How to Get More Instagram Followers in 2026: The Ultimate Guide
Do you want to know how to get more followers on Instagram? You’re not alone!
With more than 1.4 billion people using the app, growing your follower count can be challenging, and getting noticed on this platform can sometimes seem impossible.
However, by following Instagram best practices and using specialized tools, you can get more Instagram followers in no time.
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In this article, you’ll find more than 30 tips, tricks, and hacks that you can use to learn how to get more real Instagram followers.
Are you ready? Let’s dive into the list.
The Best Ways to Get More Instagram Followers
1. Publish More Content
Social media is a numbers game, and Instagram is no exception. The more content you publish, the greater the chance you’ll get attention, which is why it’s so important to post regularly and consistently.
To keep track of posting on Instagram and ensure you still have your life while not spending all your time posting content, you can plan your content in advance using an Instagram scheduling tool like Pallyy.
Instead of being constantly glued to your mobile phone, you can easily and quickly plan content in batches that will automatically publish at your chosen dates and times.
With this content planning, you can publish as many posts to your feed each week as you want and still have time left over to share Stories and create content for Reels.
Run Instagram Giveaways
Instagram giveaways are a great way to get people to like and share your content and follow your account. The key to giveaways is making sure you’ve clearly told your followers what they need to do to participate in the giveaway. If you want to reach new followers, here are several types of giveaways you can use:
- To enter the contest, followers must like and share your post.
- Tag-a-friend giveaways – followers must tag a friend to participate.
- Follow-to-win giveaways – by following your account, users are entered into the giveaway.
You can also create content-based giveaways, such as caption contests and photo contests, which can be good for generating user-generated content that you can repurpose and share.
Once you’ve chosen a prize and created content for your giveaway, make sure to share it far and wide to get as much attention as possible.
Choose an appropriate hashtag for your giveaway to reach new Instagram users, and share it across all your social channels.
3. Find out what content works and post more of it
When planning what content to create, you don’t have to rely on guesses. Using powerful analytics insights, you can find out what your followers and other Instagram users like to see.
If you have a business Instagram account, you can access some profile insights directly through the app, but if you want deeper insight into what type of content performs best, you’re best off using an Instagram analytics tool like Pallyy or Agorapulse.
Using these tools, you can gain insights to help you develop a content strategy and test everything from what type of posts are most effective to which captions your followers respond to most.
4. Optimize your bio and profile
When a new user clicks on your profile, the first thing they see is your Instagram bio. What you write in it and how engaging it is can make the difference between them hitting the follow button or moving on, which is why it’s so important to get it right.
You should use the limited space you have in your bio to tell users who you are and what your brand is about. You can also make your bio more visually appealing by adding emojis relevant to your brand.
While there is space for a link in the bio section, you should try to make it as clear as possible so users can comfortably click on it without being distracted by long and confusing URLs. You can try using a link shortening and optimization tool for your bio to help with this.
5. Experiment with posting times
When posting on Instagram, timing is key. However, figuring out the right time to post can be challenging.
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There are plenty of „studies“ on the internet that claim to have the answer to when is the best time to post, but the truth is that the right time is completely different for everyone. It all depends on where your followers are located and when they are most active.
However, by experimenting and analyzing your own Instagram data, you can figure out the optimal posting times for your specific account. Using tools like Pallyy, you can track post performance and run tests to decide when is best to post to your feed, Stories, and more.
6. Cross-promote your Instagram on other social platforms
If you already have followers on another social platform, such as Facebook or Twitter, don’t hesitate to promote your Instagram among these followers. No matter how small your follower count is, it’s worth regularly sharing links to your Instagram account.
When sharing your Instagram profile, you may want to consider motivating your followers to check out your Instagram. You can do this by sharing exclusive coupon codes and hosting Instagram-specific giveaways.
7. Include popular hashtags in your posts
Hashtags are essential if you want to make it easy for new users to discover your profile.
Using popular and relevant hashtags will help you get on the Explore page and increase the likelihood that your content reaches IG users from your target audience.
A good way to find hashtags can be the Instagram app itself. You can easily search for hashtags to get an idea of which ones are heavily used.
