How to Get 100k Followers on Instagram: 9 Proven Techniques

Hitting 100k on Instagram isn’t just bragging rights; it’s a gateway to industry recognition, lucrative partnerships, and unique experiences. 

Imagine guest speaking at conferences, collaborating with dream brands, or offering exclusive content to your loyal community.

It’s a springboard for deeper engagement, business opportunities, and content innovation

Now, the question is: How to get 100k followers on Instagram? How long does it take? That’s what I’m going to delve into right here. Keep reading!

How long does it take to get 100k Instagram followers?

First, let’s set realistic expectations. Reaching 100k followers on Instagram can take anywhere from several months to years, depending on your dedication, niche, and existing audience.

Larger, general niches like “Travel” or “fashion” have a potentially wider audience, meaning you can reach more people.

However, the competition within these niches is also fiercer, making it harder to get people’s attention.

Getting 100k followers also requires consistent effort including things like:

• Regular posting
• Engaging with your audience
• Staying updated on trends
• Analyzing your performance

In a nutshell, organic growth, while sustainable, often takes longer. See how to grow Instagram followers organically. 

[I’m not talking about those Instagram followers apps that can bring hundreds of disengaged followers overnight!]

How to Get 100k Followers on Instagram (For Free)

Keeping in mind that growing Instagram’s 100k followers takes time and effort, here are several proven tactics for loyal followers.

Also, read: How to get 20k followers on Instagram?

#1. Define your niche and voice

Before you set up a professional account, you should identify your niche (travel, fashion, food, skincare, and more) and voice (writing style or aesthetic).

 But that’s not all! In the competitive world of Instagram, you need more:

• Go beyond broad categories and instead carve out a space as the go-to resource for a well-defined audience.

For example, instead of “Travel”, focus on something more specific like “Solo Female Travel”. 

• Create a unique value proposition. Tons of fashion bloggers on Instagram. What makes you different? What’s your signature?

Let your individuality shine through! Share your humor, opinions, and passions in a way that feels true to you. Think of Gary Vaynerchuk’s unapologetic authenticity or Marie Kondo’s calming presence!

If you’re not still sure which niche to choose, follow these steps:

1. Identify 3-5 potential niches you’re passionate about.
2. Analyze competitors in each niche – what sets them apart?
3. If possible, conduct surveys or polls on Instagram to gauge audience interest.
4. Then, narrow down your niche based on research and feedback.

#2. Research your competitors

Researching your competitors provides valuable insights and strategic advantages. It doesn’t mean to copy and paste! Let’s learn how it helps you:

• Studying competitors’ followers and engagement gives you insights into effective content and messaging.
• Examining competitors’ strategies allows you to Identify content gaps in your niche.  
• Analyzing competitors’ branding helps you find areas for differentiation.
• It also lets you adapt successful tactics from competitors’ strategies to your own Instagram growth approach.
• You can learn from competitors’ mistakes to avoid making similar missteps in your own strategy.

How to research the competitors: Step-by-step guide

Here’s how to conduct competitor research effectively:

Step 1: Make a list of direct and indirect competitors within your niche or industry. 

For example, if you’re a fitness influencer, your direct competitors might include other fitness influencers, while indirect competitors could be wellness coaches or nutritionists.

Step 2: Visit the profiles of your identified competitors and study their content, follower engagement, bio, and highlights.

Step 3: Then, analyze their post types (photos, videos, Reels, stories), captions, and hashtags used.

You also need to identify their most popular and engaging content. Don’t forget to see if they follow any consistent Instagram content calendars or thems.

Step 4: Start engaging with the followers of your competitors by liking and commenting on their posts, and responding to their comments on your competitors’ content.

Note: You can use Instagram growth services such as AiGrow to gain deeper insights into your competitors’ performance.  AiGrow can provide comprehensive data beyond what is available through Instagram Insights. 

#3. Optimize your profile

A well-optimized Instagram profile is your digital storefront that attracts potential followers and showcases your value. 

Let’s see how to optimize your profile and pave your path to 100k followers:

Craft a compelling bio

• Briefly state who you are, what you do, and your value proposition. Keep it under 150 characters.
• Include relevant keywords to help users discover you during searches.
• Use Call-to-action to encourage users to follow, visit your website, or engage with your content.
• Use emojis, line breaks, and bold text to enhance readability.

Choose a memorable username

• Use a clear, professional-looking image with good resolution.
• Reflect on your brand identity or personal style.
• Use the same profile picture across other social media platforms.
• Spark interest with a unique or intriguing profile picture.

Highlight your top content

• Choose visually appealing and engaging posts to display in your Highlights.
• Create separate Highlights for categories like portfolio, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes glimpses.
• Keep your Highlights fresh with new content as you create it.
• Use clear and enticing titles to explain each Highlight’s content.

#4. Create content that converts

Keep this rule in mind: Quality over quantity. Don’t spam; create visually stunning, informative, and engaging content that speaks to your niche.

Sure, captivating visuals are essential, but dig deeper. Offer valuable information, actionable tips, emotional connection, or thought-provoking questions in every post.

Tips to create compelling content

Try different formats: 

Stories, Reels, Lives, and Carousels-each has its power. Use them strategically to cater to different preferences and engagement styles.
For instance, photos are classic for showing eye-catching visuals, products, or everyday moments.

