If you’re reading this, chances are you are just starting a new Instagram account, or you’ve been staring at one that’s still sitting on 14 followers (and eight of them are your family and friends). Maybe you’re launching a business online, building your personal brand, or trying to get intentional on Instagram.
Don’t fret. You are not alone.
I’ve started five Instagram accounts from zero in my social media management journey. This piece is a mashup of everything that’s worked for me, and exactly what I would do if I were starting a new Instagram account today.
Let’s go.
1. I Would Define My Social Media Goal
Having a solid username is great, but I’d sit down and ask myself: Why am I opening this account?
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Is it to sell a product?
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Build a community?
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Book clients?
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Show the world my face and fine outfit?
I remember getting a gig, and I was to work on new social media accounts. From the get-go, the client’s goal was “get clients.” I told them, things don’t work like that. Your first goal should be brand awareness (follower growth). From there, a small fraction will convert to clients.
Alongside that goal, I’d define my ideal audience.
If I’m selling male shoes, I’m not trying to reach everybody. I’m speaking to men who want stylish footwear for different occasions.
Once I know my “who” and “why,” content creation becomes 10x easier.
2. I Would Brand Properly
When starting a new Instagram account, branding is key. Branding is more than just a logo or a colour palette. It’s the feeling people get when they land on your page. But yes, visual consistency is a great starting point.
Here’s what I would do to achieve visual consistency:
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Create a logo (or get a good headshot if I’m the brand)
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Choose 2–3 brand colours and fonts
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Define my tone of voice (witty, corporate, chill, etc.)
Pro Tip: I’d use ChatGPT to suggest brand colour combos that work and are available on Canva. I’d also upload a few of my written posts so AI can analyse my tone. Then, I’d save everything, brand guide, assets, and templates in a Google Doc
If I can’t afford Canva Pro alone, I’d bundle three friends (or enemies, no discrimination) and share the logins.
3. I Would Research My Competitors
I once worked with a brand for two weeks and asked my higher-up, “Who are our competitors?” He said, “I don’t know. Go and find out.” Well, I did. But please, don’t be like my former boss. (And don’t ask why I only lasted two weeks there 😅).
Before posting anything, I’d study five people doing what I want to do.
I’m not copying, I’m observing what’s working.
Here’s what I’d focus on:
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Their best-performing content
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Posting frequency and content mix
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Contents Format (video, carousel or single image)
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Captions and hashtags
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Whether they run ads (use the Meta Ads Library)
You can also use tools like Social Blade to check their follower and engagement growth rate. If they’re growing in a healthy way, something is working and if you notice unsusal spikes, check and check again.
Sometimes, your next viral idea is sitting quietly in someone else’s carousel post.
4. I Would Create a Content Plan
Most people fail at growing a new Instagram account because they post once and vanish for three weeks. They post one “Hi guys, welcome to my page” and disappear for three weeks.
Me? I’d plan my first 12 posts in advance.
Here’s a sample breakdown:
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1 strong introductory post (who you are and what you do)
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3–5 value-based posts (teach or inspire)
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3 video posts (because video is king, period)
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2–3 relatable or trending content (infuse humour or personality)
I’d use a Google Sheet content calendar: Monday to Friday, five posts per week. At least two of them must be videos. Access the template I use here
Will the first video hit 1k views? Most likely not. Instagram is not witchcraft. But with consistency, the right people will find you.
Apart from your first post, every other post should be intentional and consistent.
5. I Would Start Engagement Early (But Not Desperate)
Once I have about five posts live, I would start engaging as if my growth depends on it. Because it does.
Then I’d:
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Turn on post notifications
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Drop thoughtful comments (not “Nice post” or “Well done”)
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Reply to people in the comment section
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Leave comments on followers’ personal posts
Even 30 minutes of smart engagement daily can grow your followers from 5 to 30 in one week.
If I don’t know what to comment, AI is my helper. Personally, I recommend Gemini. Here’s a sample prompt to use…
I learnt this strategy from a top marketing guru I interned with. I was tasked to engage on an Instagram page daily, minimum of 200 comments. I usually send screenshots as proof of work.
P.S.: I’m not saying do 200 per day, you could get banned. Pace yourself and increase the volume as time goes by.
6. I Would Run Paid advertisements to Speed Things Up
See ehn, nothing boosts a new Instagram account like paid ads.
I believe in organic growth, but I love smart paid growth even more.
Once I hit about 45–50 followers, I’d budget ₦20,000 a month for ads. Even ₦5,000 can go a long way.
Here’s how I’d run them:
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Go to Meta Ads Manager
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Set the objective to Traffic
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Use a high-quality video or image
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Write a catchy caption
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Choose Instagram profile as the destination
Alternatively, I could boost a post that’s already performing well.
Goal: More profile visits. Turn those visitors into followers.
P.S.: If I have up to ₦100,000+, I’d hire a trusted ad strategist. And yes, if you need someone, holla me here
7. I Would Track What’s Working
Every two weeks, I’d sit down and open my Insights tab.
I’d ask:
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Which posts are reaching more people?
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What content is getting saved or shared?
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Are my followers growing steadily?
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What days/times give better results?
Instagram is rich in data. If you ignore the data, you’ll keep posting what you like, not what they want.
I’d also log basic metrics (followers, best-performing posts, reach, etc.) into a Google Sheet.
8. I Would Show My Face & Collaborate
Collaboration > Isolation.
From day one, I’d look for collabs, whether it’s Lives, joint giveaways, or client reposts. Also, I’d show my face.
People follow people, not logos. Even if I’m introverted, I’d try:
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Behind-the-scenes content
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Talking-head videos
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Voiceover Reels
The more human you are, the more connection you build.
9. I Would Keep Posting Even When Nobody’s Watching
Ah, the dreaded season of 17 views and 2 likes. We all pass through it.
But I wouldn’t stop posting.
It’s a lie that nobody is seeing it. The algorithm is always watching. Your job is to keep showing up.
Instagram rewards consistency. If you can push through 90 days, you’ll be ahead of 90% of people who give up after week 3.
Every big page you admire today? They started at 0.
They just didn’t quit.
10. I Would Keep My Profile Fully Optimized
This one should have come earlier, but I missed it. Life happens.
If I were starting a new Instagram account today, I would treat my profile like a digital storefront. If it’s messy or unclear, nobody’s walking in, no matter how good your content is.
I’d partner with ChatGPT or any AI tool to help fine-tune my:
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Username: short, relevant, and searchable or my business name
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Bio: one-liner that tells people what I do and who I help
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Highlight covers: eat, branded, and useful (think: Services, Testimonials, FAQs)
My profile picture, brand colours, and overall vibe would match my content style.
Because on Instagram, if you look unserious, people won’t take you serious. My profile would show that I’m intentional, not just posting for vibes
FAQs About Starting a New Instagram Account
1. How often should I post when starting out? At least 4–5 times a week. Two of those should be videos.
2. When should I start engaging with other accounts? Once you have 4–5 quality posts. Let people find something when they visit.
3. Should I run ads immediately? Only after your bio, visuals, and page setup are on point. Don’t waste ad money on an empty profile.
4. Do I need to use all Instagram features? Start with Reels and Stories. Add Lives when you have an active following.
5. How can I find my brand tone? Analyze your past posts or use AI tools to help identify your natural tone and style.
6. What should I do if growth stalls? Try new formats, explore trending content, collaborate, or audit your strategy.
