Instagram Growth · Free Strategies
Boost Your Instagram Followers Organically: 5 Free Strategies to Try Today
Before we get started, here is one thing you should know right now; the fastest growing Instagram accounts are not app based, bots or paid followers based. They're applying strategies that are free, that fit Instagram rules and that can be readily used by anyone who desires to work. Talent has limited value in the growth of an account, approach is the deciding factor for most accounts!
This guide takes you through 5 strategies that are working now, in this latest incarnation of Instagram, for real creators and real businesses. No tricks, no quick cuts and no money spent. Straightforward measures you can take from the moment you have already read this.
Strategy 1: Make it look great enough that people aren't able to scroll past your profile.
The majority of users don't give much thought to their Instagram profile. They download the picture from their cell phone, write some general text in the bio and then ask the question: why don't visitors stay around? The reality is, your profile is the most crucial real estate in your whole Instagram account — it's the real estate that will convert a curious viewer in to a dedicated follower.
If a user finds your content for the first time, from a hashtag, a Reel or a shared post, they always tap on your profile. This is what they discover and it makes the decision whether they follow you or keep going on. You can only have a few seconds to make that decision go your way.
The picture should be clear, brightly lit and crisp. If you are going for a personal brand, a close-up with a simple background is ideal. For businesses, something simple and easily identifiable will do. If it's blurry, cluttered, or hard to see, you're not going to gain followers before the first word is read.
The bio should be read in full! You will have 150 characters to respond to three questions: Who are you? What do you have to offer? Why should people follow you TODAY? Write it as if you are talking directly to the exact person you're going to go for. Add a keyword, but don't stuff it in — include it in a sentence that is relevant and makes sense. Simply invite people to follow and include a link to something that's helpful. An inviting, purposeful profile will attract followers day and night.
Strategy 2: Play with Reels do the work for you!
So, if you are primarily posting static images and you are wondering why your reach is not as high as it should, it is a very simple reason, Instagram is putting all its efforts into promoting Reels over all other types of content at the moment. The platform clearly is looking for short-form video to be the dominant content it has, and it's going down that route with an algorithm. This is the largest free opportunity as a creator.
Whereas Reels differ from regular feed posts is how they get the attention of them. Mostly, feed posts are shared within the followers of the account. Reels, however, are spread much wider than those who follow you. These are seen on the Explore page, on the Reels tab and in the feeds of users that haven't interacted with your account before. Each Reel you publish is a free introduction to a brand new audience of possible followers.
First impression – it's everything. You'll get attention in the first two seconds or less or it will be ignored, so your hook must be punchy and grab the reader. Start with a provocative statement, an unusual image, a question that raises curiosity or a teaser of what they will learn. Then, get your message across in a timely, succinct and energetic fashion.
- If you can, keep the interval between 15-30 seconds.
- The algorithm will be more attracted to a shorter Reel due to the fact that it will be watched more than once.
- Include captions or text overlaid on your message so that your message is easily understood even without audio.
- Use a soft close as a technique to convert viewers to followers: "follow along for more".
- Try to make a couple Reels a week and consider each one a new audience.
Strategy 3: No More Guesstags, Just Being Strategic
When used thoughtfully, hashtags are still a great tool to get found on Instagram – but only when used properly. Most people who use hashtags do so by adding the most frequently used ones that they can think of, but there are worse ways to use hashtags than that and understanding about why it is one of the worst will drastically alter your hashtag game.
The downside to large hashtags is the amount of hashtags. If there are 50 million posts added to a hashtag, it's like having a packed stadium and your posts are lost when you post them. No one will ever see you that's searching on that hashtag. Those that can be discovered via the hashtags are those that resonate with and are tailored to smaller, more niche communities where content can still make an impact and be seen.
A well balanced hashtag strategy will consist of three different levels. General hashtags that have a lot of posts can provide some general exposure. For those who don't want to go too far with hashtags, the mid-sized ones that have a few hundred thousand posts can be a compromise. The "real" discovery is created with niche specific hashtags with smaller communities generally under 50,000 posts or less, because the users searching the hashtags are really interested in what you're talking about.
