Why Am I Not Getting Followers on Instagram: How to Fix It

Social Media Marketing
Why Am I Not Getting Followers on Instagram: How to Fix It
Article by Ivana Ivanova
Last Updated: June 21, 2024

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today. Over 1.4 billion monthly users (businesses and individuals alike) use it to not just connect with others but spread the word about their services.

Instagram’s algorithm favors content with high interaction, which means the more followers you have, the more engagement you're likely to see. But what if you’re not getting enough followers despite your efforts? Don’t worry — there are several things you can do to boost your follower count.

In this article, we’ll help you learn how to get more followers on Instagram through 10 easy strategies from our social media experts.

1. Use Hashtags the Right Way

Hashtags are a great way to get more followers on Instagram. They connect people and content through similar interests or subjects. Basically, by adding a specific hashtag to your caption or tags, your posts or reels will be shown to people who search for those terms.

However, you must use hashtags strategically. Simply, stuffing your posts with many hashtags in hopes of reaching a broader audience can backfire, as the algorithm may end up disliking your content and pushing it to the back. To prevent that, here are some tips on how to effectively use hashtags to gain more followers on Instagram:

  • Use around 2-5 hashtags per post. Don't overdo it. Too many hashtags tell the algorithm you’re trying to reach an overly broad audience, which can result in your content not being presented to anyone.
  • Use hashtags specific to your niche. Always stick to your niche. If you're a marketer, use hashtags like #digitalmarketing or #marketing; if you're an author, use #books and #writers; if you're an athlete, use hashtags like #sports and #training. When you stick to your niche and use relevant keywords, it becomes easier for people to find you.
Daniel Suga IMD Instagram
[Source: Daniel Suga IMD Instagram]
Daniel Suga IMD Instagram - 2
[Source: Daniel Suga IMD Instagram]
  • Use hashtags that are frequently searched for. If you're unsure which hashtags are popular, tools like RiteTag or Hashtagify can help you out.
  • Don't use irrelevant hashtags. People don’t like to follow accounts that don’t know who they’re targeting. Plus, again, the algorithm doesn’t look favorably to this type of content.
  • Add a custom hashtag at the end of your post. This is a great way to distinguish yourself and create a unique hashtag that can circulate among your target audience. It also makes it easier for people to find your content when they search or scroll through their feeds.
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2. Use a Schedule With the Best Times To Post

One of the reasons why you probably have no followers on Instagram is that you’re not posting at the right time. While some believe that posting at a certain time doesn’t play any role in your follower count, research by SocialPilot suggests otherwise. The Instagram algorithm prioritizes recent posts, so you should consider when to share your reel or post.

The report states that, in general, the best time to post on Instagram to get likes and shares is on Thursdays between 12:00 p.m. and 5 a.m. PST. Other good days for increasing reach are Monday between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and Friday between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

However, this is not set in stone — what works for others might not for you and vice versa. So, consider testing different posting times and see what works best for you. You can use tools like Buffer or Agorapulse to schedule your posts in advance. But make sure you don't post too often or too infrequently — this also influences how the algorithm perceives your account.

3. Improve Your Content Quality

Different people look for different things on Instagram, but they all have one thing in common: they want quality content. After all, who are you more likely to choose, someone who’s created a pixelated reel or someone who has a high-quality video with captions and some catchy music in the background?

Here are a few things you can do to improve your content to get more followers on Instagram:

  • Post relevant content. Make your Instagram feed relevant to your target audience. You might have the most incredible products in the world, but if nobody cares about it or understands how it will help them solve their problems, they won't follow you.
  • Engage with your followers. An engaged follower is more valuable than a hundred followers. To engage with your audience on Instagram, you need to be entertaining and informative. You need to provide them with a reason to comment on your post; try asking questions or offering exclusive promotions.
  • Create compelling visuals. A picture speaks a thousand words, especially on a visual platform like Instagram. So, make each one count by telling its own story rather than relying solely on text captions.
  • Post more often. One of the brands’ most significant mistakes is not posting consistently. In their most recent report, HubSpot found that 18% of marketers have a tough time keeping followers simply because there’s so much content out there That means, if you don’t market yourself regularly, you’ll quickly end up at the back where there’s almost zero exposure.

4. Use Call-to-Actions

A call-to-action (CTA) in your post acts like a hook for people — it gives them just enough information to guess what your product or services are but leaves room for them to learn more by contacting you or taking some other action.

Make your CTAs compelling and straightforward. If people aren't clear on what they need to do, they won't follow through. Examples of good CTAs are:

  • Save this post for later
  • Double tap if this makes your day
  • Tap LIKE if you agree
  • What’s ONE tip you’d share? Tell me below
  • Let’s chat in the comments!
  • Tag your BFFs who need to see this
  • Don’t miss my IG story for more updates
  • Find more info in the highlights!
  • Share this if it was helpful
thisisvirginiakerr Instagram
[Source: thisisvirginiakerr Instagram]
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5. Connect With Your Audience

An Instagram account that engages with its followers is viewed as high quality by the algorithm as quality. But it’s not just about appealing to the algorithm — connecting with your audience shows that you value your followers and want to establish a genuine relationship with them. When followers feel like they know you and have a real connection, they are more likely to follow your journey and share their experiences.

You can do this by:

  • Following them back
  • Liking their photos
  • Commenting on their posts
  • Reposting user-generated content

Reposting user-generated content is one of the best ways to grow your following and engagement because it comes directly from your target audience. If you see something your audience is sharing on social media, repost it, and tag them in the post. This gesture makes them feel appreciated, increasing engagement and interaction.

