In the ever-evolving landscape of Instagram, staying ahead requires more than just following the latest trends; it demands a keen understanding of which strategies have become outdated (and harmful), and what innovative approaches can replace them. If growing your audience on Instagram is on your 2025 bingo card, it’s crucial to reassess your Instagram growth hacks to ensure they’re not only effective but also aligned with the platform’s current dynamics. Take it from me, who is continuously growing my account till this day, even gaining 100k+ followers in the last year alone. Whether you’re aiming to learn how to get 1000 followers on Instagram or looking to expand an already substantial audience, avoiding outdated tactics is essential. Are you still relying on these 10 outdated Instagram growth hacks? Keep reading to find out and develop a strong growth plan with my recommended hacks for what to do instead.

#1: Engagement for Engagement’s Sake

Outdated Strategy: Long gone are the days of follow-for-follow threads. And if you’ve been in the influencer industry for a while, you might even remember Facebook communities dedicated to boosting your posts through mindless engagement. These threads include comment threads, like threads, and save threads. More nefariously, many creators have used bots to automate likes, comments, and follows as it was once a popular method to boost visibility. However, Instagram’s algorithms have become adept at detecting inauthentic interactions, often resulting in account suspensions or restrictions.

What to Do Instead: Focus on genuine engagement. Remember, Instagram has evolved and will continue to change. In 2025, growing on Instagram means focusing on content that is highly shareable and Stories that spark conversations in the DMs. You can read about what metrics are going to rule in 2025 in this post. 

Be sure to allocate time daily to interact authentically with your audience—respond to comments, engage with followers’ content, and participate in relevant conversations. When creating content, brainstorm for shareability. This not only fosters a loyal community but also signals to Instagram that your content is valuable to users. This is one of the most reliable Instagram growth hacks that actually work and help you build long-term credibility.

#2: Overusing Hashtags

Outdated Strategy: Flooding posts with 30 generic hashtags was once a go-to method for content discoverability, since Instagram didn’t have any search or SEO capabilities. Now that it does, users search for keywords, not hashtags, to discover content. So the old approach can appear spammy and may not yield the desired engagement. On top of that, packing your caption with a block of hashtags often means you’re not focusing on hyper-specific hashtags that pertain to your post, which will hurt more than help you with SEO. 

What to Do Instead: Opt for a strategic selection of 5-10 relevant hashtags per post. Research and use a mix of popular and niche hashtags that truly align with your content and target audience. Most importantly, you want to treat your hashtags like keywords for your post. In other words, what will your target audience type into the search bar for your post to be pulled up as a result? This targeted approach can enhance discoverability without overwhelming potential followers. If you’re wondering how to get your next 1000 followers on Instagram, focusing on quality hashtags rather than sheer quantity is a crucial step.

#3: Rejecting Reels

Outdated Strategy: Sticking solely to static photo posts and neglecting short-form video formats like Reels is one of the most common growth mistakes. Although Instagram Reels has been around for years now, only 51% of Instagram’s overall content is Reels. (Source: Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2025 benchmark report) For a format that has its own dedicated explore page, this is a large gap that still needs to be filled. It’s no secret that Instagram has also been pushing Reels to the forefront of the algorithm. In 2024, Adam Mosseri announced that Carousel posts with a sound attached will also be shown on the Reels-specific explore tab.

What to Do Instead: Embrace Instagram Reels as a main component of your content strategy. Reels are still heavily favored by Instagram’s algorithm, offering a significant boost in reach and engagement. Creating short, engaging videos with strong hooks can help you tap into new audiences and showcase your creativity. If you want to learn how to get 1000 followers on Instagram quickly, leveraging Reels is one of the best Instagram growth hacks available.

P.S. I’ve got a list of 45 hooks for your Reels that I’m gifting it to you for FREE when you show up to my brand new free workshop. Click right here to save your seat and show up to class to get it!

#4: Not Having a Tailor-Made Content Strategy

Outdated Strategy: Posting sporadically without a consistent schedule can confuse your audience and hinder growth. This has always been true about your content strategy on Instagram. However, one of the most overlooked reasons why aspiring influencers struggle to stay consistent is because they are trying to make someone else’s content strategy work for them. This is why it’s so important to customize a content strategy that works for you and what’s realistic for your goals (and when you want to accomplish them by).

What to Do Instead: Instead of trying to imitate someone else’s content strategy, develop one that works uniquely for you. This is key to developing a consistent posting schedule that aligns with your goals, your target audience, and when they are most active. Many aspiring influencers make the mistake of assuming what works for someone will work for them. Instead, focus on gathering the building blocks (aka all the tools at your disposal) to create a winning content strategy that serves your goals. A well-planned content calendar is one of the most effective Instagram growth hacks for sustained growth. For example, getting your first 1000 followers on Instagram will be very different from growing your 50k-sized account to 51k. 

