Done everything? Have you tried all the hacks? Posted all kinds of content? Improved content quality? Still not able to see results? Little or no improvement in followers? And you keep on thinking about how to get more followers on Instagram?

Then, let us tell you that you are not alone; many creators and businesses are dealing with this issue. Is the Instagram algorithm the guilty one?

Or is there any problem with your Instagram bio? You may have turned on the wrong settings on your account. Let us learn all in this blog.

My Instagram followers are not adding up. Why?

Before understanding how to increase your Instagram followers, let us understand what could be wrong with your Instagram strategy and why you are not getting reach

1. You are not posting what Instagram wants

If you are reading this, you already know that short videos or reels create waves in the social media market. They are the most preferred content format by the audience.

If, for some reason, you are uncomfortable making reels on Instagram, you can use these small tips to make reels.

• Suppose you are uncomfortable revealing your face in reels/videos. In that case, you can try faceless reels, showing only your hands, writing something on paper, cooking, etc.
• If you cannot afford any equipment for making high-quality reels, you can use your phone
• Use any object near you to make a stand, like a stack of books, etc.
• Use sunlight or natural light to shoot in the direction of the rays; the video will appear beautiful.

Use apps like “Inshot” and “VN Editor” to edit videos. These are very user-friendly and easy-to-use editing apps.

2. You are not being specific, not having a particular niche

Imagine you are hungry and standing in a food parlor with plenty of food options. Still, you don’t know exactly what you’re craving and end up eating an item that’s not your type.

The same happens when you are not making content in a particular niche. Your followers get everything and are not exactly satisfied with anything.

How To Find Your Niche?

1. Gather what you like the most as hobbies, where do you like to spend your free time
2. Now, think about how you can help others via your hobby.
3. Now, you can analyze whether you will be bored by making content on it regularly.
4. Then, you can list who your ideal audience can be.
5. After all these steps, you can search for who else is making content similar to what you have in mind.
6. After sorting out all these, you can start making content, and always keep in mind that you will have to experiment a lot before reaching the point where your niche and likeability by the audience would match.

Now that you know your particular niche, you can start making content around it.

Note: Do not expect perfection when making content around your niche. Many people aim for fast results, but they are always worried about how to get more followers on Instagram and easily quit trying. However, you should always understand that gaining followers would take time with a large amount of content available.

3. You are not following or engaging with people in your niche.

Now that you have understood your niche, the next step is following more and more people in your niche, watching their content, and engaging with them on Instagram.

It is said that a man is known by his company, which is also true on Instagram. When you engage with them on Instagram, Instagram will know that you belong to that niche.

You should follow the creators or businesses of your niche (at least in the initial days when you are just starting)

1. You can see their content, comment on it, and like them.
2. Ask them to collaborate with you.
3. If collaboration is too much, you can always ask their permission and tag them.

After all your efforts, some of them will follow you back, and voila, this is what you need (at least when you start).

This is a very smart and efficient way to reach the ideal audience, as Instagram would also show your content to their audience now.

4. You are not doing enough to bring engagement.

Chances are that your content is good, but people do not recognize you, as they see your content and forget.

This can be improved if you make the audience stay with your content a little longer. Instagram would also like it if you make your audience stay a little longer.

1. Make the audience comment on your content with hooks like “Could you relate to this? Share your experience,” would you like to know more, comment below,” or “type the person’s name whom you thought of after watching this reel.”
2. Please encourage them to like or share your content.
3. Respond to every comment or DM on Instagram that you get on your content.
4. Use polls and ask interesting questions.
5. Instagram can automatically add subtitles to your video, so ensure that none of your videos are left un-subtitled.

Many people watch videos in mute mode, and having subtitles makes it easier for them to understand the video fully.

5. You are using banned hashtags

Go to metahashtags.com and check your hashtags. If you use any banned hashtags, change them immediately and remove them from your previous posts.

6. You have not made your account Public.

If you have a private account, your content will not reach more and more people; it will only be limited to your approved followers, and growth will be slow.

Instagram settings to get more views

1. Always upload your content to Instagram in the highest quality.

• Open your Instagram and click on your profile picture at the bottom right.
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Go to “Data usage and media quality.”
• Turn off “Data Saver”.
• And turn on “Upload at the highest quality.”

2. Check if Instagram has restricted/shadow banned you.

• Open your Instagram and click on your profile pic at the bottom rightmost. 
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Go to “Account status.”
• Check if Instagram has given you green ticks on “Removed content and messaging issues,” “what can’t be recommended,” “monetization,” and “Features you can’t use.”

• If there is a yellow or red sign in any of these due to your content, try removing that content, contacting the Instagram help center, or submitting an appeal to Instagram.

