Get More Followers on Instagram Without Following

Social media platforms have proven to be great avenues for brands and businesses to grow, and Instagram is one of them. eCommerce platforms like Shopify and Shoplazza have integrated deeply with Instagram. Store owners can leverage Instagram to drive profitable traffic to their websites, build an engaging audience, and grow conversion rates. Knowing how to get more followers on Instagram without following is an excellent hack for every online store owner.

There are over one billion active users on Instagram, and you can leverage this number to your advantage. If your presence on Instagram isn’t as robust as you want, it’s time to take action. This article serves as a definitive guide on how to grow Instagram followers organically. If you’re ready to boost your brand’s presence on Instagram, let’s get right to it!

1. Optimize Your Instagram Account

The first step towards gaining more IG followers is fully optimizing your account. You should think of your Instagram account as your e-commerce website. It is the foundation of your brand’s identity. Your username, profile image, bio, image captions, etc., must work towards meeting your business goals.

Your username should be searchable. You should stick to your brand name and not do anything out of the ordinary. If the business name is too long, you can shorten it to a term your audience would recognize.

The link in your bio should help you drive traffic from Instagram to your website. Use essential keywords, campaigns, and hashtags, and link to your website’s homepage. You can even use your bio to host links to recent posts on your feed, using “link in bio” to attract your audience.

2. Post More Often

Many Instagram accounts with low followers are not posting enough. You must post more often to keep your audience engaged and potentially attract new ones. About 200 million users visit their Instagram accounts many times a day. So, daily posts will help you cast your brand’s net even wider.

One great way to do this is by keeping a consistent content calendar. This will serve as a posting schedule to help you keep it consistent and avoid spam. Sticking to your schedule will build an excellent and consistent experience for your followers. They will know your brand and look forward to your next content.

Once a post gets old, there is a low chance that people will notice it. This implies that the more recent your post, the more people will notice your content. This is why constant posting is essential for the growth of your account. Scheduling your Instagram posts in advance will help you do it more efficiently.

3. Employ the FLC (Follow, Like, Comment) Loop

This method is very effective, but you should note that it does not work overnight. It requires patience, hard work, and effort. Here is how it is done:

You should have a list of Instagram users that have a goal similar to yours. You could use hashtags too or check for major influencers' followers. From the list, follow about eight specific accounts that match the demographics of your prospective followers. Do not follow everyone who follows you, and ensure that these people have a complete bio and at least 500 followers. This shows that they're active on the app.

Now, go to the eight accounts you followed, select four, go to their posts, and like at least three posts to show appreciation. Take a look at the other four's content and leave meaningful comments (not "cool post" or something generic). This method will only be effective if your comment adds value to the person. Repeat the process two to four times a day, most likely in the evening.

This is what is called the FLC loop. It shouldn't take up to 5 minutes, so this method will only take 15 minutes of your time each day. The main advantage of the FLC loop is that you build a good relationship with the other Instagram users. People will reciprocate with comments and likes rather than just following, allowing you to gain the needed exposure.

4. Tag High-Profile Brand Advocates and Influencers

This is similar to the FLC loop, but you deal with social media influencers here. These people have larger Instagram accounts and can help you reach a wider audience. You should have a list of relevant influencers in your industry. You can judge by checking how much they use hashtags relating to your niche.

If you post something related to a person's brand, you should tag them in the caption using their username. If not done properly, you could look spammy, and it might repel people. This is also important when dropping comments on famous people's posts. Ensure you have something meaningful to say; quality should be your priority.

You can also find co-marketing or marketing collaboration plans with similar brands to yours. This will attract their own audience, and they will also want to check out what you have to offer.

5. Run A Contest

Among the methods of getting more Instagram followers without following, this method is the most involved. A solid foundation is crucial to making this method successful. It is advised to have over 1000 followers on your Instagram account before running a contest. Avoid running so many competitions to prevent people from getting too used to it.

These are the process to follow to host a smooth contest:

• Decide on A Prize: Select an attractive price that is related to your brand. If you don't know what to give, a gift card could come in handy. With time, you get to know your audience and decipher the best prize to pick.
• Set Contest Rules: Post the rules for the content separately. The contest should make your followers take a specific action. The easiest one is asking people to repost a particular photo, including unique hashtags to signify the contest. You could also ask people to tag their friends on specific posts.
• Have a Contest Hashtag: Picking a unique hashtag and monitoring it is essential to a contest. Do not use generic hashtags, as it might get difficult to know which posts are related to your contest.
• Select Your Winner: Announce the winner of your contest openly on your Instagram account and send them a direct message. Repeat this procedure about three to four times every year, and you will notice a significant increase in your followers. As you get used to Instagram's features, you'll figure out better ways to do them.

6. Use Your Website as A Gateway

As an online store owner, you can use your website to get more Instagram followers without following. It is quite straightforward; all you need to do is add a call to action on your website header, "about me" page, and footer. The call to action can simply be a “Follow us on Instagram” button.

This will encourage your website visitors to follow you on IG. It does not have to be limited to your website; you can place it anywhere you have an online presence. This can include email newsletters and other social media bios. However, this might take a longer time to convert, but it is effective in the long run.

(Contributed by Ayotomiwa Omotosho & Hermes Fang)