Is it possible to increase followers on Instagram organically? Although this platform is one of the best places to visually communicate your brand and engage with your audience, it is no longer just a social network. Since the launch of Instagram Ads, Instagram TV, and Instagram Business Account, it has become an advertising platform for influencers, marketers, and businesses.

Nowadays, people use Instagram not only to connect with their friends but also to network with their favorite brands and shop online. Research shows that the majority of consumers use Instagram to research brands and 80% of them follow at least one brand on Instagram.

If you are active on the platform, there are two ways to grow your Instagram likes and followers: paid and organic methods. If you're just starting your Instagram marketing journey and aren't sure whether to spend money here, you've come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step process of gaining followers organically.

You don't have to spend a cent if you follow this guide, but you need patience and consistency because it takes time. However, when it comes to Instagram, slow and steady wins the race, allowing you to build an authentic, engaged audience that is more likely to connect with your brand and result in conversions. If you're ready to grow your Instagram followers organically, let's get to work.

1. Schedule your posts:

Once you've collected new and engaging content, the next step is to schedule your posts over a week or a month, depending on the time frame you want to include. The key is to post at the right time. Hootsuite researched this topic using Unmetric data and, after analyzing the 20 most popular Instagram accounts from 11 different industries, found that the best time to post varies by industry.

For example, the best time to travel and visit is Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.The best time for media and entertainment is Tuesday and Thursday from 12 pm to 3 pm. Read the full Hootsuite report to learn more about the best times for your industry.

2. Compile a list of related accounts in your niche:

Make a list of all competitors and top Instagram accounts in your niche. For example, if you work in the food industry, you could create a list of all the top food bloggers and restaurants that target the same audience as you. If you want to make money as an influencer on Instagram, this is one of the most important things you can do to grow your audience. With a clear niche, you have a better chance of generating the type of engagement companies want to see when selecting you as an influencer.

3. Track your competitors’ followers:

Once you have a list of accounts, the next step is to follow their followers one by one. These people are your target market because they already follow your competitors, meaning they are interested in your industry and likely what you share. In the current Instagram algorithm, you can only follow 50-100 people per day. If you follow more than 100 people per day, your account may be banned by Instagram. I repeat: slow and steady.

4. Like competitor followers' posts and leave a comment:

Commit to engaging with a wide audience and interacting authentically by leaving comments when posts interest you. This shows that you are paying attention to what they post and also gets them to notice you. Ideally, many of these followers will like what you share and follow you, making it an easy way to grow your Instagram followers organically.

5.  Join a mobilization group:

An Instagram engagement group is a community of Instagram followers who help each other get more engagement and followers. Most of these groups can be found on Telegram; HopperHQ explains how they work:

“Instagram engagement groups are essentially group conversations on Instagram as well as other platforms (e.g. there are several in the Telegram app). They are called engagement groups because all participants in these groups agree to like and/or comment on other members' posts in return for liking and/or commenting on their posts."

When a group member uploads a new post to Instagram, the entire group helps them by liking, sharing, and leaving comments on the post. Most groups also have rules for participation so that everyone can get the most out of every contribution.

The larger the group, the faster you will increase the number of your followers. Better yet, a group can like and comment on a new post immediately after submitting it. This makes it easier to appear on the Instagram Explore page, making it easier to grow your Instagram audience organically.

You can also get engagement, but more importantly, organic followers, by following accounts that host Instagram feeds like LarsenMedia. The idea is simple: you introduce yourself in the comments, and then everyone follows the other to gain a follower base. All accounts are authentic, making it an easy way to increase your follower count up to 60-100 new followers per day.

6. Repeat and be consistent:

If you don't want to spend any money and still want to gain engaged followers, these methods work and are free. In my experience, it's entirely possible to get your first 1,000 followers this way within two months. This means you can get 10,000 followers in less than two years without spending a dime. All this by building a real and engaged audience.

Grow Your Instagram Followers Organically:

Gaining followers organically allows you to save on your marketing budget while creating a high-quality audience that will connect with your brand and, ideally, convert into a customer. Be prepared to invest your time and you will see that tomorrow you can increase your Instagram followers organically.