers, generate buzz around your brand, and attract new followers through participation. Clearly communicate the rules, prizes, and entry requirements to ensure a successful giveaway campaign.

Cross Promote

Promote your Instagram on other platforms to expand your reach. Cross-promotion helps you leverage your existing audience on other channels to grow your Instagram following. Share teasers, highlights, and exclusive content from Instagram on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok to drive traffic and engagement.

Analyze Your Content

Analyze and replicate high-performing content to refine your strategy. Data-driven insights guide your content creation efforts and help you understand what resonates with your audience. Monitor metrics such as engagement rates, reach, and impressions to identify trends and optimize your content strategy accordingly.

Go Live!

Engage with your audience through live sessions to build real-time connections. Live videos allow you to interact directly with your followers, answer their questions, and share behind-the-scenes moments. Use live sessions strategically to announce updates, host Q&A sessions, or showcase events to boost engagement and foster community.

Take Advantage Of Threads

Experiment with Instagram threads to showcase depth and narrative in your content. Threads allow you to tell cohesive stories or share long-form content sequentially. Use threads creatively to engage your audience, share tutorials, or explore complex topics in detail.

Be Good To Your Community

Foster genuine connections by engaging with your community through comments, DMs, and interactive features. Respond to comments, acknowledge feedback, and participate in conversations to show appreciation for your followers. Encourage dialogue, ask questions, and create polls or quizzes to keep your audience engaged and invested in your content.

By incorporating these strategies into your Instagram growth plan, you can increase your follower count and foster a thriving community that values your brand and content. Remember, sustainable growth is built on meaningful connections and authentic engagement, not a fast track to social media fame.

‍