Grow on Instagram from Scratch in 2025: Tips

How to Grow on Instagram from Scratch in 2025: A Practical Guide for Creators

Instagram continues to thrive as a leading social media platform in 2025, constantly evolving and adopting features from across the digital landscape. Whether you’re venturing into the Instagram universe for the first time or looking to rejuvenate your existing content strategy, this guide aims to provide you with actionable insights to grow your account effectively from the ground up. Get ready to navigate this vibrant platform with confidence!

The Two Core Pillars: Emotion and Consistency

When it comes to growing on Instagram, it’s crucial to shift your focus from merely beating the algorithm to captivating actual people. Your primary goal? Capturing attention. To achieve this, you need to focus on two main pillars:

Evoke Emotion
Be Consistent

Let’s dive into these principles a bit deeper.

Evoke Emotion in Every Post

Take a moment to scroll through your Instagram Reels—think about the content that sticks with you. You know, those videos that resonate and linger in your mind? They likely evoke some form of emotion. Emotions matter, and they’re the secret sauce to engaging your audience effectively. Emotions can include:

Awe or Curiosity: Sparking an immediate question within the viewer.
Nostalgia: Tapping into those warm, fuzzy feelings from the past.
Humor: Lightening the mood or evoking laughter.
Excitement: Generating anticipation or thrill.
Controversy: Walking the fine line between engagement and backlash.

Before hitting that publish button, ask yourself, “Would I share this post with a friend? Would this inspire someone to save it for later?” Your visuals don’t need to be top-notch—what counts is the underlying idea. Is there a captivating angle? A moment that demands a second viewing?

Post Regularly Like a Professional

One viral post might bring some excitement, but if you’re looking for lasting growth, consistency is your bread and butter. Think of your posting frequency like the cadence of cycling: if you stop pedaling, you’ll coast for a bit but soon come to a standstill. Establish a posting schedule that’s sustainable for you—whether it’s daily or three times a week, make it work!

To maintain your momentum, you can:

Batch Content in Advance: Create several posts at once to release over time.
Repurpose High-Performing Reels: Dust off some of your past hits and give them a new spin in 2025.
Capture Everyday Moments: Look for inspiration in your daily life; you’ll be surprised at how engaging simple, authentic moments can be.

Conquer Self-Doubt with Volume

One of the biggest hurdles for creators is self-doubt. You might find yourself pondering, “What if nobody likes this?” or “What if I come across as silly?” Here’s the kicker—finding your unique style takes practice and volume. You don’t have to achieve perfection from the get-go. Instead, embrace the journey of creation.

Grab your smartphone and start filming today. It doesn’t take a fancy camera or years of public speaking experience. One idea can absolutely equal one post. Let the content flow!

Mine Inspiration Without Copying

When scrolling through Instagram and Threads, think of it as an opportunity to gather inspiration rather than wholesale copying. Observe how other creators kick off their videos with enticing hooks such as:

“Let me tell you something wild…”
“I just learned this and had to share…”
“You won’t believe what this tool can do…”

For instance, consider a creator who flipped a viral video titled “Let me explain how sugar works in 60 seconds” into “Let me explain how social media works in 60 seconds.” The result? An engaging and fresh twist that capitalized on a well-known format.

Establish recurring content hooks within your niche, such as:

“One-minute explainers”
“3 AI tools I couldn’t live without this week”
“Here’s what I learned from my biggest failures”

Don’t Fear Repetition: Repost Winners

Feeling hesitant about sharing past content? Don’t dwell on that! Many successful creators repost their previously viral Reels by tweaking the captions or making slight edits. The result? Often, millions more views. Remember, reusing great content isn’t cheating the algorithm—it’s squeezing every ounce of life out of it!

Reels Are King: Use Them Often

The pulse of Instagram in 2025 dictates that Reels are still the golden ticket for growth. Forget stressing over hashtags and posting times; the format rules the roost. Here’s why focusing on Reels is a smart move:

Priority from Instagram: The platform nudges Reels to the forefront.
Wider Reach: They attract non-followers and expand your audience pool.
No Financial Cost: You have nothing to lose by doubling down on video format.

The worst-case scenario? A flop. But the best-case scenario? You might just go viral!

Threads: The New Discovery Engine

Don’t overlook Threads, Meta’s text-focused app—it’s a treasure trove for reaching fresh audiences. With less competition, you can garner more attention for your high-quality posts. Think of it as a blend of blogging and micro-tweeting, synergizing perfectly with Instagram.

A real-world example: a creator shared a post that attracted attention on Threads, leading to over a million views. This kind of exposure can catalyze substantial audience growth!

Stories: Create Your Personal Reality Show

Instagram Stories are your secret weapon for connection. Crafting daily snippets that reflect your authentic self can work wonders. Show your audience your daily life, engage them directly on camera, and share behind-the-scenes moments.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking Stories don’t matter because they vanish after 24 hours. In reality, it’s all about rhythm—consider it a reality show starring you! Think of starting an engaging story arc around:

Writing My Book: “Day 12, I’m at 8,000 characters—here’s a snippet!”
Fitness Journey: “Trying to lose 5 kg—here’s the progress and challenges.”
Life Changes: “The move to a new city: packing chaos, ups and downs.”

Keep things authentic, simple, and frequent!

Text Posts: Optional, Not Critical

If you enjoy writing long captions or thought-provoking posts, go ahead! Just don’t stress if writing isn’t your forte. These days, Instagram is all about video-first content. You can certainly share text-based content on Threads or via image slides, but remember, Reels provide far greater potential for visibility and engagement.

Your Call to Action Matters

The placement of your Call to Action (CTA) is crucial. When should you say, “Follow me for more”? At the end—always! Why? If viewers make it to the end, they’re significantly more likely to act. CTAs at the beginning can interrupt the viewing experience and lessen their impact.

Final Checklist to Grow on Instagram in 2025

To wrap things up, here’s a handy checklist to keep in mind on your journey:

Create emotional content that generates curiosity, humor, and awe.
Post regularly—aim for daily or at least 2-3 times a week.
Use Reels as your primary format for content.
Treat Stories as your daily TV show, sharing relatable moments.
Experiment with Threads to tap into new audiences.
Don’t hesitate to repeat winning formats and repost viral content.
Build your content production muscle through trial and error.
Always place CTAs at the end of your videos.

Now that you’ve got the tools and insights for navigating Instagram successfully in 2025, get out there and unleash your creativity! Remember, it’s a journey. Embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride!