Hitting the 10,000 followers mark on Instagram is an exciting milestone. Not only will having 10k followers place you in the prized "micro influencer" tier, it will also show others that you're a respected creator in your niche. But how do you find those first 10k followers? This wikiHow article will teach you guaranteed strategies for growing your Instagram followers to the 10k mark and beyond!

1

Stick to your niche.

  1. People follow accounts that post content about their favorite niches. When people see consistent unique content with a cohesive theme on your profile, they'll know that following your account will provide them with the content they crave. If your content isn't easy to categorize, people won't understand your true focus or brand.
    • People find you on Instagram because of your current content, but they follow you because they want to see your future content. Sticking to your niche keeps your current followers connected while also encouraging new growth.
    • Micro influencers (usually defined as between 10k and 100k followers) are attractive to advertisers because of their niche audiences.[1]
    • Every time you share something new on Instagram, think about your target audience every step of the way. Who are they? What do they need? And how will your post fill that need and mesh with your niche?
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2

Improve your engagement rate.

  1. The more likes and comments on your posts, the more people will want to join the conversation. If someone stumbles across your awesome posts and sees that nobody is liking or commenting, they probably won't give you a follow. To improve your engagement rate, start conversations with your audience and encourage them to interact with each other. Put calls to action to your captions, such as "Tell us about a time you…" to get people talking. Ask questions, tell stories, and encourage people to share their thoughts on hot topics.
    • To calculate a post's engagement rate, find the total of engagements (likes, comments, shares, and saves), and then divide that number by your follower count.
    • Once you have 10k followers on your account and a healthy engagement rate, advertisers will consider you an expert in your niche, making your account very attractive to advertisers and far more lucrative for your brand.
3

Create share-worthy content.

  1. If your current followers share your posts with their friends, their friends will probably follow you. The key here is making sure your posts are worth sharing. What kind of content is considered share-worthy?
    • Content that entertains. Short videos and other posts that are relatable, funny, or otherwise engaging. Check out trending Instagram Reels for inspiration.
    • Educational content. Life hacks, tips, step-by-step tutorials, and interesting history lessons.
    • Relatable stories: Photos, videos, and text that takes viewers through funny, sentimental, emotional, life-changing, or inspirational experiences.
    • Aesthetically pleasing photos and graphics: Posts with an attractive aesthetic, photos with great lighting, and well-crafted graphics are all worthy of sharing.
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4

Use hashtags the right way.

  1. Hashtags are the best way to reach new followers without spending money on advertising. People search for their favorite topics in Instagram's search tool, and you want your content to show up in those searches! Your hashtags should always be in the description of your post, not in separate comments. Putting the hashtags directly in your caption ensures that your posts will be associated with the hashtags you use.
    • Use between 5 and 10 well-known hashtags for your niche per post.
    • Keep tabs on popular hashtags that fit your content. Get into the habit of checking the posts of similar creators to see which hashtags they are using.
7

Get into Reels.

  1. Instagram Reels are heavily promoted all over the Instagram app. As people scroll through their feeds, Instagram shows them relevant Reels from accounts they don't already follow. If your Reels are suggested to others, you'll expand your reach beyond what you can do with regular photo and video posts or Stories. Reels that are fun, entertaining, funny, are most likely to capture peoples' attention.
    • When Instagram introduces new features to the platform, give those features a try! Instagram will likely promote your use of their new features to a wider audience.
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8

Follow and engage with other creators.

11

Join a quality engagement pod.

  1. Engagement pods are groups of like-minded creators who interact with each other's content. In general, engagement pods are controversial, as they encourage non-organic interactions with Instagram posts. But those are just the larger, spammier engagement pods. Joining a smaller niche pod of similar creators who will like and comment on each other's posts can be a quick way to bring attention to posts with lower engagement rates. And if others see that people are engaging with your content, they'll be more likely to engage with it themselves.[4]
    • Some great places to find niche engagement pods are Reddit's /r/IGPods and Facebook Groups. The larger engagement pods are typically found on Telegram, but try to avoid those—the engagement won't look natural, and Instagram may think you're trying to manipulate their algorithm.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    Is it hard to get 10k followers on Instagram?
    Jenna Jean Davis
    Jenna Jean Davis
    Social Media Influencer & Marketer
    Jenna Jean Davis is a Social Media Influencer & Marketer and the Founder and CEO of Jenna Jean Marketing LLC. With over five years of experience, she specializes in organic social media marketing, TikTok marketing, and Instagram marketing. Jenna is also an established TikTok creator. Jenna earned her BA in Journalism from the University of Utah.
    Jenna Jean Davis
    Social Media Influencer & Marketer
    Expert Answer
    Yes, it is. Gaining followers takes work, time and commitment. To grow a significant amount like 10k, you will need a social strategy in place and you should consider working with a Social Media Specialist to help you. That said, if you want to grow your online presence, focus on consistency, quality and videos.
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about getting followers, check out our in-depth interview with Jenna Jean Davis.

About This Article

Jenna Jean Davis
Written by:
Social Media Influencer & Marketer
This article was written by Jenna Jean Davis and by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA. Jenna Jean Davis is a Social Media Influencer & Marketer and the Founder and CEO of Jenna Jean Marketing LLC. With over five years of experience, she specializes in organic social media marketing, TikTok marketing, and Instagram marketing. Jenna is also an established TikTok creator. Jenna earned her BA in Journalism from the University of Utah. This article has been viewed 21,002 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: December 7, 2022
Views: 21,002
Categories: Instagram
Article SummaryX

1. Create high-value content in your niche.
2. Create a community that people will want to join.
3. Boost your best posts to reach new people.
4. Create entertaining Reels.
5. Use relevant and popular hashtags in your captions.
6. Create the kind of content people will share.
7. Follow and engage with similar accounts.
8. Run contests and promotions.

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