You’re posting every single day. Using hashtags. Following the advice you find online.
But your follower count? It barely moves.
Here’s what changed everything for me: growing followers isn’t about posting more. It’s about posting smarter and understanding why people hit that follow button in the first place.
I’ve watched hundreds of accounts grow from nothing to tens of thousands of followers. Some took years. Others exploded in months. The difference? They knew these 12 strategies and actually used them.
Let me show you what works right now.
Best Strategy to Increase Social Media Followers
Here are 12 Proven Strategies That Actually Work to Increase your social media followers.
1. Make Content That People Can’t Help But Share
Think about the last post you shared. Why did you share it?
Maybe it taught you something useful. Or it made you laugh. Perhaps it perfectly captured how you felt about something.
That’s your goal. Every piece of content should give people a reason to tap that share button.
I see this mistake constantly: people post what THEY find interesting instead of what their audience needs. Your interests matter less than solving your audience’s problems or entertaining them.
Video crushes everything else right now. I’m talking about Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts. They get 2.5 times more engagement than photos. You don’t need fancy equipment either – just your phone and decent lighting.
Try these formats:
- Quick fixes for common problems (under 60 seconds)
- Behind-the-scenes moments from your day
- Stories about your failures (people love these)
- Strong opinions that get people talking
Keep a swipe file of your winners. Look at them weekly. Figure out what made them pop. Do more of that.
2. Give Your Account Initial Momentum
Starting from zero feels brutal. Nobody sees your posts. Low visibility means no engagement. No engagement means the algorithm ignores you.
You’re stuck in a loop.
Visit Socialplug to break out of it. This service gives new accounts the social proof they need to get noticed.
Here’s the reality: humans are social creatures. We follow accounts that other people already follow. An account with 1,000 followers looks legitimate. An account with 50 followers? People scroll past.
Socialplug works across Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more. Their engagement helps trigger platform algorithms, which means your content reaches more people organically.
Over 100,000 people use their services. Here’s what you get:
- Fast delivery (usually same day)
- Zero password sharing required
- Services for 15+ platforms
- Support available anytime
Think of it like this: you’re not buying followers forever. You’re buying the initial push that makes your organic growth possible. Once the momentum starts, your content quality keeps it going.
3. Open With Sentences That Stop The Scroll
Your first line makes or breaks everything.
If someone scrolls past your opening, they never see your helpful advice. They miss your brilliant insight. Your content might as well not exist.
I studied thousands of viral posts. The ones that blow up start with:
- Stats that surprise you (“87% of people quit right before they succeed”)
- Confessions that feel risky (“I wasted $10,000 learning this lesson”)
- Questions that hit pain points (“Why does nobody engage with your content?”)
- Statements that create curiosity (“I grew 10K followers by doing the opposite of what experts say”)
Compare these openings:
- “Here are 5 tips for better engagement” (boring)
- “I tripled my engagement by ignoring every expert’s advice” (intriguing)
See the difference? The second one creates a gap. People NEED to know what you did differently.
4. Leave Comments That Get People Clicking Your Profile
Free exposure exists. Most people just don’t know how to get it.
The secret? Strategic commenting on popular posts.
Stop leaving replies like “Great post!” or “This is so helpful!” Those get ignored. Everyone leaves those comments.
Smart comments tell mini-stories. They share specific experiences. They add something new to the conversation.
When you comment on a viral post, hundreds or thousands of people might see it. If your comment stands out, some will click your profile. If your content delivers, they’ll follow.
Pick accounts in your niche with 10K-100K followers. Super huge accounts get too many comments. Yours disappears. Tiny accounts don’t have enough traffic to matter.
Make your comment about YOU. Not in a braggy way. Just share how you dealt with the same situation. Give details. Make people curious about your journey.
Example: Instead of “Love this!” try “This exact strategy helped me land my first 3 clients last month. The game-changer was focusing on their problems instead of my services.”
5. Post When People Are Actually Awake and Scrolling
Timing can make good content perform great or disappear completely.
Platforms test your post with a small group first. If those people engage, more people see it. If they ignore it, your post dies fast.
Your analytics tell you everything. Check when your specific audience is online.
Instagram: Open your profile, tap Insights, and check the “Audience” section. TikTok: Go to Creator Tools, find Analytics, Twitter: Click “More” then “Analytics,” LinkedIn: Check your post analytics over time
General patterns I’ve noticed:
- Instagram: 6-9 AM and 5-7 PM on weekdays
- TikTok: 6-10 AM and 7-11 PM
- Twitter: 8-10 AM and noon-6 PM
- LinkedIn: 7-9 AM and 5-6 PM (especially Tuesday-Thursday)
But YOUR audience might be totally different. Maybe they’re night owls. Maybe they browse during lunch breaks. Test different times for two weeks. Track what happens. Stick with what works.
6. Mix Your Hashtags Like A Pro
Hashtags sort your content so people can find it.
Most people mess this up badly. They use tags that are either too massive (where posts get buried in seconds) or too small (where nobody’s looking).
