12k Followers from one reel. 7 Tips to grow on Instagram

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I wanted to share some powerful insights I’ve gained from growing my Instagram page to 130,000 followers in just 8 months.

I even gained 12,000 followers from a single reel! Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your growth, these 7 tips can help you go viral and boost your Instagram presence.

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Tip 1: Observe What’s Happening in Your Niche

To create viral content, start by observing what’s already working in your niche. The reel that got me 12,000 followers was inspired by another viral reel in my niche. By putting my own spin on it, I was able to replicate its success. In the beginning, it’s better to base your content on proven topics rather than trying to come up with something completely original.

Tip 2: Longer Reels vs. Shorter Reels

Generally, the longer the reel, the more followers you can gain, but it’s also harder to go viral. For example, a reel I made that got 3.6 million views gained me 12,000 followers. In contrast, another reel with 15 million views brought in about the same number of followers, even though it was only 8 seconds long. If you can master creating engaging spoken reels around 30 seconds, you’ll have a strong chance to grow quickly.

Tip 3: Stay Within Your Niche

Going viral with content outside your niche might get you views, but it won’t bring you engaged followers. Stick to content that aligns with your niche to ensure that your audience engages with your most important posts.

Tip 4: Topic is the Most Important Factor

The topic of your content is crucial. You need to be aware of what’s currently trending in your niche, not just on Instagram, but across platforms like Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For example, viral Twitter threads can be turned into successful Instagram carousels.

Tip 5: Listen to Your Followers

Your followers are telling you what they want. When a reel or carousel does well, make more content similar to it. If you have a format that works, stick to it until it stops being effective.

Tip 6: Change Content if Views Are Low

If your content isn’t getting good views or sales, it’s time to switch things up. Experiment with different topics and formats. For example, if you’ve been focusing on short reels, try spoken reels or even image carousels. Remember, spoken reels tend to generate more followers because they build more trust.

Tip 7: Content Needs to Be to the Point

Make sure your content is concise and directly delivers on the hook. Avoid any unnecessary fluff between the hook and the delivery of the content. This applies to carousels as well—only include images that are necessary to convey your message.

If you want to learn more about growing on Instagram and monetizing with digital products, take a look at the Instagram Digital Creator 2.0