Increasing your Instagram page can seem like a daunting task, particularly when you are attempting to do so without using any money. If you’ve ever looked up how to get followers on Instagram fast for free, you’re not alone.
The majority of people want to grow their accounts without investing in ads or buying fake followers. The good news is, it’s very likely! With the right steps, you can build a real audience that enjoys your content.
In this article, I’ll walk you through 12 smart tips that you can employ to grow your Instagram page for free. The tips are easy to apply and anyone can start using them today.
So, if you’ve been wondering how to get Instagram followers for free and are ready to supercharge your Instagram, let’s dive in!
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How to Get Followers on Instagram Fast for Free: 12 Smart Tips
Getting followers without advertising expenditure takes time and effort but can be done using proper strategies. For gaining visibility, increasing your profile, and generating new followers, follow these smart tips for free to gain followers rapidly and in no time:
1. Opt for an Interesting Username
Having a good username is important to having a successful Instagram account. Aside from the “username”, you also have a “name” field that you need to use properly as well.
Having a good username is important to having a successful Instagram account.
Good advice for a company is to use your company name as the username if you can, and then keywords around your niche as the name field.
Read Also – How to Get Free Facebook Likes in 5 Simple Steps
2. Add an Eye-Catching Biography
You need to take care of your Instagram bio. When a person clicks on your account, your bio will be right in front of them and they will read it most times.
A good bio can be the difference between a person deciding to follow your page or somewhere else.
A well-written bio could actually be the reason why somebody decides to follow your page or otherwise. It should have what your company is about, how one/your company can be contacted, and all relevant hashtags around what your company does or offers.
And then you need to shorten it in such a way that the 150 characters are not exhausted in a matter of time; use it intelligently!
3. Make Your Own Images and Watermark Them
To gain more free Instagram followers, create your own original images instead of re-posting other individuals’. If you have a motivational account, make your own motivational images.
For businesses, make before-and-after images of your work, like pool cleaning. For sportsmen, take action shots of training or games.
Always watermark your images to avoid theft and market your brand. When people repost your image, your watermark makes more people find your page.
You can apply two kinds of watermarks:
- A text watermark with your username or name, which blends with the image.
- A logo watermark, which is professional but more noticeable.
4. Create Highly Engaging Captions with Your Images
Even with excellent photos within your niche, you’ll still need to compose an engaging caption that creates a connection with your audience.
Periodically ask questions and get an answer in the comments from your folks.
For instance, when you post a motivational quote, dissect it even further and how it relates to your life/product/brand, etc.
Sometimes, you need to let your post stimulate reactions or responses from your followers. You can also ask questions so that you get a response in the comments from your followers.
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5. Don’t Be Too Salesy – Write 80% Value
On Instagram, attempt to make 80% of the posts useful and informative, and then use the remaining 20% to sell your product or service. Nobody would like incessant advertisements even though they love the product, so do not get too sales-pitchy.
Post a mix of content, such as behind-the-scenes, funny pictures, quotes, and related niche content that provides value but asks for nothing in return. By doing so, your account becomes more welcoming and less spams, thus attracting more followers.
You can even re-post individuals’ photos if you name them. It keeps you active with constant content even when you are extremely busy, and the possibilities of gaining new followers increase.
6. Ask Questions
One of the greatest ways to get responses on your page is by questioning your followers.
It is as simple as inquiring what they are doing today, or something more specific. For example, a stock trading page asking their fans for the tip of the day and why.
7. Post at Least 3 Times a Day at the Right Time
Most followers like to see posts three times a day rather than once or twice a week because it keeps the content new and active, thus generating more likes, comments, and tags that extend your reach.
Post morning, noon, and night to engage followers who are in various time zones. This way, your content reaches the followers at all times during the day, optimizing visibility and engagement.
Be aware of time-zone differences to maximize your posting time and connect with a worldwide audience.
Read Also – How to Become a Content Writer in 2025: A Complete Guide
8. Use Hashtags
Although starting on Instagram, use all 30 hashtags available for each post. Some may think it’s spam, but it’s necessary for getting your brand noticed in the early days.
Ensure the hashtags are user-popular and brand-relevant. You can determine the popularity of a hashtag by checking how many posts it has.
To maintain your captions as simple as possible, put your 30 relevant hashtags in the first comment instead of the caption. Save them in the notes of your phone so you can copy-paste them easily. This hack makes your post appear in the feeds of 30 different hashtags without cluttering your caption.
