Growing Your Instagram Account: Organic and Paid Strategies for Real Results

At Red Bird Social, we work with many faith-based authors who are just starting out on Instagram, and one common goal we hear is hitting that 20,000 follower mark. It’s ambitious, but totally doable with the right approach. Today, I want to share some straightforward best practices for growing your account—both organically and through paid ads. This isn’t about quick hacks; it’s about building a genuine community that sticks around. 

Start with the Basics: Optimize Your Profile

Before you do anything else, make sure your profile is set up for success. Use a clear profile picture—maybe a friendly headshot if you’re an author—and write a bio that tells people who you are and what you offer. Include keywords like “Christian author” or “faith-inspired stories” to help with search visibility. Add a link to your website or latest book, and consider using Linktree if you have multiple spots to direct traffic. A polished profile makes it easier for new visitors to hit that follow button.

Organic Growth: Build It Steady and Real

Organic growth is all about consistency and connection. It takes time, but it’s the foundation for long-term success. Here’s what works based on what we’ve seen with our clients:

• Post Regularly, But Focus on Quality: Aim to post 3-5 times a week. Mix it up with photos, carousels, and short videos. For authors, share behind-the-scenes of your writing process, book quotes, or quick devotionals. The key is value—give your audience something that inspires or helps them. High-quality visuals matter; use natural lighting and simple edits to make your posts pop.
• Leverage Reels and Stories: These are gold for reach. Reels under 30 seconds perform best—try trending audio with a faith twist, like motivational clips or book teasers. Stories keep your audience engaged daily; use polls, questions, or stickers to encourage interactions. We’ve noticed that responding to every comment or DM builds loyalty and boosts your algorithm ranking.
• Engage Actively: Don’t just post and ghost. Spend time liking and commenting on posts from similar accounts. Follow the 5-3-1 rule: like five posts, leave meaningful comments on three, and follow one relevant account each day. Collaborate with other like-minded creators—guest posts or shoutouts can introduce you to new followers without feeling forced.
• Hashtags and SEO: Use 5-10 targeted hashtags per post, like #ChristianAuthor or #FaithJourney, but mix broad and niche ones. Write captions like you’d search for them—include keywords naturally. This helps your content show up in searches and explores.
• Encourage User-Generated Content: Ask followers to share how your book impacted them and repost their stories (with permission). It creates a sense of community and exposes your account to their networks.

Stick with this, and you could see steady growth—maybe 500-1,000 followers a month if you’re consistent. Track what resonates using Instagram Insights and adjust accordingly.

Paid Options: Accelerate with Ads

If organic feels slow, paid ads can give you a boost. We’ve used them to help clients jump from a few hundred to thousands of followers quickly. The trick is targeting the right people and not wasting budget.

• Set Clear Goals: Use Meta Ads Manager  to focus on “Reach” or “Engagement” objectives for follower growth. Start with a small budget, say $5-10 a day, and scale up.
• Choose the Right Formats: Reels ads and Story ads get great visibility. Keep videos short and engaging—show a book excerpt or a quick testimony. Use eye-catching thumbnails and calls-to-action like “Follow for more faith tips.”
• Target Smartly: Narrow your audience by location, age (maybe 25-55 for faith-based readers), and behaviors. Avoid broad targeting; it’s better to reach 1,000 interested people than 10,000 random ones. Test different audiences and see what converts to follows.
• Compelling Creatives: High-res images or videos are a must. Write copy that speaks to pain points, like “Struggling with doubt? Follow for daily encouragement.” Track performance—aim for a cost per follow under $1 if possible.
• Combine with Organic: Run ads to promote your best organic posts. This amplifies reach without starting from scratch. Monitor for ad fatigue and refresh creatives every couple of weeks.

Paid can add hundreds of followers weekly, but pair it with organic efforts to retain them. Remember, Instagram’s average CPM is around $8, so plan your spend wisely.

Wrapping It Up: Patience and Persistence Pay Off

Growing to 20,000 followers isn’t overnight, but combining organic authenticity with strategic paid pushes gets you there faster. For our faith-based clients, it’s about sharing your message genuinely—people follow accounts that uplift them. Experiment, analyze your insights, and don’t be afraid to tweak your strategy. If you’re stuck, drop a comment or reach out; we’re here to help.