The winning formula uses three hashtag sizes.
Big hashtags (100K+ posts): Use 2-3. These give you a tiny shot at a huge reach.
Medium hashtags (10K-100K posts): Use 5-7. Better odds of being seen by decent numbers.
Small hashtags (under 10K posts): Use 3-5. You’ll almost definitely get seen by the right people.
Example for cooking content:
- Big: #foodie #cooking
- Medium: #quickmeals #cookingathome #easyrecipes #dinnerideas #healthycooking
- Small: #30minutemeals #weeknightdinner #budgetcooking
Before using any hashtag, click it. Look at the posts that show up. Does your content fit? If yes, use it. If the posts look completely different, skip it.
7. Squeeze More Value From Content You Already Made
You spent time creating something. Use it more than once.
Your 10-minute YouTube video can become:
- 6-8 Instagram Reels (different clips)
- 12-15 TikTok videos
- 4-6 Twitter threads
- 1 detailed LinkedIn post
- 20+ individual tweets with key points
This isn’t cheating. It’s smart. Different people hang out on different platforms. By spreading your content around, you reach more potential followers.
But don’t just copy-paste. Adapt for each platform. LinkedIn people want professional insights. TikTok people want entertainment. Twitter people want quick takes.
Grab the most valuable 45 seconds from your video for TikTok. Turn your Twitter thread into a full LinkedIn article. Break your carousel into separate tweets.
Link your accounts together. Mention them in bios. Occasionally, tell people you’re on other platforms. Let them follow where they prefer.
8. Actually Talk To People (Revolutionary, I Know)
Social media is called SOCIAL for a reason.
People follow accounts that respond to them. Reply to comments. Answer questions. Thank people who share your stuff.
Most accounts post and ghost. They treat followers like an audience instead of a community.
Daily engagement routine (15-30 minutes):
- Reply to every comment in the first hour after posting
- Comment on 10-15 posts from accounts in your space
- Send DMs to people who engage with you regularly
- Share content from other creators
This builds real relationships. People who feel connected to you will follow, stick around, and share your content.
Fast-growing accounts treat followers like friends, not numbers.
9. Make Your Profile Convert Visitors Into Followers
Your content got someone to click your profile. Now what?
Most profiles blow this moment. Unclear bios. Blurry photos. No obvious reason to follow.
Fix these parts:
Profile picture: Clear, high-quality. Use your face for personal brands. Use your logo for businesses. No exceptions.
Bio: One sentence explaining what you do and who you help. Add personality. End with a call to action. Skip the inspirational quotes.
Highlights (Instagram): Sort your best content into clear categories. Show the value you provide at a glance.
Pinned posts: Pin your absolute best content at the top. Give new visitors an instant win.
Imagine landing on your profile for the first time. In 3 seconds, can you tell what this account does and why it matters? If not, fix it.
10. Team Up With Similar Accounts
Growing alone takes forever.
Fast-growing accounts partner up. They collaborate. They cross-promote. They help each other win.
Find accounts with similar follower counts. Don’t aim too high – someone with 500K followers won’t respond to your 500-follower account. Build relationships at your level.
Ways to collaborate:
- Go live together on Instagram or TikTok
- Guest post on each other’s platforms
- Run a joint challenge or giveaway
- Interview each other
- Create content together
Both audiences discover new content. Some people follow both accounts. Everybody grows.
Start small. Reach out with specific ideas, not vague requests. Offer value first.
11. Build Series That Make People Anticipate Your Posts
One-off posts get lost. A series creates habits.
When people know you post something specific each week, they’re more likely to follow. They don’t want to miss the next one.
Series ideas:
- Motivation Monday (inspirational content)
- Tip Tuesday (educational posts)
- Throwback Thursday (transformation content)
- Friday Q&A sessions
- Monthly challenges
The key? Consistency. If you promise Monday posts, deliver on Mondays. Train your audience to expect you.
This also makes content easier. You know what you’re posting on specific days. No more blank-page paralysis.
12. Study Your Numbers and Do More of What Wins
Most of your content probably flops.
That’s normal. Not every post hits. The trick is figuring out what DOES work and making more of it.
Monthly analytics check:
- Which 5 posts got the most engagement?
- What topics showed up in those posts?
- What format did they use?
- What time did you post them?
Create more of whatever’s working. If carousel posts get triple the engagement of single images, make more carousels. If your audience loves hearing about your failures, share more struggles.
Most creators post randomly. They never learn from data. They never improve.
Winners study their numbers. They test ideas. They keep what works. They drop what doesn’t.
Your Next Steps
Growing followers follow patterns. It’s not random luck.
Create shareable stuff. Talk to people. Post consistently. Fix your profile. Partner with others. Check your data.
These strategies work on every platform. Pick 2-3 for this week. Master them. Add more later.
The first 1,000 followers are brutal. After that? Growth gets easier. Algorithms favor your content more. People share your posts. New followers find you through recommendations.
