Here are a few lessons I learned growing an instagram account dedicated to drinks to over 10k followers at its peak:

Post consistently Post consistent content with consistent quality. If you have time, try to post daily. Followers will start to look forward to your content, esp if it has some kind of appeal (aesthetic editing, funny/interesting captions, etc). The internet moves fast, so if you go for a long period without posting, it’s easy to forget about your account esp if you’re just trying to grow an account for cafes/restaurants/other types of small businesses. Audiences don’t really care about you/your business, so if you want your account to translate to more customers, you need to consistently remind them to come in to your shop. This also helps establish an online presence audiences can look forward to. Content/story is key For small businesses like a restaurant/cafe/salon, audiences generally do not care about what style font you chose, or how good your editing on canva is. They care about the food/hairstyle/drink you’re showcasing. Editing and captions come in to increase audience interest, and to evoke emotions to keep the audience engaged for long enough to follow you, or to help increase reach with the algorithm. Short-form video content is the key to growth. Follow viral trends Younger audiences love to follow and engage with content they’re familiar with. That means fitting your content to the latest trending sounds and storylines, while showcasing your service/food/etc, and keeping your editing on brand. Engage with followers Engaging with your followers is also great for building community, vs just simply trying to grow your numbers. In the beginning I spotlighted a follower each week (with their permission) by uploading a picture of them, and posting their responses to a few questions (i.e. favorite drink, etc). Later on, I just responded to comments and held giveaways etc.

Lmk if you have any questions/thoughts!