How to Get Free Instagram Followers

Written by Kasey Dunn | Edited by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: March 20, 2023

Want to gain a large Instagram follower base for free? Fortunately, there are proven methods for growing your following on Instagram, and we've rounded up the best, most effective ones here. Keep reading to learn the best tips for succeeding on Instagram and growing your follower count for free.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Tips for Instagram Success

1
Add detailed information to your bio. You can customize your existing bio information by tapping Edit Profile while on your account page. A professional Instagram page will include the following:
- A link to your website (or a separate social media account on which you are active).
- A description of the content you're trying to provide.
- A memorable name that adequately sums up your content.
2
Link your other social media accounts to Instagram. You can do this from the Linked Accounts section of the Settings menu in the Instagram app. Linking your existing accounts will spread your content across other platforms, thereby increasing the number of views that your profile gets.

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3
Decide on a content theme. If you don't have a general purpose to your content, both you and your followers will quickly become confused and/or distracted. While you should feel free to come up with your own theme, some easy themes include:
- Cooking
- Outdoor pursuits
- Urban exploration
- Fitness
4
Post often. Ideally, you'll post at least once a day, every day of the week. You can keep your audience engaged by doing the following:^{[1]
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- Varying your content (but not your theme)
- Posting dynamic content (e.g., Boomerang media or videos)
- Posting at around 5:00 PM (or 2:00 AM) EST
5
Interact with other Instagram accounts. Following other users and liking/commenting on their posts is an easy way to garner a few followers here and there, and you'll likely build relationships in the process.
6
Listen to user feedback. After you gain a fair amount of followers, some of them will likely have requests. If you listen to their feedback and deem it appropriate for your account, consider incorporating their suggestions into your content production--the happier your followers are, the more they'll want to stay with your account.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Using Common Hashtags

1
Familiarize yourself with Instagram hashtags. Tags make your content searchable by people who are looking for those specific tags.
- Tagging is also a great way to extend your outreach to the Instagram community.
- Make a hashtag for yourself to use on each of your posts to help you build your brand.
2
Look up the most frequently-used hashtags. Ideally, you'll want to add 10 to 20 of these tags to your photos. Doing so will increase your content's visibility, thereby garnering your followers.
- Instagram tends to look down on misleading tagging, so you can't simply add irrelevant popular tags to your content.
3
Create content based around hot tags. Since you can't add false tags to your content, curate content that matches those tags.
- For example, if "#love" is currently trending, you might take a picture that matches your content theme and add "#love" to the description.
4
Add hashtags to your photos. You can do this from the upload screen after taking a photo, or you can choose to edit your existing photos after uploading them.
- Tags should pertain to your photos, but they should also work with your theme. Keep your tags focused.
- Look at the trending audio used on Instagram Reels and see if you can post one that uses the same song.

Expert Q&A

Question

How can I get my Instagram verified for free?

Kasey Dunn
Social Media Expert
Kasey Dunn is a Social Media Expert and the Senior Social Media Manager for Golden Arrow PR in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. With over five years of experience, she specializes in business development, marketing, and brand design. She earned her BA in Business Administration and Management from Mount St. Joseph University. She also holds a SEMRUSH for Digital Agencies Certification, an SEO for Social Media Certification, and a Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels Certification.

Kasey Dunn

Social Media Expert

Expert Answer

That's free, but it's harder nowadays than it has ever been. If you are an individual, I believe you have to submit either a passport or a driver's license and then you have to connect relevant media to your page to basically have readers know that what you're doing is verified. It takes up to 30 business days for them to be able to accept you.
Question

How do I increase my followers on Instagram?

Community Answer

Make sure you post daily, and interact regularly with popular hashtags. Check out the article on How to Get Followers on Instagram.

Warnings

Avoid opening any websites, emails, or links that promise "free followers". Often times, these are just scams attempting to steal your information.

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