Guides
December 06, 2025
How to Gain More Real Followers on Instagram for Genuine Growth
Table of Contents
Growing a real following on Instagram really boils down to two things: setting up a profile that makes people want to follow you, and then consistently creating content they actually want to see and share. And while nailing the in-app features is a huge piece of the puzzle, a game-changing (and often ignored) strategy is tapping into external channels. Think bigger, like using TV advertising through a platform like Adwave to funnel a massive, interested audience straight to your profile. That’s how you get a serious edge.
Build a Profile That Attracts Your Ideal Followers
Before you even think about posting, your Instagram profile needs to be a magnet for the right people. Treat it like your digital storefront. When someone lands on your page, they should get who you are, what you're about, and why they should care within about three seconds. Every single part of it—from your username to the link in your bio—has to work together to turn a casual visitor into a loyal follower.
First impressions are everything, and your profile has to be on point to cut through the noise. With around 2 billion monthly active users on Instagram as of 2025, you're not exactly playing in an empty field. While the average person might have a couple of hundred followers (around 264), successful creator accounts pull in about 6,230 on average. That gap proves that being strategic pays off. Your mission is to make that first glance so compelling that hitting "Follow" feels like a no-brainer.
Craft a High-Conversion Bio
Your bio isn't just a place to drop a few emojis; it's your 150-character elevator pitch. It has to clearly and quickly tell people what's in it for them if they stick around.
Nail Your Mission: Get straight to the point. Who are you and how do you help people? A fitness coach might say, "Helping busy moms build strength in 20 minutes a day." Simple, clear, and valuable.
Add a Call to Action (CTA): Don't leave them guessing. Tell them what to do next. "👇 Shop my presets" or "📧 DM for collabs" are direct instructions that guide your visitor's next click.
Create a Branded Hashtag: Give your community a rallying cry. A unique tag like #AdwaveGrowth or #MyBrandJourney encourages user-generated content and makes your followers feel like part of a club.
Your Instagram bio is your most valuable piece of real estate. Use it to communicate your identity, offer value, and direct traffic. It’s the hook that convinces new visitors that your content is worth their time.
Choose a Searchable Username and Name
Your username (the @handle) needs to be easy to remember and as close to your actual brand name as possible. Ditch the confusing numbers or extra underscores—they just make you harder to find and recommend.
Your "Name" field, however, is a totally different beast. It's a searchable goldmine. Instead of just putting your name there, pack it with keywords that describe what you do. For instance, a baker named Jane Doe could set her name to "Jane Doe | NYC Custom Cakes." Now, she'll pop up when people search for "NYC cakes." It's a small tweak that can seriously boost your discoverability.
Optimize Your Profile Picture and Link
Think of your profile picture as your visual signature; it shows up everywhere. If you're a personal brand, a crisp, professional headshot is the way to go—it builds trust. For businesses, a clean, recognizable logo is best.
That one little link in your bio is your only shot at sending people off of Instagram. So make it count. Use a tool like Linktree or Beacons to create a landing page for all your important links—your website, latest blog post, featured products, you name it. This instantly turns your profile from a simple page into a hub that drives real traffic.
For a deeper dive into genuine and sustainable growth, check out these excellent strategies on __LINK_0__. You can also learn more about how to promote my personal brand effectively across all your channels to build a cohesive and powerful online presence.
Create a Content Strategy That Gets You Discovered
If your profile is the welcome mat, your content is what makes people want to come inside and stay a while. Without a clear plan, you’re essentially just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. To get real, engaged followers on Instagram, you need to create content so good people feel like they’re missing out if they don't follow you.
This isn’t about chasing every fleeting trend. It's about building a consistent, compelling story that your ideal audience can't wait to be a part of.
The first step is to lock down your core themes, what we call content pillars. Think of these as the 3-5 foundational topics you'll always talk about. They set expectations and build your authority. A personal finance coach might focus on budgeting tips, beginner investing, and debt-free journeys. A local bakery? Their pillars could be behind-the-scenes baking, customer features, and showcasing their weekly specials.
Mix Up Your Content for Maximum Impact
Once you've defined your pillars, it's time to think about how you'll bring them to life. The key is a smart content mix that keeps your audience hooked and leverages the unique strengths of each Instagram format.
Reels for Reach: Short-form video is your best friend for getting in front of new eyeballs. Focus on entertaining, educational, or highly relatable clips. Don't be shy about jumping on a trend if it genuinely fits your brand's voice.
Carousels for Education: This is your go-to format for teaching. Use carousels to break down bigger ideas into simple, swipeable graphics. They are perfect for tutorials, checklists, and mini-guides, and they rack up saves and shares.
Stories for Connection: This is where you build your community. Use interactive stickers like polls and Q&As, and share unfiltered, behind-the-scenes moments. It’s all about creating a real conversation with your followers.
