Look, I get it. You’ve been posting on Instagram for months now. Maybe even years.
But your follower count? Still stuck at the same number.
Here’s what nobody tells you: Growing on Instagram in 2025 isn’t some magical thing. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you know what works.
Today, I’m showing you how to get Instagram followers from Instagram using stuff that actually works. Not the theoretical nonsense you read everywhere. Real tactics I’ve seen work over and over again.
Sound good? Let’s jump in.
Why Most People Fail at Instagram Growth
Okay, before I show you what works, let’s talk about what doesn’t. Because honestly, most people mess this up.
You know what’s tempting? Buying followers. I mean, who doesn’t want 10,000 followers overnight, right?
But here’s the thing – it’s a terrible idea.
Those fake accounts? Instagram removes them. Your engagement rate tanks. And then the algorithm goes “hmm, something’s weird here” and just stops showing your content to anyone.
Real growth isn’t instant. Yeah, it takes some work. But you’re building something real – actual people who care about what you post. That’s way better than some bot accounts.
100 Instagram bio ideas with emoji for girls
Optimize Your Profile for New Visitors
So here’s something crazy – people spend like 3 seconds deciding if they’ll follow you. That’s it. Three seconds.
Your profile needs to make an instant impression.
Choose the Right Username
This one’s pretty simple. Pick something people can actually remember and type.
Don’t do this: @johnsmith_marketing_guru_2024
Do this instead: @johnsmithmarketing
See the difference? Clean. Simple. Easy to remember.
Write a Bio That Converts
Your bio needs to answer these questions fast:
- Who are you?
- What’s in it for me?
- Why should I hit follow?
And here’s a trick – use keywords people search for. Like, if you’re a fitness coach, put “fitness coach” right in your name field. Not buried in your bio somewhere. Actually, in the name field.
Then add a call to action. Tell people exactly what to do next. Don’t make them guess.
Use Your Link Wisely
Instagram gives you one link. Just one. So yeah, make it count.
Most smart accounts use those link-in-bio tools now. You know, the ones that create a little landing page with multiple buttons? That way, you can send people to your latest post, your product, whatever matters today.
Because let’s be honest – updating that link manually every time you post something new? Nobody has time for that.
Create Content That Gets Instagram Followers from Instagram
Here’s what’s cool about Instagram – the platform actually shows your content to people who don’t follow you yet. That’s literally how you grow.
But there’s a catch. Instagram only pushes content that keeps people engaged. Makes sense when you think about it.
Post Instagram Reels Consistently
Reels get 36% more reach than other stuff you post. That’s huge, right?
Why? Because Instagram literally pushes Reels to the Explore page. You know, where millions of people are scrolling around all day looking for new content.
And here’s the best part – your Reels don’t need to be perfect. Like, at all. Those raw, authentic Reels? They often do better than the super-polished ones.
Keep them short. Get to your point fast. And add captions because most people watch with the sound off anyway.
Mix Different Content Formats
Don’t just post Reels, though. That’s a mistake I see all the time.
Those carousel posts (where people swipe through multiple images)? They get 12% more engagement than single images. Pretty cool.
Why? Because people swipe through them, and if they don’t finish, Instagram shows the post again later. So you get multiple chances to grab their attention.
Use carousels for:
- Step-by-step tutorials
- Before and after stuff
- Lists of tips
- Telling stories across multiple images
And don’t forget Stories. They keep your current followers engaged, and you show up at the top of their feed. That builds familiarity over time.
Master Instagram’s Search Features
So Instagram is basically a search engine now. People actually type in keywords to find stuff.
Put Keywords in Your Captions
Write like a normal human, but yeah, include the words your people are searching for.
Let’s say you’re a travel blogger. Use stuff like “travel tips,” “budget travel,” or “solo travel” naturally in your captions. Don’t make it weird, though.
Nobody likes that keyword-stuffed nonsense. It looks spammy, and people scroll right past.
Use Hashtags Strategically
Instagram says to use 3-5 hashtags. That’s it. Not 30. Just 3-5.