3. Write alt text to optimize the content for SEO

• While posting any carousel or photo, click Next and “More options,” and go to “Write alt text.”
• After you have finished writing alt text, you can post it
• There, you can briefly write what your content is about.

(This facility on Instagram is originally for visually challenged persons, but it helps in SEO.)

• You can also do that for your older posts. You can go to “edit” and “edit alt text” and then hit done.

Note: You should add alt text to each photo of your carousel.

4. Ensure that your reels are showing up in your “Main grid.”

• You can go to your reels tab.
• Select the reel that you want to display in your main grid.
• Click on the 3 dots
• Click on “Add to the main grid.”

Make sure that Instagram shows you as a suggested account to others.

People who enjoy content like yours should see your profile and be encouraged or suggested to follow you.

• You must open your Instagram via desktop or mobile browser to do this. As of now, this cannot be done in your Instagram app.
• Go to your profile.
• Click on edit profile.
• Below is the option “Show account suggestions on profiles.”
• You can turn it on

Let Instagram tell you the best time to post.

Why follow any 3rd party app or software to know the best time to post when Instagram will tell you the truth?

• Open your Instagram and click on your profile pic at the bottom rightmost.
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Then you can go to “Insights.”
• There, you can click on “New followers.”
• Scroll down, and you can see “most active times.”

Note-

1. But it is advisable to post your content just sometime before the most active times, as the most active time tells us the active time of your followers on Instagram.
2. This can only be done in both the Creator and Business accounts on Instagram

Let people share and remix your reels

When you allow people to share and remix your reel or content, it will boost engagement.

• Open your Instagram and click on your profile pic at the bottom rightmost.
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Then go to “Sharing and Reuse.”
• Then, we can go to “Allow people to create with and reuse your content.”

Tell Instagram what particular niche you are interested in.

Whenever you scroll across any content, you can tell whether you are interested or not.

• Whenever you see a reel, click on the 3 dots.
• There, you can choose the option of “Interested” or “Not Interested or you can also click on “Manage content preferences.”

• Otherwise, open your Instagram and click on your profile pic at the bottom rightmost.
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Now, you can go to “content preferences.”
• You can select “interested” or “Not Interested.”

Clean your recent searches if you have been searching about different topics on Instagram.

• Open your Instagram and click on your profile pic on the bottom right.
• Now, click on the three vertical bars in the rightmost upper corner (hamburger icon)

• Go to “Accounts Centre”
• Go to “Your information and permissions”
• There, you can find “Search History.”
• After that, you can select “Keep searches for” and select the number of days.

Make your profile discoverable

• Your profile photo and bio are the 1st things a person sees when visiting your Instagram. Make sure to keep it simple and authentic.

Here are some tips on how to make an Instagram profile attractive

• Always think about what people are searching for on Instagram within your niche; for example, if you are a yoga teacher, and people search on Instagram by typing “easy yoga,” “yoga tips for beginners,” or “chair yoga,”

• Considering all these, you can write the best yoga tips or yoga for beginners in your headline. This will align with people’s search, making your profile discoverable.

Here are some tips on how to write an Instagram bio

• Your Instagram bio should tell you why others should follow you.

We liked one example from Modern Millie. The bio should tell in which way following your Instagram profile can help them.

Instagram content ideas for beginners

1. Niche down to a particular topic.

When you make content on a particular topic, it becomes easier for Instagram to categorize and helps you grow.

2. Prepare at least 10 pieces of content in advance.

• There is no doubt that reels perform better than any other content.
• If you are a beginner, try making more and more reels.
• First, you can see what other competitors are making and then make your content.
• Do not expect perfection in anything.

3. Highlight your keywords enough.

• Do not ignore “Hashtags,” Hashtags are not there to increase engagement; rather, they are for categorization. Do not spend more time writing hashtags; include your niche words in your hashtags.
• Your niche topic should also be present in your Instagram bio.
• Your caption should also have your niche topic word.

4. Go at your own pace.

• For so many of you, content creation or Instagram account growth might not be your primary work, but it is important. Set a pace that is possible for you.

For example, if making 2 containers daily is your thing, keep it up. There should be no urgency to make more; you should be consistent.

5. Take Instagram analytics seriously.

When you have posted content for the first ten days. Now, you can check your analytics section and see which posts received more reactions. The metrics that you should consider are

1. Audio
2. Video quality
3. Music
4. Hook
5. Content
6. Captions

You should see which or a combination of these metrics was good and worked in your favor.

