How to Gain Instagram Followers Organically: 7 Steps (2023)

If you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for ways to increase your presence on the platform without resorting to paid promotions or follow/unfollow tactics.

Good news: it is possible to grow your Instagram following organically, and we’re here to share some tips on how to do it.

In the following paragraphs, we’ll be sharing seven actionable steps you can take to build your Instagram following naturally.

From identifying your target audience to collaborating with other users, these strategies will help you attract followers who are genuinely interested in your content.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

How to gain Instagram Followers organically

Step 1: Identify your target audience

Identifying your target audience is an essential first step in growing your Instagram following.

After all, if you’re creating content that doesn’t appeal to your intended audience, it’s unlikely that you’ll see much engagement or attract many followers.

So, how do you go about identifying your target audience?

First, consider the purpose of your Instagram account.

Are you a business owner looking to promote your products or services? Are you an influencer sharing your personal brand and lifestyle? Your target audience will largely depend on the focus of your account.

Next, think about the demographics of your ideal audience.

What is their age range? Where do they live? What are their interests and hobbies? The more specific you can be, the better.

You can use tools like Instagram Insights to gather data on your current audience and get a better idea of who they are.

Once you have a clear picture of your target audience, you can begin creating content that resonates with them.

This might mean sharing photos and videos that align with their interests, using language that speaks to them, and posting at times when they’re most likely to be active on the platform.

By creating content that speaks to your target audience, you’ll have a better chance of attracting and retaining followers.

Step 2: Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience

Using relevant hashtags is a simple yet effective way to reach a wider audience on Instagram.

When you use a hashtag, your post becomes searchable under that hashtag, allowing users who are interested in that topic to discover your content.

But with millions of hashtags in use on Instagram, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to use.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right hashtags for your content:

1. Keep it relevant: Only use hashtags that are directly related to your content. Using unrelated hashtags may get you more views in the short term, but it’s unlikely to lead to long-term engagement or follower growth.
2. Research popular hashtags: Look at what hashtags are being used by accounts similar to yours and by users who are interested in the same topics. You can also use tools like Hashtagify to find popular and relevant hashtags.
3. Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags: While using popular hashtags can help you reach a larger audience, don’t forget about the power of niche hashtags. These hashtags may have fewer posts, but they can also be more targeted and lead to more engaged followers.
4. Use the “hidden” hashtags feature: Did you know that you can use up to 30 hashtags in a post, but only have a few visible? To use this feature, add all of your hashtags to the post or comment, then go back and delete all but a few. The rest will still be searchable, but won’t clutter up your post.

By using relevant hashtags, you can reach a wider and more targeted audience, helping you attract more followers who are genuinely interested in your content.

Step 3: Post consistently and at optimal times

Posting consistently is crucial to growing your Instagram following, but it’s also important to consider when you’re posting.

Different times of day and days of the week can have a significant impact on the visibility and engagement of your posts.

So, when is the best time to post on Instagram? Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question.

The optimal posting times will depend on your specific audience and their activity on the platform.

One way to determine the best times to post is to use Instagram Insights. This feature, which is available to business accounts, provides data on when your followers are most active on the platform.

You can use this information to schedule your posts for times when you’re likely to get the most engagement.

In addition to posting at optimal times, it’s also a good idea to establish a posting schedule and stick to it. This could mean posting once a day, a few times a week, or even once a week. Consistency is key when it comes to growing your following, as it helps you stay top of mind with your audience and keeps them coming back for more.

By posting consistently and at optimal times, you can increase the visibility and engagement of your content, which can lead to more followers over time.

Step 4: Engage with your audience

Engaging with your audience is an important aspect of growing your Instagram following. When you comment on other users’ posts and respond to comments on your own content, you create a sense of community and connection with your followers.

This engagement can lead to increased visibility, as Instagram’s algorithm tends to prioritize content from accounts that have high levels of interaction.

One way to engage with your audience is to respond to comments on your posts. This can be as simple as saying “thank you” or asking a question to encourage further discussion.