However, the best approach is to find out what hashtags other IG users in your industry are using.
8. Make sure your Instagram grid looks the part
When a new potential follower gets to your profile, they will likely scroll down and look at your post grid. Therefore, it’s important that your grid is well-organized, aesthetic, and representative of your brand.
Many Instagram users spend a lot of time planning their grid so that all images are consistent in terms of color schemes and photo types. Here are a few examples of what we mean:
The above profiles took the time to make their grids consistent and appealing to users, and that’s something every creator trying to increase their followers should strive for.
However, if your content is more diverse, it may not be easy to keep your grid looking great at all times.
In general, try to avoid posting unedited posts in a visible place on your grid and try to achieve some consistency and it should go well for you.
9. Make the most of captions
Although the visual elements of a post are the main priority on Instagram, written captions also play a major role in determining the success of your posts.
If your captions are long and engaging, you can get people to pay more attention to your post, which in turn will lead to your post reaching more users. Some ways you can use captions to increase engagement include:
- Asking questions – asking questions to your followers will encourage them to leave a comment.
- Ask people to tag a friend – encouraging followers to tag a friend will increase engagement and your post will reach new users.
- Using emojis – Using emojis can also increase the appeal and interest of your captions.
Instagram captions can have up to 2200 characters, so it’s worth experimenting with longer and shorter captions to find out which works best for you.
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10. Use Instagram’s Location Tagging Features
When you create a post about a specific place, you should always add a location tag. This will make your post more discoverable to Instagram users who are interested in content related to that area.
You can use location tags on almost every post, whether you want to share the location of a favorite tourist spot, mention the address of your favorite stores, or inform IG users about events you’re attending.
Tagging your location can help you reach an audience that wouldn’t normally see your content, and this can lead to gaining new followers.
If you also run a business and want to reach Instagram users in your area, make sure to tag your business location on every post so people know where to find the products or services you’re showing in your post.
11. Get Involved in Trending Conversations
Want to get noticed on Instagram? Then don’t be afraid to share your opinion when new topics are trending. Whether it’s a political event or a new fashion fad, make sure to participate and share your thoughts with the IG community.
Sharing comments, posts, or Stories related to trending topics can display your account on the Explore page, and if your conversation contributions are compelling, high-profile influencers may even share your content.
When posting content about trends, remember to use hashtags that are related to the topic so your post can be easily found.
12. Pin Comments to Increase Engagement
Pinned comments are a little-known but very useful feature that can help you increase engagement on your posts. You can pin up to 3 comments on each post so they stay at the top of the comment section.
We recommend pinning follower comments that inspire conversation or debate. When new users see the post, they’ll immediately see the discussion in the pinned comment thread and are more likely to engage.
Greater engagement helps posts reach more platform users, and this can lead to an increase in your followers.
Another way you can use pinned comments is by pinning your own comments as a way to extend your post’s caption. If you find that your followers find long captions more persuasive than short ones, then using the pin feature in this way could also help increase engagement on your posts.
13. Follow Other Accounts in Your Niche
If you want to increase your Instagram followers, it’s important to be an active user and engage with other creators and Instagram users. You can’t just sit back and wait for people to find your profile. You need to get involved in communities within your niche and connect with people who will be interested in your content.
One way to do this is to follow other accounts in your niche. Following other successful creators in your niche is a great way to connect with followers who are interested in the type of content you create, and it can even be a way to network with influencers for future collaborations.
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To get started with this strategy, try following five successful creators in your niche. Don’t forget to leave comments on their posts, engage in communication with other followers, and inform others about your content. Before you know it, you’ll gain engaged followers on your own account.
14. Collaborate with Other Instagram Creators
Collaboration on Instagram is a great way to reach new users and gain followers. To get started with collaboration on Instagram, you first need to connect with other influencers in your field. Before you start talking to them about collaboration, start a conversation with them and build a connection.
Once you understand each other, propose a collaboration and present some ideas for the type of content you’d like to create together.
If you have a similar number of followers as the other influencer, then Instagram collaboration can have a positive impact on both of your follower counts, and your current followers will definitely enjoy it too.
Among the most popular types of Instagram collaborations are story takeovers and funny reels, but you can really do anything as long as you tag each other in the posts.
