Instagram has changed — a lot. Yet, if you search for “Instagram growth tips,” you’ll still find outdated advice recycled from 2018, clickbait-style “growth hacks,” or vague posts that don’t reflect how the platform actually works today.
That’s why this guide exists. We’re going to debunk the most common Instagram growth myths still floating around in 2025, and show you what actually drives reach, engagement, and followers now. If you’re serious about growing your presence—whether you’re a brand, a creator, or a marketer—this is the clarity you need.
Let’s set the record straight.👇
Why Instagram Growth Advice Needs Constant Updating
Instagram isn’t a static platform. Its algorithm, discovery mechanics, and feature priorities are constantly evolving—often in response to user behavior, content trends, and even competitor platforms like TikTok or Pinterest.
What worked in 2020 (like 30 hashtags and daily grid posts) might now stall your growth or trigger spam filters. Tools like the “swipe-up” link in Stories are gone. Engagement pods are being flagged. Even the Explore page is smarter—it’s not just about likes anymore, it’s about content relevance, watch time, and meaningful interactions.
If you’re not adapting, you’re falling behind.
💬 Quick fact: Instagram updated its algorithm 12+ times between 2023 and 2025. Most of those changes impacted visibility rules, engagement rankings, and discovery signals.
And the first thing you need to know? Not all advice ages well. Let’s dig into what doesn’t work anymore—and what still delivers results.
Myth #1: “Hashtags Are the Key to Discovery”
Why This Is Outdated
There was a time when you could slap 30 popular hashtags under your post and gain a few hundred likes or followers. But Instagram’s discovery system is far more sophisticated now. It doesn’t just rely on hashtags — and actually, overusing irrelevant or spammy tags can hurt your reach.
In 2025, Instagram prioritizes content relevance, behavior history, and keywords in your caption text, not just in your hashtags. Simply put: search on Instagram now behaves more like Google. The algorithm looks at context, not just tags.
What Actually Works
Instead of cramming hashtags, focus on:
- Writing SEO-optimized captions that use natural keywords related to your niche
- Using 5–10 targeted hashtags instead of 30 random ones
- Adding alt text (under “Advanced Settings”) with relevant keywords for accessibility and search
You’re not trying to trick the algorithm—you’re trying to help it understand who your content is for.
Myth #2: “You Have to Post Every Day to Grow”
The Origin of This Belief
This advice dates back to the “quantity over quality” era. Back in 2019–2021, the general rule was: post more, grow more. And while frequent posting can help, it’s no longer the most efficient use of your time.
Instagram in 2025 values engagement per post, not just post frequency. Daily posting with weak content will hurt you more than it helps.
The 2025 Reality
Today, accounts that post 3–4 high-quality pieces per week—especially when those include strong Reels or carousels—see better reach and follower growth than those that post low-effort daily content.
💡 Accounts with higher Reels watch time often outperform daily posters with weaker content.
So focus on making fewer posts that are strategic, binge-worthy, and worth saving. Think: tutorials, transformations, story-based Reels, or educational carousels.
Myth #3: “Buying Followers Will Ruin Your Account”
The Debate and The Nuance
This myth has roots in truth—but it’s not black and white. Yes, buying fake followers (especially from shady providers) can damage your engagement rate, trigger shadowbans, and make your account look suspicious to brands.
But that doesn’t mean every form of paid follower or engagement strategy is harmful.
The Truth in 2025
When done intentionally through reputable, vetted platforms like Twicsy, buying followers or likes can be part of a short-term social proof strategy. This can help newer accounts appear more credible—which is important when trying to attract organic followers or get collabs.
However:
- Bought followers rarely engage, so your engagement rate can suffer
- Instagram’s algorithm now factors in engagement-to-follower ratio
- It should never replace a real content or engagement strategy
Best practice? If you use this tactic at all, keep it limited to a small % of your total audience, and only pair it with authentic, high-performing content. Think of it like seasoning, not the main course.
Myth #4: “Reels Are Just a Trend”
Debunking the Reels Fatigue Narrative
Yes, Reels are everywhere. And yes, some users have “Reels fatigue.” But let’s be real: Reels are still the #1 discovery tool on Instagram in 2025.
Instagram has confirmed that Reels reach more non-followers than any other format. So if you’re trying to grow, skipping Reels is like ignoring SEO if you run a blog.
