How to get followers on Instagram: roadmap to the first 1K

You’ve decided that Instagram would be a good platform to build your brand. You’ve picked a handle, created an account and uploaded a profile photo. But now… you’re staring at that blank grid.

Getting your first 1,000 followers is arguably the hardest part of the journey. It’s where the fear of wasting time on the wrong strategies can keep you frozen. You don’t need to be an influencer and you certainly don’t need to hustle 24/7 to make Instagram work for you. You just need a clear roadmap that eliminates the overwhelm.

In this guide, we are going to ignore the fleeting “trends” and focus on sustainable strategy. Here is how to get followers on Instagram and build a community that actually cares about what you do.

The Short Answer: To get your first 1,000 Instagram followers in 2026, you must pivot from “broadcasting” to “community building.” This involves three core steps: optimising your profile for search (SEO), creating a repeatable content series, and engaging with peers in the DMs rather than just posting to the feed.

1. Define your “why” and “who”

Before we worry about audio trends or aesthetics, we need to pause and look at the foundation. The biggest reason founders and creatives struggle with consistency is that they aren’t sure who they are talking to.

If you try to speak to everyone, you risk speaking to no one. To attract your first 1,000 followers, you need to be specific.

Find Your Niche

I know the word “niche” can feel constraining. Many creatives fear that choosing a niche means cutting off parts of their personality or getting bored. But it’s really about clarity and focus.

You’re looking for the sweet spot between your expertise, your passion and market demand. Once you have identified that sweet spot, clarify it with a simple statement: I help [Specific Audience] achieve [Desired Result] by [Your Unique Method].

Here’s how this looks in practice:

• The Wellness Professional: “I help burnt-out corporate women regain flexibility and reduce stress through 15-minute desk yoga routines.”
• The Creative Service Provider: “I help sustainable fashion brands write product descriptions that sell without ‘greenwashing’.”
• The Coach: “I help empty-nesters rediscover their purpose and plan their next chapter after their kids leave for university.”

When you solve a specific problem, you become the go-to expert for that group, and that is the fastest way to grow a loyal following.

Know your target audience

Picture your ideal client, move beyond demographics and understand their psychographics like their behaviours, fears and desires.

Let’s look at how shifting your focus changes your content:

• If you are a Nutritionist: Is your ideal client a high-performance athlete looking for advanced macro-tracking? Or are they a burnt-out employee who forgets to eat until 3PM and survives entirely on coffee?
• If you are an Interior Designer: Are you talking to the homeowner preparing for a £50k renovation? Or are you helping the renter who feels embarrassed to host dinner parties but is terrified of losing their deposit?

Understanding these nuances allows you to create content that resonates deeply rather than just adding noise to your audience’s feed. When you speak to their specific struggle, they stop scrolling and think “Wow, they actually get me”.

2. Optimise your profile

Your Instagram profile is often one of the first interactions a potential client has with you. It’s your “shop window,” so make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.

Let’s turn your profile into a welcoming, professional space that converts visitors into followers.

• Profile Picture: Use a high-quality photo of you if suitable, or a logo.
• Username: Your username (@handle) should be simple and memorable.
• Name Field: Your Name Field is searchable. Instead of just repeating your name, add your job title or keywords (Jess | Sales Copywriter). This helps people find you when they search for your services, not just your name.
• The Bio: You have 150 characters to make an impression. Be specific in who you help and how. Include a clear call to action at the end, telling them exactly what to do next (“Grab the free copywriting guide below 👇“).
• Link in Bio: This is the where you can move followers from an app you don’t own to a website or email list you do own. Whether it’s your full website or a custom landing page, ensure it works seamlessly to capture leads.
• Story Highlights: Think of these as your site’s navigation menu. Create clean, branded covers for your best Stories. Good sections to have are Start Here, Services, Client Love and About Me, so new visitors can consume your best content immediately without scrolling for hours.

3. Create high-quality content

To get followers who stick around, your content needs to do one of three things: educate, entertain or empower.

• Educate: Share your expertise. Think how-to carousels, quick tips or myth-busting posts related to your niche.
• Entertain: This can simply mean being relatable. Share a meme about industry struggles or a funny behind-the-scenes moment that humanises your brand.
• Empower: Share your “why,” client wins, inspiration, or the story behind your business. This builds an emotional connection.

Instagram is a visual platform. Stick to a consistent palette of 2-3 fonts and colours. This makes your brand instantly recognisable in a crowded feed. Ensure you are using high-resolution images, clear graphics and the correct dimensions to avoid pixelated or cropped images. Check our Instagram Size Guide for the current specs.

The “Signature Series” Method

If you wake up every morning wondering “what should I post?”, you are making marketing harder than it needs to be. This decision fatigue often leads to inconsistency. Try creating a Signature Series. This is a recurring theme or format you post regularly. For your audience, it build anticipation. For you, it eliminates the blank page panic.

4. Leverage SEO

Old advice said to “use 30 hashtags” to get found. That strategy is no longer effective. Today, Instagram acts like a search engine. The algorithm prioritises SEO to understand what your content is about and show it to the right people.