15. Consider Going Live
Like many other social platforms, Instagram now has a feature that allows you to broadcast live videos. If you want to quickly and effortlessly connect with your followers and potentially reach new users, live streaming can be a good way to achieve that.
To go live, simply go to the Create tab and select the Live option. You can add a title to the video and even schedule it in advance so users know when to tune in. If you want your followers to contribute to your stream, you can also add fundraising features.
Going live can sometimes be nerve-wracking, so it’s worth planning some content in advance, such as games or quizzes. You can also host a live Q&A session so both old and new followers can learn more about you.
16. Try Making Reels
Reels are Instagram’s answer to TikTok, and if you haven’t created any yet – where have you been?
Since the Reels feature was launched, creators have complained about how effectively it helps improve your account’s discoverability. Most people agree that Instagram’s algorithm pushes Reels heavily, so if you’re trying to gain more followers, it’s worth trying Reels.
If you’re unsure where to start, take some time to watch the Reels channel and find out what’s trending. Jump on the wave and use trending sounds and filters to maximize the discoverability of your clips.
17. Use Your Instagram QR Code
If you run a physical store or restaurant, the Instagram QR code feature can help you gain new followers by promoting your account offline.
People can scan your QR code on their smartphone, and it will instantly take them to your Instagram account where they can click the follow button.
You can display it in your physical locations and also add it to business cards, or show it on your own phone so new acquaintances can scan it at networking events and conferences.
Finding your QR code on Instagram is very easy, just click on the three lines at the top of your profile page and click on the QR code. You can also send it to contacts in your phone and share it on other social networks.
18. Mention and tag other users in your posts
Tagging is a great way to increase the reach of your post and encourage users to engage with it. If you have collaborated with a brand or influencer on a project, received products from a company, or want to connect with certain followers, you can use tagging to reference the relevant posts.
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When you tag someone, they will automatically be notified of the post and are more likely to leave a comment or share it with their own Instagram followers.
However, while tagging other IG users is a great way to make your content visible on the platform, you should only tag people who are somehow connected to your posts.
Tagging random people in posts and tagging many people on the same post is considered poor form on Instagram, so avoid this behavior.
19. Encourage your followers to tag you
While we’re on the subject of tagging, another great way to get more real followers on Instagram is to encourage your existing followers to tag you in their posts. This will help increase your visibility, as your name will be seen by the followers of anyone who tags you.
To encourage users to tag you in posts or stories, you can run contests or competitions, such as photo contests.
Another great thing you can do when asking users to tag you in their content is that you can also reshare their posts and fill your Stories with them, which will help you save a bit of time creating content.
20. Like and comment on other posts
One of the most organic ways to gain new followers is to communicate directly with people and let them know about the content you’re creating. To do this, you need to engage with other users‘ posts by liking and commenting on them.
Each day, try to like and comment on posts from your favorite creators and engage in conversations in the comments section.
Don’t be afraid to mention your own account if it’s relevant, but you should avoid leaving unsolicited, irrelevant comments where applicable. To gain followers this way, it really just takes naturally and authentically communicating with other users.
21. Make the most of Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories are a great way to build authentic connections with your audience, and when used correctly, they can help increase engagement on your account and gain more followers.
Stories don’t have to be particularly exciting or edited; instead, you can use them to share updates and start conversations with your followers.
I like to use Stories as an alternative to Instagram posts, especially when I need to share a quick update with my followers.
To increase engagement through Stories, try using a poll or ask me anything sticker to encourage your followers to engage and have a direct conversation with you. You can also add hashtags and location tags to your Stories so they can be found by users who don’t follow you yet.
22. Create Your Own AR Filters
Augmented reality filters are very popular on Instagram and represent a great way to make your profile stand out. Using a tool like Spark AR Studio, you can design custom filters for Instagram and make them available for people to use on the platform.
When you upload the filter, it will be listed under your profile name, which can prompt people to view your profile and hit the follow button.
When creating a filter, try to create something that is funny or engaging. This will give it more viral potential, and if a trend emerges around your filter, you will definitely gain quite a few followers in a short time.
