Remember back in 2018, when all the cool meme Instagram accounts suddenly locked their doors and went private?
They thought being all mysterious and exclusive would make everyone rush to follow them. Like, “Oh man, gotta see what hilarious memes they’re hiding!”
Turns out, it didn’t quite work that way. People got annoyed requesting permission to see memes, engagement tanked, and the platforms themselves weren’t too happy about it either.
In the end, the meme lords realized true popularity comes from good content and connecting with their fans, not playing gatekeeper!
But it’s 2024 and people keep wondering: Do you get more followers on Instagram if your account is private? Definitely, Not.
Private vs. Public, that is the question! let’s go deep into the answer and find out if you can grow your followers with a private account.
Why some brands and creators go private on Instagram?
In today’s digital age, it’s rare for brands and creators to have private Instagram accounts. However, if they do, it could be for various reasons:
To control and exclusivity
Accounts may go private to control who sees their content, potentially filtering out negative comments or unwanted viewers.
Some creators even use private accounts to foster a closer, more controlled community within their audience.
To protect and privacy
Creators might prefer privacy for themselves or their sources. Moreover, brands may prefer private accounts to control the distribution of sensitive content or intellectual property.
Creators facing harassment or trolling could have temporarily switched private for personal safety.
To engage and execute marketing strategies
Weird! However, some accounts still use the “exclusivity boost” myth as a marketing strategy to generate hype and attract new followers!
Within this strategy, they can allow for direct messaging with followers, potentially enhancing engagement and community-building.
Do you get more followers on Instagram if your account is private?
No, on the other hand, private accounts usually struggle to gain more followers! Here are the reasons:
#1. Discoverability limitations
The limitations listed below stop you from being seen and followed:
- Private accounts are invisible in Hashtag searches, Explore pages, and location tags. These are key areas for organic discovery, especially for new accounts or those targeting specific niches.
Without access to these discovery channels, it’s significantly harder for new users to find your content and follow you.
- Private accounts are not recommended by Instagram’s algorithm to other users, another major source to reach more people.
This further restricts your potential audience and makes it harder for your content to spread organically.
- Even existing followers can’t easily share your content beyond their own private messages.
This significantly restricts the potential for viral growth or organic reach expansion through shared content.
#2. A barrier to existing followers
- Requiring Follow requests adds an extra step for anyone interested in seeing your content.
This can be annoying for potential followers, especially if they’re casually browsing or unsure about your content.
This friction can lead to them giving up seeing your content and probably never coming back!
- Besides, people can’t see much of your content without following, making it harder to attract them based on specific interests or quality.
This lack of a preview can discourage people (like me!) from requesting to follow, especially if they’re unsure what they’ll get.
- While some might initially find the “exclusivity” appealing, it can wear off quickly.
If the content isn’t exciting or different, having a private account can make it tougher for people to follow you, outweighing any perceived benefits.
#3. Instagram algorithm’s preferences
Fortunately or unfortunately, you can’t ignore the Instagram algorithm!
- Instagram’s algorithm actively prioritizes public content in its ranking and recommendations.
This means private accounts are automatically less likely to appear in user feeds, Explore pages, or search results, further limiting their reach and visibility.
- The algorithm also prioritizes content based on engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares.
Since private accounts struggle with these metrics due to limited reach, they get further disadvantaged in the algorithm’s ranking.
- Additionally, private accounts provide less data for the algorithm to analyze, making it harder to understand user preferences and recommend relevant content.
This can further hinder their ability to reach a wider audience.
#4. More limitations
Instagram provides special features to public accounts (business or creator) that private accounts can’t access. Such as:
Insights: The professional dashboard gives you effective insights including audience demographics, profile visits, total followers, content interactions, and more.
Knowing which posts your audience likes, when they’re most active, and who they are helps you make content they’ll enjoy. This can make your account more popular and attract more followers.
Paid promotions: While paid advertising can help reach new audiences, private accounts have limitations on targeting options compared to public accounts, potentially impacting their effectiveness.
