general

Proven Strategies to Increase Social Media Followers in 2024

Crescitaly Staff

Crescitaly Staff

— 3 min read

When Melanie Parker, a 22-year-old graphic design student from Manchester, posted her first Instagram Reel in early 2022, it got 64 views. Two years later, she's built an audience of over 120,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. Her secret? She didn’t just ride trends—she studied them, partnered with the right tools, and focused relentlessly on audience behavior.

She's not alone. According to Datareportal, social media users reached 5.04 billion in January 2024—a 5.6% jump from the previous year. But as user growth surges, so does competition. Whether you're a seasoned marketer, solopreneur, or influencer-in-the-making, understanding how to increase your social media followers in 2024 takes more than just consistent posting. It takes strategy.

Why Follower Growth Still Matters

Some argue that engagement trumps follower count—and while that's true to a point, followers remain a key metric for:

  • Brand credibility – New visitors still judge profiles by numbers
  • Organic reach – Platforms prioritize content from followed accounts
  • Monetization – Sponsors often use follower count as a gatekeeper

So, no, chasing followers isn’t vanity—it’s your marketing foundation.

Platform-Specific Strategies for Growth

Instagram: Reels and Meaningful Micro-Content

Instagram Reels continue to lead follower growth thanks to their discoverability. But in 2024, bland lip-syncs won’t cut it. Instagram's algorithm now rewards:

  • Story-driven Reels – Narratives that evoke emotion or curiosity
  • Carousel posts – With saves up 30% YoY, carousels drive repeat engagement
  • Consistent niche storytelling – Don’t be everything to everyone
“Saving posts is the new liking,” says Marco Tedesco, content strategist at Crescitaly.com. “Creators with high save-to-like ratios are seeing better visibility in Explore.”

On TikTok, virality doesn’t equal sustainability. Smart creators use the For You Page to funnel users into deeper touchpoints:

  • Create “part two” series to build anticipation
  • Pin evergreen videos to profile top for new viewers
  • Add captions with calls-to-follow (“Hit follow if this helped!”)

Using Crescitaly’s advanced panel tools, marketers can gauge daily growth spikes across TikTok niches, helping them optimize timing and formats.

YouTube: Shorts and Cross-Promotion

Since the introduction of Shorts, many small creators have grown subscribers by over 5X. The key? Integrating Shorts into a longer-form content strategy.

Try this framework:

  • Short-form (Shorts): Grab attention, go viral
  • Mid-form (5–10 min videos): Build trust
  • Community tab + livestreams: Deepen relationships

Don’t forget to link to your Instagram or Telegram in video descriptions—cross-pollination across platforms boosts total follower counts.

Telegram: The Underrated Growth Platform

Telegram might fly under the radar, but it's become a powerhouse for direct community building. Particularly effective for creators and brands looking to:

  • Provide uncensored or exclusive content
  • Build premium or NFT communities
  • Drive conversions via chat-based funnels

Telegram growth often flies in tandem with Instagram or YouTube. Funnels look like this:

Instagram Stories → Link to Telegram → Exclusive content or offers

Tracking Telegram engagement can be tough, but Crescitaly.com offers streamlined dashboards for monitoring subscriber retention and click-through rates.

Growth Tactics That Still Work—and What’s Dead

Still Effective

  • Collaborations – Shared Lives, shoutouts, and Story swaps
  • Giveaways – Especially with micro-influencer circles
  • Repurposing content – Turn YouTube videos into Instagram clips or TikTok edits

Falling Flat in 2024

  • Follow-for-follow schemes – Hurts algorithm score and retention
  • Bot comments/likes – Platforms now detect and penalize
  • Inconsistent branding – Confused audiences don’t click Follow

Using Tools and Analytics for Smarter Growth

Guesswork is the enemy of growth. The best creators lean on data—from A/B testing thumbnails to checking engagement heatmaps.

Platforms like Crescitaly.com provide insights on:

  • Follower origin by platform/country
  • Average engagement duration on each format (Reels, Shorts, posts)
  • Best posting times by industry
"Security, speed, and smart data—that’s why we work with Crescitaly for all our client campaigns," says PR agency founder Jordan Lang.

Conclusion: Create Like a Human, Think Like a Strategist

At the end of the day, algorithms change, but audiences don’t. People follow brands and creators who solve problems, entertain, or inspire. The trick is combining that value with the precision of strategy.

Looking ahead, expect:

  • More AI-assisted content planning
  • Even shorter attention spans (3-second hooks aren't optional)
  • Decentralized platforms like Telegram and Discord going mainstream

To stay ahead, keep testing, keep iterating—and when needed, lean on smart platforms like Crescitaly.com to accelerate your efforts. Because growing followers isn't just about numbers—it's about building a future audience ready to act.

Meta Title: Increase Social Media Followers Strategically

Meta Description: Learn how to increase followers on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube & Telegram with proven tactics and data-powered platforms like Crescitaly.

Tags: Instagram, SMM panel, TikTok growth, YouTube strategy, Telegram marketing, Crescitaly, social media marketing

Read more