17 Smart Strategies to Gain Your First (or Next) 1000 Instagram Followers

With over 2 billion active users each month and tools like shoppable posts, Instagram presents a huge opportunity for businesses across industries. That said, unless you’re already a well-known brand, trying to grow Instagram followers can feel like an uphill climb.

The key to social media growth on Instagram isn’t simply about posting Reels or pictures randomly. It’s about building a smart Instagram strategy that aligns with your audience and drives Instagram engagement.

Good news—this guide has your back.

We’ll walk through few actionable tips designed to help you get more Instagram followers, whether you’re aiming for your first 1000 or the next milestone.

Types of Instagram Followers

Before diving into how to grow Instagram followers, it’s helpful to understand the current Instagram landscape. As you focus on social media growth, you’ll encounter three key types of followers:

1. Fake Followers

These accounts are typically bots or inactive dummy profiles used to artificially boost follower numbers.They often lack profile pictures, have few to no posts or followers, and feature spam-like usernames. While they may pad your follower count, fake followers don’t boost Instagram engagement.

Since engagement directly impacts the Instagram algorithm—affecting visibility on Explore pages and your potential for influencer collaborations—these accounts do more harm than good.

2. Ghost Followers

Ghost followers are real users who follow your account but never interact.

They’re similar to unengaged email subscribers—they inflate your numbers without offering value. Ghost followers lower engagement rates, skew metrics, and can mislead you about how well your Instagram strategy is working.

3. Organic Followers

These are your high-value followers: genuine, active users who engage with your Instagram content and are more likely to convert.
Organic followers range across audiences, including:

• Customers: People who’ve already purchased from you and know your brand.
• Competitors: Industry peers monitoring your Instagram marketing tactics.
• Influencers: Especially micro- or nano-influencers (10–75K followers) who are ideal for influencer collaborations that drive reach and sales.

Ultimately, organic followers are the ones you want to attract.

How to Get More Followers on Instagram

Back in 2022, I had an Instagram Reel go viral—5.5 million views, 173K shares, nearly 100K likes, and over 14K bookmarks. Sounds like a huge win, right? Surprisingly, it didn’t result in a major spike in new Instagram followers.
That unexpected outcome sparked a deeper dive into Instagram strategy. If a viral post—even one noticed by Instagram head Adam Mosseri—doesn’t guarantee new followers, what actually works?
The good news: You don’t need a viral hit, a content team, or Instagram marketing experience to grow. Focus instead on these essential pillars:

• Smart Instagram content planning
• Consistent Instagram engagement
• Targeted account promotion
• A clear hashtag strategy

Let’s break these down and explore the actionable steps to grow Instagram followers—whether you’re starting from zero or pushing past 1,000.

Instagram Strategy Tips for Getting More Followers

Start by posting consistently.

To grow Instagram followers, you need to give people a reason to stick around. That means delivering high-quality, relevant Instagram content on a regular basis.

One of the most effective Instagram strategy habits is to create a posting schedule. Not only does this help you stay on track, but it also helps set expectations for your followers—something that builds reliability and trust.

While your audience may not block off time like they would for a season finale of House of the Dragon, they’ll start to look forward to your posts. HubSpot data suggests the best times to post on Instagram are between 12–3 PM and 6–9 PM, with Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays often delivering strong Instagram engagement.

Test these time slots against your target audience’s preferences—especially if they’re in a different time zone—to find your ideal schedule.

Feature a consistent content creator or face of your brand.

People follow people—not faceless logos. That’s a big reason why influencer collaborations and influencer marketing work so well.

While working with influencers is effective (more on that shortly), assigning a dedicated creator or in-house personality to your Instagram content can be a lower-cost, highly effective way to grow Instagram followers.

This spokesperson becomes a familiar, human element in your content—someone your audience can connect with. Whether it’s one person or a small team, the goal is relatability over branding.

Educate your audience with Instagram carousels.

Want to increase Instagram engagement while delivering real value? Educational content in the form of carousel posts is your friend.

Instagram carousel posts get 3x more engagement than static images, yet they make up just 19% of what users post. That’s a big opportunity for your brand.

Create simple, helpful carousels with compelling titles that hook the viewer. Teach your audience something useful—and they’ll keep coming back (and sharing).

Be inclusive with your messaging.

An effective Instagram marketing approach includes representation and relevance. Instagram is a global platform, and showing diversity in your content helps you reach wider audiences.

