Post content that’s meant to be re-shared Your audience wants to engage with content that’s useful and inspiring. So when planning your posts, think about types of content that other people might like to share. People love sharing infographics. Feed that desire by supplying your followers with your expert insights. If someone embeds your Instagram posts in their blog, you’re exposed to a whole new audience of potential followers. People can also re-share your posts in their Instagram Stories. These posts are clickable, so anyone who wants to know more can click through to your original post. It’s another easy way to expand your reach to new audiences and potential new followers. For example, here’s how a Hootsuite post about LinkedIn demographics looks when shared to my Instagram Story. Hootsuite LinkedIn demographics story re-share Embrace Instagram Stories If you want more Instagram followers, you need to use Instagram Stories. Half a billion Instagram accounts use Stories every day, and 45% of the most-viewed Stories are from businesses.

 People who use Stories are highly engaged. Plus, you can use the hashtag and location features in your stories to expose them to people who do not already follow you. Watch the video below for a few more Instagram Story pro tips. Make the most of Stories highlights Put a lot of effort into an Instagram Story and not quite ready to say goodbye after 24 hours? Pinned Stories highlights are a great way to introduce your brand to people who visit your profile. So pack those highlights with great info and content to show new visitors why they should follow you. Don’t forget to customize the cover photos on your highlights, too. Supplement company Vega keeps things on-brand and plant-friendly with their custom green highlights. Post consistently

 Your existing followers want to see content from you. That’s why they followed you in the first place. So give them what they want! When users interact with your posts, those engagements tell Instagram’s algorithm that your content is valuable. Those interactions will then boost your reach. So giving your existing followers something great to interact with can help bring in new Instagram followers. How often should you post? According to our analysis, between 3-7 times per week. Post at the right time Instagram uses an algorithm, not a chronological feed. But timing is still important to the algorithm. Hootsuite’s social team found that the best time to post on Instagram is between 8 AM -12 PM PST or 4-5 PM PST on weekdays. But your audience might have different habits than ours. A tool like Hootsuite Analytics can show you the best time to post for your audience based on past engagement, impressions or traffic.

  Hootsuite analytics dashboard showing Instagram followers online by hour Source: Hootsuite Analytics Try Hootsuite for free. You can cancel anytime. Start testing various times and measuring results. For example, if you’re a retail brand, you might want to test posting during lunch Schedule your posts and stories What if the best time to post to your account is 3 AM? (Hey, it happens.) Use a social media management tool like Hootsuite to schedule and publish directly to Instagram. Scheduling your Instagram posts in advance allows you to plan a cohesive grid that tells an overarching story. It also allows you to dedicate time to creating excellent captions rather than trying to come up with something witty on the fly.

 You can also use Hootsuite to schedule Instagram Stories. Hootsuite Planner showing scheduled Instagram Stories Step 3. Make yourself findable Use relevant hashtags to reach new users Sadly, the text of your Instagram posts isn’t searchable. But your hashtags are. Using hashtags thoughtfully can be a good way to get followers on Instagram for free. You can even create your own branded hashtags. Relevant hashtags can help people find your content. Instagram users can even follow hashtags. That means your hashtagged content may appear in the feeds of people who do not yet follow your account.

  You can include up to 30 hashtags in an Instagram post, but don’t go overboard. Instead, do some experimenting to learn how many hashtags work best for your particular account. Avoid hashtag gimmicks such as #likeforlike, #tagsforlikes, or #followme. These may give you a temporary boost in followers. But those people aren’t interested in what makes you and your content special. They’re not going to help you build a meaningful, engaged audience on Instagram. Instead, focus on using highly targeted hashtags specific to your photo, product, or business, like stylist Dee Campling does in this #wfh shot. Tag your location If the location of your post or Story is clear, it’s worth adding a location tag. It’s another easy way for people to find your content on Instagram.

