Grow in a Jiffy: Gain Followers on Instagram Free and Fast

Is there anything more frustrating than watching your follower growth get stagnant over time? It’s like every time you think you’ve cracked the code to get more fans, your follower count stops growing. You might feel tempted to turn toward paid methods to grow, from ads to growth services. But you don’t have to do that. 

We’ve got some tried-and-tested strategies that can help you gain followers on Instagram free and fast. Keep scrolling to see them all!

How To Gain Followers on Instagram for Free: The Best Organic Growth Methods

With how competitive Instagram has gotten, it sometimes feels like you need to “pay to play.” You have to buy expensive ads and marketing tools to rise through the ranks of the social media platform.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of effective growth methods that are absolutely free. The best part is that followers from organic methods are usually more genuine in their interest in your brand. They’re also more sustainable and financially sound than paid methods. All you have to do is put your strategy cap on and improve your content.

Are you ready to learn how to gain followers on Instagram for free? Here are some tried-and-tested strategies that can help you grow your Instagram page without breaking the bank.

1. Best Way To Gain Followers on Instagram: Post High-Quality Content Consistently

Perhaps the best way to gain followers on Instagram is by consistently churning out high-quality, impactful, valuable content. This could mean always coming out with fresh, aesthetic content that is a feast for the eyes. It could also pertain to informative, educational, and entertaining posts that resonate with your target audience.

And it’s not just the visual appeal and the value of your content that matters. Consistency is key when publishing this kind of content as well. Experts at Shopify recommend posting about three to five times a week to keep your momentum (and your followers’ attention!).

Try drawing up a content calendar to maintain a regular posting schedule. That way, you’ll always have something new and intriguing to share with your current followers while reeling in new ones.

2. How To Use Hashtags on Instagram To Gain Followers

Instagram hashtags are awesome for boosting your posts’ visibility. Instagram pushes out content with hashtags to the feeds and Explore pages of those interested in those tags. That increases the likelihood of people stumbling upon your post and checking out your page. That’s why learning how to use hashtags on Instagram to gain followers is a must for widening your audience.

But don’t just stuff your post captions with as many hashtags as you can. Pick only the most relevant hashtags that your target audience might like and can enhance the storytelling of your content.

You can add up to 30 hashtags to captions, but aim for around 10 so you don’t overwhelm potential followers. Also, make sure not to use any banned hashtags—that will only spell disaster for your account moving forward.

3. Sharing User-Generated Content To Boost Authenticity

User-generated content (UGC) pertains to any post about a brand made by social media users, such as customers and fans. These posts include testimonials, try-on videos, podcasts, and even personal photos featuring branded products.

Unlike overly polished ads and product-centric posts, people see UGC as much more authentic and palatable. It also serves as social proof of a brand’s trustworthiness and legitimacy to others.

So, if you want more people to trust your brand, consider reposting your customers’ UGC to your profile. According to Cloudinary, 86% of people are more likely to trust brands that post user-generated content on social media. And the more people trust you, the more likely you are to win over some new followers.

4. Interact With Audiences Who Engage With Your Content

Get noticed by potential followers by engaging with them on the platform. Respond to comments other users leave on your feed if you can, and comment back on some of their posts, too. These actions set off notifications to these users about your interactions with their page. Hopefully, they’ll feel enticed to check out your page and maybe give you a follow.

This is a simple yet effective way to build rapport with people who can be potential fans. It’s also an awesome trick for gaining followers on Instagram without posting anything new on the IG feed.

5. Diversify Your Content Plan With Instagram Stories, Live and Reels

Widen your reach by experimenting with different content types. For example, instead of just publishing feed posts, consider uploading Instagram Reels. Remember, Reels show up in a whole different section of Instagram from the main feed. That means your content will be able to reach a wider audience by posting photos on both feed and Reels.

You can also keep your current followers entertained by hosting Instagram Live sessions and posting interactive Stories. These content types are a breath of fresh air from everyday feed posts.

Grow in the Blink of an Eye: How To Gain Followers on Instagram Fast for Free

It’s one thing to gain followers for free. But it’s even better when you win over those fans at lightning speed. The faster you get a significant fanbase, the sooner you get more marketing and collab opportunities on the platform. After all, many brands and creators will only work with social media accounts with a large following. So, it’s important to get cracking and grow ASAP.

Are you wondering how to gain followers on Instagram fast for free? Here are our top tips for winning over new followers in a short period. Before you know it, you’ll be able to start reaping the benefits of a larger fanbase.

1. Start a Viral Challenge To Put Yourself on the Map

This one might be difficult, but it’s a foolproof way to get followers fast. Start an Instagram challenge that is so interesting and intriguing that more and more people join in. If you’re successful with driving lots of traction, your brand can potentially go viral.

This boost in popularity can put the spotlight on your account and grow your fanbase fast. That’s how to gain a lot of followers on Instagram in record time and with a bang!

You can be as creative as you want with your challenges. They can be anywhere from dance challenges to monthly challenges. If you want to promote your business, ideas like product packaging design contests and product consumption challenges might be fun. This is awesome for catching the attention of not just potential customers but also any happy-go-lucky creator.

2. Share Strong Yet Authentic Opinions on Hot-Button Topics

If you really want to make an impression and make waves on Instagram fast, do something drastic. One way to do that is by being vocal on hot-button, borderline-controversial topics. Share your opinion on something you care about, even if it sparks intense reactions.

Present arguments about your thoughts on various industries or social topics in detail. Encourage people to debate with you in the comments. Speak your truth and educate others. It’s a great way to make a social impact on the internet while gaining followers fast, too. It sounds scary (and maybe a bit polarizing), but it’s amazing for boosting visibility—and, potentially, your follower count.

3. Follow Accounts in Your Niche in the Hopes They Follow You Back

One sneaky strategy to get followers fast is to follow accounts within your niche that you think might follow you back. Follow some profiles and interact with their content. They might see your name pop up in their notifications, find it familiar, and check out your page. If you’re lucky, they’ll vibe with your content or want to network with you, leading them to follow you back.

Granted, this method isn’t exactly sustainable. As soon as you stop following new accounts, you’ll stop getting new followers, too. Plus, there’s never any guarantee that you’ll get people to follow your page back. But if you really want to get a few followers fast, it’s a terrific hack!

4. Gain Followers on Instagram App Quickly by Joining an Engagement Pod

You can gain followers on the Instagram app super fast by befriending people in an engagement pod. Pods are groups on Instagram that agree to interact with each other on the platform to boost engagement. That could mean liking and commenting on content, promoting their posts, and even following each other on the app.

Not only are pods effective for driving post engagement fast, but they can also help you get more followers. They have a bit of a bad reputation for encouraging “fake” engagement. But if you build rapport with and befriend the people in your pod, it’s amazing for growing your community.

Frequently Asked Questions

And That’s How To Gain More Followers on Instagram!

It can be tough to figure out how to gain more followers on Instagram. However, all the actionable strategies above can help put your brand on the map and boost your follower count. The best part is that you won’t have to spend a dime on any of them!

Focusing on organic growth methods lets you save a huge chunk of your Instagram marketing budget while seeing continuous growth. You can then invest that money into other awesome tools that help you gain followers on Instagram—like Path Social.

Path Social is a growth service that promotes your content to your key target audience. The more these people discover your page through our methods, the more potential followers you attract. That means your follower count will finally skyrocket again, allowing you to build a thriving community of fans on Instagram. So, what are you waiting for? Gain more followers today with the help of Path Social!