With millions of people using Instagram every day, it's getting harder to stand out from the crowd. If you're not getting any new followers or any likes on your posts you probably need to change some of your Instagram habits.

In this article, we explain how to get followers on Instagram. With a set of tips to help you get more followers.

1. Promote Your Posts on Other Social Media Accounts

Cross Promote Instagram Posts

If you want to learn how to quickly gain Instagram followers, you can start by promoting your posts on other social media platforms. This means sharing your posts on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and possibly even your own website.

Cross-promoting your Instagram posts will only attract more people to your page. Not only does it allow your existing audience to check out your Instagram profile, but it also opens the door for users from other platforms to discover your account.

2. Give Your Profile a Unique Style

Instagram Unique Profile Style

Instagram is a visual website---a user's decision to follow you is based on the quality of the content you post, as well as the way you present it. Posting poorly-shot photos in a completely random order is a surefire way to deter potential followers. You want people to click on your profile and love what they see.

The best way to get more people to hit that Follow button is to establish a style or theme. There are several amazing Instagram themes that you can use as a framework for your own profile, each of which can help you organize your photos. That said, it's important to consider both the quality of your individual posts, as well as your profile's overall look.

If you don't stick with a single style or theme on your profile, you might struggle to amass a steady base of followers. Take @taramilktea (pictured above), for example. She's gained over 1 million followers by posting aesthetically-pleasing photos arranged according to color. As you scroll through her profile, you'll notice that she posts small chunks of pictures with one dominant shade. The result is a beautiful profile that you can look at for hours.

3. Use Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags are the key to getting found on Instagram, and failing to include the right ones in your post can seriously limit your exposure.

When you add a hashtag, you'll not only want to include descriptive hashtags, but you'll want to throw in some ultra-popular hashtags too. This way, you can get the attention of anyone searching for a specific topic, in addition to those who are just scrolling through the feed of a popular hashtag.

But before you decide on which hashtags to use, make sure you've looked at our guide to popular Instagram hashtags that no one understands.

4. Don't Forget About Geotags

You can catch the eyes of local Instagram users by simply adding a location to your posts. When a user searches for a location in the Places tab in Instagram's search bar, your post just might show up in the results.

Not to mention that geotags come in handy when you want to find out if any local events are happening near you. Taking advantage of geotags can help you keep up on local trends, as well as help you gain more Instagram followers.

5. Bulk Up Your Posts' Captions

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that doesn't mean you can always get away with writing single-sentence captions on your Instagram posts. Writing descriptive captions can help your audience learn more about who you are, and even find out something new.

Having a lengthy caption can also make you seem more "human," and less like someone who just mechanically posts pictures. Plus, it's a great way to get your followers to interact with your posts.

6. Post Videos and Reels

Although Instagram started out as a photos-only platform, videos have become increasingly popular. How-tos, funny skits, and adorable cat videos are just some examples of video content that garner thousands of views on Instagram.

Whether you want to post a woodworking tutorial or an intriguing video of wildlife, Instagram gives you the voice to do so. A healthy mix of photo and video content can make your account a lot more engaging and attractive to potential followers.

One of Instagram's newest features, Reels, is another great way to get your account discovered. Instagram Reels are short, 15-second videos that you can add music and special effects to. Other users can find your Reels in their Explore tab, and can even discover your Reel by searching for the song you used.

To learn more about this feature, be sure to read our article explaining what Instagram Reels is.

7. Create Engaging Instagram Stories

In addition to posting videos regularly, you'll also want to consider creating frequent Instagram Stories. Your Story appears at the top of your followers' feeds, and is also clickable from your profile picture on your Instagram page. Stories provide your followers with short updates, and also give them a glimpse into your day-to-day life.

The Story feature is pretty versatile, as it lets you include photos, live videos, or even pre-recorded videos. You can even add interactive polls for your followers, as well as write messages---don't forget to add hashtags to your Story to boost your visibility!

While your Story only lasts for 24 hours, you can still use any archived Stories to create Highlights. This allows you to leave your favorite clips at the top of your profile for as long as you want.

8. Post Regularly

In 2018, Instagram explained to TechCrunch how certain posts wind up on your feed. It turns out that its algorithm prioritizes photos based on recency and relevancy. In other words, Instagram is more likely to include your post in someone's feed if it has been posted recently, and if the user has interacted with similar posts in the past.

You might not be able to control what the user likes, but you can control how often you post. Posting on a daily basis is a quick Instagram trick to help you get more followers.

9. Start an IGTV Series

If you want to take your videos to an even higher level, you should consider creating an IGTV series. IGTV is Instagram's standalone video-only platform, and unlike the Instagram app, it allows you to upload videos up to 10 minutes long. These videos are integrated with the standard Instagram app, so users don't need the IGTV app to view them.

Longform videos give you the chance to show more in-depth content. Whether you decide to go down the informative or entertainment route, longer videos can help you captivate viewers even more. Users can find your IGTV videos on their feeds, but you can also help your videos get found by adding related hashtags to the description.

Learn How to Get Followers on Instagram

Once you've figured out how to get more followers on Instagram, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. And while it may require some adjustment to your posting routine, it will pay off once you see your follower count increase.

To make your Instagram account even more unique, check out these ways to make your Instagram stand out.