6. Follow the top creators’ tips, see and follow them.

There are many social media coaches and Instagram coaches out there. Some of them are

1. HeyDominik
2. Modern Millie
3. Damini Tripathy
4. High Season Co.

7. Try new things and learn along the way.

There is no perfect solution for anyone; it is your journey and unique for everybody. So, do not expect perfection. First, some days would be hit and trial, and then you would get your tune.

Instagram updates (Which can affect your growth)

In the initial days when there was so much content on Instagram, Instagram bought an algorithm into its platform so that there would be regulation and people would not get any random content there; rather, they would watch the content from people they liked.

Since then, Instagram has kept changing its algorithm for good. Let us see how to leverage the algorithm changes.

You can follow the Instagram account of Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram, who keeps giving updates on Instagram changes.

1. New reels feed for liked posts from friends.

Instagram wants users to have a deep bond and connection within themselves. While scrolling reels, you can see a separate icon with a cluster of profile pictures and heart icons in the top right corner.

• You can see which reels your friends liked and shared more by clicking.
• If you are a business or creator, you must be careful while liking or commenting on a reel.

2. Trial Reel feature

Were you worried earlier that your reel would only be shown to your followers and that Instagram would not show that to others (non-followers)? And that might be the reason why your followers are not growing.

For this, Instagram has developed the “Trial Reels feature,” which will spread your reel to your non-followers and gain more reach.

While posting your reel, you can opt for “Trial Reel,” that reel will not be shown in your feed or to your followers; that will only be shown to your non-followers.

3. Tall Grid Feature

Instagram has changed its square grid to a portrait. Now, your square content will not look good in the grid. But your reels and content posted in the 3*4 format will look good.

4. A new video editing feature by Instagram

Instagram wants people to stay in their ecosystem; they will add editing features to their app.

5. Instagram has clarified what is more important for them.

• Watch time
• Share rate
• Like rate

FAQs

1. How to get Instagram followers fast?

Here are some basic points for fast growth

• Reels or short video content are more popular on Instagram; make sure to have them in your content strategy
• Make content that will add value to people’s lives, and people could want to pay their currency to you (which could be time or money)
• Make content that feels good to watch
• Use proper lighting
• Audio quality should be good; it should not hurt the user’s ears
• Readable text on image or video
• Be consistent, whether 3 times a week or 6 times a week. People can forget you easily, and you should make people remember you.
• Go to the account of other creators in your niche, like and comment on their posts, and show them love, and they will also visit your profile and start following you.

But make sure to visit only 2 or 3 creators and give genuine comments; otherwise, Instagram may think of you as a bot.

2.How to get more followers on Instagram for free?

Many people online encourage you to use 3rd party apps to gain followers fast and free. But we warn you against it, as many of these claims are fake, and when you start using these apps, you get temporary followers who drop after a few days.

Instagram also does not support these third-party apps, and there are many safety concerns around these apps.

Gaining more genuine followers takes effort and time. There is no shortcut to gaining more and more followers fast and free.

3. Which coaches or creators can we follow for Instagram growth?

There are many social media coaches and Instagram coaches out there. Some of them are

1. HeyDominik
2. Modern Millie
3. Damini Tripathy
4. High Season Co.

Always remember that there is no simple formula; you have to try and experiment before finding the exact formula. You can follow the above creators but only apply the tips that you find practical and would suit your niche.

4. Is the Instagram market saturated?

No, not. Instagram users keep growing every year, and Instagram is getting bigger and bigger.

Influencers, creators, and businesses keep growing on Instagram daily, so everyone should take advantage of it.

5. Why does Instagram keep on changing its algorithm?

• Like every other platform, Instagram also wants a user to stay loyal to the platform longer.
• So, with time, it keeps making changes, which will help people get more engaged with Instagram. Instagram always tries to be fair to everyone. But still, sometimes, it fails to be.
• We suggest not being upset with algorithm changes but adapting to them.
• Remember that if Instagram tries to push any feature within itself, like adding a new stickers gallery, etc., use more of them to benefit from the algorithm change.
• You should not worry about the algorithm changes on Instagram and How to get more followers on Instagram; rather, focus on adding value via your content on Instagram. Anything that adds significant value would never run out of fashion.

Key Takeaway

According to Statista, the global influencer market size has tripled since 2020. In 2025, the market will reach approximately 33 billion U.S. Dollars.

So, there is a huge scope for creators and businesses on Instagram as more and more users are added to it daily.

Instagram is a social media platform that is made for connecting with people, discovering your thing, and gaining more and more support from like-minded people.

Therefore, rather than obsessing over how to get more followers on Instagram, more focus should be put on gaining genuine and loyal followers.

Ideally, 90 percent of content should offer value and a 10 percent promotion. When your content has value, followers will increase. Just follow the tips in the blog, and you will grow well.