  If your business has a physical location, tag it and encourage customers to do the same. Users can then click on that location and see all photos and Stories posted from your store, restaurant, or office. For example, here’s what you get when you search for the location of Van Wonderen Stroopwafels in Amsterdam: Amsterdam location tag page on Instagram with top posts Source: Instagram If you’re posting from a conference or event, adding your location can help you connect with other attendees. This will expose your account to a highly relevant group of new potential Instagram followers.

 Tag relevant users It’s easy to tag Instagram users featured in your photos. Just use an @-mention in your caption or Instagram’s tagging functionality within the post. Hootsuite Instagram post tagging a partner in the caption (as an example of how to get more Instagram followers) Users are notified when they’re tagged, so tags encourage them to engage with and share the post. Your post will also appear on the Tagged tab of their Instagram profile. You can also tag users in your Instagram Stories. Then, they can post shared content to their own Story with just a couple of taps. If they do so, their viewers can click through to your account. Hootsuite Instagram Story that tags a user (as an example of how to get more Instagram followers)

  Be careful, though. Tagging someone just to get their attention isn’t a great idea. Instead, only tag users featured in your photo or relevant to your post’s content. Some potentially relevant users to tag might include: Customers Suppliers Other relevant businesses Colleagues or employees Someone who taught you a skill or told you about something you share in the post Anyone who appears in the photo Encourage others to tag you Another way to introduce your Instagram account to a new audience is to ask other Instagram users to tag you. When they tag you in a post, their audience sees your handle and can click on it if they want to learn more.

  Your bio is a great place to ask people to tag you on Instagram. For example, Visit the USA asks Instagrammers to tag them for a chance to be featured on their account. Visit the USA's instagram bio Source: @visittheusa on Instagram Cross-promote your Instagram account on other networks If you want to get followers on Instagram for free, you need to make it easy for people to find you.

  Your Instagram profile should be easily discoverable. If you’ve already built a following on another social network, let those fans know about your Instagram account. Share a link to your Instagram profile and give your existing social followers a reason to check it out. (Like an Instagram-exclusive coupon code, event, or contest.) When BlogHer hosted Jameela Jamil for an Instagram Live, they made sure to promote it on their Facebook Page as well. If you’re just starting your Instagram account, make sure to post some content before you promote the account elsewhere. Aim for a minimum of 12 posts.

  You could also highlight some of your best Instagram posts on your other social channels. Consider boosting these posts with paid advertising so your other social followers can find and follow you on Instagram. Embed Instagram posts in your blog You’ve already seen some embedded Instagram posts in this blog. These clickable posts allow users to head directly to the relevant post or Instagram profile. Embedding your own Instagram posts in your blog is an easy way to share your content and drive traffic to your profile. Every new visitor to your Instagram profile is a potential new follower. For example, say Hootsuite wanted to announce our mascot’s makeover. Sure, we could share a few pictures of Owly’s new look. But we could also embed an Instagram post, like this: Any time you’re sharing visual content like photos, charts, or infographics in your blog, there’s an opportunity to embed an Instagram post with that content instead.

 Share your Instagram account in other communications Think beyond your social channels when sharing your Instagram account. You can link to your Instagram account on your website, in your email signature, and in your online newsletters. The link doesn’t have to be big, either. You can use a small Instagram icon. Email signature featuring social media links If you’re promoting a new Instagram account, a quick email blast is a great way to get free Instagram followers fast. And don’t forget about your offline materials. You can include your Instagram handle on coasters, posters, packing slips, business cards, or packaging. It’s a simple way to drive more free Instagram followers to your account. Use Instagram QR codes Your Instagram QR code is a scannable code that allows other Instagram users to follow you instantly. It’s another easy way to promote your account on physical materials like packing slips, signage, and product packaging.

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 Your QR code is also a great way to get new followers in real time at networking events and conferences. People you connect with in person can scan your code to follow you without having to type out your handle. Try printing it out and tucking it into your namebadge holder for easy access. Find your Instagram QR code by tapping on the three lines icon at the top right of your Instagram profile and selecting QR Code . Try to get featured Feature accounts are Instagram accounts that curate and re-share content based on a hashtag or tagging. Some of these accounts have a huge following. If they share one of your posts (along with your handle), they can send a new stream of Instagram followers your way. There’s a feature account for just about every niche and interest on Instagram, so start exploring. For example, @damngoodstitch features embroidery posts. The account has more than 180,000 followers. Aim for the Explore page The Explore page is what you see when you click on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the Instagram app. According to Instagram itself, this is where “you can find photos and videos that you might like from accounts you don’t yet follow.”

