How to Grow Instagram Followers Organically - 13 Tips From Industry Experts

If you’re a business or even a creator, I bet one of your social media goals for Instagram is to grow followers. However, using black hat techniques or purchasing fake followers isn’t the way to go — it’ll only hurt your social media marketing in the long run.

So what’s the alternative? 13 tried-and-tested strategies that will teach you how to organically grow your Instagram.

Plus, we will also share examples for each strategy to inspire your Instagram marketing efforts.

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‌#1. Have a deep understanding of your audience’s needs and preferences

If your audience craves educational reels, but your content leans heavily on humor, you might struggle to grow your following. This is why it’s crucial to understand your audience’s needs and preferences.

We recommend using Instagram stories to gather feedback from your community. Features like polls and questions make gathering feedback easier and more engaging.

For example, you can share a poll asking your audience what type of content they prefer—educational tips, behind-the-scenes insights, industry news, or entertaining skits.

You can also use the question sticker to ask, “What topics do you want to learn more about?” This allows your followers to share their thoughts directly, giving you valuable insights into their interests.

For example, Sephora directly asked their audience about their content preferences and what they wanted to see on the brand’s page.

Beyond direct engagement, social listening is another powerful tool. Pay attention to comments, DMs, and discussions within your niche to identify common themes and pain points.

Based on these insights, you can create content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to follow your page.

#2. Show off your professionalism

What’s the first thing you do before following a page on Instagram? You check their profile. Within seconds, you decide whether to hit that Follow button or move on. And obviously, your brand’s audience does the same.

Here are two ways to influence their decision to follow you and, hence, grow your Instagram organically.

Optimize your profile

Everything from your Instagram profile picture to your bio matters. You need to maintain a consistent brand identity everywhere.

For example, if you’re using your logo as the profile picture on other social platforms, stick to the same format on Instagram. The same goes for your username.

Your bio can be a great way to make your profile discoverable. Add keywords related to your niche, industry, products, or services.

Have a consistent visually branded aesthetic

Imagine landing on a brand’s page and one post is bright and minimal, another is dark and cluttered, and the fonts are all over the place. Feels unprofessional, right?

Having a consistent, visually branded aesthetic helps your audience instantly recognize your content, makes your brand more memorable, and aids in growing Instagram followers organically.

While you may not want to stick to the same color or font, use variations that seem similar.

#3. Create diversified content

Focusing on different content formats is one of the sure-shot answers to the question – how to organically grow Instagram followers?

Not everyone in your audience will have the same learning style. For example, some may choose to consume Reels, while some may want to swipe quickly with an Instagram carousel.

A mix of formats also keeps your page fresh and followers excited for what’s next.

According to our Instagram benchmarks study, the current posting pattern of brands includes the following mix:

• 10 images per month (50% of their content);
• 4 carousels per month (20% of their content);
• 6 Reels per month (30% of their content).

Robyn Nissim, founder of Social Proof Agency, recommends brands to create memorable content across different formats.

Focus on creating a mix of content that provides value to audience members that’s so good they’ll want to save and share it.

#4. Leverage Instagram SEO

In 2024, 46.8 million people in the U.S. made purchases on Instagram.

But if your brand isn’t discoverable, how will people find you, follow you, or engage with your shoppable posts?

That’s where Instagram SEO comes in.

Adriana Sandru, digital creative strategist, recommends using SEO in combination with other strategies.

Prioritizing value over promotion, leveraging user-generated content, and smartly using SEO principles in captions will boost discoverability, while consistency and trend adaptation keep the strategy fresh.

For example, when I searched for “skincare Instagram” on Google, multiple brands appeared, many of which I could explore and follow. Why? Because they strategically included the keyword “skincare” in their bios, posts, captions, and even usernames.

The same applies to Instagram’s search bar. When users type in a keyword related to a niche, Instagram ranks profiles and content based on relevance.

So, how do you make your page discoverable? Here are two SEO tips.

• Use relevant keywords in your captions. For example, if you’re creating a post on “travel hacks” enter that keyword on Instagram. See other suggested keyword phrases that you may want to add to your existing list.

• Carefully select your hashtags. When you use a hashtag on a public Instagram post, that post becomes visible on the results page for that hashtag. Because hashtags help categorize content and make it easier to discover, choosing the right ones can help you reach your target audience.

#5. Experiment with Trial Reels

Reels are a staple in every social media manager’s content calendar.

Sophie Hay, founder and social strategist at Twin Palm Social, says the same.

We all know the Instagram algorithm loves Reels - and that the algorithm tends to showcase these to people who don't already follow you. The more Reels you create (and the better they are) the more likely you are to appear as a suggest post or in the Explore tab.

But how do you constantly improvise your Reels? Instagram Trial Reels can be your go-to option.

Before you think, “Ah, but this feature is still new,” hear what Grace Andrews, brand and editorial director at FlightStory, has to say.

When a new feature drops, be among the first to leverage it. Having your ear to the ground is non-negotiable.

What exactly is Trial Reels, though? It’s a content-testing feature that allows you to share a Reel with a select group of non-followers to gauge their reaction. This Reel will not appear on your profile or in your followers’ feeds.