A good content calendar makes sure you're hitting all these notes consistently. To give you a clearer idea, here’s what a week could look like for a freelance graphic designer.
Sample Weekly Content Calendar
This kind of planned approach ensures you're not just posting randomly. You're strategically providing value, driving discovery, and strengthening your relationship with your existing audience all at once. This multi-format strategy is absolutely vital if you want to learn how to gain more real followers on Instagram—it caters to every type of person at every stage of their journey with you.
Expand Your Reach with TV Advertising using Adwave
Relying only on the Instagram algorithm for discovery can feel like an uphill battle. You can post amazing content and follow all the best practices, but sometimes growth just crawls. To really kick things into high gear and attract real, interested people, you need to start thinking beyond the feed. A central part of a modern growth strategy is meeting potential followers where they already are—and a lot of the time, that’s in their living rooms.
This is where a powerful, and frankly overlooked, strategy comes into play. It’s about breaking out of the crowded social media bubble to connect with a huge, attentive audience that might never stumble upon you through the Explore Page.
Why TV Advertising is a Game-Changer for Instagram Growth
When you hear "TV advertising," you might picture Super Bowl-sized budgets and massive production crews. That’s the old way of thinking. Today, platforms like Adwave have made TV advertising surprisingly accessible and affordable, creating a direct and powerful funnel straight to your Instagram profile.
Picture this: A potential customer is at home, watching their favorite show on a streaming service. Your professionally produced, 30-second ad pops up, showcasing your brand, product, or personality in a way that resonates. The ad ends with a simple, clear call to action: "Find us on Instagram @YourHandle."
This one move accomplishes several crucial things at once:
Builds Instant Credibility: Seeing a brand on TV gives it an immediate stamp of legitimacy. It builds a level of trust that’s tough to achieve through social media alone.
Taps into a Fresh Audience: You’re reaching people who aren't glued to their phones at that moment, cutting through the digital noise and grabbing their focused attention.
Drives High-Intent Followers: Someone who sees your ad and then takes the time to look you up on Instagram is already highly interested. These aren't just passive scrollers; they're warm leads who are far more likely to become loyal followers.
By bridging the gap between a mass medium like television and your digital community, you create a growth loop. The influx of new visitors from TV sends positive signals to the Instagram algorithm, which then starts showing your profile to even more people organically.
Making TV Work for Your Instagram Strategy with Adwave
The secret to a successful TV-to-Instagram campaign is a sharp, focused message. Your ad isn’t just a commercial; it’s an invitation. You're not just selling a product—you're inviting viewers to join a community and be part of your story. This mindset is fundamental to learning how to gain more real followers on Instagram using channels outside the app itself.
With a platform like Adwave, the whole process is surprisingly straightforward. You don't need a film crew or a six-figure budget. Its AI-powered system can help you generate a polished TV spot using assets you already have on your website. From there, you can target specific local audiences, making sure your ad is seen by people who are most likely to care about what you do. This is a massive advantage for local businesses like restaurants, real estate agents, or service providers.
Crafting a Compelling TV Spot for Follower Growth
To get the best results, your TV ad needs to be laser-focused on one goal: driving viewers to your Instagram profile. Here’s a simple framework for your ad.
Hook Them Immediately: The first three seconds are everything. Open with a stunning visual, a surprising question, or a relatable problem your brand solves.
Showcase Your Value: Quickly show why your Instagram account is worth a follow. Is it expert tips? Behind-the-scenes access? Exclusive deals? Give them a compelling reason to be curious.
End with a Strong Call to Action (CTA): This is the most critical part. Your CTA has to be simple and direct. Display your Instagram handle clearly on the screen and have the voiceover say it out loud. For example, "For daily design tips and inspiration, follow us on Instagram, @YourCreativeStudio."
Create an Incentive (Optional): Want to add a little urgency? Try something like, "Follow us on Instagram this week for a chance to win a free consultation!" This gives people an immediate reason to pull out their phone and act.
This targeted approach, especially through channels like Connected TV (CTV), lets you reach viewers on streaming platforms with incredible precision. To get a better feel for how this all works, you can check out this detailed guide on what is Connected TV advertising and see how it can fit into your growth plans.
By thinking outside the box and using Adwave to make TV a powerful discovery tool, you gain a serious competitive advantage. While your competitors are all fighting for attention in the same crowded feed, you'll be building a credible brand presence on the biggest screen in the house—funneling a fresh stream of engaged followers right to your digital doorstep.
Master the Art of Engagement and Build a Real Community
It’s easy to get obsessed with the follower count, but that number doesn't mean much if no one is actually paying attention. A big number looks nice, sure, but a community? That's where the real power is. The job isn’t over when someone hits "follow"—it's just getting started. Your mission is to turn those passive scrollers into people who genuinely care, comment, and share what you're doing.
