Plus, the latest updates from our blog and social media ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
I'll be out of office next week as I attend my first-ever conference, SXSW London. As I write this week's newsletter, I'm getting ready to head to the airport, and as always, I have content on the brain. Over the past few months, I've been refining my approach to content for my personal brand. And now an opportunity has come along to put it to the test. In planning, I've come to be extra grateful for all the work we've been doing at Buffer to make it a one-stop shop for content planning, scheduling, and publishing. My Create space is filled with ideas for all the posts I'll work on throughout the week. My LinkedIn posting schedule is preset, and I feel empowered to take on a whole week of sessions, networking, and content creation. You can follow along on Buffer's Instagram as I'll be doing a Stories takeover on Wednesday. And wherever you are, keep me in your thoughts as I take on this new challenge! |
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| Warmly, Tami & the Buffer team |
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P.S. Our Template Library is now available to all Buffer users! Need some inspiration? Get 80+ ready-to-use prompts and ideas so you're never starting from zero. Get it in Buffer → |
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š What's in this issue – 4 minute read |
š» The latest content on the blog š° Social media news and features to note šŖ Dive into how to get more Instagram followers š¹ The latest from our YouTube channel
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š The latest from the blog |
Discover Bluesky's new Live Now badges Learn the ideal image sizes for all types of Instagram posts Get our list of 17 must-try AI social media content creation tools
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13 Ways to Get More Instagram Followers (Without Chasing Virality) |
There's no single growth trick that guarantees more followers — but there is a sustainable path. We analyzed what actually works (and what just looks good on paper) to bring you 13 strategies for real, organic Instagram growth in 2025. Whether you're starting from scratch or refreshing your strategy, these tips will help you build the kind of audience that sticks around. Here's a quick rundown: - Make your profile searchable — Adding relevant keywords to your name and username improves your chances of showing up in search results. It's low-effort and high-impact.
- Craft a standout bio — Your Instagram bio should clearly tell new visitors who you are, what you offer, and where to go next. A solid CTA and a good link-in-bio tool (like Buffer's Start Page) can do the heavy lifting.
- Cross-promote your handle — Add your Instagram to your website, newsletters, packaging, or even email signatures. People can't follow you if they don't know you're there.
- Post when it matters — Timing affects reach. Our data shows weekday afternoons tend to work best, but Buffer's smart analytics help you find your personal best time to post.
- Start with a strategy — Define your goals (brand awareness, traffic, leads), know your audience, and create content pillars so your posting stays focused and intentional.
- Write captions that earn attention — Strong captions increase watch time and engagement. Need help? Buffer's AI Assistant and caption template library can kickstart your writing flow.
- Use hashtags and keywords to get discovered — Instagram recommends 3–5 hashtags per post. Use a mix of niche and broad ones, and don't forget to add keywords naturally in captions and visuals.
- Monitor what's working — Use Instagram Insights or a tool like Buffer to track top-performing posts, best posting times, and follower growth. Data = clarity.
- Partner with others — Collaborating with aligned creators or small businesses can introduce your profile to new, engaged audiences — especially through Collab posts and Lives.
- Test every content format — Reels offer massive reach, while carousels drive deeper engagement. Use both strategically and repurpose whenever you can.
- Engage in the comments and DMs — Responding builds trust and signals value to the algorithm. Use Buffer's engagement features to stay on top of replies without getting overwhelmed.
- Skip the fake followers — Buying followers hurts your credibility and reach. The algorithm knows. So do your real followers.
- Verification helps — That blue check adds instant credibility, especially if you're building a public-facing brand or business.
What does this mean for your Instagram strategy? - Focus on clarity first — bios, handles, and content pillars matter more than flash.
- Build systems — use tools like Buffer to batch, schedule, and analyze without burning out.
- Don't chase every trend — prioritize content that fits your brand and connects with your people.
- Keep experimenting — the platform evolves, and so should your approach.
Ready to grow on Instagram with less guesswork? Read the full guide. |
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š¤³ What's happening in social? |
Instagram adds support for images in 3:4 aspect ratio LinkedIn introduces more post analytics TikTok introduces new accessibility features
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š "I doubled my follower count with Buffer" |
We pride ourselves on being an excellent tool for creators and business owners to grow on social media — and our users are more than happy to back us up. Reid says: "Doubled [my] follower count and engagement has gone up 4x" Want to skyrocket your growth? Get started with Buffer today! |
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How To Create Your Social Media Calendar From Scratch |
In this video, Kirsti walks through a super simple, step-by-step process to create a social media calendar from scratch. Whether you're a creator, business owner, or social media manager, this guide will help you plan, organize, and stay consistent with your posts. |
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One last thing before you go š |
Take this 2-minute survey to help us make this newsletter exactly what you want it to be. |
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