If the Reel does well, you can, however, upgrade it for your followers and your profile.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, has been talking a lot about Trial Reels in his own content, and he mentions:

Trial Reels allow you to bypass the entire connected ranking system and just go straight to the unconnected recommendations, so you don't risk bothering people who followed you with too much content.

While you can use this feature to improvise your content and see what resonates most with your audience, it’s also a great way to spark organic growth on Instagram.

Pro-tip: Don’t compare your Trial Reels to your normal Reels. Instead, use them to compare their performance against different Trial Reels. Find which type of content helps you organically gain followers. Prioritize that content moving forward.

‌ ‌#6. Be consistent

Remember the classic tale of the hare and the tortoise? The fast-moving hare was expected to win, yet the slow and steady tortoise triumphed. Why? Because consistency beats short bursts of effort.

The same lesson applies to life. And even Instagram marketing.

People will only remember your brand if your posts and Reels keep coming up consistently. Take what Sophie Evans, social media manager at KERV Capital, says:

For me, and what is becoming more apparent in today’s digital landscape, is that consistency beats virality every time! By showing up consistently, repetition is building recognition, and recognition builds community!

According to our data, brands post an average of 5 times per week on Instagram.

While you may want to start slow, aim to post at least 2-3 pieces of quality content every week. This will signal the social algorithms that your account is a regularly updated, valuable, and relevant resource throughout time.

TIP: One way to ensure consistency is through a content calendar - that helps you plan posts in advance and ensure you have a steady flow of content.

Another smart tactic is to resort to content repurposing. Here's an example of how we do it here at Socialinsider.

#7. Create strategic collaborations

One of the most common answers to how to gain Instagram followers organically is collaborations. There’s only so much you can do on your own. By partnering with the right creators and brands, you can create a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Here’s what Sophie Hay says about collaborations:

Don't sleep on collaborative posts. If you are working with a content creator, brand partner or business make sure to join forces on a collab post.

Not only does this automatically showcase your content to a new (and potentially much bigger) audience, but it shows your brand affiliation with other accounts in your area of expertise. A win for reach AND brand.

For example, you can collaborate with an influencer in your niche with a dedicated audience. This way, you can attract more followers and build trust in your brand. The influencer can also benefit from the partnership and get some incentives.

Look at how Fabletics partnered with a wellness and fashion micro-influencer for this post. They cater to a similar audience, and the post feels like a natural addition to their existing content.

But what kind of brands and creators should you collaborate with? Katie McKeever, social media, and communications consultant, shares her opinion.

Collaborating on content on Instagram can be a significant driver of followers for brands. I've seen it time and time again.

But the key is to collaborate strategically. You want to collaborate with accounts that are bigger than you and THEN you need to make sure that the bigger account posts the content and invites your brand to the collaboration.

‌‌We also recommend collaborating with brands that complement your product/service but are not direct competitors to aid with Instagram organic growth.

For example, look at how Casper and Bare Necessities collaborated to provide similar products for the giveaway.

#8. Host challenges to generate UGC

Ever heard of the saying “People trust people”? That’s why UGC is so powerful and it can help you grow organic Instagram followers.

When real customers share experiences with your brand, whether through reviews, photos, or videos, it creates social proof. Potential followers are more likely to trust your brand and hit the Follow button.

But how do you get people to create UGC for your brand? One simple way is to host challenges or contests.

My favorite example of a brand that did this well is Gymshark. Gymshark’s 66-Day Challenge helped the brand generate massive user-generated content (UGC) while building a loyal community.

The challenge encourages participants to commit to a fitness goal for 66 days (the time it takes to form a habit) while documenting their journey on social media.

By using branded hashtags like #Gymshark66, participants share progress photos, workout videos, and motivational posts, creating a flood of authentic content. This not only showcases Gymshark’s activewear in action but also inspires others to join the movement.

The #Gymshark66 now has over 1.1M posts on Instagram. This UGC helped Gymshark reach a wider audience and get more people to follow the brand.

Pro-tip: Don’t let your UGC remain passive. Actively share them on your feed and website, motivating others to participate for a chance to be featured.

#9. Run a content series to drive continuous curiosity

I often come across a hilarious Reel, laugh, and keep scrolling without even checking the page behind it. The same can happen to your content. Your Reels might go viral, but those views won’t necessarily grow your Instagram followers.

One way to turn those views into Instagram followers is by creating a content series. When people know there’s more to come, they’ll be eager for the next post or Reel, making them more likely to hit the Follow button to stay updated.

Andrea Halal, business and marketing consultant, talks about building a content series like a TV show:

Have a story or a "TV show" your audience can follow. A TV show has an overall theme, and your posts (images or videos) are there to tell your stories.

Treat each post as an episode that contributes to the whole storyline of your show. That way you can get your audience hooked organically, as they have the natural instinct to follow what you're doing-especially if they resonate with your story.

A great example of how to grow an Instagram account using this social media strategy comes from Duolingo. Instead of relying on one-off viral videos, Duolingo built a recurring content series featuring its mascot, Duo the Owl, in hilarious and trending scenarios.