What Works with Reels in 2025
- Hook early: First 3 seconds should show action, a bold claim, or a visual surprise
- Leverage trends smartly: Use trending audio, but tie it into your niche
- Create mini-series: “Part 1, Part 2” formats keep people watching and build followers fast
- Prioritize saves: Reels that are useful—like tutorials, recaps, or step-by-steps—get saved more and reach further
Myth #5: “Only Influencers Can Grow Quickly”
The Belief
There’s a common (and demotivating) idea that unless you’re famous, verified, or a full-time creator, growth is out of reach.
What’s Changed
In 2025, discovery is driven by interest-based signals, not follower count. That means anyone who consistently posts relevant, valuable content can grow—even with zero connections or followers.
Instagram’s AI-driven Explore and Reels systems are constantly matching content to viewer behavior. If your content hits the right interest trigger, it gets pushed—even if you have under 500 followers.
Myth #6: “Engagement Pods Are a Smart Shortcut”
The Premise
Engagement pods are groups where users like and comment on each other’s posts in exchange for mutual boosts. Sounds helpful, right?
The 2025 Reality
Instagram’s algorithm now actively tracks reciprocal engagement loops. If you repeatedly engage with the same set of accounts in unnatural patterns, your posts may be deprioritized—and your entire group can get flagged.
Pods may work temporarily, but they’re not sustainable. They can also mess up your analytics by giving you a false sense of what content is performing well.
Better alternatives:
- Co-create Reels with other small creators
- Host joint Lives or giveaways
- Start public Broadcast Channels for group engagement
These methods create real interaction without tripping the algorithm.
Myth #7: “The Swipe-Up Feature is Essential”
Why This Is Outdated
The old “10K followers = swipe-up link” strategy hasn’t been relevant since 2021. Instagram replaced swipe-up with link stickers—and now everyone can use them, regardless of follower count.
What to Focus on Instead
- Use Story CTAs that make people want to click (“See how we did it 👉” or “Grab the free checklist here ⬇️”)
- Combine link stickers with value framing—tell users why the link matters
- Use multi-link tools like Beacons, Stan, or Linktree to track traffic and simplify your offers
Bonus Myth: “AI Tools Will Do the Work for You”
AI can help—but it can’t replace your personality. In 2025, Instagram’s algorithm can detect low-effort, repetitive captions, especially if they’ve been generated without human editing.
Auto-generated hashtags, recycled caption templates, and robotic voiceovers won’t cut it. What the algorithm favors now is relevance, authenticity, and watch time—all things that require a human touch.
Use AI for ideas and drafts, but make sure the final output reflects your brand voice.
What Actually Works in 2025: A Recap
If you want to grow on Instagram in 2025, here’s what consistently works:
- Reels with storytelling and niche-specific education
- Captions with clear keywords that signal relevance to Instagram Search
- Niche-driven content that speaks to a clear audience
- Cross-promotion to TikTok, Pinterest, and even email lists
- Collaborations with real creators in your space
- Occasional boosts (like buying likes via Twicsy) to help visibility—but always paired with organic engagement
It’s not about gaming the system—it’s about understanding how it works and building your strategy around that.
Conclusion:
Instagram is still one of the best platforms for visibility and community building in 2025—but only if you keep your strategy up to date.
Avoid the outdated tricks. Ignore the shortcuts. And definitely don’t let recycled myths from five years ago hold you back. Focus on creating content that connects—and use every tool available (the smart way) to get it seen.
This post may contain affiliate links. Financial Panther has partnered with AwardWallet and CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Financial Panther, AwardWallet, and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact on how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies, or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
More Recommended Ebike/Scooters
Check out these other ebikes and scooters I've reviewed:
- Urban Arrow Ebike – Last year, I made one of the largest purchases I’ve ever made – I bought a $9,000 electric cargo bike from Urban Arrow. In my Urban Arrow review, I will discuss what it is and why I decided to buy this bike, as well as discuss how impactful a bike like this can be on your journey to financial independence.
- Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Ebike – The Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is a fat-tire ebike that I’ve had the pleasure of riding for a while now. It has amazing power, great looks, and awesome range. If you’re looking for a great fat-tire ebike that offers a lot for the price, the Troxus Explorer Step-Thru is definitely one for you to consider. Check out my Troxus Explorer Step-Thru Review.
- Hovsco HovBeta Ebike – The HovBeta is a folding ebike with great specs and a lot of interesting features, and importantly, it’s sold at a good price point. I’ve had a blast commuting with it and using it to do deliveries with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Check out my Hovsco HovBeta Ebike Review.
