Yesterday it finally happened…

I hit 2k followers on my Instagram account @batmom8503

I’ve been celebrating inside since it happened yesterday!

Instagram has been the hardest social media platform for me to grow on. That’s because Instagram requires the most time and effort of all the social media platforms.

Instagram is one of my favorite tools to use as a blogger. It’s amazing for networking, securing brand deals, driving FREE traffic to your blog and it’s an amazing way to stay connected with your audience via photography.

The first 1000 followers seemed to come so easily. I was motivated to hit 1000 followers because I had just made the decision to become a full time blogger..content creator, influencer.. look, I made the decision to use social media and blogging to make a living while working a day job. (Call it what you want 🤣)

I was motivated to reach the first 1000 instagram followers to show myself this was a possibility. To show myself this was a “doable” for me.

I hit 1000 Instagram followers over Summer🙌🏾by doing so I broke the IG’s algorithm.

Fun fact: when you break the algorithm you comments show up first.. even on your favorite celebrities.. you don’t need the infamous blue check.. just break the algorithm 🤷🏾‍♀️😎

I outlined exactly how to break algorithm in a post titled “Instagram growth tip: “Doin’ what She likes” The Blake Shelton Method

The first 1000 instagram followers were so instrumental to my career as a blogger and influencer.

In order to be taken seriously by brands when pitching yourself for sponsorship you need at least 1000 followers on a social media platform.

Starting out I’m going to be honest.. it’s very rare for brands to come to you.

You will be presenting yourself and your content to brands starting out and you will need numbers to show that you take what you are doing seriously.

Once you have 1000 followers you are considered a “micro influencer” meaning brands see that you have influence over a small audience.

Once you hit 5k and 10k (organically) that’s the big leagues 🙌🏾

When you reach 1000 followers you have leverage when approaching brands for Sponsorship and brand collaboration.

The first 1000 followers for me, meant I could truly call myself a blogger (content creator, influencer ) because I had an active and engaged audience that I had grown organically.

This gave me confidence as a small blogger pitching to brands. The first 1000 was amazing and it only took me 8 weeks..

I had an audience of 532 already following my instagram for vegan food photos. so honestly the trek to 1000 wasn’t as gigantic as it felt😅

(It was the learning process causing me the growing pains)

The journey to 2000 Instagram followers..now that has been a looong journey so here are my hacks to help you hit 1000, 2000, 3000, whatever thousand a lot faster than I did.

Instagram growth hacks

“The Gary Vee $1.80 method”

In the July I started to really take to kick my instagram game up and reach 2k followers.

I did not want continue implementing old tactics that I used in my first journey.

I relied heavily on giveaways the first time I was trying to reach 1k. I noticed however a lot of followers would unfollow after the giveaways and I didn’t like that at all.. so I wanted to rely on a more organic approach to growing my instagram and I was listening the Gary Vee Podcast and he mentioned a method of growth

“Give your .2 cent 90 times a day”

Basically head to the search bar of Instagram and search you the top creators in your niche, the top hashtags in your niche

actively consume the content and leave comments.

When you do this you are not only exposing yourself to the top content being created in your niche, you are being an active participant in your community “niche”

Also it’s a bonus for people scrolling to see an authentic comment!

When people see authenticity they naturally want to see where this comment is coming from, who wrote it, they check out your profile and they may enjoy the content you create and they will hit “follow”

Organic growth is the best growth.

Whenever I’m actively growing I apply the Gary Vee method. I don’t have time to apply it 90 minutes a day.. (which is why I only have 2000 followers…) I only apply this method maybe an hour a day when I’m actively focusing on just Instagram. This is what is responsible for a lot of my growth.

15 minutes prior to posting and 15 minutes after posting network with those who commented and liked your Instagram post.

Before you post on your own feed. Take some time to look at see who has been commenting or content.

Scroll the feed and really connect with those you follow and those that follow you.@coffeeandcreamroses is one of my favorite instagrams to follow. She post stunning photos of her life and ROSES😍 I love flowers so I commented.

It’s just 15 minutes of really showing other creators you appreciate what they make. It feels good.

Not only that it shows others you’re active and online.

When you start commenting that shows yours active! People want to engage with active followers.

Be sincere

Don’t be fake.. people will notice that. When commenting those 15 minutes be you! Use your authentic voice be sincere.

It takes time to grow!