This is the secret sauce that separates accounts that grow from those that just... exist. It takes a conscious effort to start conversations, not just broadcast content. Every single comment, DM, and Story reply is a chance to build a relationship and show the Instagram algorithm that your corner of the internet is alive and buzzing.
Write Captions That Get People Talking
Think of your captions as conversation starters. Don't just describe the photo; use that space to pull people in and make them want to respond.
Ask good questions. Move past the simple yes/no stuff. Instead of, "Do you like this outfit?" try something like, "What's one accessory you'd add to this look and why?" It invites a more thoughtful answer.
Tell a story. People connect with people. Share a small behind-the-scenes struggle, a recent win, or a lesson you learned. It makes your brand feel human, not like a faceless corporation.
Give them something to do. A clear call to action works wonders. Ask people to tag a friend who needs to see this, save the post for later, or drop their favorite emoji if they agree.
A great caption doesn't just talk at your audience; it talks with them. Think of every caption as the start of a conversation, and you'll see your engagement climb.
Reply to Every Comment and DM—Seriously
This is the golden rule of community building, and it's non-negotiable. When someone takes a moment out of their day to comment, you have to acknowledge it. And a generic "Thanks!" just doesn't cut it.
Actually use their name and respond to what they said. If they asked a question, answer it. If they shared an opinion, show you heard them. This personal touch makes people feel seen and valued, and that’s what turns a casual follower into a loyal fan. The same goes for DMs; a quick, personal reply can build a ton of goodwill.
Get Out There and Mingle
Don't just sit back and wait for people to find you. You have to be proactive. Carve out 15-30 minutes every single day to go engage with other accounts in your world.
This isn't about spamming "Great post!" everywhere. It's about leaving genuine, thoughtful comments on posts from similar creators, potential customers, or brands that complement yours. Add to the conversation. This simple daily habit puts your name in front of a super-relevant audience that’s already interested in what you do. It's one of the most powerful organic strategies for learning how to gain more real followers on Instagram.
Use Instagram Collabs to Cross-Promote
The Instagram Collabs feature is a game-changer. It lets you co-author a single post with another account, so it shows up on both of your profiles. Just like that, you're introduced to a whole new, perfectly targeted audience.
Find a creator or business that has a similar audience but isn't a direct competitor. Think of a local coffee shop teaming up with a nearby bookstore for a post about the perfect "coffee and a book" combo. It's a win-win that provides real value to both of your communities and brings in high-quality followers who are already warmed up to your niche.
The world of Instagram engagement is always shifting. For instance, even though the platform's overall average engagement rate dropped by about 28% year-over-year in early 2025, smaller accounts are actually seeing faster follower growth. The algorithm often gives a boost to fresh creators, so for a smaller account, gaining even a few hundred new followers can create significant momentum. You can dig into more data like this with these social media benchmarks on Socialinsider.io.
Master Hashtags and Discovery Tools Like a Pro
If you want people who don't already follow you to find you, getting a handle on Instagram's discovery tools is non-negotiable. A killer content strategy keeps your current audience hooked, sure, but a smart discovery plan is how you actually bring new, like-minded people into your world. This means ditching the outdated advice and getting a bit more sophisticated.
Forget just grabbing the biggest hashtags you can find. Real growth comes from a layered strategy that gets your content in front of the right people. The aim isn't just to be seen; it's to be seen by an audience that will genuinely connect with what you're doing.
Build a Tiered Hashtag System
The most effective way I've seen hashtags work is by thinking of them in tiers, almost like a pyramid. This approach is all about balancing broad reach with pinpoint accuracy, giving your posts the best possible shot at gaining momentum.
Here’s how to break it down:
Niche-Specific Tags: These are your bread and butter. They describe exactly what you do or what's in your post (think #customlogodesign or #veganbakingrecipes). The search volume is lower, but the audience you attract is highly qualified and ready to engage.
Community-Focused Tags: This is how you tap into existing communities. These tags connect you to a larger group with shared interests, like #womeninbusiness or #nycfoodies. You're essentially joining a conversation that's already happening.
Trending & Broader Tags: Use these sparingly. Tags like #graphicdesign or #mondaymotivation have massive volume but are incredibly competitive. Sprinkling in a few can give your post a quick, initial visibility boost, but they won't sustain your growth.
A good mix to start with is 10-15 niche tags, 5-7 community tags, and just 2-3 of the broader ones. This tiered approach is a fundamental tactic for anyone serious about figuring out how to gain more real followers on Instagram through organic search.
Your hashtag strategy shouldn't be a copy-paste list. Treat it as a dynamic tool that you adapt for each piece of content. This allows you to target specific communities and interests, which is where the real discovery magic happens.
Go Beyond Hashtags for Maximum Reach
Hashtags are critical, but they're only one piece of the discovery puzzle. If you really want to increase your chances of landing on the Explore Page, you need to use every tool Instagram gives you.
