Are you looking for free Instagram followers? 👀

Of course, you are. We all are.

Building your audience takes time and effort. And with over 1.4 billion people on Instagram, where do you even start searching for free Instagram followers?

Join us at Click Analytic as we look at 9 awesome ways to get free followers on Instagram.

Let’s roll. 👇

Here are 9 epic ways to get free Instagram followers.

Let’s start with the easiest way to get free Instagram followers: understanding your audience. 

Knowing your audience is your golden ticket to growing your Instagram family without spending a dime.

First things first, who are they? 🤔

Picture your ideal follower. 

What do they like? How old are they? 

What kind of posts do they double-tap on without thinking twice? 

Once you’ve got a clear picture of who your audience is, start crafting content that speaks directly to them. 

If they’re into eco-friendly living, share tips on reducing waste. 

Love fitness? 

How about some quick workout videos? 

It’s all about matching your content to what your audience loves.

Here’s the kicker: 👇

Something magical happens when you nail your content, making it resonate with your audience’s needs and preferences. 

Your followers become your brand ambassadors. 

They share your content. They talk about your brand.

And voila, your Instagram family starts growing – all without spending a penny.

Understanding your audience is not just about getting free Instagram followers; it’s about building a community that believes in your brand.

And trust me, when you’ve got a community backing you, the sky’s the limit. 🚀

What other methods are there for finding free Instagram followers? 🧐

You could try creating high-quality content that engages with your audience.

If there’s one thing that’s like a magnet for Instagram followers, it’s top-notch content. 

Think about it: when you’re scrolling through your feed, what makes you stop and engage? 

Exactly. 

👉 It’s the posts that pop with quality visuals and captions that make you think or laugh.

But why does quality matter? 

Because your posts need to stand out. 

High-quality photos, videos, and well-thought-out captions are your best friends here. They make people want to stick around for more.

Variety is also the spice of life. 

Don’t just stick to one type of content. Mix it up! 

✅ Share a behind-the-scenes look at your day-to-day. 

✅ Create tutorials related to your brand or product. 

✅ Showcase customer testimonials to build trust. 

The goal? Keep your audience guessing and engaged.

Remember to make the most of Instagram’s features.

Instagram isn’t just about posts. 🤩

Stories, Reels, and IGTV offer fantastic ways to share different types of content. 

Stories are perfect for more casual, day-to-day moments. 

Reels can showcase your creative side with short, engaging videos. 

And IGTV is excellent for longer content, like in-depth tutorials or interviews.

But how does all of this lead to free Instagram followers? 😏

When your content is engaging and varied, people follow you and are more likely to engage with your posts and share them with their friends. 

This word-of-mouth effect is incredibly powerful. 

It’s like a snowball rolling down a hill, gathering more snow (or, in this case, followers) as it goes. 

High-quality, engaging content gets noticed, shared, and followed. 🥳

Here’s another method for getting free followers on Instagram: a profile that looks good.

Think of your Instagram profile as your home’s front porch.

It’s the first thing people see, and it should invite them in. 

A well-optimised profile doesn’t just catch the eye; it turns casual browsers into followers.

How do you craft a compelling bio?

Your bio should be a mini-billboard for your brand. 

In just a few words, tell people who you are, what you do, and why they should care. 

Are you all about eco-friendly fashion? Say so. 

Include a call to action, like encouraging visitors to check out your latest collection or sign up for eco-tips.

Next, choose a recognisable profile picture. 

This could be your logo if you’re a brand or a clear, friendly photo if you’re building a personal brand. 

The key is to make it recognisable even at a thumbnail size. You want people to spot your posts in their feed and immediately know they’re yours.

Here are some of my favourite tips for a cohesive and attractive Instagram feed: 

✅ Aim for a feed that tells a story. 

✅ Use consistent colours or filters to give your feed a unified look. 

✅ Plan your posts so that when someone visits your profile, they’re greeted with a visually appealing grid that makes them want to see more.

Why go through all of this effort?

An optimised profile makes a great first impression, showing potential followers you’re worth their time. 

A compelling bio, recognisable profile picture, and cohesive feed work together to make your profile visit-worthy and follow-worthy. 

When people see the effort you put into your profile, they’re more inclined to hit that follow button, growing your followers organically.

Hashtags are a powerful tool for finding free followers on Instagram. 🦸

Using the right hashtags makes it easier for people interested in your niche to find your content.

Here’s how to use hashtags to get free Instagram followers:

👉 Start by looking for popular hashtags within your target audience but not so broad that your posts will get lost. 

For example, if you sell handmade jewellery, instead of just using #jewellery (which has millions of posts), try more specific tags like #handmadejewelry or #sustainablejewelry. 

Use Instagram’s search function to see how many posts are associated with a hashtag and check out the type of content performing well.

You can also create a branded hashtag for your business. 

What is a branded hashtag?

This is a hashtag unique to your brand. 

It could be as simple as your brand name or a tagline. 

Encourage your followers to use it when sharing content related to your products or services. This increases your visibility and also helps build a community around your brand.

Can hashtags lead to free Instagram followers?