As I stated before when I’m actively trying to grow. I’m active! I increase my posting from 1 time a day to 3 maybe 4 times a day depending on how much I’m trying to grow. The more you post the more eyes you get your profile. People may see your post but that doesn’t guarantee interaction with your profile.

In order to increase your followers you need to make post that are engaging enough to get clicks on to your profile.

The more post you have, the more hashtags you use, the more hashtags you use, the more eyes you potentially attract 👀.. I think you get it.. More! More! More’ when you want to grow post more! Be on the platform MORE!

When I’m growing I dedicate 1-2 of my social media days strictly to Instagram so thats planning 3-4 post and engaging before and after each post is posted.

Always reply and and like those you comment on your post.

I take the time to go back and engage with everyone who has taken time to write to you and engage. Think about it.. if you want a million followers but you can’t even bother to reply back to 900 you have it’s pointless!

People are following you because you add some value to their lives.

If you have touched them enough to comment.. then be a decent human and write back (when time allows.. I know people have jobs etc but I would say within the hour comment to your people or go leave some love on their post)

When maintaining numbers.. you only have to post once a day.

Instagram growth and maintenance is based on consistent posting schedules. If you’re just trying to keep the numbers you have. Post once a day. Make sure you are engaged before and after the post. There’s freedom in just having to maintain one post a day🙌🏾

Check your insights!

When you log into your Instagram app click those 3 little lines and learn about your Instagram life!

Insights are your friend!

Insights tell you what days are the best days to post.

Insights also tell you what times are the best times to post!

This helps when you’re a growing and maintaining that you don’t waste your time. You can know your post is going to make the post impact if you post it at the right time.

You can see the age.. insights spill the tea. The more you know your insights the easier it is to create content for your audience.

Don’t cry over days you don’t grow.

My best days for social media are the weekends.. at first I didn’t know that and I would look at my numbers and cry

Don’t cry when you don’t grow, there are several reasons you aren’t growing. It just might not be your day! Literally.. Some days you’re not going to grow no matter what you do because statistically there are just days that social media has a lul.. so don’t feel bad.. dry those tears.

Your insights also tell you what content audience prefers to consume.

I love quotes! I would post a million quotes a day.. but my audience prefers when I post pictures of my life with captions.. so that’s what I do🤷🏾‍♀️

Bots are real

If you wake up one day and you’ve lost a ton of followers.. it’s The bots. From time to time Instagram will do a bot sweep and it removes spam accounts, weave accounts all that! 3-5 percent (maybe higher) of your following will be bots so please don’t be upset when your numbers dip for any reason. Blame it on the bots and move on with your day.

Don’t just post for the sake of posting.

Post with intention. Take time and post when you genuinely want to connect. IG is another tool to interact with your audience. Personally I use the hashtag #lifethroughmylens because I’m showing my followers my life through my lens..Good, bad or ugly this is my life. My audience knows I’m human so there maybe days I don’t post on Instagram because I genuinely have nothing to share 🤣 or there’s days I need a break and that’s fine.. when I come back I know my instagram audience will be there.

Cultivate that relationship with your audience!

It doesn’t have to be professional it does have to be pretty!

I don’t have a photographer.. I don’t even have a camera 🤷🏾‍♀️ I have an iPhone 6 and great editing apps, a ring light etc.. I have tools.. 😂 use what you have to create the look you are trying to achieve.

Always have a call to action

When you’re posting always direct your audience to do something “comment below.. let me know how your day is” (click link in bio)

That increases the likelihood of an organic follow if someone happens to scroll on your feed.

Bonus how to get free blog traffic from Instagram Get a linktree!Linktree keeps all you links neat and tidy when people click on your profile. It all gives you the ability to have multiple links instagram

You can beat the system!! I have links to everything I want to link to and all I need to do is give a call to action to my audience and direct them to which links to use. It’s brilliant!

Last month linktree accounted for 19 clicks!

Linktree helps your Instagram look more sleek and professional.

I’m a believer in all blog traffic ads up in the long run!

In 9 months 620 views have come from instagram so my instagram audience is very valuable to me. Every view and follow counts when you grow them organically.

I know this is a lot to digest but these are the hack, tips and maneuvers I have used to grow my instagram to over 2000 followers🙌🏾 it took me forever but if you implement these techniques you’ll grow at much more rapid pace than I did.

Good luck and let me know if when you hit your first 1000 and beyond!

Also let me know what tips work for you in general!

Thank you for reading