Look, I get it. You're scrolling through Instagram seeing accounts with tens of thousands of followers and wondering how they did it. When I started my baking account back in 2019, I posted daily for three months straight and only had 127 followers. Super frustrating. Turns out I was making every rookie mistake in the book.
This isn't another generic "post good content" guide. We're digging into the trenches – the exact steps, the hidden settings, and the uncomfortable truths about how to gain more followers on Instagram. Forget buying followers or sketchy growth hacks. Those might inflate your numbers temporarily but destroy your engagement. I learned that the hard way after wasting $50 on an "instant followers" service that delivered bots who liked random cat photos.
Getting Your Foundation Right (Stop Skipping This!)
Would you follow an account with a blurry profile pic and no bio? Exactly. First impressions matter more here than on a first date.
Your Profile Makeover Checklist
- Username: Make it recognizable and searchable (Tip: include keywords if possible - @NYC_StreetPhotography beats @Xx_Photogod_xX)
- Profile Photo: Crystal clear face or logo (test it thumbnail-sized!)
- Bio: Hook them in 150 characters. State what you do + who you help + personality. My current bio: "Sourdough nerd 🥖 | Teaching beginners to bake like pros | Failed 27 times before this worked"
- Link: Use Linktree or Carrd if you need multiple links. Change it weekly for new content
- Category: If eligible (business/creator accounts), select one! Helps discovery
Biggest mistake I see? Private accounts wanting growth. Unless you're a celebrity, keep it public. Instagram won't push private accounts in Explore.
Optimal Account Settings
| Setting | Dumb Default | Smart Fix | Where to Find |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activity Status | Visible to everyone | Turn OFF (prevents "why didn't you reply?" pressure) | Settings → Privacy → Activity Status |
| Resharing to Stories | Allowed | Disable (unless you want random shares) | Settings → Privacy → Story → Shared Content |
| Story Controls | No restrictions | Hide story from lurkers/no-engagement followers | Settings → Privacy → Story → Hide Story From |
Content Strategy That Actually Converts Scrollers to Followers
Posting randomly is like throwing spaghetti at the wall. You need a system. My turning point came when I analyzed my top 9 posts. All were step-by-step recipe videos. Changed everything.
Post Types That Dominate in 2024
- Micro-Tutorial Reels: "How to shape bagels in 20 seconds" (7M+ views on my simple shaping reel)
- Mistake Comparisons: "Over-proofed vs perfect dough" (satisfies the "why did mine fail?" pain point)
- Story Series: "Day 1: Starter | Day 2: Mixing | Day 3: Baking" (builds daily check-ins)
- Carousels with Value: "5 sourdough myths debunked" (saves to 3x more than regular posts)
Frequency debate solved: 4-5 times/week consistently beats daily low-quality posts. Instagram confirmed this to creators last year.
Optimal Posting Times (Tested Monthly)
| Niche | Best Days | Peak Times (EST) | Worst Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food/Baking | Thurs-Sun | 11 AM, 7-9 PM | Mondays before 10 AM |
| Travel | Mon-Wed | 8-10 AM, 4-6 PM | Friday nights |
| Fitness | Mon-Tue, Sat | 5-7 AM, 6-8 PM | Sunday afternoons |
The Hashtag Strategy Everyone Gets Wrong
Using #love #instagood won't help. At all. I tracked results across 100+ posts and found:
- Ideal hashtag count: 8-12 (5-30 range works but 8-12 is sweet spot)
- Mix sizes: 3 big (500K+ posts), 5 medium (50K-500K), 4 small (<50K)
- Placement: First comment works same as caption now (confirmed by Instagram)
How to find niche hashtags:
Search your main keyword → click "Recent" top posts → steal relevant tags from competitors' captions.
Pro Tip: Create a Hashtag Bank
Maintain a notes file with hashtag groups for different content types. Mine looks like:
Baking Basics Group:
#sourdoughstartertips (12K posts) | #beginnerbaker (84K) | #homemadebreaddaily (27K)
Advanced Group:
#artisanbaking (193K) | #breadscoring (41K) | #fermentationnation (18K)
Engagement: The Secret Growth Engine
Here's where most fail. Commenting "Nice!" won't grow your account. Authentic interaction does.
My brutal truth: I spent 90 minutes/day on engagement for 6 months to hit 10K followers. Now I maintain with 30 minutes.
The Engagement Pyramid That Works
| Level | Activity | Time/Day | Growth Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic | Reply to ALL comments (first 6 hours) | 10-15 min | High (signals active account) |
| Mid-Level | Engage with followers' content | 15 min | Medium (builds loyalty) |
| Growth | Strategic commenting on target accounts | 20 min | Very High (new audience exposure) |
Strategic commenting in action: Find accounts 20% bigger than yours in your niche. Sort their recent posts by "Most Recent" (not Top). Leave thoughtful comments on posts <2 hours old. Why? Early comments get more visibility when the post blows up.
Instagram Algorithm Hacks They Don't Tell You
After the 2023 algorithm update, these signals matter most:
- Dwell Time: How long people view your Reels (aim for >75% watch rate)
- Share Rate: Shares to DMs are gold (add "DM this to a baking buddy!" in captions)
- Saves: The "bookmark" signal (design carousels to be reference guides)
Algorithm Test Result: Reels with text overlays get 40% more reach. Use CapCut to add bold captions. Videos without get buried.
Advanced Growth Tactics
Collaborations: Not just shoutouts. Try:
- Story takeovers (I gained 412 followers from one bakery takeover)
- "Dual tutorials" (You film step 1, partner films step 2)
- Giveaways with entry requirements (follow both + tag friends)
Controversial Opinion: Don't run giveaways until you have 5K followers. Below that, you attract freebie hunters who unfollow later.
Analytics: What Actually Matters
Ignore vanity metrics. Track these weekly:
| Metric | Where to Find | Growth Target | My Mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follow Rate | Insights → Audience → Reached Accounts | 0.8-1.5% of reached | Ignored this for months |
| Engagement Rate | (Likes + Comments)/Followers * 100 | 2-5% (higher for <10K) | Celebrated 10% with fake followers |
| Story Completion Rate | Story Insights → Next Story | 70%+ per slide | Posted boring polls |
Frequently Asked Questions (The Real Ones)
How long until I see growth?
Real talk: Minimum 3 months of consistent effort. I didn't hit 1K until month 4. Now I gain ~800/month organically.
Should I follow/unfollow?
Don't. Instagram penalizes aggressive following. I tested - gained 1K but engagement dropped 40%. Toxic growth.
Can I reuse TikTok content?
Bad idea. Crop out watermarks and reformat for Instagram's 4:5 aspect ratio. Native content performs better.
Why do I lose followers when I post?
Usually means irrelevant content. Check your Insights: if non-followers engage more than followers, you're attracting the wrong crowd.
My Personal Growth Timeline
To show it's possible without shortcuts:
- Month 1-3: 0-142 followers (posting blindly)
- Month 4: Implemented strategy → hit 1K
- Month 6: Consistent Reels → 5K
- Month 9: Viral bread scoring video → 23K
- Today (2 years): 56K + baking course sales
The key to how to gain more followers on Instagram? Play the long game. Drop the follower count obsession. Build a community that loves your niche like you do. That's how you win.
Final Reality Check
When I hit 10K, Instagram didn't magically send me brand deals. Focus on creating undeniable value. The followers follow.
Still stuck? DM me @BreadBoss - I reply to genuine questions (but please no "how to get 10K fast" requests).
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