Plus, you can’t monetize your Instagram account, if it’s private. The below features are not available on private profiles:
- Instagram subscriptions
- Live Badges
- Saved replies
- FAQs
- Adds
- Linking your profile to shops
So, should I make my Instagram private?
The final decision is yours, dependent on your goals and priorities:
Yes, if:
- You want to limit who sees your content and protect your personal information.
- You want a more controlled environment for interaction and connection with a specific group of followers.
- You want a safe space away from any harassment or negativity.
- You’re experimenting with different content ideas or targeting a group of audiences.
Read: how to switch to a personal account on Instagram
No, if:
- Growing the followers is your priority.
- Community engagement is important to you.
- You have high-quality content.
- You want to make money with your account.
How to get 1000 followers on Instagram with a private account?
Although attracting followers is challenging for a private account, it’s not impossible. Here are several strategies to grow your IG followers organically.
#1. Optimize your bio & profile
Your Instagram bio is the first place users see even before your content.
A well-written bio can encourage people to follow you by explaining what they’ll get from your content, even though they can’t see it right away.
So, make sure your Instagram bio clearly communicates who you are, what your account is about, and why people should follow you.
Use keywords relevant to your niche and include a clear call-to-action prompting users to send a follow request.
For example, you can politely add a “Follow to See More” or “Ask to Join” message to your bio and direct users to request access.
#2. Engage with existing followers
Interact regularly with your current followers by responding to comments, liking their posts, and engaging with their content.
This can lead to word-of-mouth recommendations and help you attract new followers within your own followers.
#3. Promote your account elsewhere
You can also use other social media platforms, your website, or email newsletter to promote your Instagram account.
Let them know you have exclusive, valuable content you only share with your followers. Provide a catchy visual overview of your profile to make the buzz. Don’t forget to clearly communicate the benefits of following your account.
You may also like: how to get more followers on Instagram without posting?
#4. Collaborate with other accounts
Other Instagram users on influencers in your niche can help your account expose to their followers, increasing visibility and potentially attracting new followers. Wondering how? Let’s see:
- You ask other (relevant) accounts or influencers to mention or feature your account on their profiles through shoutouts, collaborative posts, joint giveaways, or even Live sessions.
- While your account is private, the mention or feature on the collaborating user’s profile serves as a form of endorsement or recommendation.
#5. Host “follow to unlock” contests
Invest in creativity! Host contests or giveaways where you require participants to follow your account.
Remember to clearly state the requirement and offer an attractive prize that is worth following your account. See how to do an Instagram giveaway.
How to choose which follow requests to accept?
Imagine being inundated with a flood of follow requests. What should you do? Accepting all is not the answer.
You need to manage them and then select based on these criteria:
Relevance to your niche or interests
Prioritize accepting follow requests from users who are genuinely interested in the content you share.
Take some time and review each requester’s profile to determine if their interests align with the theme or focus of your account.
Engagement with your account
Check if they’ve already interacted with your content through comments, messages, or shares. This is a good sign of genuine interest and potential for future engagement.
Mutual connections
You can also see if they share mutual connections with your existing followers. This suggests they might be from your target audience or community.
Limit Acceptance Rate
Don’t accept follow requests too quickly or in large batches. Take the time to review each request individually to ensure you maintain a high-quality follower base that aligns with your account’s goals.
Whether you’re a private or public account looking for more genuine followers, you can invest in an Instagram organic growth service. AiGrow can find your target audience through hashtags or your competitors, interact with them, and draw them to your page.
FAQs
Do you get more followers if your Instagram is public or private?
Public accounts are likely to get more followers due to appearing in search results and hashtags and exposing them to a wider audience.
Is it dangerous to have a public Instagram account?
No, it’s not inherently dangerous. However, public accounts face more risks like privacy invasion, cyberbullying, identity theft, and reputation damage.
If I go private on Instagram, will I lose my followers?
No, you won’t automatically lose your followers and all your followers will remain the same. But you might face difficulties attracting new followers.
Why am I gaining followers if my account is private?
There could be some reasons: your followers share your content, or you engage in others’ content by commenting or answering their comments.
