If you’re a small business owner or creator looking to build a customer base or create buzz, Instagram remains a vital social media platform for your marketing strategy. Instagram’s user base is projected to exceed 1.5 billion, making it one of the most popular social networks globally. Instagram is a powerful visual platform that helps businesses of all types build brand awareness, showcase products, and drive sales. Use Instagram Stories to lure people to get that follower count up, all thanks to new people watching that Instagram Story you’re excited about.
But there’s a catch: you need eyes on your content to achieve these goals. More Instagram followers mean more people to engage with and share your content — leading to better business outcomes. The more involved, real followers you have, the faster you’ll reach your business goals. And once you hit 10,000 followers, you have access to advanced features that can take your account to the next level (more on that later).
“Social media is the ultimate equalizer. It gives anyone a voice and a platform to engage.” — Amy Jo Martin.
Remember that buying followers is still not a good idea; Instagram’s algorithms are sharper than ever, and fake followers can hurt your visibility. To repeat: Do not buy fake Instagram followers.
So you want to grow your followers, but it takes time and effort. What’s the magic mix? We’ll tell you.
Create Content Strategically
Authenticity is Still the Key
Authenticity remains the foundation of a strong Instagram presence. Users detect inauthenticity from a mile away, and faking it will turn them off faster than ever. Build a genuine, recognizable voice representing your mission and passion for your products. Stay consistent in your tone and Instagram marketing style across all social media platforms, and don’t be afraid to show your personality.
Stay Relevant with Video Content
Instagram increasingly prioritizes video content in Reels and Instagram Stories, pushing static image posts into the background. Video posts — particularly those leveraging Reels’s short, engaging format — are still the best way to draw in new social media followers. Plus, Instagram is introducing longer Reels and improved editing tools in 2024 to help creators add effects and trim their clips directly in-app. You gotta embrace every way possible to grow your Instagram audience.
Instagram Notes is a new feature added to the platform. Think of them as short status updates or reminders in your DMs, enabling more personal connections. This is a great way to announce new posts or draw attention to new promotions.
Leverage Instagram Shopping & Enhanced In-App Purchases
Instagram’s in-app shopping features continue to evolve, with Instagram Shops becoming increasingly important. Businesses can now set up fully integrated shopping experiences directly within the platform. 2024 brings new integrations with augmented reality (AR) to help customers virtually “try on” products like clothing or makeup through Instagram Shops.
To boost product discoverability, Instagram has improved the Shop Tab algorithm, which prioritizes items based on user’s preferences. With new checkout features, your followers can make purchases seamlessly without leaving the app, driving more impulse buys.
Encourage Follower Engagement
The Instagram algorithm has shifted to prioritize engagement more heavily than before. Engagement comes in the form of likes, comments, saves, shares, DMs, and even how much time users spend on your posts.
Instagram engagement is the heartbeat of your social media presence. It’s the real-time interaction between your content and your audience — likes, comments, shares, saves, and DMs — all of which signal to Instagram’s algorithm that your content is resonating. Engagement is far more critical than just follower count for a small business or creator. Here’s why:
- Better Reach & Visibility: Instagram’s algorithm heavily favors posts with high engagement. The more interactions your post gets — through likes, comments, or shares — the more Instagram will push your content up in people’s feeds and onto the coveted Explore Page. Higher engagement means more eyeballs on your content, translating to more potential customers and brand advocates. For creators, this could mean more collaboration offers and partnerships. In short, engagement boosts visibility, allowing your content to reach beyond your current followers.
- Stronger Community & Brand Loyalty: Engagement is a two-way street. When your audience engages with your content, it creates opportunities for meaningful interaction through your Instagram profile. A simple comment can spark a conversation, build relationships, and develop a sense of community around your brand or personal content. The more you respond and interact, the more your audience feels connected to your business, leading to stronger brand loyalty. People are likely to buy from a brand they feel personally connected to, and creators benefit by growing a dedicated fanbase to support future projects.
- Conversion Opportunities: Engagement is more than just a vanity metric. It’s often the first step toward brand awareness and a sale or partnership. If someone takes the time to comment, ask questions, or send you a DM, it’s a sign they’re interested in what you’re offering. This provides the perfect opportunity to nurture that lead, answer their questions, and guide them toward purchasing or booking your services. High engagement shows potential customers or brands you’re credible and worth investing in.
Interactive Content is Essential
One of the best ways to drive engagement is through Instagram Stories with interactive stickers like polls, quizzes, and question boxes. They encourage followers to engage directly and extend users’ time interacting with your content, boosting your post’s algorithmic favor.
Instagram Broadcast Channels are also a new feature to leverage. These are essentially direct message groups where creators can send updates to all their followers at once — think of it as a more personalized newsletter. You can use these to share exclusive updates, create buzz for product drops, or announce giveaways.
