Increasing your audience

How to Grow Your Audience on Instagram Without Selling Your Soul

You want more followers. Not for vanity, but because more people means more eyes on your work, more support for your business, and more chances to make actual sales. Totally fair. But growing your audience doesn’t mean you need to be an Instagram expert or a full-time content machine.

Here’s what actually works for small NZ businesses who want to grow a real, engaged audience (not just chase numbers).

1. Know who you're talking to

Before you try to grow, get clear on who you're trying to reach. Are they gift buyers? Busy mums? Skincare lovers? Pet parents? If you’re trying to talk to everyone, you’ll end up connecting with no one.

Create content that speaks to your people, not just content that ticks a trend box.

2. Show up like a human

The accounts that grow? They feel personal. You don’t need to overshare, but do show up with your voice, your vibe, and a bit of personality. Post stories where you talk. Share the behind-the-scenes. Use your captions to actually say something.

3. Use content that gets shared

Saveable, shareable content helps you grow. Think helpful tips, relatable moments, or product shots with a message people want to pass on or engage with. Make it easy for your audience to become your hype squad.

4. Don’t skip hashtags

Hashtags still work - not the spammy kind, but the ones that actually match your product, your niche, and your audience. Use a mix of niche, location, and industry tags. Rotate them. Keep them relevant. Don’t copy and paste a set that don’t apply.

5. Engage like you mean it

Want more people to see your content? Spend time liking, commenting, and responding to others. It’s called social media for a reason. The algorithm rewards interaction, and so do people.

6. Be patient, but consistent

Growth won’t happen overnight unless you go viral (and even then, it’s not always helpful). Keep showing up, test different content types, pay attention to what works, and don’t stress about the numbers every day.

Your people will find you. Just keep making it easy for them to do it.