Last Updated on January 16, 2025 by Dogs Vets
Hi! So, I wanted to share my personal experiences trying to become more visible online and get followers on Instagram. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, from feeling stuck with just a few likes to finally seeing real growth and engagement. I’ve made so many mistakes along the way—using way too many hashtags that had nothing to do with my content (oops!)—but each lesson has helped me refine my strategy. Hopefully, my story will inspire you to keep trying until you find what clicks for you.
Creating an Appealing Profile
When I first signed up, I didn’t really think my profile picture on Instagram mattered; I had just kept this horrible, blurry picture of me in a party pose. Let’s just say that was not doing wonders for my credibility. When I uploaded a clear headshot of myself—and I mean where I look friendly, awake, smiling—I did see more people looking over my page.
I even rewrote my profile to describe better what I did. Initially, it just read: “Lover of coffee and sunsets.” Now, it’s more like: “Helping busy professionals squeeze in wellness moments—no gym required.” I still love coffee and sunsets, but I realized newcomers weren’t learning anything about how I could help them. And adding a Linktree link was a lifesaver because it let me direct people to my blog, podcast, and free workout guide without looking spammy.
Finding My Content Groove and Staying Consistent
For a while, I posted whenever I felt like doing so—two days in a row, sometimes nothing for two weeks. Not surprisingly, my account didn’t grow. Then, I decided to take the mini content calendar from Views4You ( https://views4you.com/buy-instagram-followers/ ). I started light: three posts a week with a mix of photos, short Reels, and sometimes carousels.
I’ve found that Reels get more reach, especially if I use trending sounds. But I still make sure my photos have captions that spark a conversation. One of my best-performing posts was a simple picture of my messy living room with the caption: “Who else struggles with finding time to tidy up?” People really responded to that honesty. It showed me that consistency + authenticity works wonders.
Knowing to Whom I’m Speaking
So, initially, I did my best to cater to everyone. I would post up workout material, photos of food, photos of my dog, random travel snaps—anything and everything, I threw it on my feed. It looked cluttered, and I attracted random followers who didn’t really connect with my main message.
Now, I focus on busy professionals who want quick health tips. I do occasional personal posts—like a “day in my life” story—but I connect it back to my audience’s challenges (e.g., “Here’s how I managed to squeeze in a 15-minute workout between back-to-back Zoom meetings”). It’s much easier to plan content when I know who I’m serving.
Boosting Engagement (a.k.a. Making Friends, Not Just Followers)
I used to ignore my comments—big mistake! Once I started responding thoughtfully, asking questions in return, and even hopping onto other similar accounts to leave genuine remarks, I noticed people came back to my profile more often.
Sometimes I’ll post a prompt in my captions on Instagram, like “Morning workout or evening workout—which do you prefer?” It seems so simple, but it gets people talking! Using polls and quizzes in my Stories is another fun way to interact. It feels more like a community rather than me just talking at my followers.
Hashtags: Quality Over Quantity
OK, confession time: I used to pile on every possible hashtag: #fitness #health #happy #love #sunset #monday #letsgrow… you get the idea. It was a total mess. Now, I try to use hashtags that really relate to my post and my niche, like #WellnessForBusyPros or #NoGymNeeded. I also sometimes create a branded hashtag of my own, #WellnessWithMae, and encourage my community to use it. This helps me find their posts and show them support in return.
Reels: My Secret Weapon
At first, I was terrified to film Reels. I felt so awkward dancing or pointing at floating text. Then I realized I didn’t have to dance—I could just show how I whip up a healthy breakfast in 10 minutes. Those quick, no-frills Reels actually started performing really well. I keep them 15-30 seconds long and always use trending music. It’s insane how much new exposure I get from Reels alone—ever since I started them as a part of my routine, my profile visits have really gone through the roof.
Cross-Promoting on Other Platforms
I have a small blog that I just used to ramble on about my day. Now, at the end of each post, I add a short call-to-action: “Want more quick tips? Follow me on Instagram @MaeWellness! ” I also have a YouTube channel where I sometimes drop my Instagram handle in the description or mention it in my videos.
And let’s not forget email newsletters—those subject lines that say “Stay Connected on Instagram!” have actually brought over some very engaged followers.
Collaborations for the Win
One of my best moves was doing an Instagram Live with a micro-influencer friend who does healthy meal prep. We both got to tap into each other’s audience, and because our niches on Instagram are so similar, the followers we gained were genuinely interested in what we both offered. If you’re thinking of collaborating, make sure it’s authentic.
If I’d partnered with, say, a car repair influencer, my audience would’ve been pretty confused—and probably scrolled right past.
When Ads Make Sense
I’m not rolling in cash, so I was hesitant about Instagram ads. But I tested a small budget—like $5 a day for a week—to promote a free “10-Minute Daily Workout Guide.” I targeted young professionals in my city, and I saw a noticeable bump in downloads and new followers.
The key is setting a clear goal: I wanted people to download my guide, and that’s exactly what happened.
I keep track of the analytics—things like how many link clicks I received—and then adjust the ad text or the targeting in terms of audience, in case things dip.
Continuing to Tweak and Learn
I am really into Instagram insights and way more often than I’m comfortable admitting. I check which posts got the most saves, what time of day seems best for posting, and even which Reels people watched the most.
When something flops, I try to figure out why—maybe the caption wasn’t engaging, or the photo was too dark, or I posted at a terrible time.
Growth doesn’t happen overnight (trust me, I’ve wished for that many times!), but each small improvement adds up.
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re running your own show and try to get followers on Instagram, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t seem to find that instant fame. I mean, been there, wondering if anybody would even notice my post. But fine-tuning my profile, consistency, speaking with my followers as if they’re my buddies, using proper hashtags, diversifying with Reels, and collaborating—and I started noticing real progress, more importantly building a community I love.
Give yourself time to experiment, fail, and learn from it all. Because at the end of the day, Instagram growth isn’t about the numbers; it’s about people who will appreciate what you have to share. I’m rooting for you!