Mix popular ones with niche ones. The popular hashtags get you quick visibility. The niche ones help you reach your exact people.
Here’s what I do:
- Type some keywords into Instagram’s search
- See what hashtags pop up
- Check how many posts use each one
- Pick a mix – some with 10K posts, some with 500K
Stay away from massive ones like #love or #instagood. Your post gets buried in like 10 seconds. Waste of time.
Add Location Tags
Tag where you are. It helps local people find you.
This works great for local businesses, restaurants, that kind of thing. But even if you’re online only, you can tag your city or wherever you’re based.
Doesn’t hurt, might help. That’s my philosophy on location tags.
Accelerate Growth
Look, sometimes you want to give your Instagram a little kickstart. You know, some initial social proof to get things moving.
That’s where something like Socialplug comes in handy.
They offer Instagram growth services – followers, likes, engagement, that whole thing. And they’ve got pretty solid reviews, too. Like 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 100,000 people. That’s not nothing.
What they do:
- Instagram followers
- Likes and comments on your posts
- Views and engagement on your Reels
- Story views
- Profile visits
The cool thing? They deliver fast. Usually within 24 hours. So if you need that initial boost of social proof to get organic followers interested, it can help. And for a more authentic approach, consider ways to get Instagram followers from Instagram itself—through targeted engagement and organic strategies like using relevant hashtags and interacting with similar accounts to attract real users.
Here’s my take on it – a lot of creators use services like this alongside their organic strategies. It’s like giving yourself a head start. But you still need to create good content. Otherwise, new people show up, see mediocre posts, and leave.
So yeah, use it if you want that momentum boost. Just don’t forget the actual content part.
Post When Your Audience Is Online
Timing actually matters. Like, a lot.
The data shows posts between 3 PM and 6 PM on weekdays get the most love. But your audience might be different. They might be night owls. Who knows?
Check your Instagram Insights:
- Hit up your profile
- Tap those three lines
- Go to “Insights”
- Scroll to “Total followers”
- Find “Most active times”
This tells you when YOUR people are scrolling. Not everyone’s. Yours.
Pro tip? Post about 15 minutes before your peak time. That gives your post time to get some initial engagement. Then, when your main audience shows up, the algorithm already thinks your post is worth showing around.
Write Captions That Keep People Reading
Long captions beat short ones. Always have.
Why? The longer someone hangs out on your post, the more Instagram thinks “hey, this is good stuff” and shows it to more people.
Start strong. Your first line shows up in the feed before people click “more.” Make it grab attention.
Break up your text. Instagram captions get cramped fast. So hit that return key. A lot.
Ask questions. Get people talking in the comments. Every comment tells Instagram your post is worth sharing.
End with a clear ask. Tell people exactly what you want them to do. Don’t be shy about it.
Engage Like Your Growth Depends On It
Because guess what? It does.
Instagram loves accounts that actually talk to their people.
Respond to Every Comment
When someone comments, reply within the first hour if you can.
This starts a conversation. And Instagram’s algorithm? It loves conversations. They keep people on the platform longer.
Ask follow-up questions. Turn one comment into three or four back-and-forths. That’s gold for the algorithm.
Comment on Other People’s Posts
Find posts in your niche. Leave real comments. Not just “nice pic” with a fire emoji.
When you add actual value to someone’s post, their followers notice. Some will check out your profile. And some of those will follow you.
Spend maybe 15 minutes a day doing this. Comment on:
- Posts from accounts in your space
- Content your target audience is commenting on
- Stuff from potential collab partners
Use Instagram Stories Strategically
Stories keep you visible. When you post one, boom – you’re at the top of your followers’ feeds.
Use those interactive stickers:
- Polls
- Questions
- Quizzes
- Those emoji slider things
People who interact with your Stories see your regular posts more. Instagram notices who engages with you and shows them more of your stuff. It’s a whole thing.
Collaborate to Reach New Audiences
Want to know the fastest way to grow? Borrow someone else’s audience. Seriously.
