How to get your first 1,000 Instagram followers
Hitting 1,000 followers on Instagram is THE first real milestone. It’s the point where things start to feel legit. You’re growing, you’ve got some traction, and your posts aren’t being seen by just your mum and your flatmate anymore.
So in this blog post, I want to walk you through how I reached 1,000 followers on my new business account, Busy with Books, and how you can do the same — without burning out, buying followers, or posting content every single day.
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How long does it take to get 1,000 followers on Instagram?
Let’s start with some context: I launched my Busy with Books account at the end of August 2024, and hit 1,000 followers on May 29, 2025. That’s about 9 months of slow and steady growth.
Could I have done it faster? Yep.
But I wanted to grow an engaged audience — the kind that joins my email list, signs up for my reading retreats, and actually cares about what I do. That meant building sustainably, not chasing quick wins.
Step 1: Get really clear on what your account is for
Before I posted anything, I got crystal clear on what the account was actually supposed to do.
My Instagram bio made it super obvious what Busy with Books is.
I had one clear link in the bio (a waitlist sign-up), and every single post supported that goal. I wasn’t trying to do 17 different things at once.
My focus? Grow an engaged following and get people on my email list.
When you know your goal, it’s 100x easier to figure out what to post, what to say, and where to send people.
Tip: If your Instagram isn’t bringing in results yet, it’s often because it’s trying to do too much — or isn’t clearly telling people what you want them to do.
Step 2: Lead with short-form video, not Canva quotes
In 2025, Instagram still loves Reels. Video content gets the most reach — especially if you’re starting from scratch.
But I’m not talking about random lip syncs or trending audios with no context. I created short, snappy videos that made sense for my brand:
Behind the scenes of planning my retreats
Mood boards that helped people visualise the vibe
Answering common questions about the reading retreats
Every video had:
A strong hook
A clear call-to-action (usually: “Join the waitlist”)
For the first two months, I posted daily. Now I’m posting about 3–4 Reels a week, with some Stories sprinkled in.
Step 3: Use TikTok for reach, Instagram for conversion
One of the best things I did? I leaned into TikTok early on.
TikTok’s algorithm and #BookTok community made it much easier to get found — especially with people searching for things like “reading retreats,” “cosy bookish events,” or “book clubs in NZ.”
I used TikTok to reach new people and pointed them over to Instagram to convert (because that’s where my link + setup was stronger).
Lesson: Make the most of what each platform is good at. Don’t treat them all the same.
Step 4: Run ads on content that’s already working
Everything up to this point was organic. But once I had a few posts that performed well, I started to put some ad money behind them.
Important note: I didn’t use the “Boost” button. I created proper ads in Meta Ads Manager using content I already knew resonated.
For example:
A post like “POV: you’re heading to a reading retreat designed for book lovers in NZ”
Had a clear CTA (join the waitlist)
Was visually appealing & self-qualifying (if it appealed to you, you were probably my person)
This helped me scale reach without having to post constantly.
Step 5: What I didn’t do (and don’t recommend)
There’s a long list of things I didn’t bother with — and still grew my account.
❌ Posting every single day (forever)
❌ Writing long, overly poetic captions
❌ Obsessing over hashtags
❌ DMing strangers or playing the follow-unfollow game
❌ Leaving random comments hoping for a follow back
You don’t need to do all that. You need to be clear, intentional, and a little bit patient.
Final thoughts: You don’t need to go viral to grow
If you’re starting a new Instagram account in 2025 — or trying to revive one that’s been stuck — I hope this gave you a few ideas for a more sustainable, strategic approach.
The truth is: real growth doesn’t usually come from a viral Reel. It comes from consistency, clarity, and content that actually serves a purpose.
If you want support creating content that actually converts — not just attracts random followers — you know where to find me 😉