To get discovered by your ideal clients, you need to communicate clearly with the algorithm:

• Keywords: Focus on writing captions that naturally include the phrases your clients are searching for.
• On-Screen Text: If you post a Reel or image, ensure the text on the actual image/video includes your keywords.
• The 3-5 Rule: Hashtags are now primarily for categorisation, not viral reach. Stick to 3-5 highly relevant, specific tags rather than a wall of generic ones. Think of them as filing cabinets for your content.
• Alt Text: This is often overlooked. Write descriptive Alt Text for your images. This improves accessibility for visually impaired users and helps the algorithm index your content for search results.

5. Embrace the Algorithm

Many of us dislike the algorithm, thinking it’s designed to hide our content. In reality, the algorithm is like a matchmaker. Its only goal is to show users content they will enjoy so they stay on the app longer.

To get followers on Instagram, you need to work with the different parts of the algorithm, as each format serves a different purpose:

• Utilise Reels for Reach: Video content tends to get the highest reach for non-followers, making it your best tool for discovery. Don’t overcomplicate it. You do not need to dance or point at text bubbles. Simple “talking head” videos or b-roll (clips of you working, pouring coffee or your screen) with a voiceover are highly effective and sustainable to create.
• Carousels for Value: Carousel posts (multiple images you swipe through) are fantastic for educational content. Because you audience has to physically swipe to see more, they spend more time on your post. This signals to the algorithm that your content is valuable and worth showing to more people.
• Stories for Connection: Stories nurture your current followers. This is where you build trust. To boost your algorithmic ranking, use interactive stickers (like polls, quizzes, and question boxes) that encourages engagement from your followers.
• Focus on “Dwell Time”: The algorithm measures how long someone pauses on your post. Write hooks that stop the scroll and captions that hold attention. The longer someone reads, the more the algorithm values the post.

6. Build an engaged community

Social media is social, that’s what makes it so different from other marketing platforms. So, if you want to get followers on Instagram, you can’t just broadcast, you need to interact and engage with your audience.

• Respond to comments: Reply to comments promptly and keep the conversation going. This signals to the algorithm that your content sparks conversation.
• Outbound engagement: Interact with accounts in your niche and leave genuine, thoughtful comments on their posts.
• Collaborate: Partner with other experts for an “Instagram Live” or a joint Collab post. This allows you to “borrow” their audience and exposes them to yours. It’s a win-win that builds authority fast.
• The power of DMs: Instagram has confirmed that most user activity has shifted away from public feeds and into private DMs. Don’t be afraid to move conversations to Direct Messages. If you see a Story that resonates with you, reply to it privately. This builds a deeper, 1-on-1 connection that public comments can’t match, often leading to your most loyal advocates (and clients).

7. Analyse, tweak and repeat

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Once you have a flow of content, use Instagram Insights to see what works.

• Follower Growth: Is it trending up?
• Engagement Rate: Are people saving and sharing your posts? These are high-value metrics!
• Website Taps: This is the most important metric for a service provider. Are people actually leaving the app to check out your services or read your blog?

If a certain type of post flops, don’t beat yourself up. View it as data. Shift your strategy and try again. if a post does really well, repeat it!

FAQ

Q: How often should I post on Instagram in 2026?

There is a lot of noise out there saying you must post multiple times a day. But for a solo business owner, consistency beats frequency. It is far better to post 3 high-quality pieces of content a week that you can stick to, rather than posting daily for a week and then burning out for a month. Find a rhythm that fits your life, not just the algorithm.

Q: Do I need to use trending audio to grow?

No. While it helps reach, original content that solves a specific problem builds more trust and attracts the right followers.

Q: Can I get 1,000 followers overnight?

Sustainable growth takes time, but it builds a business that lasts. It all depends on your strategy. Can you get 1,000 followers overnight from doing nothing? No, not unless you buy them (which I strongly advise against). But have I seen a strategic piece of content take off and the account gain 10,000 followers overnight? Yes, it can happen!

Q: Do I need a professional camera to grow?

Absolutely not. The “messiness” shouldn’t stop you from showing up. Most viral content today is shot on a smartphone. Focus on good natural lighting and clear audio, these matter far more than having an expensive DSLR.

Q: Should I use a Personal, Business, or Creator account?

To grow a brand, you should switch to a Professional Account (either Creator or Business). You cannot improve what you don’t measure. These account types give you access to Instagram Insights, which are essential for understanding your audience and checking your engagement rates.

Q: Does the time of day I post actually matter?

It matters less than it used to, but it still plays a role. Since engagement in the first hour helps boost your post, aim to post when your specific audience is scrolling. If you target corporate women, that might be 7AM (commute) or 8PM (relaxing). Check your Insights to see when your followers are most active.

Q: Can’t i just buy followers on instagram?

You might be tempted by other “quick fixes” like buying followers or joining engagement pods. But for the sake of your business longevity, avoid these. Buying followers means you get fake “ghost” accounts that will destroy your engagement rate, confuse the algorithm and negatively affect your account forever. I’ve seen it happen! 100 engaged followers who buy your services are worth more than 10,000 followers who don’t care.

Final thoughts

Your goal is to build a sustainable, life-first business. By defining your niche, optimising your profile, and committing to providing value, you will attract a community that resonates with your message.

Still feeling stuck? If you know your subject matter but lack the systems or design skills to package it professionally, check out my services for all the details. I can build your entire content ecosystem so you can stop stressing about the tech and focus on your message.