Partner with Similar Accounts
Find accounts about the same size as yours with a similar vibe. Pitch a collab where you both win.
Could be:
- Co-hosting an Instagram Live
- Making content together
- Running a joint giveaway
- Doing shoutout swaps
Just make sure it makes sense. Your audiences should overlap but not compete head-to-head. That’s the sweet spot.
Work with Micro-Influencers
You don’t need huge influencers. In fact, smaller ones often work better.
Micro-influencers (like 10K-100K followers) usually have way better engagement. And their rates? Way more affordable. Plus, their audience actually trusts them.
Look for people who:
- Share your values (this is big)
- Have real engagement, not just follower numbers
- Make content that fits with your brand
Don’t just look at follower count. Check if their people actually interact with their posts.
Cross-Promote Your Instagram Everywhere
Don’t just rely on Instagram to grow your Instagram. That’s backwards thinking.
Put your Instagram handle everywhere:
- Email signature
- Website footer
- YouTube video descriptions
- TikTok bio
- Business cards
- Product packaging
Embed your Instagram feed on your website. Shows visitors your latest stuff and gives them a reason to hit follow.
Share your best Instagram content on other platforms, too. When people like your stuff on TikTok or YouTube, they’ll check out your Instagram. It’s a domino effect.
Use Instagram Live to Build Connections
Going Live sends push notifications to your followers. That’s powerful.
Creates urgency, too. People join because they don’t want to miss out on something happening right now.
Plus, Live videos show up first in the Stories feed. Prime real estate.
You don’t need fancy equipment. Your phone works fine. Really.
Some Live ideas:
- Q&A sessions (people love these)
- Behind-the-scenes stuff
- Product demos
- Interviews with guests
- Quick tutorials
Save your Lives when you’re done. Post them to your feed or Stories. Gets more mileage out of the same content.
Create Story Highlights That Sell
Story Highlights sit on your profile forever. They’re not going anywhere.
New people check your Highlights before they scroll through your feed. It’s just what people do.
Organize them smart:
- About (who you are)
- Tips (your best advice)
- Products (what you’re selling)
- Reviews (social proof is huge)
- FAQ (answer the common questions)
Make custom covers for them. Makes your profile look way more professional and put-together.
Update these regularly, though. Don’t let them get stale. Remove old stuff. Add fresh content that shows what you’re about right now.
Track What Works and Do More of It
You can’t fix what you don’t measure. That’s just facts.
Instagram Insights shows you what’s working. Check it weekly. Don’t obsess over it daily, but definitely check it.
Reach
This tells you how many different accounts saw your stuff. If reach is high, Instagram’s you to share your content with new people.
Compare it to your follower count. If your reach is 2-3 times your followers, you’re crushing it. That means the algorithm is promoting your content hard.
Engagement Rate
Take your total engagements (likes, comments, shares, saves) and divide by reach.
Good engagement rate? 3-5%. Above 5%? You’re killing it.
Saves
This one’s underrated. When people save your post, Instagram goes “wow, this must be valuable” and shows it to way more people.
Make stuff worth saving:
- Tutorials people want to reference later
- Lists of resources
- Quotes or advice they’ll want to come back to
- Infographics with useful info
Look for patterns. What gets saved the most? Make more of that. It’s pretty simple when you think about it.
What to Do Right Now
Look, you’ve got the strategies. Here’s how to actually start.
Pick three things from this list. Don’t try everything at once. That’s a recipe for burnout.
Start with profile optimization, Reels, and engagement. Those three give you the biggest bang for your time.
Set a real goal. Maybe it’s 100 new followers this month. Or bumping your engagement rate up by 2%. Make it specific.
Block out 30 minutes every day for Instagram. Consistency beats being perfect. Every. Single. Time.
Check your progress weekly. What’s working? Do more of that. What’s not working? Try something different.
Growing on Instagram takes time. Yeah, it does. But with these strategies, you’ll see results way faster than just posting randomly and hoping for the best.
The real question isn’t if you can grow. It’s how fast you want to make it happen.