Increase Instagram Followers

15 Best Ways on How to Increase Instagram Followers from Website

Building a loyal Instagram following takes effort, but with the right strategies, you can grow your presence and achieve your goals. This guide outlines 15 effective hacks—many of which can be enhanced with Elfsight widgets—to help you attract new followers and foster a thriving community.

1. Optimize your Instagram profile

Your Instagram profile is your first impression. Make it count! Ensure it’s visually appealing, informative, and easy to understand. Your profile should reflect your brand’s personality, values, and overall message.

Followers browse the platform, exploring new accounts and hoping to discover something exciting. What makes your profile stand out? Does it instantly pique their interest?

🎯 Tips:

• Keep the username and bio short, memorable, and relevant to your brand. Briefly explain your purpose, target audience, and value proposition.
• Select a high-quality profile picture representing your brand.
• Add relevant keywords to help people discover you through searches.

2. Create engaging content

Invest time creating visually appealing, informative, and captivating content that resonates with your target audience. People are bombarded with information constantly. Your content needs to stand out, grab attention, and provide value.

Think about your target audience: What type of content do they enjoy? What are their pain points? How can you deliver value through your visuals and captions?

🎯 Tips:

• Focus on visuals: use professional-looking photos or videos to capture attention.
• You can experiment with different formats: photos, videos, stories, and live videos. Pay extra attention to reels!
• Use captions to share your brand’s story, connect with your audience, and provide context for your visuals.
• Help people discover your content and reach a wider audience with relevant hashtags.

3. Be consistent with posting

Establish a posting schedule and stick to it as much as possible. Consistency creates anticipation and lets your followers know what to expect from your account.

Imagine a follower who enjoys your content. They check their Instagram feed regularly, hoping to see your latest posts. But you haven’t posted in a while. They lose interest and might even forget about you.

🎯 Tips:

• Analyze your audience’s activity to find the optimal times to share your content.
• Plan your posts ahead of time and schedule them for optimal engagement.
• Track the performance of your posts and adjust your strategy accordingly.

4. Run Instagram ads

Reach a wider audience and drive follower growth by running targeted Instagram ads.

Organic reach on Instagram can be challenging, especially as your following grows. Ads provide a way to expand your reach and connect with new audiences who might not have discovered you organically.

🎯 Tips:

• Experiment with different ad types, like photos, videos, or stories.
• Use Instagram’s targeting options to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors.
• Set a budget and track your campaign’s performance to adjust your strategies.

5. Use Instagram stories

Use stories to share behind-the-scenes glimpses, behind-the-scenes content, quick tips, or polls. It’s great for breaking down the barriers between your brand and your followers and lets you connect with them on a more personal level.

They’re more informal and spontaneous than your regular feed posts, which hold space for authenticity so well.

🎯 Tips:

• Use text overlays, stickers, and GIFs to create visually appealing and informative stories.
• Utilize polls and questions to encourage interaction.
• Stay present and let people remember you as a real role model.

6. Collaborate with other influencers

Partner with relevant influencers to reach a wider audience and tap into new demographics. This collaboration allows you to find a new group of potential followers who might not have discovered you otherwise.

🎯 Tips:

• Research influencers who target your audience and whose values and content resonate with your brand.
• Brainstorm unique content ideas, such as joint giveaways, co-branded product reviews, or sponsored posts.
• Track engagement and follower growth to evaluate the effectiveness of your influencer partnerships.

7. Engage with your followers

Respond to comments, answer questions, and actively engage with your followers. It builds a community, fosters trust, and encourages viewers to return for more.

You want to create a space where they feel welcomed, heard, and valued. Active engagement is the key to building this sense of belonging and connection.

🎯 Tips:

• Acknowledge and respond to comments promptly.
• Encourage followers to ask questions and participate in interactive sessions.
• Generate excitement and reward your loyal followers with contests and giveaways.

8. Utilize Instagram reels

Instagram reels are short-form videos that have gained immense popularity. Utilize them to showcase your brand’s creativity, share educational content, or create fun and engaging videos.

They’re easily digestible, shareable, and highly engaging, making them ideal for building a loyal following.

🎯 Tips:

• Use transitions, effects, and music to create eye-catching videos.
• Incorporate relevant hashtags, engage in trends, and add text overlays to make your reels discoverable.
• Share your reels across social media platforms and encourage your followers to share them with their networks.

9. Run Instagram contests and giveaways

Engage your audience and drive follower growth by running contests and giveaways. They are a great way to generate buzz and excitement around your brand, attracting new followers and encouraging existing ones to engage with your content.

🎯 Tips:

• Create compelling prize packages and offer incentives that align with your audience’s interests.
• Set clear contest rules and deadlines to ensure fairness and transparency.
• Promote your contest across social media to attract participants.

10. Use Instagram’s shopping features

If you sell products online, leverage Instagram’s shopping features to simplify the purchasing process for your followers. This way, followers can learn more about the product, view its details, and even buy it directly from the app—one centralized place.

🎯 Tips:

• Set up a shop on Instagram by connecting your online store to your Instagram profile.
• Tag products in your posts and stories to allow followers to learn more about and purchase your products directly from your content.
• Use shoppable stickers in stories to create an interactive shopping experience.

11. Showcase Instagram feed on your website

Embed your Instagram feed directly on your website to display your latest posts and engage visitors. It can effectively drive traffic to your profile, encourage engagement, and build brand awareness.

Your website users are already interested in your brand. But they might not know you have an active Instagram presence. Showcasing your feed allows you to connect with them on a deeper level and encourage them to follow you for more engaging content.

🎯 Tips:

• Make a widget that complements your website’s design and showcases your content effectively.
• Select the profile to promote, the number of posts to display, and adjust the layout.
• Include a clear call to action encouraging visitors to follow you on Instagram.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Learn how to embed an Instagram feed on your website and reach a new audience with our blog post.

12. Include social media icons on your website

Make it easy for visitors to connect with you on Instagram by placing social media icons prominently on your website.

Think about a visitor who enjoys your website content but is also interested in staying connected with your brand on other platforms. Clear and prominent icons make it easy for them to follow you on Instagram, expanding your reach and engagement.

🎯 Tips:

• Select icons that match your website’s design and brand aesthetic.
• Position them prominently on your website, such as in the header, footer, or sidebar.
• Ensure the icons direct visitors to the correct profiles.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Find out how to add the icons on your website by reaching out to our article and link your social media with no effort.

13. Engage with Instagram direct messages

Direct messages are a great way to build personal relationships with your followers, answer questions, and provide personalized support. It’s like your brand’s personal inbox: have one-on-one conversations with your followers, build trust, and offer tailored support.

🎯 Tips:

• Acknowledge and respond to messages promptly to show that you value your followers.
• Keep a warm and inviting tone in your communications.
• Use messages to answer questions, address concerns, or offer personalized assistance.

14. Celebrate new followers with notifications

Urge users to follow you with the popping-up notifications of new followers. It not only creates a high demand for your Instagram content but also has an effect of appreciation and a warm welcome.

This simple act can strengthen your brand connection and encourage further engagement. Let people join your brand community and stay connected to all the live updates.

🎯 Tips:

• Showcase interest in your social media with constant notifications of new followers.
• Encourage new followers to explore your content or take specific actions with a call-to-action button, like signing up for your newsletter.
• Choose a notification style that complements your website’s design and grabs attention.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Here’s how to create impactful notifications that celebrate new followers on your website and encourage further engagement.

15. Promote your Instagram profile through popups

Capture attention and drive follower growth by using popups to promote your Instagram profile to website visitors. A well-timed popup can draw their attention to your social media account, encouraging them to follow you for more engaging content.

🎯 Tips:

• Reward new followers with exclusive content, discounts, or special offers.
• Design attractive popups that align with the overall aesthetic of your website.
• Use exit intent or time-based triggers to show popups at optimal moments.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Learn how to create effective popups that promote your Instagram profile to your website visitors with our blog post.

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