How to Get More Followers on Instagram: Growth Tips for Businesses

Chances are that you’ve recently spent at least a few minutes browsing vacation photos and memes on Instagram. And even if you’re not hooked on this platform, many of your customers definitely are. With 2 billion monthly active users — including around 170 million in the U.S. — Instagram’s appeal is undeniable.

With such a huge audience, it’s no surprise that many businesses are using Instagram to connect with their customers. But just posting the occasional snapshot isn’t enough. You need the right strategies to grow your audience and make a name for your company. 

This article will cover everything you need to know about how to get more followers on Instagram. With a little effort and patience, you can build a thriving online community — and, eventually, convert them into paying customers. 

Optimize Your Instagram Account

Before you start dreaming up content, take the time to perfect your Instagram profile. This page is the face of your business. 

Craft a Concise and Engaging Bio

Instagram lets you add a short (150 characters or less) biography to the top of your profile. Here are a few key details you might include:

• A brief description of your company, such as “Tampa’s #1 Volvo mechanic: Fast, friendly, specialized with 10 years of experience”
• Your phone number or email address 
• A direct link to your website 
• A Linktree with links to your other social media channels, contact page, and more 

You should also choose the category that best represents your business, such as “Automotive Parts Store” or “Car Dealership.” This tag helps users quickly understand what your brand is all about. 

Utilize Strategic Keywords for Discoverability

Many people use Instagram’s search bar to discover local businesses. Plus, Instagram profiles can appear in traditional search engine results. Using relevant keywords will increase the chances that your company shows up in these places. 

Use keyword research tools — such as Ahrefs or WordStream — to find out what users are searching for. Then, include these words in your bio and captions whenever it feels natural. For example, your bio would be the perfect spot to mention that you’re a “mobile mechanic in Cleveland.” These keywords are the key — excuse the pun — to reaching a wider audience.

Develop a Strong Content Strategy

You don’t need to go to a marketing bootcamp to learn how to get more likes and followers on Instagram. All you need is a few common-sense techniques. 

Maintain a Consistent Posting Schedule

Instagram’s algorithms are thirsty for fresh content, and they tend to rank recent posts higher in users' feeds. Sharing posts frequently — ideally, at least three to five times a week — can help you boost your visibility and gain followers. 

Set yourself up for success by developing a social media content calendar. Keep things fresh with a mixture of posts, such as: 

• One or two daily stories 
• A weekly carousel featuring new products
• At least two Instagram Reels 
• Regular customer testimonials and other types of social proof

Figure out the best times to post, too — which is not just whenever inspiration strikes. For instance, Instagram users tend to engage most with posts on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Fridays, 11 a.m. is the (metaphorical) golden hour. But this might differ for your particular target audience, so be sure to experiment. 

Once you’ve identified the ideal times, use scheduling tools to automatically post your content. That way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to post if you get distracted by a last-minute meeting. 

Use High-Quality Visual Content

Instagram is the go-to place to look at pretty photos and watch short-form videos. That means blurry or low-quality content just won’t cut it. 

No, you don’t necessarily need to drop thousands of dollars on a flashy camera or a professional photographer. But you should put some effort into creating attractive visuals. For example, you might invest in inexpensive lighting equipment for product photos and film customer testimonials against a beautiful backdrop. 

Leverage Instagram Reels and Stories

Wondering how to get more followers on Instagram fast? Start creating Reels. These short videos, the platform explains, are designed to help users discover new things: "Much like Explore, the majority of what you see is from accounts you don’t follow.” 

Use this format for your most engaging content, such as hilarious skits or videos of your team volunteering. One or two moderately trendy Reels could help you attract potential customers who had never heard of your brand before. 

Stories are another critical part of any Instagram strategy. With Stories, casual photos and memes will keep your brand fresh in your followers’ minds without the pressure of constantly creating high-quality content.



Utilize Hashtags

With recent platform updates, hashtags are no longer a silver bullet. In a 2024 post, Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri wrote, “While hashtags can help people interested in specific topics find your content, they won’t necessarily increase your content’s visibility.” 

But that doesn’t mean you should abandon hashtags altogether. They’re still powerful tools for categorizing posts and helping users find relevant content. 

Research Relevant Hashtags

Platforms like Hootsuite and Later offer free hashtag generators and research tools. Or you can just click on posts in your niche in the Explore tab and see what popular hashtags come up. 

Stick to around five hashtags per post so it doesn’t turn into a word soup. This might include a specific hashtag for your brand, along with broader tags like "#MobileMechanic" and "#BrakeRepair."

Offer Exclusive Promotions

Everyone loves a great deal, especially from their favorite brands. That’s why Instagram promotions are powerful tools for boosting your engagement rate. 

Use Limited-Time Offers to Drive Urgency

Let’s face it: Your Instagram followers probably see your social media posts more often than they visit your website. Take advantage of this visibility by using your channel to promote flash sales or special events. These offers give users an extra incentive to follow you so they don’t miss the next big sale. 

Highlight Promotions in Stories and Posts

Regular posts are an excellent way to spotlight discounts and sales. For example, you could create daily Stories to count down to the end of your Black Friday sale (“5 days left to get up to 70% off on holiday gifts!”). Time-sensitive content like this can give your target audience a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out), driving more sales. 

Adjust Using Analytics

Forget expensive consultants or marketing courses. Data software can help you learn everything you need to know about how to get more followers on Instagram for free. 

Utilize Instagram's Analytics Tools

Instagram automatically gathers insights about your content, including: 

• Cost per paid ad
• Engagement metrics (likes, views, etc.) 
• Number of accounts reached
• Total followers 

This data is exactly what you need to analyze the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. For example, you might notice that your infographics consistently get dozens of likes and views. Meanwhile, that funny skit you made your team record six times has barely gotten any impressions. 

Based on this finding, you might focus on creating more informational content and dial back on the humor. Or maybe you just posted your skit at the wrong time, and it would get a much better reception on a different day. 

Get Professional Instagram Marketing Assistance

Growing your Instagram following takes time and savvy content marketing. But as a business owner, you might not have time to brainstorm content and respond to comments all day. We get it.

Optimize Digital Marketing is here to help. Our social media management team can handle every aspect of your Instagram marketing strategy, from custom content creation to keyword research. Or you can use our social CRM software to manage your content.

Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help you grow your audience!