  Half of Instagram accounts visit Explore every month. That’s a huge opportunity for brands looking to grow their audience. Ending up on the Explore tab isn’t easy. Luckily, we’ve got an entire article dedicated to helping you get there. You can also pay to get into the Explore feed by selecting Explore as an ad placement. Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear. Get the free guide right now! different examples of the Instagram Explore page and Ads in the Explore feed Source: Instagram Step 4. Engage with your community Follow relevant accounts You should only tag people in an Instagram post when the content is directly relevant to them. But you can follow anyone you like. And when you follow a user on Instagram, there’s a good chance they will check out your feed and consider following you back.

  Social listening is great for finding conversations and influential users (a.k.a. influencers) to follow. Instagram’s “Suggestions For You” section is also a handy resource for finding relevant accounts to follow. These suggestions show up in your Instagram feed between posts, in between Stories, or on the right side of the screen on a computer. Just remember not to follow too many other accounts too fast. Your follower ratio, or the number of people who follow you compared to how many you follow, is important for credibility. And don’t follow people just to get their attention, only to unfollow after they follow you back. This is kind of a jerk move and will hurt your Instagram reputation.

  Engage with existing communities Like all social media networks, Instagram is about the communities built within it. So make sure you’re participating in those spaces. Get involved by liking, commenting on, and sharing content from other credible users in your community. Avoid generic comments (like “Awesome post!”) that look like they come from bots. Engaging with other posts helps draw attention (and potential new followers) in two ways: People get notifications when you like and comment on their posts. They may check out your profile to return the favor. If others find your comments thoughtful or intriguing, they may check out your profile. Work with influencers in your niche Here’s an important stat for anyone thinking about how to get more followers on Instagram: 60% of consumers say they’d follow a brand on Instagram after seeing it promoted by an influencer they trust. If you’re not working with influencers now, then you should definitely consider it. Luckily, we’ve got a whole guide on Influencer marketing to help you out.

  Collaborate with other brands Don’t be afraid to reach out to other brands to see if there’s a way that you can work together on Instagram. The right kind of collaboration could help everyone involved get more Instagram followers. Think about businesses you already collaborate with in other ways. Maybe you’re connected in a local business improvement association or shopping area. How could you work together on Instagram? One common option is to host a contest featuring products from multiple companies, like Rocky Mountain Soap Company did with Annika Mang of @borntobeadventurous. Try an Instagram Live collaboration Live video keeps getting more popular, and Instagram is a great place to take advantage of the trend. Users are notified when an account they follow starts broadcasting live, so a live video really grabs attention.

 To get your Live video in front of a new audience, use the “Go live with a friend” option to co-host a live video with someone else in your industry. Ask the other person to host a Live video, then invite you as a guest. The two of you will appear in a split screen, introducing you to all of their followers.

 Looking to get followers on Instagram? You’ve come to the right place… Instagram is a naturally a great place for brands of all shapes and sizes to gain exposure. However, growing an engaged and loyal audience on the app is no easy task. One of Hopper HQ‘s guest writers Johannes explains just how to get followers on Instagram in this detailed guide… Sadly, the majority of articles published on the topic are either too vague or too case-specific, and mostly present a couple of low-impact and/or exhaustively time-consuming ideas. In addition to that, these Instagram follower growth strategies need to be updated almost as often as Instagram updates its ranking algorithm – there’s a good chance that the tips shared in 2017 are long outdated, because well, Instagram has changed a lot in the past 2 years. Through these experiences, I’ve compiled a set of universal and effective ways to get followers on Instagram. In my attempts to organize them somehow, I came up with this step-by-step guide to growing a follower base, more specifically: a road to 21k.