# How to Get Followers on Instagram in 2026: 12 Steps

URL: https://socialboostexpert.com/blog/how-to-get-followers-on-instagram-in-2026
Updated: 2026-10-31

> A 2026 procedure based on Instagram's official recommendations for creators: profile, Reels, Trial Reels, collaborations, statistics and a step-by-step 30-day plan.

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## How to Get Followers on Instagram in 2026: 12 Steps and a 30-Day Plan
Twelve steps to gaining followers on Instagram without tricks: what currently influences content recommendations, which formats to test, how to use collaborations and how to measure progress.
The Social Boost editorial team · Published October 31, 2026 · Last reviewed October 31, 2026 · 8 min read
### In short
- New followers mainly come from content that Instagram shows to people who do not yet follow you, typically from Reels.
- For Reels, according to Instagram's own explanation, the platform mainly considers how people interact with the video: likes, saves, shares and comments.
- According to Instagram, an original video without a watermark from another app has a better chance than re-uploaded content.
- Trial Reels and collaborative posts (collabs) are official ways to reach a new audience without paying.
- Meta's rules prohibit buying or exchanging likes and follows, so these cannot replace your own work on content.
Followers on Instagram are currently growing mainly thanks to content that Instagram shows to people who do not yet follow you, especially through Reels that people share, save and comment on. The procedure is: adjust your profile so that visitors immediately understand what they will find, regularly test original short videos, collaborate with similar accounts, and evaluate your statistics every week.
Below you will find 12 steps arranged in the order in which they follow on from one another, and a 30-day plan at the end. The advice is based on Instagram's official creator pages (status as of October 2026). Features change, so always check the current version in the app.
### What currently determines who sees your content?
It mainly depends on how people interact with your content. Instagram in its explanation of content ranking
states that each part of the app (Feed, Stories, Explore, Reels) has its own recommendation system, and that for Reels the most important signals are likes, saves, shares and comments, followed by your past interactions with the author, information about the video itself (sound, visuals, popularity), and only then data about the author.
The same source also shows what reduces reach: Instagram says it shows less Reels in low resolution, videos with a watermark, and Reels that have already been published on Instagram before (as of October 2026). The topic is covered in more detail in the article how the Instagram algorithm works
.
### How do you prepare your profile so that a visitor becomes a follower?
Your profile must tell people what the account is about and why they should follow it within a few seconds. Visitors coming from a recommended video decide based on the name, photo, description and first posts.
- 1. A clear profile description (bio). In one sentence, write who you create for and what people will find with you, for example “Quick recipes made with local ingredients for working parents”. Instagram on profile page,
recommends keeping your description, profile photo and highlights up to date.
- 2. Highlights as a navigation hub. Highlights are saved Stories that remain on your profile even after 24 hours. Create 3–5 sets: who you are, the most frequently asked questions, examples of your work, reviews, or the price list of your services.
- 3. A consistent theme and format. Visitors follow an account when they expect more content of the same type. Keep 2–3 main topics. For feed posts, Instagram recommends the vertical 4:5 format, which fills a larger area on mobile screens.
### Which formats help you reach new people?
Reels and Explore are mainly used to reach people beyond your followers, while Stories are best for deepening relationships with existing followers. Carousels (posts with multiple photos or slides) are useful for guides and overviews that people like to save.
- 4. Reels regularly and creatively. Instagram, on its Reels page,
advises creating content that viewers can relate to, showing your personality, teaching something, and working with a punchline or surprise at the end. Shoot your own footage and do not upload videos with a watermark from another app.
- 5. Opening seconds and the punchline. Tell viewers right at the start what they will get, and prepare the ending so that it is worth watching to the end or sharing. According to Instagram, shares and saves are strong signals.
- 6. Trial Reels. According to Instagram, with Trial Reels you can test a new idea by having it seen first by people who do not follow you, and get an initial sense of how the video performs (as of October 2026). They are useful for a new topic or style that you do not want to burden your existing followers with right away. Check whether this option is offered when you share a Reel.
- 7. Carousels for save-worthy content. Step-by-step guides, checklists and comparisons across several slides are often saved by people for later. Whether they perform better for you than Reels can only be determined by comparing the statistics.
- 8. Stories for building a relationship with your audience. Instagram, on its On its Stories page,
Instagram recommends using question stickers, polls and quizzes, adding multiple stories to a single experience, and using a countdown sticker to announce upcoming content.
Format What it is for What to track in the statistics
Reels Reaching people who don't follow you Reach beyond followers, shares, saves, new followers
Trial Reels Testing a new idea on non-followers Responses compared with regular Reels
Carousel How-to guides and summaries worth saving Saves, shares, comments
Stories Relationship with existing followers Replies, poll votes, messages
### How do you gain followers through collaborations and community?
Collaborating with accounts of a similar focus introduces you to an audience that is already interested in your topic. Instagram offers a dedicated feature for this: collab posts.
- 9. Collab posts. According to Instagram Help Center on collabs
as the author, you can tag another account as a co-author; if they accept the invitation, the post also appears on their profile and in their followers' feeds (as of October 2026). Arrange collaborations with accounts of similar size and a related topic, for example a café and a coffee roastery, or a coach and a physiotherapist.
- 10. Activity in comments. Instagram recommends being active in comments and showing your community that you are listening. Reply to comments on your own posts and comment substantively on accounts in your field; a specific remark brings more profile visits than a generic compliment.