Location Tagging is one of the simplest and most powerful features, yet so many people forget it. When you tag a specific city, neighborhood, or even a single coffee shop, your post shows up for anyone searching that location. For any local business, this is a non-negotiable for connecting with nearby customers.
Engaging Formats like Reels are basically catnip for the algorithm. Instagram actively pushes well-performing Reels to new audiences through the Explore Page and the Reels tab. Creating short-form videos that are entertaining, educational, or just plain shareable sends a loud signal to the algorithm that your content is worth showing to more people. The trick is to grab attention within the first three seconds.
The platform's growth makes these tools more important than ever. Between 2019 and 2025, Instagram's active user base shot up by a staggering 127%. The 18-24 age group now makes up nearly half of the users in key markets, and with niches like fashion driving 25% of all brand interactions, targeting the right audience through these discovery features is absolutely essential. You can find more Instagram user demographics and insights at Analyzify.com.
Measure What Matters and Steer Clear of Follower Traps
Growing on Instagram isn't just about watching your follower count climb. Real, sustainable growth comes from understanding what’s actually happening behind the scenes. Your best friend here is Instagram Insights—this is where you stop guessing and start making smart, strategic decisions.
Instead of obsessing over the follower number, zero in on the metrics that tell the real story. Reach shows you how many unique people saw your post. Your engagement rate reveals how many of them actually cared. And follower demographics confirm whether you’re connecting with the right audience. These numbers are your roadmap; they show you what's resonating so you can do more of it.
The Problem with Fake Followers
Sooner or later, you'll come across a tempting shortcut: buying followers. Let me be clear—this is the fastest way to derail your Instagram strategy and sabotage all your hard work. It's a trap.
These "followers" are just bots or ghost accounts. They will never like, comment, or buy anything from you. Worse, they poison your account's performance. When a huge chunk of your audience doesn't interact, Instagram's algorithm flags your content as uninteresting and throttles its reach, hiding it even from the real people who do want to see it.
Buying followers is like filling a concert hall with mannequins. It might look impressive from a distance, but there's no applause, no energy, and zero connection. Your credibility vanishes overnight.
How to Keep Your Audience Genuine
Every so often, it’s good practice to do a little spring cleaning on your follower list. If you notice an influx of sketchy-looking accounts, it's time to audit them and protect the health of your community.
Here’s a quick checklist to spot a fake account:
A blank or generic stock photo for a profile picture.
A spammy username that's just a jumble of letters and numbers.
An empty feed, or one filled with low-quality, spammy posts.
A lopsided follower-to-following ratio, like following 7,000 accounts but only having 12 followers.
Building a genuine audience takes time and effort, but it's the only way to create lasting value. For a deeper dive, check out these proven growth tips on how to gain real Instagram followers.
And remember, whether you’re growing organically or using paid ads, you need to know what's working. Understanding different approaches to advertising effectiveness measurement is key to connecting your efforts to tangible business results.
Your Top Instagram Growth Questions, Answered
Let's cut to the chase. Growing on Instagram often brings up the same handful of questions, no matter what niche you're in. Here are the straight-up answers I give to creators and brands looking for real results.
How often should I post to grow my Instagram?
This is less about hitting a magic number and more about being consistent. Forget the pressure to post multiple times a day.
Aim for 3-5 genuinely good feed posts or Reels per week. Then, fill in the gaps with daily Stories to stay top-of-mind. This pace is sustainable, prevents you from burning out, and signals to your followers that you prioritize quality.
Should I run Instagram ads or TV ads to get followers?
They're two different tools for two different jobs, and smart marketers know when to use each. Instagram ads are fantastic for zeroing in on a very specific audience that's already scrolling the app. Think of it as precision targeting.
But if you're looking to build massive brand awareness and reach people who have never heard of you, a TV campaign through a service like Adwave is in a league of its own. It lends a level of credibility and reach that social ads just can't match, driving a huge influx of new followers who see you as a serious brand.
What's the fastest way to get my first 1,000 real followers?
Honestly, there's no single magic bullet, but a powerful combination gets you there fastest. Your best bet is to create a Reel that has a real shot at going viral within your niche.
Support that star content with:
A consistent posting schedule.
Strategic collaborations with other creators.
Proactive, daily engagement (replying to comments, DMs, etc.).
This creates organic momentum that snowballs.
Want a serious shortcut to that first 1k? An external awareness campaign, like a TV spot, can dramatically speed things up. It puts your profile in front of thousands of potential followers at once, sending a wave of high-intent traffic right to your "Follow" button.
Ready to reach a massive new audience beyond the scroll? With Adwave, you can launch a professional TV advertising campaign in minutes, driving credible, engaged followers straight to your Instagram profile. Start your campaign today.