Yes! 😄

When you use relevant hashtags, your posts become discoverable to people who don’t follow you yet but are interested in your niche. 

They will likely follow you for more if they like what they see. 

A branded hashtag, on the other hand, creates a sense of belonging among your followers, encouraging user-generated content that introduces your brand to their followers. 

Both strategies help you reach new eyes organically, increasing your follower count without spending a penny.

Engagement is the lifeblood of your Instagram presence. It’s also the key to finding new followers.

You build relationships with your current followers and increase your visibility by fostering interaction.

The result?

👉 Free Instagram followers.

So, how do you encourage user interaction? 🤔

Make your posts interactive. 

Use polls in your stories to get opinions, ask questions in your captions to spark conversations, and include calls to action (CTAs) that invite your audience to engage directly with your content. 

This could be as simple as asking them to share their thoughts in the comments or to tag a friend who would love your post.

⚠️ Remember to engage with your followers and other Instagram accounts.

Don’t wait for engagement to come to you; go out and engage with others. 

Respond to comments on your posts, leave thoughtful comments on posts by accounts in your niche, and don’t forget to engage with content posted by your followers. 

This makes your account more visible across the platform and shows that you’re an active, engaged member of the Instagram community.

And how does this lead to free followers on Instagram?

Engagement boosts your visibility in several ways. 

Firstly, when you engage with others, you get on their radar, and their followers might see your interactions, leading them to check out your profile. 

Secondly, high engagement rates on your posts signal to Instagram’s algorithm that your content is valuable, making it more likely to appear in the Explore section or on other users’ feeds. 

This increased visibility introduces your account to potential new followers who are already interested in the kind of content you’re posting.

Instagram Stories and Reels also offer some unique opportunities to find free followers on Instagram. 

But so many people misuse Stories and Reels. 😑 

Let’s break down how to use these features effectively. 👇

🎯 Engage followers with daily stories. 

Stories are a fantastic way to keep your audience engaged daily. 

They allow you to share moments from your day, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive sneak peeks. 

Use features like stickers, polls, and questions to make your stories interactive and encourage viewers to engage directly with your brand. 

This constant interaction keeps your audience interested and coming back for more.

🎯 You can reach new audiences with Reels.

Reels, Instagram’s answer to the short-form video trend, are an excellent way to get discovered by new audiences. 

Reels often appear in the Explore tab and dedicated Reels spaces, even for users who don’t follow you. 

To maximise your reach, focus on creating Reels that are entertaining, informative, or both. 

Use popular music, jump on trends when appropriate, and always make sure your content aligns with your brand identity.

So, how can Stories and Reels lead to free Instagram followers?

Simple.

Maintaining an active presence through Stories keeps your audience engaged and connected to your brand. 

This regular engagement makes your followers more likely to share your content with their own followers, getting you free followers in return. 

With Reels, you tap into the vast potential of viral content. 

You end up reaching users beyond your existing follower base. 

When people come across your Reels in their Explore feed or through hashtags, they’re introduced to your brand in a dynamic and engaging way, making them more likely to hit the follow button.

Free follower? Yes, please!

Collaborating with influencers and complementary brands can help you find Instagram followers.

Influencers have built-in audiences that trust their recommendations. 😍

By partnering with influencers whose followers align with your target audience, you can introduce your brand to a large group of potential followers in an authentic way. 

Choose influencers based on their engagement rate, not just their follower count, to ensure their audience is active and engaged.

💡 Pro tip: Use an influencer marketing platform to find and vet influencers before you end up with one of these cringy influencer marketing fails.

You can also engage in shoutout exchanges or collaborations with complementary brands.

Shoutout exchanges with brands that offer products or services complementary to yours can be mutually beneficial. 

This can be as simple as featuring each other’s products in your posts or Stories or co-creating content that serves both audiences. 

These collaborations introduce your brand to a broader audience already interested in your niche.

When you collaborate with influencers or other brands, you get an endorsement that can lend credibility to your brand. 

This exposure to a broader yet targeted audience can lead to more followers genuinely interested in what you offer.

And we all know that interested followers mean better sales. 🤑

Posting regularly is critical to keeping your audience engaged. 

👉 It also helps to attract new free followers on Instagram. 

When you post often, and on a predictable schedule, your audience knows when to expect new content from you. 

This consistency helps keep your brand top-of-mind and can increase the likelihood of engagement as followers look forward to your posts. 

An active profile is also more attractive to new followers, showing you’re committed to providing value.

How do you post often and consistently? 👇

Planning is crucial to post consistently. 

Use tools like content calendars and scheduling apps to organise your posts in advance. 

These tools allow you to prepare your content, captions, and hashtags ahead of time and schedule them to go live when your audience is most active. 

This helps maintain a consistent posting rhythm but also frees up your time to engage with your audience.

⚠️ Remember, a consistent posting schedule keeps your feed fresh and engaging, encouraging more interactions from existing followers.

These interactions boost your visibility on Instagram, making your content more likely to be discovered by potential new followers. 

And hey, when people visit your profile and see that you post regularly, they’re more likely to follow you, knowing they can expect regular updates.