They also recently launched a bold social media campaign announcing the death of this mascot. This campaign generated a series of posts. Eventually, Duo "returned," with the brand framing the entire stunt as a playful test that fans had passed.

#10. Engage with other accounts or niche communities

I have often seen brands comment on other brands’ and creators’ posts. I even check out their profiles sometimes and give them a follow.

Why does this strategy work for growing your Instagram?

• You become visible to your target audience without overly promoting yourself.
• By leaving thoughtful comments, you position your brand as an active, knowledgeable player in your niche.
• You spark curiosity with well-placed comments, leading users to check out your page and follow.

This also shows that you are not on Instagram only to get people to check out your product or service. You also invest time in engaging with your community and niche.

While you’re engaging with other accounts, Mary Isokariari (founder and CEO of Socially Curious Agency) suggests looking at the comments to see what kind of content is getting more engagement. She says:

Organic content is all about fostering authentic relationships. This includes actively reading comments to gather feedback on what’s working and what isn’t.

#11. Focus on storytelling and being authentic

When questioning various industry experts about a key social media trend in 2025, most of them mentioned authenticity, and for good reason. One recent survey suggested that Gen Z highly values authenticity in social media. With Instagram being Gen Z’s most used application, you cannot ignore what this demographic wants.

To showcase this authenticity, Sophie Evans recommends focusing on stories:

First and foremost, brands need to prioritize storytelling over selling. People connect with people, not products! The brands that are growing organically are those that make their audience feel something.

These stories could be about your struggles, what your brand stands for, the challenges you have overcome, etc.

One brand that is exceptional at using this strategy to grow on Instagram is Dieux. They are vocal about the values they stand for. For example, they stand up for the plastic problem the beauty industry faces and how they are tackling it.

Here are three other ways to create authentic content and grow your Instagram audience:

• Use real customer stories. Feature user-generated content, testimonials, and success stories to build credibility and trust.
• Put up raw, unfiltered content. Not every post needs to be polished. If you are still wary of this strategy, use Stories to publish this content.
• Show behind-the-scenes. Give followers a look at your daily operations, product creation, or office culture to make them feel part of your brand.

Miruna Vocheci, social media manager at Socialinsider, advocates this strategy and says:

People connect with trustworthy insights and raw, unpolished content that gives them a true glimpse behind the curtain.

#12. Tap into relevant trends

A powerful advice on how to grow your Instagram followers? Tap into trending topics, memes, or audio. By jumping on these trends, you can achieve virality and get more people to click on that Follow button.

This also shows your followers that you are up-to-date with content that matters on social media.

For example, Ryanair, a European airline, often uses trending memes and topics to create relatable and humorous content. Here’s an example.

With this, Ryanair keeps its audience entertained and proves that even “boring” industries can thrive on social media with the right strategy.

To find these trends and grow followers on Instagram, you can:

• Scroll through Instagram Reels to spot recurring audio, formats, or challenges that are gaining traction. Trending sounds often have an upward arrow next to them.
• Many influencers are quick to adopt trends. Watching what they post can give you clues on what’s gaining momentum.
• See what similar brands are posting.
• Follow @creators on Instagram and social media brands like Socialinsider to stay updated with the latest content and developments.

#13. Track relevant metrics and make data-based optimization decisions

Grace Andrews, marketing and brand director at FLIGHTSTORY, says:

The best brands treat Instagram as a playground for experimentation, constantly refining their approach based on what resonates. When something works, double down.

And we agree. You can’t rely on one viral Reel or carousel to keep getting you more followers. You need to optimize your strategies consistently.

When interested in ranking on Instagram, both for accounts that follow a brand (connected reach) and also for accounts that don’t follow it yet (unconnected reach), marketers should pay attention to the following metrics and optimize their content strategy based on the insights gathered from the analysis on these 3 metrics:

• Watch time
• Likes
• Shares

You can use native analytics to get insights into likes, shares, and followers generated.

Your metrics are key. Instagram isn't hiding what gets you followers. If you go to the insights under any piece of content, there is a line that tells you how many followers you gained because of that specific post. Learn from this.

What made someone who wasn't following your brand want to follow you after seeing this particular post? Optimize for watchability (if it's a Reel), likeability, and shareability. Katie McKiever

Or you can track everything in one place using social media analytics tools like Socialinsider.

We believe an effective social media analysis should have both a micro (post-level) and a macro perspective. Beyond quantitative data it’s important to also consider more qualitative analysis points, such as the best-performing content pillars.

You can find the content pillars you could prioritize (the ones getting the most engagement) and the types you need to optimize or eliminate (the ones not achieving the desired results).

Final thoughts

Now that you know the best ways to grow your Instagram followers, it’s time to implement these strategies. Make sure you consistently create top-notch content and analyze your growth to keep optimizing your strategies.

Instead of investing hours and weeks in getting the analysis done, having a social media analytics tool like Socialinsider makes your work easier. Analyze content pillars, track performance, and get custom reports all under one roof.

Gear up your account for success by opting for a free trial of Socialinsider.

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