You can also engage with other users by commenting on their posts, especially if they have a large following.

This can help expose your content to a new audience and potentially lead to new followers.

In addition to comments, you can also use direct messages to engage with your audience.

This can be a great way to build relationships with your followers and offer personalized customer service or support.

Just be sure to respond promptly to any messages you receive, as this can help create a positive impression of your account.

By engaging with your audience through comments and direct messages, you can create a sense of community and connection that can lead to increased visibility and follower growth.

Step 5: Use Instagram Stories to connect with your audience

Instagram Stories are a great way to connect with your audience in a more personal and spontaneous way.

These short-lived posts, which disappear after 24 hours, allow you to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your life, share exclusive content, and engage with your audience in real-time.

One of the best things about Instagram Stories is that they don’t have to be polished or perfect.

In fact, the more authentic and spontaneous they are, the better.

You can use Stories to share glimpses of your daily life, ask your followers for their opinions or feedback, or just share a funny or relatable moment.

In addition to sharing your own content, you can also use Instagram Stories to engage with your audience.

You can ask them to share their own Stories using a specific hashtag, run a Q&A session, or create a poll to gather feedback.

This can help create a sense of community and encourage your followers to interact with your content.

By using Instagram Stories to connect with your audience in a more personal way, you can increase engagement and build a stronger connection with your followers.

Step 6: Collaborate with other users (especially those with a larger following)

Collaborating with other users, especially those with a larger following, can be a great way to expose your content to a new audience and potentially gain new followers.

There are a few different ways you can go about collaborating with other users:

1. Partner with a complementary brand or influencer: If you’re a business owner, consider partnering with a brand or influencer whose audience aligns with yours. You can collaborate on a product or content creation, or simply cross-promote each other’s content.(we talk about this more in: Build a Powerful Branding: 5 Steps to Success)
2. Participate in a group or community: Many Instagram users have created groups or communities around specific interests or themes. Joining one of these groups and actively participating can help expose your content to a new audience and potentially lead to new followers.
3. Join a collaboration group: There are also many Instagram collaboration groups that bring together users with a similar number of followers to collaborate and cross-promote each other’s content.

By collaborating with other users, especially those with a larger following, you can expose your content to a new audience and potentially gain new followers.

Just be sure to choose partners or groups that align with your brand and values.

Step 7: Use Instagram Insights to optimize your content strategy

Instagram Insights is a powerful tool that can help you track your performance and optimize your content strategy.

This feature, which is available to business accounts, provides data on a variety of metrics, including reach, engagement, and audience demographics.

One way to use Instagram Insights is to track the performance of individual posts.

You can see how many people viewed your post, how many likes and comments it received, and even how many users took specific actions, like clicking a link or visiting your website.

This information can help you understand what types of content are resonating with your audience and what may not be as successful.

In addition to tracking individual posts, you can also use Instagram Insights to get an overview of your account’s performance.

This can include data on your overall reach, engagement, and follower growth, as well as information on your audience demographics and the times when they’re most active on the platform.

By using Instagram Insights to track your performance and optimize your content strategy, you can make informed decisions about the type of content you post and when you post it, which can lead to increased visibility and follower growth.

Recap on how to gain instagram followers organically

In this blog post, we’ve shared seven actionable steps how to gain Instagram followers organically. Let’s quickly review them:

1. Identify your target audience and create content that resonates with them
2. Use relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience
3. Post consistently and at optimal times
4. Engage with your audience and other users through comments and direct messages
5. Use Instagram Stories to connect with your audience in a more personal way
6. Collaborate with other users, especially those with a larger following
7. Use Instagram Insights to track your performance and optimize your content strategy

By following these steps, you can build a strong and engaged Instagram following without resorting to paid promotions or follow/unfollow tactics.

While growing a following on Instagram can take time and effort, the payoff can be well worth it.

Whether you’re a business owner, influencer, or just looking to share your personal brand with the world, a strong Instagram presence can help you achieve your goals.

So, what are you waiting for? Start implementing these strategies today and watch your following grow!