This is something that I’m adamant about. It’s why I’m working on a brand new class to give you all the necessary building blocks for formulating your content strategy. Click right here to get on the waitlist and you’ll be first in line to save your seat!

#5: Neglecting Instagram Insights

Outdated Strategy: Overlooking Instagram’s analytics tools and not leveraging data to inform your content strategy is a huge mistake content creators make. This goes hand in hand with my point above (Instagram growth hack #4). This is why I’m a huge advocate of not repeating someone else’s strategy, but gaining the necessary ingredients to cook up a winning growth plan for yourself. 

What to Do Instead: Regularly review your Instagram Insights to understand which types of content resonate most with your audience. Pay attention to metrics like reach, engagement, and follower demographics to tailor your strategy effectively. Learning how to get your next 1000 followers on Instagram involves using data-driven decisions to refine your approach continuously.

#6: Letting Follower Count Stop You

Outdated Strategy: Prioritizing the number of followers as the end all be all of your opportunities as a paid content creator. While this isn’t necessarily an Instagram growth hack, it is worth noting that follower count is not a measure of your profitability as a content creator. On one hand, you can be a full-time content creator without having a single follower with UGC. On the other, small content creators with high-quality engagement can command large payouts. (The Influencer Mastercourse has students with under 1000 followers who are locking in paid opportunities.) 

What to Do Instead: Shift your focus away from follower count–whether you’re thinking about monetizing or reprioritizing your measures of success. As an aspiring influencer, re-shift your priorities to how engaged your community is. According to Influencer Marketing Hub’s 2025 benchmark report, brands are focused on creators with high engagement rates instead of high following counts. Remember to encourage meaningful interactions, create content that adds value, and foster a sense of belonging among your audience. This approach leads to higher engagement rates and a more loyal following. One of the best Instagram growth hacks is to focus on engagement over numbers.

#7: Not Utilizing Multiple Format Types

Outdated Strategy: Sticking to only one type of content, such as single-image posts, limits your reach and engagement. Similarly, relying only on Reels alone is not a cohesive strategy that serves your overall growth goals. 

What to Do Instead: Diversify your content by incorporating carousels, Reels, Stories, and Lives. Using multiple formats to fulfill a specific need that your target audience is seeking solutions for is key to attracting and keeping them engaged. Like Instagram growth hack #4, experimenting with different content types that work specifically for your audience is crucial to growing your account in 2025 and beyond. (Do you sense a theme forming here?)

#8: Relying Heavily on Trends

Outdated Strategy: While using trending audio and trending Reels formats can give you a temporary boost, relying solely on trends makes it hard to stand out in the long run. This is something I explained in length in our 2025 Instagram Predictions blog post.

What to Do Instead: Brainstorm and create an original series that you’re known for. Having a recognizable format unique to your brand helps build a loyal following and sets you apart from the competition. Originality is one of the most underrated Instagram growth hacks for long-term success.

I realize this could be a daunting task. That is why it’s so important to go back to the foundational building blocks of building a career on Instagram–something we’ll discuss in length in my brand new class. (Here’s that link again if you’d like to receive an invitation!)

#9: Judging Success By Likes

Outdated Strategy: Measuring success only by likes can be misleading and doesn’t indicate true engagement. Plus, brands are less interested in how many likes your post receives. What they value today is authentic engagement that’s built on trust.

What to Do Instead: Focus on shares and community-building activities like DMs and meaningful conversations in the comments. Prioritizing these deeper interactions leads to stronger audience relationships and long-term growth. If your goal is to get 1000 followers on Instagram quickly, then focusing on shares and meaningful engagement is far more valuable than simply chasing likes.

#10: Viral Tunnel Vision

Outdated Strategy: Focusing too much on going viral but not preparing your profile to convert views is a big no-no. Many content creators chase viral moments without ensuring their profile is optimized for long-term follower retention. This makes their efforts irrelevant because the point of going viral is to grow your followers and increase visibility.

What to Do Instead: Make sure your Instagram bio and pinned posts clearly communicate who you are and what value you offer. Have a compelling call-to-action in your bio, ensure your feed has a cohesive aesthetic, and create content that encourages new visitors to follow and engage beyond just one viral post. It’s one of the most important Instagram growth hacks that turns one-time visitors into loyal followers.

Wrapping Up: Swapping Instagram Growth Hacks for Updated Strategies

By moving away from these outdated Instagram growth hacks and implementing these updated strategies, you’ll be better positioned to achieve sustainable growth on the platform. Remember, learning how to get 1000 followers on Instagram is not just about numbers; it’s about building a genuine and engaged community that values your content. And if there’s a central theme to this post it is that your strategy is unique to you. Focus on gathering the essential building blocks you need to build a winning strategy. Know what you have at your disposal so that you can play around and formulate a feel-good growth plan that works for you. Keep refining your approach, stay updated with Instagram’s evolving algorithm, and focus on strategies that foster real, lasting engagement.