This does not apply to “like-for-like” groups and follow exchanges: Meta's Community Standards expressly prohibit exchanging interactions such as likes, follows or shares, as well as buying or selling them (see Meta's spam policies
, status as of October 2026).
### How do you measure whether you are gaining followers the right way?
Measure the same things every week: how many non-followers saw your posts, how many of them started following you, and which posts drove that. You will find statistics (Insights) under a professional account; if you cannot see them in the app, check the account type in the settings.
- 11. Weekly overview. Record the reach, number of new followers, shares and saves for each post. The engagement rate, i.e. the share of interactions relative to reach or follower count, is also useful; the calculation is described in the article engagement rate: how it is calculated and what counts as a good value
. Further terms are explained in the glossary
.
- 12. Timing and hashtags based on your own data. Instagram does not publish an ideal posting time or number of hashtags on the pages this article is based on. In your statistics, find out when your followers are online, and compare different posting times and hashtag sets over two to three weeks.
### What does a 30-day plan look like?
The plan allows for roughly 3–4 Reels per week, 1–2 carousels and ongoing Stories. Adjust the pace to suit your capacity; consistency matters more than volume.
- Days 1–3: update your profile description, replace your photo, create 3–5 featured Stories and choose 2–3 main topics.
- Days 4–7: batch-record 6–8 short videos at once and prepare 2 carousels with a how-to guide or overview.
- Days 8–14: publish Reels, test one new topic as a trial Reel, reply to comments every day and add Stories with a poll or question.
- Day 15: first evaluation. Which 2 posts brought the most new followers and saves? Why?
- Days 16–21: record more videos based on what worked, and reach out to 3–5 accounts with a similar focus with an offer for a joint post.
- Days 22–28: publish the first collab, continue with Reels and test different posting times.
- Days 29–30: compare the numbers with the first week, keep the formats that bring followers, and plan the next month.
### What doesn't work and what should you avoid?
Tactics that create only numbers without audience interest do not work. These include automatic following and unfollowing, like-exchange groups, giveaways conditioned on following in exchange for cash rewards, and reposting other people's videos.
- Meta's spam policies
prohibit the sale, purchase and exchange of interactions, as well as offering money or valuable prizes in exchange for interactions.
- Instagram shows Reels with a watermark and previously published videos less often.
- Never share your password or two-factor authentication codes with anyone who promises account growth.
### When paid promotion makes sense and when it does not?
A paid package of followers can help as an initial social proof (the impression that others already follow the account) for a new profile that has good and regular content, or as a supplement to a specific campaign alongside your own work following the steps above. However, you need to be aware that Meta's rules do not permit purchased interactions, so restrictions on reach or on the account cannot be ruled out; the same is expressly stated in the terms of service (Art. 3.3)
.
It does not make sense if there is no content, if you expect sales or genuine audience reactions, if you want to meet the requirements for verification or monetization, or if the account already has a warning or restriction. Purchased interactions do not replace content, do not guarantee reach or interest, and may worsen the ratio of reactions to followers. If you have considered the risks, you can find a description of the service on the followers on Instagram
and current packages in price list
.
### Frequently asked questions
#### How many followers can you gain on Instagram in a month?
No one can honestly promise a specific number. It depends on the topic, the quality and originality of your content, how often you publish Reels, and, above all, whether people share and save them. It is more sensible to monitor the trend: how many new people see your videos and what share of profile visitors start following you. If these figures grow week by week, you are on the right track.
#### How many hashtags is it advisable to add to an Instagram post?
Instagram's official recommendations for creators, on which this article is based, do not specify a particular number of hashtags. Use several hashtags that precisely describe the topic of the post, and compare the reach of posts with different variants in your statistics. According to Instagram, how people interact with the content, i.e. saves, shares and comments, has a much greater influence.
#### What are Trial Reels?
Trial Reels is a feature with which Instagram first shows a new video to people who do not follow you, so you can test an idea without it immediately appearing to all your followers. The reactions will show you whether it is worth developing the topic further. Feature availability may vary by account and country, so check whether the option is offered when you share a Reel in the app.
#### When is it advisable to post on Instagram?
Instagram does not officially state a universal time, because each audience is active at different times. Check the statistics of your professional account to see when your followers are most often online, and try different times over two to three weeks. Then compare reach and the number of new followers, and keep the times that work better for you.
#### Is it allowed to buy followers or likes on Instagram?
Meta's Community Guidelines, which also apply to Instagram, prohibit the sale, purchase and exchange of engagement, such as likes, follows or views. These are contractual rules of the platform, not law, but violating them may lead to restricted reach or account restrictions. Purchased engagement also does not bring genuine audience interest or sales, and it may worsen the ratio of reactions to followers.
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### Sources
- Instagram Ranking Explained – Instagram
(checked October 31, 2026)
- Reels – Instagram for Creators
(checked October 31, 2026)
- Profile – Instagram for Creators
(checked October 31, 2026)
- Stories – Instagram for Creators
(checked October 31, 2026)
- About collabs on Instagram – Instagram Help Center
(checked October 31, 2026)
- Spam – Community Standards – Meta Transparency Center
(checked October 31, 2026)
Prepared by our editorial team with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Platform rules change: always check the current wording at the source. This article was translated with AI assistance. The sources are in their original language.
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