Do you want to know how to get more Instagram followers? Better yet, do you want to know how to get more followers for free?

Getting more followers on Instagram requires a lot of money and hard work. In reality, it doesn’t require any of that. You need to know the strategies that already work to gain new followers.

I remember when I was having a difficult time with Instagram. I thought everything was wrong with my account and thought I was shadow banned. But in reality, I just expected more from what little I was doing. And I was doing things the hard way.

But instead of doing things the hard way, I started being smart about how I get more Instagram followers, and now I want to show you those easy ways, too!

#1 – Perfect Your Bio to Get More Instagram Followers

Your bio is the first thing many of your potential followers will see. That bio tells them a story about who you are and what your page is about.

Your bio is your initial copy! It’s your Call-to-Action of why they should follow you. Think of it like your website. It is the main introduction on the homepage of your website. People need to know what your Instagram is about on your bio.

My bio explains to people that I create content dedicated to hiking and outdoor recreation in the Shawnee National Forest. It’s local and direct. I use emojis related to the outdoors to grab the attention of visitors. I take advantage of all the space in my bio.

Now perfect your bio so that people immediately know what your Instagram will be about, and that is how you get more Instagram followers.

#2 – Get More Followers with an Effective Content Calendar

If you haven’t created a content calendar, then it’s no wonder you’re having difficulty getting new Instagram followers. A content calendar will keep ideas in motion so that you don’t have to panic when ideas are low.

A content calendar can fill it with content and know what you will post daily on Instagram. You’ll never get more Instagram followers if you don’t post content. So, it would help if you had a good supply; a calendar will help keep you on track.

I keep a calendar through scheduled content at least a week in advance for Instagram. I’ll have a week’s worth of content waiting to be posted. It is nice when I’m not bombarded with figuring out what to post daily. I get to focus on engagement more, and that’s important.

Start your content calendar by creating a simple calendar for the month on Word or something like that and fill in each day for a week. See how it goes and how much it helps you.

#3 – Consistency will Get You More Followers on Instagram

If the content is king, consistency is queen. Remember that saying because it matters in this modern world.

In the old days, all you had to do was post content. It didn’t matter when. Now the internet and social media are highly competitive and oversaturated. For algorithms and people to understand your content strategy, you need consistency integrated into it.

I post on Instagram two times a day. I post a reel around 7:00 in the morning. Then I post some photos around noon. Every day, I notice at least 10 to 20 new followers.

You don’t have to post ten times a day. You can post once a day if you want. You need to be consistent about how often you post so the algorithm can understand your content.

#4 – Schedule Content to Get More Instagram Followers

Scheduling content for Instagram can help you get more followers by focusing on engagement more. If you’re too busy publishing content, you’re missing out on engaging with an active audience looking to follow people like you.

Most brands and social media influencers use content scheduling. It allows you to schedule your content to post consistently to focus on the more critical matters, like talking to your followers and visitors.

I schedule content for a week at a time. Then, every time I log in to Instagram, I engage with my audience and watch the new followers roll in. Content scheduling is one of the best social media tools available.

Instagram scheduling can happen by using the free business app from Meta. You can schedule both Facebook and Instagram content through it. Download it and check it out today.

#5 – Get More Followers Using the Right Hashtag Strategy

Don’t make the mistake of using 30 hashtags to get more Instagram followers. It can do more harm than good.

Instagram has said that using more than ten hashtags will not do anything for your page. This has been said so many times by the social media giant. People are still using 30 hashtags and just wasting their time while looking like they’re trying too hard, which is a turn-off by potential followers.

I use about five or six hashtags most of the time. I relate the hashtags directly to the content I am posting, my brand, and the location of where the content was taken from. I use a combination of highly-used and low-use hashtags with under 200,000 posts.

Start using just three to five hashtags for at least a week and see if you notice a difference. You’ll learn how using all 30 is only a waste of time.

#6 – Search Engine Optimization will Get You More Followers

Have you ever heard of SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and because your posts are searchable, you should use SEO with all your content.

Search Engine Optimization is used widely with websites and social media. Google is the largest search engine. YouTube is the second largest. SEO tactics can be integrated into that content if something can be searched on search engines.

I research and target keywords based on the content I am posting on Instagram. I then mention the keyword a few times in the post. If applicable, I use hashtags related to the keyword and the location feature. I’ve noticed a significant increase in how I get more Instagram followers using SEO versus not using SEO.

Start by targeting a keyword that directly relates to the reel or photo you’re posting and mention it a few times so that it goes in seamlessly. After that, measure the results based on content where SEO wasn’t used.

#7 – Only Posting the Best Content will Get More Instagram Followers

Think about every piece of content you share on your Instagram page. Is it the best content you have, or is it generic?

Content is the king, as I and others have preached before. But only some content makes the best king. Only the best content that helps solve problems entertains or makes people launch will be the content to get more Instagram followers on your page. Make sure you’re posting the best content you can create.

I only post content that has a hook and is visually appealing. If it’s boring, I don’t post it. If it’s exciting, then I know it will provide the best results.

Check out the content of other pages similar to yours and look at what content has had the most comments and engagements from users. Try to use that content as an example of what defines content as the best content.

#8 – Post Reels to Get More Followers on Instagram

Instagram is trying to compete with TikTok and YouTube. What do TikTok and YouTube have in common? They primarily serve video content.

If you want to do better on Instagram and get more followers, you must focus on video content. Upload Reels consistently to get more Instagram followers. Instagram is even giving reels more algorithm support than it does with static images.

I ensure that one of two of my daily content is a reel. I upload the reel in the morning and then share it with my story so that others see it through there, too. I’ve noticed a significant increase in views and likes, as well as followers, after focusing on uploading more reels.

Try to do at least one reel each day, even if that is all the content you wish to post. Compare the reel views and likes against your photo-based content statistics and see which does better.

#9 – Posting Stories will Help Get You More Followers

Instagram Stories are situated at the top of the app. More people see stories before others when they login to the social network.

You’re missing out on many views and potential new followers if you’re not using stories. Get more Instagram followers by keeping your stories updated.

I like to update my story with reshares of my followers, reels I’ve posted, and photo posts. I take advantage of the highlights section as well. I have a highlight archive for a few different topics that relate directly to my brand.

Start by adding one story a day and then try to increase it to more than one. In the end, people will see your story more than your main content. If you make your main content your story, you’ll have a better chance of seeing your main content by more people.

#10 – Engagement is the Best Way to Get More Instagram Followers

The best way to get more Instagram followers is through engagement. Content is the King. Consistency is the Queen. Engagement is the Kingdom that supports the King and Queen.

Engagement is one of the most critical strategies in social media. You can post and never communicate. People want to talk to you. It would help if you were willing to talk to people more than anything else you do on social media.

I use a content scheduling strategy to focus more effort on engagement. I try to connect with every follower I have. I reply to every comment, for the most part, at least give it a like. I also post content to make others aware of my brand.

Try to focus on engagement each day on your content. Focus on commenting on every reply to your content. Then search for some hashtags directly related to your content and engage with other creators. You’ll quickly notice how easily this will get more Instagram followers on your page.

Getting Instagram followers is that easy. These ten methods listed above are all you need to get started. I use them every day and have had nothing but success versus the old days when I had no strategy. So, get out there, use these strategies, and get more Instagram followers.

About the Author

Shawn Gossman has created content, blogged, ran online communities, and shared a passion for digital marketing for over twenty years. Shawn believes the best way to help content creators, businesses, brands, and marketers is to give away more than you sell. The same advice is recommended for the readers who follow this blog. Shawn also offers various services for extra help in content creation and blogging.