How to Grow Your Instagram Following as a New Influencer
Starting from scratch on Instagram feels a bit like shouting into the void. No likes, no comments, barely any views. But building a real audience is doable—no need to buy fake followers or copy what everyone else is doing. A few smart moves and some consistency can get your name out there without burning out.
Start With a Clear Niche and Vibe
People need to know what they’re signing up for. If your content is all over the place, they won’t stick around. Choose a focus that lines up with what you actually care about—whether that’s wellness, comedy, low-budget style, skincare, books, or life as a student.
Keep your vibe consistent. If your feed gives chill minimalism, don’t post neon graphics the next day. Treat your page like your online mood board. Pick 2–3 topics you’ll regularly post about and rotate through them in a way that feels natural.
Make Your Bio Do Some Heavy Lifting
You’ve got seconds to convince someone to follow you. Your bio should be sharp, simple, and straight to the point. No vague lines like “Just living life 🌻.” Instead, say who you are and what followers will get by sticking around.
Throw in a call-to-action if you’ve got one. Link to your website, a freebie, or your latest post. Use Linktree or Beacons if you’ve got multiple links to share, but keep it clean.
Post Content That Actually Helps or Entertains
No one scrolls Instagram hoping to be sold to. They want to laugh, learn something, or feel seen. That’s what gets saved, shared, and commented on.
Focus on content types that build engagement:
- Relatable quotes or memes (customized to your niche)
- Carousel posts with tips, steps, or a story
- Short-form videos that get to the point fast
- Behind-the-scenes stuff that feels human
Keep your captions conversational. Ask questions, share mini-stories, or give helpful context. It doesn’t have to be deep—just make it feel like you’re talking to a friend, not writing an ad.
Be Real in Your Stories and Lives
Stories are where you get to be unfiltered. Show what your day looks like, talk to your audience directly, share a random thought. Use stickers (polls, questions, quizzes) to make people tap and respond. That interaction pushes your account forward in the algorithm.
Lives don’t need a big crowd to matter. Even five people tuning in can lead to a genuine connection. You can go live solo, chat with a fellow creator, or do Q&As—just keep it casual and consistent.
Use Hashtags and SEO the Smart Way
Hashtags still work, but it’s not about cramming 30 into each post. Pick 10–15 that are specific, not just “#fashion” or “#love.” Use ones tied to your niche, your location, and your target audience’s interests.
Also, Instagram is leaning more into search. That means your captions matter. Add keywords naturally into what you’re writing—words people would search for, like “easy curly hair routine” or “affordable mom outfits.” Your username and name field should help too (example: “Tina | Plant-Based Recipes”).
Post Consistently—but Don’t Burn Out
You don’t need to post daily. But if you ghost your audience for weeks, they’ll move on. Stick to a rhythm that works with your life. For most beginners, 3–4 posts a week plus daily Stories is enough to stay visible.
Batch content when you have time. That way you’re not scrambling every day to come up with something. Use tools like Later or Planoly to schedule ahead and see what your grid will look like.
Collaborate, Don’t Compete
Other influencers are not your competition—they’re your growth partners. Shout each other out. Leave real comments. Do story swaps or giveaway collabs. When your content appears on someone else’s feed, their audience gets introduced to you without you having to pay for it.
Even small creators can bring value. If you have 300 followers and someone else has 500, you both still benefit from cross-promotion.
Engage Like a Human, Not a Bot
Set aside time daily to reply to DMs and comments. Comment on posts in your niche, especially from accounts with similar or slightly bigger followings. No “cool post!” nonsense. Say something real that shows you actually paid attention.
People follow people who care. Not just someone trying to rack up numbers.
Track What’s Working—Then Do More of It
Instagram gives you insights for a reason. Keep an eye on what’s getting saves, shares, or profile visits. If a post flopped, no need to overthink it—just note what didn’t work. If something took off, reuse the concept with a twist.
Patterns will start showing up after a few weeks. That’s your cheat code to grow without guessing.
