Grow Instagram Followers from Scratch – Step-by-Step Guide

Most advice on Instagram growth assumes you already have followers.

But if you’re starting from zero, it can feel impossible to get noticed — and that’s exactly why most tips fail.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to grow your Instagram followers from scratch with simple, actionable strategies that actually work — whether your goal is more engagement, building a personal brand, or turning Instagram into a business asset.

Before we dive in, I’ve also created a free Instagram Growth Plan you can follow step-by-step:

Tools That Help You Grow Your Instagram Followers Faster

Growing your Instagram doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are tools that make the process easier — and help you stay consistent while focusing on what actually works.

Tools I recommend:

• Kajabi – Create and sell guides, downloads, courses or coaching from Instagram traffic
• Flodesk / ConvertKit – Capture leads from your audience and build your email list
• Later / Planoly – Schedule posts to stay consistent without stress

How to Grow Your Instagram Followers Step by Step

I’m sharing how I would grow my Instagram if I were starting from scratch – including what I’d focus on and forget – some of these might surprise you!

Step 1: Define Your Audience

Who Are You Trying to Reach?

We all know the saying “if you try to attract everyone, you attract no-one”.

So our first step in growing on Instagram is working out WHO we want to find us!

• Write down 3–5 types of people you want to attract
• Identify their goals, challenges, and interests
• And then define how you help them.

Your answers here will help guide every piece of content and give every post a purpose!

Step 2: Optimise Your Profile

Build a Profile that Connects & Converts

Think of your profile like your storefront. Here’s how to ensure it connects AND converts.

• Profile Picture – Clear, professional, and recognisable
• Bio – Tell your audience WHAT value you provide and to WHO!
• Call to action – Use the last line in your profile to encourage your audience to take a step closer to buying from you / working with you.
• Link: Now you need to update the link in your bio to send them to the right place! I.e. your freebie, booking chart etc

BONUS TIP!

If you have space – sprinkle in some credibility to your bio

If you have won any awards, are the only supplier of a certain product, have been in business for a milestone number of years, have been in the media, you can add a short detail of this into your profile to boost your credibility.

Step 3: Get Your Profile Found

Did you know your Instagram profile is searchable? That means the words in your name field and bio can help new followers find you — even if they’ve never seen your posts.

• Name field: Include keywords people might search for. Example: Sarah | Small Business Tips
• Bio: Sprinkle relevant terms naturally while showing value. Example: “Simple marketing strategies for Etsy sellers”

This small tweak can dramatically increase profile discoverability and attract followers who are genuinely interested in your content.

Step 4: Post with Purpose

Each piece of content you share should cover one (or more!) of the 4C’s!

• Connection: you! Your voice, face, opinion, videos, stories
• Credibility: results, testimonials, behind-the-scenes
• Contribution: tutorials, tips, educational content
• Call to Action: what do you sell? what do you want your audience to do? Make the invitiation!

BONUS TIP!

Sprinkle in key search terms naturally throughout your captions to get found by more new people.

Step 5: Turn Followers into Customers

Here’s a simple monetisation funnel:

• Freebie → email list
• Nurture sequence → build connection & trust
• Invite to ‘easy yes’ next step → low-ticket offer or discovery call

Tool Examples:

• Kajabi → Sell courses or products (get a 30 day free trial!)

Step 6 – Do more of what works

Case Study: How Kim Grew 400 Instagram Followers in One Month Using Video

When it comes to growing your Instagram in 2026, video content is the fastest way to connect with your audience. It’s the next best thing to meeting them in person, and it positions you as the expert in your niche — quickly and authentically.

The Challenge:
One of my students, Kim, is a graphic designer who struggled with filming herself for Instagram videos. Like many beginners, she felt awkward on camera and worried her content wouldn’t be “good enough.”

The Strategy:
I encouraged Kim to focus on creating high-value content that her audience couldn’t help but share. Instead of obsessing over follower counts, she concentrated on:

• Video-first content to quickly build connection
• Sharing tips, insights, and tutorials that were genuinely helpful
• Using my step-by-step process for filming and posting videos consistently

The Result:
After sticking with the process and showing up on video regularly:

• Kim grew 400 followers in one month
• She received 3 new client enquiries, two of whom hadn’t even checked her website or prices
• Clients reached out saying they loved her Instagram vibe and wanted to work specifically with her — price was not a barrier

The Takeaway:
Filming yourself and sharing authentic, value-packed content can feel intimidating at first — I know, I used to take 30+ takes per video before posting! But the results speak for themselves: video accelerates connection, authority, and client growth.

Ready to Grow Your Instagram Followers Faster?

By now, you have a step-by-step blueprint to grow your Instagram from scratch.

But if you want to accelerate results and save time, using the right tools and strategies is key.

Get My Free Instagram Growth Plan

This guide is packed with practical steps, but if you want all the actions in one place, grab my free growth plan:

• Daily prompts to post strategically
• Engagement hacks to grow followers quickly
• Tools and templates for automation