9. Have Your Personalized Hashtags
Another good way to engage with your audience is by creating a special hashtag for your business, allowing your fans to become more involved with your brand.
Though fans can mention you in photos they would like you to view, they also wish to feel confident their photos won’t go unseen. A little promise, like “use the hashtag #xyz so we can view and repost your photos,” can make a tremendous impact!
10. Mention Proper Celebrities in Your Posts
To make it appear in the initial phases, tag celebrities with your niche. Fans are likely to see tagged posts, and the chances of your page being seen are therefore greater. Occasionally, celebrities may even visit your profile.
However, some users do accept tags manually, so ensure you confirm if they accept tags automatically or not. That makes your work worth it.
By being persistent, you may attract celebrities who like or share your post, and your brand gets more exposure and followers.
11. Give Genuine Comments on others Posts
Another way to reach your target audience is by leaving genuine comments on their posts and on popular pages they visit. Aim to comment on at least 20 posts a day with real, thoughtful messages that don’t sound copied and pasted. Always tag the person you’re addressing.
For example, if you want Tolu or her followers, who are travel photography enthusiasts, to notice you, you can leave a comment on her Erin Ijesha Waterfall photo: “This is stunning! @tolu_travels Was it an easy climb to get there?”
If Tolu or one of her followers replies, remember to respond and keep the conversation going. This easily establishes rapport.
12. Have Multiple Accounts
Depending on your niche, having multiple Instagram accounts can cause you to grow faster. Every account can be used to cross-promote each other, raising overall growth and overall reach.
Even if you are following a single account, you may not be following another one, so having multiple accounts expands your reach.
For example, fitness businesses will create sub-niche accounts—men’s bodybuilding, women’s fitness, nutrition tips, lifting tips, and gym humor—all linking to the same site and cross-promoting each other.
13. Host Competitions
One of the greatest methods of obtaining free Instagram followers and building rapport is by hosting competitions.
You can invite followers to re-share a selected photo with a caption explaining why they would want to win, mentioning your page and friends to increase visibility.
Or, post a prize photo and invite followers to tag five friends in the comments for a chance to win, generating traffic and gaining new followers with social proof.
Also Read – How to Become a Content Creator: A Beginners Guide
Tools to Help You Get More Instagram Followers
So now you know that to build up more followers on Instagram, you need to know your audience, engage with them, and create good content.
The thing is, you probably have more than one social media account for your business, and the larger the number of your followers, the harder it becomes to expand your strategy. Following are some free tools to help you.
Social Media Management Tools
It might sound paradoxical that automation is the antithesis of genuine engagement, but social media management software is there to help you put your tailored plan into action.
They enable you to have a bird’s eye view of conversations, post on a regular basis through scheduling, monitor your competition, and even gain insights deeper than native platform features sometimes allow.
Design and Photo Editing Tools
Instagram has its own library of filters, stickers, stamps, and effects so your graphics look their best, but other design and editing programs can let you have the unique look you want.
And you can templatize to keep things consistent and make more fantastic content quickly. My personal favorite for this is Canva, but other free options are Afterlight and Facetune.
Instagram Advertising
Organic reach on Instagram has always been considered high. But don’t get too excited, we’re talking 9%. Meaning that your posts will only reach 9% of your full following.
Advertising, though, puts the power to show up in front of thousands of relevant users in your hands. And as an added bonus, viewers can view your bio right from within your advertisement too.
You no longer have to advertise simply for more followers, but if you are on the right platform for your needs, it’s a benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I purchase followers on Instagram?
No, do not buy followers because they tend to be fake accounts that won’t engage with your posts.
What are a few Instagram tools I can utilize to grow my followers?
Use IGTV, Reels, Live Streaming, and Instagram Stories to mix up your content and engage with your followers.
How do I keep track of my progress on Instagram?
Use Instagram Insights to follow your analytics and adjust your plan accordingly.
How long will it take to gain followers on Instagram?
Growing followers is a gradual process, so be patient and focus on producing good content and engaging with your audience.
Conclusion
With these 12 smart tips, you can gain followers on Instagram rapidly for free. Focus on producing good content, engaging with other people, and making use of Instagram features.
With consistency, patience, and genuineness, you will grow your followers and boost your online presence. Start implementing these tips today and watch your Instagram account thrive!