- Vanpowers Manidae Ebike – The Vanpowers Manidae is a fat tire ebike that I’ve been riding as my primary winter commuting bike and have also been using it to do food delivery with apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. After clocking in a decent number of miles with this ebike, I wanted to write a post sharing what my experience with the Vanpowers Manidae ebike has been like. Check out my Vanpowers Manidae Review.
- Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding EBike Review – A Great Value Folding Ebike – The Sohamo S3 Step-Thru Folding Ebike is an entry-level folding ebike that offers a lot of value for the price point. I’ve been riding the Sohamo S3 for a while now, putting the bike through its paces, and I have to say, this bike has exceeded all of my expectations. Check out my Sohamo Review.
- KBO Flip Ebike – The KBO Flip is an excellent bike. I’ve had a great time riding it and think it’s a versatile bike that can be used for a lot of purposes and can fit a variety of lifestyles. It’s worked out great for me as a general commuter bike and as a food delivery bike. Check out my KBO Flip Review.
- Hiboy P7 Commuter Ebike – The Hiboy P7 is an excellent electric commuter bike that’s offered at an affordable price point. The range and speed of this bike are both very good, so you won’t have any trouble getting anywhere you need to go with it. As a food delivery vehicle, this is also good – with how much range it offers, you’ll be able to work all day on a single charge. Check out my Hiboy P7 Commuter Electric Bike Review.
- Himiway Escape Ebike – The Himiway Escape is an interesting bike for anyone looking for a moped-style ebike. If you’re a gig economy worker, the Himiway Escape is particularly interesting and it’s possible to think of it as an investment, especially if you can opt to do deliveries with the Himiway versus using a car. It’s not cheap, but you can definitely make your money back when you compare the mileage you’ll put on your car versus using an ebike. Check out my Himiway Escape Bike Review.
- Espin Sport Ebike – The Espin Sport is a good ebike for someone who is looking for an ebike that feels and rides more like a regular bike. There are many ebikes that are really only bikes in name. In reality, they’re basically electric mopeds. The Espin Sport, by contrast, is a bike you could probably ride without the battery and you’d feel like you’re just riding a regular bike. Check out my Espin Sport Review.
- Varla Eagle One Scooter – The Varla Eagle One is an excellent scooter that can make sense for a lot of people. It can work as a primary mode of transportation. You can use it to work on gig economy apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. And it can also be a recreational vehicle if you’d prefer to use it for that. Check out my Varla Eagle One Review.
- Varla Falcon Scooter – The Varla Falcon is an excellent scooter that offers a good amount of power at a lower price point compared to more powerful scooters. It’s not exactly an entry-level scooter, nor is it a high-powered scooter. I think it fits somewhere in-between those two categories – an intermediate scooter if I had to give it a category. Check out my Varla Falcon Review.
- Hiboy S2 Scooter – The Hiboy S2 is an excellent entry-level commuter scooter that's perfect for someone looking to save some money in transportation costs and improve their commute. Check out my Hiboy S2 Review.
- Hiboy S2R Scooter – The Hiboy S2R is one of the more interesting electric scooters I’ve been able to test out. It’s not a high-powered scooter, but for an everyday transport option, it’s very useful, especially given some of the unique features that it has. Indeed, for the price, the Hiboy S2R might be the best value scooter I’ve used. Check out my Hiboy S2R Review.
- Fucare H3 Scooter – The Fucare H3 is a fun scooter and I’ve enjoyed testing it out. For a daily commuter or quick trips or errands, the Fucare H3 is probably the scooter I’ll use. It’s portable and easy to maneuver, so it’s just easier to take on the road when I need it. Check out my Fucare H3 Scooter Review.
More Recommended Investing App Bonuses
For additional investing app bonuses, be sure to check out the ones below:
- M1 Finance ($100) – This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account. Check out my M1 Finance Referral Bonus – Step-By-Step Guide.
- SoFi Invest ($25) – SoFi Invest is an easy brokerage account bonus that you can earn with just a few minutes of work. Use my SoFi Invest referral link, fund your SoFi Invest brokerage account with just $10 and you’ll get $25 of free stock. I also have a step-by-step guide for the SoFi Invest referral bonus.
- Webull (20 free stock shares) – Webull's current promotion gives you 20 free shares valued between $3-$3,000 each if you open an account using my referral link. Here’s a guide I wrote about how to earn your free shares using Webull.
- Moomoo (15 free stocks) – Moomoo is a free investing app currently offering 2 different referral bonuses if you open an account using a referral link. Read my Moomoo referral bonus guide for more information.
- Robinhood (1 free stock) – Robinhood gives you a free stock valued between $2.50-$225 if you open an account using my referral link.
