Let’s be real here. Every business wants to hit it big with tens of thousands of followers on their Instagram account because one reel popped off. Afterall, the statistics show that Instagram has over 2 billion active users with 500 million of them using it on a daily basis. That’s a lot of potential customers who could stumble across your account. But there’s a problem that marketers and business owners are running into. As of 2024, organic reach on Instagram is in decline. The algorithm has changed over the years, meaning your content might not be reaching as many people as it used to. Additionally, we have seen an across-the-board shift to a pay-to-play system that is affecting all social media platforms. So, how do you grow Instagram followers organically? Is it even possible? At HatchMark Studio, we manage social media accounts for several of our clients. In this article, we will talk about how to grow Instagram followers organically and why your organic strategy is still important.
1. Understand Your Audience & Your Product
Before you start rolling your eyes, hear us out. One thing you need to do before you do anything is take a deep dive on your product and your target audience. Can you confidently communicate your product and its value propositions? Can you describe your brand persona and ideal customer? If you’re already scratching your head or hesitating, spend some time figuring these things out. It’s going to be important when developing a content strategy that will resonate. If you’re making amazing content for the wrong crowd, it won’t be worth anything to you or your business down the road which could impact new followers.
2. Put Together a Content Strategy
So many people want to skip this step. We get it. We really do. Planning and strategizing aren’t always the most exciting pieces of the puzzle. However, if you’re not planning your content in advance and coming up with an executable strategy, you’re doing yourself a disservice. A well-planned content calendar with strategy behind it will ensure your goals are measurable and easy to evaluate. Make sure you are consistently posting week to week so that your followers can become accustomed to content and even start to anticipate your posts. This can increase your engagement and the likelihood that your content gets served up to people who aren’t already following you.
3. Engage With Your Community
We’re not sure when or why this fell out of style. It’s important to engage with comments on all of your posts. Potential new followers want to see an account that regularly interacts with its followers. This shows an attention to detail and creates a sense of community on your account that will encourage more people to follow. Additionally, engaging with other accounts on your business’ Instagram can get your name more visibility and encourage new followers, especially in the early stages. It’s “social” media. Get social!
4. Unleash the Power of Collaboration
Collaborating has changed the game for organic reach on Instagram. Now, you can invite up to three separate collaborators on any static post or reel. Not only does this put your account in front of three other audiences, but it can increase the likelihood that you attract new followers with a single post. Find other accounts and business owners in your area who are interested in a mutually beneficial collaboration. You might be surprised how many people are open to the idea. You should plan to do a collaborative post at least once a quarter if you can to keep the excitement going.
5. Run Regular Giveaways
Call us old school, but the old-fashioned “like, follow, and share” giveaway still freaking works. However, not all giveaways are the same. While going for the big ticket item can garner a ton of new followers and shares, it’s not always the best move. The trick is to make the giveaway something that only a customer who would be interested in your product wants to win. For example, if you are running an aesthetics clinic, give away a free facial. The people who enter that giveaway will all be potential clients. Even if you get “less” followers from this method, the followers you do gain will be higher quality and more likely to keep following you after the giveaway is over.
6. Make Trendy Content
Trends are one of the best ways to stay relevant on Instagram and get yourself on the explore page with a viral post. This is going to take a little bit of effort on your part to stay on top of the trends. Whether it’s a fun new dance, a funny transition, or a trending sound, you need to be dedicating at least one post per month at a minimum to trends. The beauty of trends is that they are instantly shareable. When people share your content, it goes out to all of those people who aren’t following your account. When people see you making quality content, they’re more likely to throw you a follow.
7. Leverage Your Brand & Keep a Cohesive Look
In a world of reels and big accounts pumping out as much content as they can, grid aesthetics still make a difference. There’s a first impression people get when they land on your Instagram account. Go ahead and open your Instagram. Does it look like nine different people made your last nine posts? If the grid looks a mess, people will be less likely to follow. Dust off your brand guidelines (if they exist) and put together a few templates that are easy to plug and play in something like Canva if you don’t have Adobe capabilities. A little effort can go a long way here.
Final Thoughts on How to Grow Instagram Followers Organically
Nothing is guaranteed. The simple fact is, you can do all of this and still fight an uphill battle. But it’s a battle worth fighting. The followers and fans you gain from a well-executed organic strategy on Instagram are likely to be loyal as long as you keep doing what made them fans in the first place. This doesn’t mean that you should abandon a paid strategy. An amazing organic content strategy can support your paid efforts. At the end of the day, organic growth is just one piece to the bigger puzzle of your overall marketing strategy. Follow the steps above and prove all of those organic naysayers wrong!
Let Us Help You Grow Your Social Channels
We think you can do all of this on your own. However, we understand if you just don’t have the time. You are busy running the business. You need a team to help you reach your organic goals on Instagram and beyond. Our social media team is ready whenever you are. Get in touch with us today for a free discovery session so that we can learn more about each other. We look forward to hearing from you!