Carousels tell a story, display multiple products, or offer a step-by-step guide with multiple images/videos.

Stories share fleeting moments, behind-the-scenes glimpses, polls, questions, and live updates. Moreover, features like polls, quizzes, and question stickers are instrumental in engaging your audience. 

Reels are short, engaging videos with trending music, effects, and text overlays to entertain and inform.

Pro tip: Rotate through these formats over a set period and track the performance of each format using Instagram Insights or third-party analytics tools.

Invest in quality:

 Who can resist a picture with dazzling coloring and eye-catching lighting? I Can’t!

So, upgrade your phone camera, and experiment with different effects and filters, editing tools, and graphic designs. 

Tell stories, not just sell: 

This is simple! Capture emotion, evoke curiosity, and provide value in every post.

✅Storytelling: Find the emotional hook, Show; don’t tell, Create relatable characters, and Offer solutions; not just products. 

❌Selling: This focuses on pushing your product or service, highlighting its features and benefits directly. While necessary, it can feel impersonal and repetitive.

Embrace micro-content:

In the Instagram world, time trumps gold! So, try bite-sized Reels with educational snippets or behind-the-scenes glimpses to skyrocket reach and engagement.

#5. Spark engagement engine

Be present, be responsive, and be human and cultivate a community, not just a follower count. Besides, don’t be afraid to start conversations with your audience. How can you trigger engagement?

1. Respond to comments and DMs promptly. Show true interest and answer their questions. 

2. Host interactive sessions. For example, Q&As, polls, giveaways, AMAs, and Lives can encourage participation and boost visibility within the Instagram algorithm.

These two blog posts can help you along the way:

• How to do a giveaway on Instagram to gain followers
• How does going live on Instagram help gain followers?

3. Collaborate with niche influencers. Partner with creators who complement your niche and audience. Cross-promotion exposes you to new communities and fosters trust.
   

One good idea is to identify influencers with around 10-50k followers and collaborate with them on engaging content or giveaways. 

Suggested post: Why is your Instagram engagement down?

#6. Use hashtags effectively

Hashtags are your gateway to discovery if you know how to use hashtags for Instagram growth. 

• Use relevant-targeted hashtags, not just trending ones. 
• Use free hashtag generators or follow competitors to see what works.
• Aim for a mix of broad and specific terms to reach a wider audience.
• Stick to 3-5 relevant hashtags per post. 
• Create your own branded hashtag. 

#7. Utilize paid advertising

If you’re looking for how to get 100k followers on Instagram for free, this advice is not for you!

Sure, organic reach is essential but strategic paid advertising can significantly accelerate your growth and target a wider audience. 

Thankfully, Instagram offers various options like photo ads, story ads, Reels ads, and video ads-each with its own opportunity. 

The most important thing is how to use it strategically: Target your ideal audience, and define your goals and budget. 

#8. Partner with brands

Collaborating with an established brand exposes you to its followers, many of whom might align with your niche and interests. 

Besides, it enhances your credibility in the eyes of potential followers. The good news is that brand partnerships also help monetize your Instagram account. 

Seems pretty convincing, huh?

See: How much does Instagram pay for 1 million followers?

#9. Leverage Instagram insights

Instagram insights give you insights about:

• Your audience demographics, interests, most active times
• Your top posts: What formats, topics, and captions resonate most.
• Your reach and impressions: How many people see your posts and how often.
• Follower growth: Your followers count and who you’re attracting.
• Stories’ completion rates, replies, and taps forwards. 

This data is all you need to make informed decisions, optimize your content, and finally attract more followers. 

How to get 100k followers on Instagram: Things to avoid

Although reaching 100k followers on Instagram is exciting, it’s important to avoid certain practices that can damage your reputation. 

Inorganic growth tactics

Steer clear of buying followers, engagement pods, and rapidly following and unfollowing accounts. These contribute nothing to engagement or community building. 

Content Pitfalls

Posting irrelevant and copyrighted content, clickbait and misleading captions, and overly promotional content can hinder your efforts.

General Mistakes

Avoid:

• Inconsistent posting
• Ignoring your audience
• Neglecting analytics
• Lack of patience

FAQs

Is it possible to get 100k followers on Instagram?

Yes, reaching 100k followers on Instagram is possible, but it requires dedication, strategic content, and consistent engagement. It’s not a quick fix, but with hard work and smart tactics, it’s achievable.

How to get 100k followers on Instagram in 5 minutes?

Unfortunately, there’s no magic trick or 5-minute solution to reaching 100k genuine followers on Instagram. Building a loyal audience takes time, effort, and a commitment to quality content and engagement. 

How much does Instagram pay for 100k followers?

Having 100k followers increases your potential earning power by attracting brands and boosting engagement, but income varies greatly depending on your niche, strategy, and engagement level. it can vary from $1000 to $5000 per sponsored post.

If still haven’t reached this amount of followers that’s okay because you can earn money from 10k and even 1k followers too. If you want to know How much does Instagram pay for 10k followers? I have to say that it depends on you and your field of activity, but it’s definitely lesser than the money 100k followers can bring for you.

So leave your followers’ growth to AiGrow. Our strategic techniques will boost your growth organically, saving you time!