And it will allow you to add a creative touch to your Instagram Stories.
23. Create Story Highlights
Instagram Stories are only visible for 24 hours. However, you can make your content permanently available by creating story highlights.
Story highlights are located between your bio and your posts feed and are one of the first things a potential new follower will see when they land on your page.
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Story highlights can be a great way to introduce your account and show new followers what you’re about. When creating a story highlight, remember to use only the best and most relevant content from your archive.
You can create as many highlights as you want, so organize your Stories into clear categories that will make it easy for new users and your existing followers to find exactly what they’re looking for.
24. Consider Running an Instagram Ad Campaign
If you have money to promote your Instagram account, one of the best things you can do is run an Instagram ad campaign.
Unlike buying fake followers from third parties, using Instagram ads is a legitimate and safe way to increase your followers by investing money.
Instagram has an extensive advertising structure that allows you to target ads to specific users based on demographics and location. You can also choose where you want your ads to appear, such as in Stories or on the Explore page.
Ads are most suitable for companies that sell products or services, but you can also use them as a way to share your content and encourage people to follow your account. 25. If you manage to get an ad, you can use it as an ad for ads on Facebook. Consider launching an advertising campaign on Instagram
25. Share your Instagram profile on your blog
If you run a blog that you visit, you can convert visitors to Instagram fans by promoting your Instagram page within your blogs. To promote your Instagram page on your blog, you can do the following things:
- Links to your social media accounts in the blog footer.
- Embedding images from your Instagram account into blog posts
- Pop-up windows encouraging visitors to follow you
- Contests and giveaways for blog readers that can be entered using the Follow-to-enter button.
- Link to your Instagram in emails for your subscribers
If your blog name and your Instagram brand are similar or the same, blog readers will find your profile more easily. If not, be sure to attach your Instagram name whenever possible to maximize the chances of converting website visitors into followers.
It’s a great way to get more eyes on your Instagram content.
26. Focus on creating interesting and unique content
When it comes to increasing your Instagram followers, you can try all the tips, tricks, and hacks, but one of the most important factors is the quality of the content you create.
If your Instagram content is boring, repetitive, or low quality, no effort will encourage people to follow your account. That’s why it’s so important to focus on creating unique and interesting content that will entertain your followers.
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When it comes to planning content, try to find your own style and stick to it. Be unique and original and don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s also good to vary the types of content and use all Instagram features such as Reels, Live, and Stories, as well as posting images in your feed.
Not sure what content your Instagram followers want to see? Start by creating a persona for your ideal audience.
27. Encourage people to follow you
One of the easy but often overlooked ways to gain new followers is to ask people directly to follow your account. For example, if you’ve created a Reel or Story that you think could perform well, don’t be afraid to caption it with a CTA like „like and follow“.
This may seem like a basic technique, but through such things, people learn that you are actively trying to grow your account, and many users will appreciate your content and be happy to help you achieve your goals.
28. Make your account public
If you want to maximize followers, making your account public is an absolute necessity. When your account is public, users simply need to click the follow button and then your posts will start appearing in their feed. However, when your account is private, users must request to follow you, and you must manually accept their request.
While privacy is important, if you don’t have a specific reason why your account should be private, we recommend switching to public. Public accounts on Instagram are very common, and making your account public will make life easier for both you and your new followers. To change your account to public, go to Settings > Privacy > Private account.
Read also:
10 tips on how to quickly get followers on Instagram
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Is it possible to buy Instagram followers?
Michal Záruba je specialista na digitální marketing a konzultant v oblasti sociálních médií a SEO. Více než 8 let pomáhá značkám růst online prostřednictvím strategického obsahu, optimalizace pro vyhledávače a efektivní komunikace na platformách jako LinkedIn, Instagram a YouTube.
Na svém blogu sdílí praktické tipy o tom, jak propojit SEO, sociální sítě a brand building do jedné funkční strategie. Zaměřuje se na to, jak firmy mohou využít moderní nástroje a algoritmy k tomu, aby jejich značka nezískala jen dosah, ale i důvěru.
Když zrovna netvoří obsah, přednáší o digitálním marketingu, školí týmy a sleduje nové trendy v AI a vyhledávání.