Instagram is the fastest-growing social media network, with solid figures to show for it. As at the beginning of 2026, the numbers were;
- 3 billion users
- 500 million active daily users
- 60-70% users are under the age of 35 years
- 76% of US users are between the ages of 18-29 years
For any brand trying to reach the millennial demographic, Instagram is the platform to focus brand-building efforts.
Growing a meaningful Instagram following is not exactly easy, given this demographic’s short attention span. There is also too much competition for attention, with over 95 million images shared daily. How can a brand grow a sizeable following on Instagram?
1. Viral content
Instagrammers love good content, which is mostly HD pictures and videos. Any serious brand must have a professional photographer to create high-quality visual content. You must know which content works best. Celebrity types pull in tons of traffic with beautiful pictures of outfits, food, pets, and landscapes.
If you are promoting a small business, content that would work well includes beautiful pictures of staff at work, actual customers using your products, and industry-related quotes. Investing a little money in coming up with quality content will prove worthwhile when your content goes viral.
2. Hashtags
Hashtags pull attention to your content in people following the hashtag. The recommended number of hashtags per post is 10. They are best placed after your content comments.
There are a number of apps that will show you the most relevant hashtags for your content, for example, your website.
3. Influencers
This is perhaps the most surefire way to achieve massive growth in a short time. You talk to someone who already has a massive following to endorse your brand.
Big influencers like Kim Kardashian, commanding millions of followers, can make a brand globally visible with one or two recommendations.
But this does not come cheap, with these influencers demanding thousands of dollars per endorsement (often called shoutouts). Use an app like Buzzsumo to find influencers
4. Have a complete profile
A complete profile says you have taken the time to build a brand rep for your business. The profile should have an attractive, high-quality picture. Place your website on your bio link.
5. Promote your handle
Your website should have a link to your Instagram. Many web templates come ready with social media sites, including Instagram.
6. Engage other users
Engaging fellow Instagram users is a good way of earning trust, familiarity, and finally a following. A good number of Instagrammers will like for like.
Follow the trending hashtags, like and comment on content by the people following the hashtags. You get noticed.
7. Ask provocative questions
People always want to have a say in something that people are talking about. You can provoke reactions with a simple comparison question.
Questions such as ‘Which is better?’, or ‘what would be your choice?’ will always provoke people into a response. Avoid questions that touch on religion and controversial issues.
8. Play around with editing tools
Instagram has a wide choice of picture editing tools. The simplest to use is Layout, which allows you to play around with photo collages. Explore different filters and note the ones that see the greatest engagement.
9. Bots
Manual liking, following, and unfollowing can be a bit tedious. A good bot can follow a relevant hashtag, liking all the posts on it. A good bot will do these tasks while avoiding having your account labeled as spammy.
10. Buy followers
You engage a social media agency to grow your account by buying genuine Instagram followers. The amount depends on the number of followers.
This is the most reliable way to grow a massive following fast. Growing your Instagram following enhances your brand visibility and trust, amplifying the impact of your marketing efforts and increasing your sales and revenue.
