How to Get More Followers on a Private Instagram Account

Growing a private Instagram account feels like a contradiction, right? You want more followers, but you’ve intentionally put a gate up. This is a unique challenge, but it's totally possible to build a thriving, exclusive community behind that request button. This guide breaks down the actionable strategies you need to attract the right people and convince them your private world is worth joining.

Understand the "Why" Behind Growing a Private Account

Before jumping into tactics, it's important to get your mindset right. Growing a private account is fundamentally different from growing a public one. With a public account, you're broadcasting to everyone. With a private account, you're curating a selective audience. This isn't about chasing vanity metrics, it's about building a tight-knit community, a safe space, or delivering exclusive value to a specific group of people.

The appeal of a private account lies in its exclusivity. It creates a sense of belonging and scarcity. People who request to follow you are making a conscious choice, they’re more invested from the start because they had to take an extra step. This often leads to higher engagement rates and a more loyal following. Every strategy that follows is built on this foundation: make your private account a place people feel lucky to be a part of.

Optimize Your Profile for Discovery and Intrigue

When your account is private, your profile page is your only public-facing advertisement. It has to do all the heavy lifting to convince a stranger that what’s behind the lock is worth seeing. Every element needs to be optimized to create curiosity and clearly communicate your value.

Craft a Magnetic Bio

Your bio isn't just a description, it's a sales pitch. You have 150 characters to persuade someone to hit that "Follow" button. Here's how to make it count:

• State Your Purpose Clearly: Don't be vague. Immediately tell people what the account is about. Examples: "A private diary of my journey learning oil painting," "Exclusive daily stock market insights," or "Behind-the-scenes of building a fashion brand from scratch."
• Create a Hook: Give them a reason to want in. Use language that implies exclusivity. Phrases like, "Join our private community," "Get access to member-only content," or "Request to follow for unfiltered advice" work well.
• Use Keywords: Instagram bios are searchable. Include keywords related to your niche so people looking for those topics can find you. If you’re a private sneaker club, include terms like "sneaker collector" or "rare sneakers."

Choose a Standout Profile Picture

Your profile picture is one of the few visual elements visible to non-followers. It should be clear, high-quality, and instantly recognizable. For a personal brand, a high-resolution headshot works great. For a community or brand account, use a crisp, easy-to-read logo. Avoid blurry, generic, or confusing images. Your profile photo, username, and bio all work together to form a first impression, so make sure they are cohesive.

Leverage Your Username and Name Fields

Your username (@handle) and your Name field are both searchable. Make them work for you.

• Username: Keep it simple, memorable, and relevant to your niche. If you’re building around a brand, use the brand name. If it's a personal account, use your name. Avoid long strings of numbers or confusing spellings.
• Name Field: This is prime real estate! Don't just put your name. Use it to add keywords. For example, instead of just "Jane Smith," use "Jane | Digital Marketing Tips." Someone searching for "digital marketing" on Instagram now has a better chance of discovering your profile.

Content Strategy That Inspires Follow Requests

The single most important factor for growth is the promise of your content. People won't bother sending a follow request unless they believe what's on the other side is valuable, interesting, or entertaining - and not available elsewhere.

Post High-Value, "Behind-the-Curtain" Content

Your private content needs to feel special. This is your core product. Think about what you can offer that people can't get from a public account. Some ideas include:

• Exclusive Tutorials or Guides: A baker could share recipes only available to their followers. A fitness coach can post "follower-only" workout routines.
• Unfiltered Stories and Advice: Share personal experiences, lessons learned, or opinions you wouldn't be comfortable sharing publicly. This builds a deep, personal connection.
• Behind-the-Scenes Access: Show the process of your craft, business, or hobby. This unfiltered view is highly valuable and builds trust and community.
• Early Access & Special Offers: If you sell products or services, give your private followers first dibs on new releases, exclusive discounts, or a chance to sign up before anyone else.

Use Public Platforms to Market Your Private Account

Since your Instagram account is locked, you need to use public channels to generate traffic and drive follow requests. Think of these public platforms as the "trailers" for your private Instagram "movie."

1. Create Teaser Content on Public Social Accounts

The most effective way to do this is with short-form video on platforms like TikTok or on a separate public Instagram account for Reels.

• The Strategy: Create valuable, engaging videos that provide a piece of information but leave the audience wanting more.
• The Call-to-Action (CTA): End your videos with a strong, clear CTA. For example: "I share my exact morning routine step-by-step only for my private Instagram community. Request to follow me @[yourhandle] to get access." Or, "If you want the full list of these five tools, I posted it on my private IG. Send a follow request to see it."

This works because you provide upfront value, establishing your credibility. The CTA feels like a natural next step for anyone who wants to go deeper.

2. Participate Authentically in Online Communities

Find where your target audience hangs out online and become a valuable member of those communities.

• Facebook Groups: Join groups related to your niche. Answer questions and provide helpful advice. Don't spam your link. Instead, put your private Instagram handle in your profile bio. When you deliver value, people will naturally check out your profile.
• Reddit: Subreddits can be a goldmine. Just like with Facebook Groups, focus on being a genuinely helpful community member. People respect genuine expertise.
• LinkedIn: If your niche is professional, engaging on LinkedIn and mentioning your exclusive Instagram community in a relevant post can drive high-quality follower requests.

3. Collaborate with Other Creators

Tap into existing audiences by collaborating with creators in your niche. You can do an Instagram Live on their public account, be a guest on their podcast, or even just get a shoutout. During the collaboration, mention what you offer on your private account and direct people to send a request.

Actively Manage Your Follow Requests

You’ve done the work to generate inbound requests. Now you need to manage them effectively to keep the momentum going.

Be Prompt in Vetting and Accepting Followers

Don't let requests sit for weeks. When someone is interested enough to request access, their curiosity is at its peak. Accepting them quickly shows you’re active and value their interest.

Take a few seconds to vet each profile. You’re building a private community, so it's okay to be selective. A quick glance can usually tell you if an account is a real person versus a bot or spam account. Rejecting obvious fakes maintains the quality and safety of your community space.

Create an Engaging Welcome Experience

Once you accept new followers, don't just leave them hanging. Reel them in right away. First impressions matter, even after they’re inside.

A great way to do this is with a pinned "Start Here" or "Welcome" Story Highlight on your profile. This Highlight could include a few slides that:

• Introduce you or the purpose of the account.
• Explain the type of exclusive content they’ll find.
• Tell them how to get the most out of being a member (e.g., "Don't be shy in the comments!").

This simple step instantly makes new followers feel seen and validates their decision to join. It sets the tone for an engaged two-way relationship.

Final Thoughts

Growing a private Instagram account is a strategic game of quality over quantity. Success comes from perfectly blending public promotion with exclusive, high-value private content. By optimizing your profile, teasing your content on other platforms, and actively cultivating a strong community vibe, you can create a desirable space that the right people are eager to join.

Once you have that engaged community, consistency is everything. You need to keep delivering on the promise that made them follow you in the first place, whether that's through daily Stories, weekly Reels, or other exclusive content. As people who live and breathe social media, we built Postbase to solve this exact problem. Our platform makes it simple to plan your content in a visual calendar, schedule all your posts ahead of time, and engage with your community from one inbox, so you can focus on creating that amazing members-only content without the administrative headache.