Yet another post on social media– I know but lately there’s been a lot of discontent about TikTok and Instagram accounts and followers so thought it was time to do another post lol. We’ve all been there. You create a fresh Instagram page. You’re feeling hopeful. You post something half-decent. And… crickets. Two likes. One follower. Your cat unfollows you.
And so the spiral begins:
Should I post more?
Should I dance?
Should I chase the algorithm like a desperate ex at 3am?
No. You shouldn’t.
Follower count is the least useful metric when you’re starting. In fact, obsessing over it is like judging a book how many people picked it up, not how many actually read it and got something from it.
The truth is authentic Instagram growth isn’t about going viral or posting five times a day. It’s about who you’re speaking to—and what you’re saying to them.
Let’s Get to the Point (aka: What Authentic Instagram Growth Really Looks Like).
The first question isn’t “how do I get more followers?”
It’s “who am I talking to, and what do I want them to know, feel, or do?”
Most people skip this. They jump straight into the reels and trending audio and wonder why it’s not sticking.
Social media works when you give people something worth paying attention to—something useful, interesting, helpful, funny, honest, or different. Not for everyone. Just your people. (Do you know who they are?)
Be Real. Not Polished.
You don’t need to act like a brand that’s got a PR team and a six-figure photo budget. You need to be honest. Are you showing up as yourself? Or trying to look like someone you think you should be online?
People can smell fake. What cuts through now isn’t perfection—it’s connection. No one’s craving more curated content. They want real voices, real stories, and people who say something that matters.
Step Back From the Numbers
This is not your life’s purpose. It’s a tool. It can help build your business, grow your audience, and open doors—but it is not the business itself.
Don’t let an app decide how you feel about your progress. Numbers come and go. Algorithms change weekly. What matters is: are you creating content that feels meaningful to you and useful to your audience?
If yes, keep going.
So… How Do You Actually Grow?
Let’s make it practical:
- Yes, be consistent. But don’t post rubbish just to tick a box. Once a week of actual value is better than five days of fluff.
- Engage properly. Comment on posts like a real person, because you ARE a real person. Respond to people who engage with you. Start conversations in DMs.
- Make it about them. What do your people care about? Help them feel seen. Teach them something. Make them laugh.
- Stop refreshing your follower count. Start paying attention to who’s sticking around and why. Analyse your social media without becoming obsessed.
- Use hashtags and location tags that make sense. Not the most popular ones—the most relevant ones.
- Share more of the behind-the-scenes. Show what’s working, what isn’t, what you’re learning, what makes you tick. That’s what people come for.
A Realistic Growth Expectation?
Honestly? It varies or as I like to say often “it depends” lol. There are multiple factors at play! Set realistic goals.
Some accounts pick up traction fast. Some take months. But here’s what matters: if you had 50 people in a room really listening to what you had to say, you wouldn’t call that “small.” You’d call that a good start.
So stop chasing a crowd and start building a community. Authentic Instagram growth doesn’t happen shouting louder, it happens saying something worth listening to.
Focus less on looking popular, and more on being useful. If you need our useful we are here