Instead of guessing who your audience is based on demographics, focus on shared experiences, common pain points, and universal stories that appeal across gender, age, race, or background.

Inclusive Instagram content helps challenge narrow buyer personas and can attract entire groups you hadn’t considered before. A wider net leads to more Instagram followers and more meaningful engagement.

Switch up your content formats.

Are you relying solely on Reels or static images? One of the easiest ways to boost social media growth is by diversifying your content mediums.

Different followers consume content in different ways. Some like short Reels. Others prefer a thoughtful carousel. And some love a good infographic or live session.

Your Instagram strategy should reflect that. Conduct audience research, then tailor your Instagram content to different segments—posting different formats that resonate with various needs, time zones, interests, and preferences.

That variety keeps things fresh and ensures you’re reaching more of the right followers, more of the time.

Instagram Content Creation Tips for Getting More Followers

Use your captions to spark conversations.

A well-written caption can do more than just describe your post—it can drive Instagram engagement and help grow Instagram followers.

Good captions add context, show off your personality, and invite users to connect. The best ones often include:

• A bit of personality
• Thoughtful questions
• Relevant hashtags
• Strategic use of emojis

This kind of engagement is exactly what the Instagram algorithm rewards, making your content more visible in feeds and “Explore” tabs.

Follow basic photography and editing principles.

Instagram is a visual-first platform. Unlike other social media channels where a few offbeat posts can slide, here, image quality really counts.

But don’t worry—you don’t need to be a pro. Just learn simple photography best practices and leverage editing apps to enhance your images. High-quality photos make your Instagram content more appealing and drive more engagement, which helps attract new followers.

Incorporate templates, filters, and “Add Yours” stickers.

To boost social media growth, experiment with interactive features that increase visibility and encourage participation.

“Add Yours” stickers and templates are especially popular in Instagram Stories. These interactive prompts invite users to share something specific—like a photo, video, or reaction—using your original sticker or frame.

The best part? Anyone who uses or views the sticker can see who else has interacted with it, including your brand. That makes it an excellent, organic way to increase reach and attract new Instagram followers.

Jump on trends and timely events.

Instagram thrives on trends. Tapping into viral moments, current events, or even trending memes can make your Instagram content feel fresh and relevant.

The goal isn’t just to copy a trend—it’s to make it your own in a way that aligns with your brand. This keeps your account top of mind, boosts your chances of being featured in feeds, and introduces your profile to new audiences.

By strategically blending personality, creativity, and relevance, you can use Instagram content creation to not only entertain your audience—but grow it.

Personality

Successful brands and influencers use personality or humor to build authentic connections. A social media director highlights a leading streaming platform’s approach: “Their voice is clear, funny, and relatable—like a friend in on the joke.” The platform’s casual, humorous tone shines in posts, like a three-word caption paired with a nostalgic scene from a popular show. This subtle humor reinforces their entertainment value while staying on-brand.

Emojis

Emojis transcend language and boost engagement. Research shows 50% of users are more likely to respond to messages with emojis, and 75% feel more connected to those who use them. Over 90% agree they bridge language gaps. Strategically placing emojis adds personality, improves readability, and helps posts stand out. For example, a media outlet uses floral emojis as bullet points to organize captions visually.

Engagement Triggers

Include playful calls-to-action like, “Double-tap if you relate,” or “Tag a friend who needs this.” Asking followers to share tips or stories in comments expands reach. One marketing brand’s post prompted followers to submit advice on a niche topic, fostering interaction.

Questions

Pose questions to spark dialogue. A fashion label designing a new collection asked followers for input, creating buzz and inclusivity. Struggling with captions? Leverage free AI writing tools for inspiration.

Engage Proactively

Gaining followers requires visibility. Engage with others’ content—like, comment, and share posts from influencers or potential customers. Thoughtful interactions (e.g., witty comments or tagging accounts in Stories) build community and attract attention.

Key Takeaways

• Voice: Stay consistent, humorous, and relatable.
• Emojis: Enhance tone and break language barriers.
• CTAs: Encourage tags, shares, and comments.
• Engage: Be active beyond your own feed.

By blending personality, visual cues, and proactive engagement, brands can foster loyalty and grow their audience organically.

How to Grow Instagram Followers & Boost Engagement

Growing your Instagram followers requires a mix of Instagram marketing tactics, smart Instagram strategy, and consistent Instagram engagement. Here’s how to optimize your social media growth with proven methods.

1. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)

Consumers trust peer recommendations more than branded content. Encourage followers to share posts featuring your product, then repost them. This builds social proof and strengthens community bonds.

A popular photo-editing app, for example, regularly features user content, giving creators exposure while showcasing its tool’s capabilities.

2. Maximize Instagram Stories with Stickers

Stories appear at the top of feeds, making them prime real estate for engagement. Use interactive Stickers like:

• Polls & Questions – Gauge opinions or collect feedback.
• “Add Yours” – Encourage followers to contribute.
• Countdowns – Build hype for launches.
• Links & Shopping – Drive traffic or sales.

Behind-the-scenes clips, day-in-the-life snippets, and unpolished moments humanize your brand. A local print shop, for instance, uses Stories for contests and sneak peeks into their process.

3. Go Live for Real-Time Engagement

Instagram Live fosters direct interaction through live Q&As, interviews, or announcements. Followers can react, comment, or even join your stream, deepening connections.

Pro Tip: Collaborate with others in multi-guest broadcasts to tap into new audiences.

4. Partner with Influencers & Creators

Influencer collaborations expand reach—69% of consumers trust influencers over brands. Identify creators who align with your niche and co-create content.

Example: A grooming brand partnered with a hairstylist within its target demographic, leveraging his credibility to attract followers.

5. Run Contests & Giveaways

“Tag a friend to win” posts boost visibility. Offer prizes relevant to your audience to attract genuine followers.

A deals-focused account, for instance, regularly hosts giveaways, driving follower growth through shares.

6. Optimize Hashtags & Tags

A strong hashtag strategy increases discoverability. Research trending and niche hashtags via Instagram’s Explore tab. Once established, create a branded hashtag to encourage UGC.

Tagging relevant accounts (sparingly) can also get you featured in their tagged posts or Stories.

7. Use Instagram Ads for Faster Growth

While organic growth takes time, Instagram promotions accelerate reach. Use targeted ads to:

• Boost high-performing posts.
• Promote contests.
• Drive traffic to your profile.

8. Promote Your Profile Off-Platform

Cross-promote on:

• Email newsletters (e.g., “Follow us on Instagram!”).
• Website banners or footers (embed your feed).
• Other social platforms (link in bios).

Example: A wine brand added an Instagram CTA in emails, inviting subscribers to join their community.

Key Takeaways for Instagram Growth

• Engagement: Use Stories, Live, and UGC to connect.
• Collaborations: Partner with influencers for credibility.
• Hashtags & Tags: Improve discoverability.
• Ads & Giveaways: Speed up growth.
• Cross-Promotion: Drive followers from other channels.

By refining your Instagram content, leveraging the Instagram algorithm, and staying consistent, you’ll see steady social media growth.

What NOT to Do to Grow Instagram Followers

Want to grow Instagram followers the right way? Avoid these common mistakes that hurt Instagram engagement, trigger the Instagram algorithm penalties, or even get your account banned.

1. Never Buy Instagram Followers

Buying followers violates Instagram’s guidelines and damages credibility. Fake followers:

• Don’t engage (no likes, comments, or shares).
• Kill organic reach (Instagram prioritizes real interactions).
• Skew analytics, making it impossible to measure real social media growth.

Focus instead on organic strategies—authentic followers who care about your Instagram content will drive better results.

2. Stop Overloading Hashtags

While a smart hashtag strategy helps discovery, stuffing captions with 30 hashtags:

• Looks spammy and unprofessional.
• Attracts the wrong audience (low engagement, high bounce rate).
• Dilutes your message, making captions hard to read.

Fix it: Use 5–10 highly relevant hashtags per post. Mix niche, trending, and branded tags for balance.

3. Avoid Low-Quality or Unoriginal Content

Blurry photos, recycled memes, or generic posts won’t attract followers. In a crowded feed, users only engage with content that:

• Stands out visually (sharp images, cohesive aesthetics).
• Offers value (entertainment, education, inspiration).
• Feels unique (your brand’s perspective, not copy-pasted trends).

Pro Tip: Audit your feed—would you follow this account? If not, rethink your Instagram strategy.

Grow the Right Way: Quality Over Quick Fixes

For real Instagram growth, focus on:

• Authentic engagement (respond to comments, collaborate with followers).
• High-value content (solve problems, entertain, or inspire).
• Strategic promotion (smart hashtags, influencer collaborations, ads).

Remember: A smaller, engaged audience beats 10K fake followers. Build trust, and your follower count will rise naturally.