How to Gain Followers on Instagram - Crack the Code With 5 Low-Key Growth Hacks That Actually Work

Originally launched as a mobile check-in app back in 2010, Instagram has transformed over the years into one of the biggest—and most popular—photo and video sharing social networking services in the world.

Now owned by Meta Platforms and linked with Facebook, Instagram offers many diverse social content applications, including a newly launched text-based Threads platform and a short-form vertical video Reels section.

However, despite its growth and diversity, Instagram still operates in the same way it was originally intended to as individuals and brands alike can create profiles and build an audience of followers who will see their content across the different sections.

If you’re looking to start an Instagram account for the first time, or you’re simply looking to grow your brand and expand your reach, let’s go over how to gain followers on Instagram and launch your brand to the next level.

How do followers work on Instagram?

Similar to how followers work on many other social platforms, the Instagram follower system is pretty straightforward. A follower is simply a user who has chosen to follow your account. Followers will see your posts and stories in their feeds. Instagram does a lot of work for you as it directs new users to follow accounts that it thinks might be of interest to them.

When someone follows your personal or brand account, they’re essentially subscribing to your content. Followers will make up your core audience. However, to truly grow followers on instagram, you’ll want to find more ways to increase your content’s reach and visibility.

How do followers work on Instagram Reels?

Launched back in 2020, Instagram Reels is Instagram’s answer to TikTok. Instagram Reels is a short-form, vertical-style content feed that operates quite similarly to TikTok. Users can scroll through a feed that shows a mix of content from accounts they follow and a steady stream of content that Instagram’s algorithm will recommend.

Followers on Instagram Reels work quite similarly to the base Instagram app as well as similar to TikTok. Users can choose to follow accounts from friends or family or search out influencers or brands that they enjoy.

The potential for growth with Instagram Reels is quite significant, though. If you can create viral content on Instagram Reels and get lots of views and engagements, you can also introduce yourself or your brand to new audiences and grow your follower count.

5 Tips for how to get more followers on Instagram and Instagram Reels

Now, to focus on how to gain followers on Instagram and Instagram Reels, let’s go over some tips to keep in mind as you look to expand your reach and grow your audience.

1. Make sure you’re using the right audio and music

Our first advice—and perhaps the most important—is to make sure you’re using the right music and audio in your Instagram videos and Instagram Reels. With Instagram Reels in particular, it can be tricky to know what music and audio you can use. Just because you’re allowed to create Reels based on audio and music used by other creators doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the proper rights to use the same Reels to promote your own channel or product—nor can you often use the same videos on different platforms.

To help you on your Instagram content creation journey, here are two helpful guides on how to use copyrighted music on Instagram and how to use copyrighted music on Instagram Reels. Following these guides and advice will help you keep your Instagram videos and Reels from potentially being muted, taken down, or having your channel being banned.

2. Identify the niche and target audience for your Instagram accounts

Our second piece of advice is to simply encourage you to do your research. If you haven’t used Instagram before, download the app and try it out. Explore for content and creators who are similar to your brand and style.

The best accounts, not just on Instagram but on any social platform, are the ones that clearly understand what niche they occupy and are able to create quality content that resonates with a targeted audience based on these shared interests.

3. Be sure to use the right hashtags

While hashtags aren’t quite as important as they used to be when they were first introduced on social apps like Twitter and YouTube, they’re still very much a part of the content algorithm and a helpful way for you to quickly and easily let Instagram know what keywords you want associated with your videos and channels.

4. Share user-generated content

Out of all the social media platforms these days, Instagram is perhaps currently the best at being a great avenue for brands and channels to amplify the voices of their followers. If you’re lucky enough to have followers who want to engage with your page and tag your account in their user-generated posts, videos, or Reels, then you should absolutely be sharing those on your accounts as well.

This will create win-win situations where your followers, brand, and channel will get a boost too.

5. Monitor your analytics to track your results

Finally, this should be a no-brainer for any brand, content creator, or even a regular user. Use the myriad of analytics that Instagram offers to its users to inform your traffic and results and help you decide what types of content to create in the future.

You can learn more about checking your Instagram view counts analytics here.

How many Followers do you need to monetize your Instagram?

While many might think of monetizing their Instagram channel as if there were a simple-to-click on-and-off switch, the process is actually a bit more open-ended.

With that being said, Instagram offers a Subscription program that allows users to monetize their video and audio content directly with Instagram. Instagram requires that users have a professional account on Instagram with at least 10,000 followers.

Users must also meet these other requirements to be eligible for Instagram Subscriptions, including:

Meet Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies.
Remain compliant with Instagram’s Community Standards and Content Monetization Policies.
Have a professional account on Instagram with at least 10,000 followers.
Be 18 years or older.
Agree to the Instagram Subscriptions Terms of Use.

However, users and brands alike can always monetize their content in other ways by negotiating their own partnerships with companies or directing their followers and viewers to engage with their brand off-platform.

More resources and tips for Instagram and Instagram Reels

If you are curious about how to grow your instagram in more ways, you could also consider trying out Instagram’s broadcast channels and trial reels, to try to reach a wider organic audience.

If, at the end of the day you’re still looking for more tips, tricks, and resources to help you launch, build, and grow your Instagram and Instagram Reels accounts, let’s share some more helpful articles that cover everything you want (and, perhaps, need) to know about this popular social media platform.