Optimize Your Instagram Bio and Link-in-Bio
The bio remains a critical part of your Instagram strategy. It’s the first thing potential followers see, so it needs to grab attention and offer immediate value.
Many creators and brands are moving beyond just one link in the bio by using link-in-bio tools like Linktree, Manychat Ref URLs, or even Instagram’s native multi-link feature. These allow you to add multiple links to your bio, helping you drive followers to different destinations, such as your website, newsletter signup, or other social platforms. With AI-generated insights, you can better track and optimize which links are getting the most traction.
Collaborate with Influencers and Brands
Influencer marketing is evolving, with many influencers becoming brand partners rather than simply content promoters. Micro-influencers (those with 10,000 – 100,000 followers) are still incredibly effective for small businesses, as they offer authentic endorsements that resonate more with niche audiences.
You can also explore UGC (User-Generated Content). Businesses increasingly encourage their followers to create product content and tag the brand. UGC not only builds social proof but also fosters a sense of community.
Instagram lives and breathes on user-generated content (UGC) — and for good reason. UGC is any form of content (like photos, videos, reviews, or Stories) created by users rather than brands themselves. Whether it’s a happy customer sharing a product experience or a fan tagging their favorite brand, UGC fuels Instagram’s ecosystem to benefit everyone — platform, brands, and users alike. But why does Instagram love it so much?
- It’s Authentic, and Authenticity Drives Engagement: People trust people. When Instagram users see a product or service shared by another natural person (not a polished brand ad), it feels more genuine and relatable to the potential follower. That’s why UGC tends to get higher Instagram engagement than branded content.
- Authenticity breeds trust, and trust breeds engagement — likes, comments, shares, and saves — which is Instagram’s bread and butter. The platform rewards content that gets people talking, and UGC naturally does that because it feels like a conversation, not a sales pitch.
- It Creates a Community Vibe: Instagram isn’t just about broadcasting content — it’s about fostering a community. UGC connects people, brands, and movements, building a sense of belonging around shared interests. When users tag a social media account or share their experiences, they aren’t just customers — they’re part of the brand’s story. This creates a ripple effect, where one person’s post encourages others to participate, keeping the platform’s community spirit alive. Instagram loves this interaction because it deepens the connection between users and the platform.
- It’s Free (and Endless) Content for Brands: Instagram loves UGC because it’s a win-win for both the platform and brand awareness. For businesses, UGC is like a gold mine of free marketing. Every tagged post, review, or mention is free advertising and a critical part of a refined Instagram growth strategy. It shows potential customers that real people are using and loving their products. This naturally drives sales and increases brand visibility. Plus, when brands reshare UGC, it fills their feeds with fresh, authentic content without having to create it themselves. More content means more engagement, which keeps Instagram’s ecosystem thriving — and helps lure in organic followers.
- It Builds Brand Loyalty and Advocacy: When users create content around a brand, and that brand shares it, it makes those users the follower base valued and seen. Instagram knows that people love being featured — it’s a dopamine hit (and a killer piece of social media strategy) when your favorite brand notices and shares your post. This creates a positive feedback loop where users feel appreciated, so they continue creating more brand content. The result? Stronger brand loyalty and advocacy make Instagram a more engaging place for everyone.
- It Powers the Instagram Algorithm: Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content that keeps people on the platform longer and gets people engaging with each other. UGC ticks all those boxes. Posts that feature real people and real experiences spark curiosity and trust, leading to more engagement, which makes the algorithm boost it even more. The more UGC people engage with, the longer they stay on the platform — and the happier Instagram is.
Post at Optimal Times for Your Brand
While many studies will offer “best times to post,” the truth is that it varies by audience. Use Instagram Insights to track when your followers are most active and run A/B tests with different posting times. You can schedule content in advance using tools like Buffer, Later, or Hootsuite to post at the best times, even if you’re away from your desk.
Bonus: 10,000 Follower Perks
Hitting 10,000 followers remains a crucial milestone. Once you cross that threshold, you can use advanced features like Swipe-Up links in Stories or its replacement, Link Stickers. These stickers allow you to direct traffic straight from your Instagram Stories to your website, shop, or any landing page — without needing to direct people to the link in your bio.
Growing your Instagram account requires a strategic approach that combines engaging content, consistent branding, and active community participation. It’s not just about follower count anymore — it’s about engagement, authenticity, and using the latest features to your advantage. Following this guide’s tactics, you’ll build a thriving Instagram presence that converts followers into loyal customers.
Make the most of tools like Manychat to streamline communication, nurture relationships, and engage with followers like never before. If you consistently work to increase your real follower count, you’ll grow your brand and boost sales, engagement, and brand awareness in the long run.
But remember, don’t buy fake followers. Seriously.
