The Follow/Unfollow method isn’t new — but when done right, it’s still one of the most effective growth tactics out there. At Flock Social, we’ve refined this into a subtle, strategic flow that mirrors real user behavior.

How it works, step-by-step

You connect your Account: The first step is logging in to your Instagram account via Flock Social dashboard.
You set the Targets: Start by choosing accounts and hashtags your ideal audience already follows or engages with. Our Targeting Suggestions can help during the initial setup.
We engage with real users: We follow users who follow or engage with your Targets in small batches. Once the account is warmed up, the activity increases.
They check you out: You follow them. You appear in their notifications. You view their stories. They check you out. If your profile is optimized, many will follow you back!
We Unfollow: After a few days (typically 2–4), we’ll unfollow them…all. This keeps your following-to-follower ratio looking fresh.

Important note: Everyone you followed before joining is automatically whitelisted to ensure they’re never unfollowed when this stage kicks in!

Why it works

When someone gets a new follower, chances are they’ll take a quick look at who it is. If your profile feels relevant or interesting to them, they’re more likely to hit that follow button and stick around.

At the end of the day, you end up attracting people who are actually into the type of content you're presenting to the public. Over time, your engagement becomes genuine since your audience starts to reflect your niche more naturally. That’s why this approach works so well.

What about limits?

Instagram puts daily action limits in place. Our system mimics human behavior to keep you under the radar by:

Gradual ramp-up of activity
Daily limits adjusted based on your account age/activity
Follows and unfollows spaced out in shifts

Final thoughts

There’s a reason the follow/unfollow method is still around. It works when you don’t treat it like a numbers game.

What makes it click is the intent behind it, since you’re not following random accounts hoping for luck. You’re actually showing up in front of people who already engage with content similar to yours, giving them a real reason to follow back. Flock Social just handles the heavy lifting.