- Public (1 free stock) - Public gives you a free stock valued between $3-$70 if you open an account using my referral link.
More Recommended Bank Account Bonuses
If you’re looking for more easy bank bonuses, check out the below options. These bonuses are all easy to earn and have no fees or minimum balance requirements to worry about.
- Upgrade ($200) – Upgrade is a free checking account that’s currently offering a $200 referral bonus if you open an account and complete a direct deposit. These bonus terms are easy to meet, so it’s well worth doing this bonus as soon as you can. Here’s a post I wrote with more details: Upgrade $200 Referral Bonus – Step By Step Directions.
- Ally Bank ($100) – Of all the banks out there, Ally is, without a doubt, my favorite. At the moment, Ally is offering $100 to customers who open an eligible Ally account and meet the requirements. Here are the step-by-step directions to earn your Ally Bank referral bonus.
- Fairwinds Credit Union ($175) – Fairwinds Credit Union is offering a referral bonus for users that sign up using a referral link. Fairwinds has no fees or minimum balance, so this is a particularly easy bonus to earn. Since this is a smaller credit union, my gut instinct tells me this offer won’t be around long, so if you’re in a position to meet the bonus requirements, grab this bonus before it’s gone. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Fairwinds Credit Union bonus.
- Chime ($100) - Chime is a free bank account that offers a referral bonus if you use a referral link and complete a direct deposit of $200 or more. In practice, any ACH transfer into this account triggers the bonus. This bonus is easy to earn and posts instantly, so you’ll know if you met the requirements as soon as you move money into the account. I wrote a step-by-step guide on how to earn your Chime referral bonus that I recommend you check out.
- US Bank Business ($900) – This is a fairly easy bank bonus to earn, since there are no direct deposit requirements. In addition, you can open the Silver Business Checking account, which comes with no monthly fees. Check out how to earn this big bonus here.
- GO2Bank ($50) - GO2Bank is an easy bank bonus that I recommend people take advantage of if they have an easy way of meeting the direct deposit requirement. I like that it’s easy to open the account and that the bonus pays out quickly. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your GO2Bank $50 referral bonus.
- Current ($50) – Current is a free fintech bank that’s offering new users a $50 referral bonus after signing up for an account using a referral link. Current is an easy bonus to earn and also gives you access to three savings accounts that pay you 4% interest on up to $2,000. That means you can put away up to $6,000 earning 4% interest. That’s very good and makes Current an account I recommend to everyone. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to earn your Current Bank bonus.
- Novo Bank ($40) - Novo bank is a free business checking account that’s currently offering a $40 bonus if you open a Novo business checking account using a referral link. In addition to being a good bank bonus, Novo is also a good business checking account. It has no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements and operates a good app and website. Indeed, it’s the business checking account I currently use for this blog. Check out my post on how to easily open a Novo account.
- Varo ($25) – Varo is a free fintech banking app similar to Chime or Current. It’s currently offering a $25 bonus to new users that open a new Varo account with a referral link. The bonus for this bank is very easy to meet, all you need to do is spend $20 within 30 days of opening your Varo account. Check out my step-by-step guide to learn how to earn this bonus.
Kevin is an attorney and the blogger behind Financial Panther, a blog about personal finance, travel hacking, and side hustling using the gig economy. He paid off $87,000 worth of student loans in just 2.5 years by choosing not to live like a big shot lawyer.
Kevin is passionate about earning money using the gig economy and you can see all the ways he makes extra income every month in his side hustle reports.
Kevin is also big on using the latest fintech apps to improve his finances. Some of Kevin's favorite fintech apps include:
- SoFi Money. A really good checking account with absolutely no fees. You'll get a $25 referral bonus if you open a SoFi Money account with a referral link, and an additional $300 if you complete a direct deposit.
- 5% Savings Accounts. I'm currently getting 5.24% interest on my savings through a company called Raisin. Opening a Raisin account takes minutes to complete, it's free, and all of your funds are FDIC-insured. I explain how it works, why I'm now using it to store my emergency fund and any other cash savings I have, and why I recommend everyone check it out in this review.
- US Bank Business. US Bank is currently offering new business customers a $900 signup bonus after opening a new account and meeting certain requirements.
- M1 Finance. This is a great robo-advisor that has no fees and allows you to create a customized portfolio based on your risk tolerance. You also get $100 for opening an account.
- Empower. One of best free apps you can use to monitor your portfolio and track your net worth. This is one of the apps I use to track my financial accounts.
Feel free to send Kevin a message here.
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