Research hashtags inside of Instagram. Go and find a topic that relates to your content; read about it. Consider your ideal follower's preferred interests by examining the suggested tags, the number of posts for each tag and by thinking about what tags they're likely to be interested in seeing. Other 10-15 keywords that are a good match for the post will beat 30 random ones, 100% of the time. Use this logic for your Reels and Stories too: hashtag discovery is available throughout the platform for any type of content.
Strategy 4: Make Real Connections from Real Day to Day Engagement
This is one of the most powerful, yet least used, of the strategies listed in this article. It's a growth booster — it's something that you can use without spending any money, and you can use only by spending time and showing true interest in others within the Instagram community around your niche.
The Instagram algorithm views high engagement as an indicator of a successful and interesting Instagram account. The more you're in the conversations, the more the platform values your account as an effective member of the community — and the further your content will benefit. The algorithm is not the only benefit though.
If you are there at every important point of discussion in your niche, people will remember you! They check your profile out. And when what they find there, is in alignment with them, they follow.
Make time each day to conversations with posts – even 20 minutes will do – that are valuable to your niche. Don't just make typical comments. Answer questions that have been asked. Include your opinion, pose a question or add your own experience to the text that links to the topic. If you actually dig into the comments you will see that these aren't just one word comments, they are comments that will draw the attention of readers who are interested in the topic, and therefore are potential followers.
Use the same amount of pizzazz in your own work. All of your comments should be replied to. All of the DMs get recognition. Don't forget to reply to followers' interaction with your Stories. A service that seeks input and listens more frequently is more likely to encourage people to recommend it. One of the strongest growth factors available for Instagram are people who are engaged enough to act as raving fan influencers — something that can only come with good customer service.
Strategy 5: Generate Content that Saves – Then Be There Regularly
Instagram ranking has undergone a great deal of changes in the past few years, and the indications it looks for to determine the value of the content have changed as well. Likes are still a part of the equation, but not a number to be focused on in regards to your content's quality or reach. Nowadays, saves and shares are much more significant – and having a content plan that focuses on gaining saves and shares will alter your growth map.
If someone finds your content valuable they will save it and return to it later, that's a save. A share is when someone feels your content is good enough to be shared. These both signals Instagram that your post is of value, and it will be displayed to more users. So what type of content can save and share?
- Educational posts are truly effective – explanations of how to, step by step, tips that people can use right away, and dissections of subjects that people struggle with.
- Content that evokes emotion or experience that resonates with readers creates shares, people love sharing content with others that perfectly describes what they feel or has happened to them.
- Posts that are inspirational and have a real, personal story that goes with it are more likely to be saved because people want to revisit them for inspiration or to serve as a reminder.
Pre-publishing check: If you were to see this on your own feed would you save it? If the answer is not clear or "no," it's good to review the material until you can confidently answer "yes." When combined with a posting schedule that is doable, three to five times a week is a good amount for most creators (3 posts is a good minimum benchmark). This helps to establish consistency and trust with your audience and tells the algorithm that it is a reliable and consistent source. Quality is enhanced and compounded over time.
The Bigger Picture
Each of the strategies mentioned in this article is independent of the others, but they do best when used in conjunction with each other. Together, these five elements form a growth machine that can generate growth without a single penny spent — a growing profile, introducing you to new audiences, a hashtag to connect you with the right communities, engagement that can build real relationships and saves that can lead to content going viral.
Luck, a big budget or a secret are not the difference between the growing steady accounts and the other accounts that remain stuck. It's all about showing up with purpose, answering every post with the intent of serving or building relationship with an individual, and even doing it when it feels like it is going slow.
Choose one of these and begin today! Wait at least two weeks to assess results. After that, add on the next one. This growth is not only larger, it's more engaged, more rewarding and more robust than anything a follower app can create.