Understanding what works (and what doesn’t) on your Instagram account is crucial for finding free followers.

👉 Instagram Insights is a powerful tool available to business and creator accounts. 

It provides valuable data on your content’s performance, including engagement rates, reach, and follower growth over time. 

Regularly check your Insights to see which posts resonate most with your audience.

💡 Pro tip: Learn about the key influencer marketing metrics to ensure you’re on the right track.

What do you do with all of this data?

You use the data from Instagram Insights to inform your content strategy. 

If certain types of posts get more engagement or lead to more new followers, consider creating more content along those lines. 

On the flip side, if some content consistently underperforms, it might be time to phase it out or tweak your approach.

By analysing your performance and adjusting your strategy accordingly, you’re continuously refining your approach to focus on what engages your audience. 📊

This engagement helps retain your current followers but also attracts new ones. 

When potential followers see your content is engaging and relevant, they’re likelier to hit the follow button. 

Free followers for the win!

And, of course, there are some unethical (read: blackhat) methods to gain free Instagram followers. 🦹

Let’s look at how not to get free Instagram followers if you genuinely want to succeed on social media.

Follow-for-follow (F4F) on Instagram might seem like a quick fix to boost your follower numbers, but let’s not be fooled.

👉 Follow-for-follow leads to a lack of meaningful engagement.

The follow-for-follow approach is like making friends based solely on the promise of exchanging friendship bracelets. 

Sure, you end up with many bracelets, but do these “friends” really care about you? 

Similarly, this strategy doesn’t guarantee that the followers you gain are genuinely interested in your content. 

They’re here for the follow back, not for what you post, leading to low engagement rates. 

And remember, low engagement rates mean nobody will buy your products or services.

⚠️ Follow-for-follow can also hurt your brand. 🤕

It sends a message when your follower count is high, but your engagement rate is low. 

It suggests that your audience isn’t really engaged with your brand, which can be a red flag for both potential followers and brands considering partnerships with you. 

Instagram’s algorithm favours accounts with high engagement. 

So, if your engagement is low, your content is less likely to be seen, even by those who might be interested.

The bottom line?

Chasing followers through follow-for-follow tactics might inflate your follower numbers temporarily. Still, it doesn’t build the genuine, engaged community crucial for long-term success on Instagram. 

It’s about quality, not just quantity. 

Aim for followers who are there because they love your content, not because they’re waiting for a follow back.

Buying followers might look like a shortcut to influencer status, but it’s more of a dead-end street. 🛑 

Imagine throwing a party and filling the room with mannequins to make it look crowded. 

Sure, it appears busy, but with no real interaction, it’s pretty clear the vibe is off. 

👉 Buying followers is similar. 

These are often fake accounts or bots that inflate your follower count but don’t interact with your content. 

This leads to a glaring mismatch between the number of followers you have and the actual engagement on your posts, which can be a huge red flag for anyone looking closer.

⚠️ Buying followers will also damage your credibility. 🤕 

When real followers or potential brand partners notice the discrepancy between your followers and engagement levels, they’ll likely question the authenticity of your audience and, by extension, your brand. 

Plus, Instagram’s algorithm can detect and penalise accounts with suspicious activity, which could lead to decreased visibility or even getting your account banned.

Remember, buying followers offers a cosmetic boost at best, but it’s detrimental to building a genuine connection with an audience that cares and engages with your content. 

👉 Authentic growth takes time and effort. 

The payoff? 

An engaged, loyal audience that’s interested in what you have to share and more likely to convert into customers or brand advocates.

💡 Pro tip: There are several fake follower checker tools available that can spot fake Instagram followers.

Using AI for automation might sound like a smart way to save time on social media management, but it can backfire.

👉 Authenticity should always be your top priority.

Social media is all about connecting and building relationships. 

Automating too much, especially interactions like comments and DMsis a no. 

Imagine getting a “Thanks! 😊” comment from a brand on a post where you shared something personal or important. 

It feels off, right? 😐

That’s because people value genuine interaction. 

They want to know there’s a real person behind the account who cares and pays attention.

⚠️ However, overusing AI can also hurt your brand. 🤕

Overusing automation can make your brand seem distant or insincere. 

This can turn off current and potential followers looking for genuine connections. 

Besides, Instagram’s algorithm is pretty savvy at spotting inauthentic behaviour, which could lead to reduced post visibility or, worse, penalties against your account.

So, should you use AI to help automate your Instagram account? 🧐

Sure! 

While some level of automation can help schedule posts or sort through analytics, keeping the human element in your social media strategy is crucial. 

Authentic engagement is critical to building a loyal and active following on Instagram. 

Your audience can distinguish between genuine and automated interactions, so prioritise real, meaningful connections over convenience.

And there you have it: 9 epic ways to get free Instagram followers. 

Does it take time and effort? Yes, like all good things in life. 

You know what doesn’t take time and effort? 

Signing up for this free trial for our influencer marketing platform.

Let smart software help you find new followers. Quick and easy.

Still here? Got some burning questions about influencer outreach?

Check out these answers.

👇