1. Optimize Your Profile: Before anything else, ensure your Instagram profile is complete and attractive. Make sure to have a clear profile picture, an engaging bio, and a cohesive theme for your content.

2. Post High-Quality Content: High-quality, visually appealing content is more likely to be shared and engaged with. Invest in creating visually stunning images and engaging captions to encourage organic engagement.

3. Use Relevant Hashtags: Utilize popular and relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Research niche-specific hashtags to reach a targeted audience effectively.

4. Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments and messages consistently. Engage with users who have similar interests by liking and commenting on their posts.

5. Post Consistently: Create a posting schedule that keeps your account active yet doesn’t overwhelm your followers’ feed. Make use of analytics tools to determine the best time to post.

6. Utilize IGTV and Instagram Stories: Take advantage of Instagram’s built-in features like IGTV, Reels, and Stories to connect with users on a more personal level while adding variety to your content.

7. Collaborate with Influencers: Reach out to influencers in your niche to collaborate in exchange for exposure to their followers. This can drastically boost your number of followers if done right.

8. Run Instagram Ads: While it may require some investment, running ads targeting users interested in your niche can significantly accelerate your growth process.

9. Hold Contests or Giveaways: Attract attention by holding contests or giveaways with easy-to-follow rules (such as like, comment, share, or follow). This will encourage engagement while generating new followers.

10. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms: If you have a presence on other social media platforms or a blog/website, promote your Instagram account there as well allowing existing fans or followers from those platforms to find you easily.

11. Analyze, Adjust, and Repeat: Make use of Instagram’s built-in analytics to assess which posts perform the best. Learn from those successes and make adjustments accordingly to continually improve your growth strategy.

By following these 11 easy steps, you can gradually increase your Instagram followers and work your way towards the 10k milestone.