6. Don't Buy Fake (Bot) Followers

The problem with buying bot followers is that it can badly hurt your account's credibility. For instance, if you buy bot followers and then try to sell something on Instagram, potential customers may be deterred because they think the "likes" on your products are fake.

Remember that the whole point of Instagram is that it's supposed to be a social platform where you can genuinely interact with others.

7. Set a Social Media Strategy in Place

With so many companies vying for attention on Instagram, it can be hard to get followers. It's not enough to simply create a business account and start posting. One effective tactic in getting a lot of followers on Instagram is to have a captivating social media strategy before you start anything.

Here's a quick Instagram marketing strategy to get you started:

  • Conduct competitor analysis. Understand who your competitors are and how they use their Instagram accounts. You should also look at the types of content they share and how often they post it. This will help you determine what kind of content works best for your account and how often you should post it.
  • Identify your target audience and tailor your content. To grow your Instagram community, you need to understand who you're marketing to. Create a persona of your ideal customer and then break it down into demographics, psychographics, and behaviors, asking questions like "What are my customers' pain points?" Once you have this information, you can tailor your content to fit your target audience.
  • Be consistent with your branding. Your profile should reflect your brand. This means using the same colors and fonts as your website, having consistent captions and hashtags, using flattering photos of yourself and your products, and anything else that will reinforce brand recognition.
  • Run Instagram ads. Ad campaigns can help you reach the right people by targeting specific demographics and interests at the right time. You can even target users posting on topics or hashtags related to your business, so they see your ads when they browse their feeds. Advertising is also great for boosting engagement with existing customers by creating offers.
  • Try Influencer marketing. Influencer marketing involves partnering with social media influencers to promote your product or service. The idea is that an influencer's popularity will make your business more attractive to potential customers, leading them to follow you and engage with your content. You can find influencers in your niche by searching for relevant hashtags on Instagram or using apps like Klout or Klear.

8. Write Descriptive Captions Using Keywords

Remember what we said about hashtags? The same principle applies to keywords if you want to get more followers on Instagram. Keywords are often already included in hashtags, which is why experts advise using only a few — keyword stuffing is something the Instagram algorithm aims to avoid.

However, keywords can also stand alone. In general, they are used within the description section of your content. You can also use them in the reel itself (videos) and not just in the description of your post. Do this by:

  1. Creating a reel.
  2. Adding the keywords by clicking the “Aa” tab.
  3. Editing the text to fit the reel.
  4. Posting the reel.

The Instagram algorithm checks keywords from any part of your content. So do some keyword research and then incorporate the best ones for your business in your reels or posts.

9. Create More Video Content (Instagram Reels)

Posts are great, but reels are what people are looking at more today. In fact, 91% of Instagram users watch reels every week.

If you want to increase your followers, consider turning your content strategy more to reels than static posts. However, this doesn’t mean you should abandon carousels and pictures altogether. A good strategy you can follow is a 70%-30% ratio — 70% reels and 30% static content. Of course, you can tailor this to fit your needs better.

10. Cross-Promote Your Instagram With Other Socials

As great as Instagram is for building a brand, you can also find potential customers on other social media platforms. You can reach them by cross-promoting, which in turn, can also increase your Instagram following.

Since Meta owns both Instagram and Facebook, you can easily post your content and share ads on both platforms at the same moment with just one click.

Other ways you can cross-promote are:

  • Adding your Instagram handle on your YouTube channel bio and every video description
  • Linking your Instagram account to the description or destination of your Pinterest pins
  • Sharing your account through Twitter (now X) posts or gathering several tweets and making a reel out of them
  • Sharing your Insta reels on TikTok the second you make them

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of ways in which you can increase the reach of your posts, to get more followers on Instagram.

Anyone can create an Instagram account, but it takes serious effort to learn how to build a substantial following. Some practices you can use include:

  • Adequately using hashtags
  • Posting at the right time
  • Using CTAs
  • Building a connection with your audience
  • Creating quality content
  • Focusing on reels
  • Etc.

Remember: success on Instagram is about being consistent, following the best practices, being authentic, and posting great content. If you need expert insight, you can always ask a professional social media marketing agency to help you get more followers on Instagram.

Instagram Following FAQs

Why has my Instagram following dropped?

Instagram following drops can happen for several reasons. It can be due to Instagram’s clean-up processes that periodically clean up bots or inactive accounts. Changes in your content strategy may also result in some of your followers unfollowing your page. Lastly, algorithmic changes may affect your visibility.

Analyze your recent content, engagement rates, and any changes in Instagram's algorithms to understand the cause and adjust your strategy accordingly.

What to do when you have zero followers on Instagram?

If you find yourself with no followers on Instagram, you need to rebuild your presence. Your bio should be clear, and your profile picture should be brand-aligned. Post engaging content that’s in tune with your branding and be proactive: engage with your followers, like their posts, comment on them, and so on. Following other accounts in your niche to attract attention and build connections can also be useful.

How to get Instagram followers fast?

Sadly, there’s no surefire way that will grant you a massive following overnight. But there are a few steps you can take to attract more people organically:

  1. Optimize your profile for relevance and searchability by using brand- and industry-relevant geotags, hashtags, and keywords in your posts and bio.
  2. Consider collaborating with other influencers to reach more people.
  3. Run targeted Instagram ads to reach users who may be interested in your content or products.
  4. Focus on providing value and building relationships with your audience instead of just increasing the numbers.
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