Podcast Summary: "Instagram Growth Hacks That Actually Work and Give Your Account Personality"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Good Content with Shannon McKinstry
• Host/Author: Shannon McKinstry
• Episode: Instagram Growth Hacks That Actually Work and Give Your Account Personality
• Release Date: July 15, 2025

Introduction: Setting the Stage for Authentic Growth

[00:00-02:30]
Shannon McKinstrie welcomes listeners to "Good Content," emphasizing her mission to eliminate content creation overwhelm. She recalls a recent discussion on the importance of belonging on social media and sets the agenda to delve deeper into this topic by presenting effective Instagram growth hacks.

Expanding Beyond Traditional Niches

[02:31-10:00]
Shannon shares a transformative conversation with her mentor, Sarah Wild, highlighting Sarah's dramatic account growth over the past six months. Initially focused on virtual assistant tips and course promotions, Sarah began incorporating more personal content—such as her roles as a mom and her political passions—which led to significant follower increases. A standout moment was when Sarah’s reel, simply speaking directly to the camera about community knowledge gaps, garnered 14,000 new followers.

• Notable Quote:
  "When you kind of make a switch from feeling like you have to stay in this box, this niche that you built for yourself, that you can't talk about anything else."
  [05:45]

Shannon’s Philosophy: Embrace Versatility in Content

[10:01-16:00]
Contrary to the common advice of niching down, Shannon explains her long-standing approach of blending personal content with business-related posts. She cites her own experience with a viral reel about public speaking, which amassed 7 million views and a surge of followers, demonstrating that personal storytelling can attract a wider audience without diluting brand focus.

• Notable Quote:
  "It's not true anymore. And I, again, like I said, I've always created content. I've always shared personal content."
  [12:10]

The Four H's: Home, Hobbies, Happenings, and Humor

[16:01-25:00]
Shannon introduces the "Four H's" framework for content creation, emphasizing the importance of integrating personal interests and local happenings into social media strategies. She provides examples from realtors and network marketers, showing how sharing personal stories and community specifics can humanize their brands and foster deeper audience connections.

• Notable Quote:
  "This is how I grew people's accounts before reels and all that, right? It was. It used to be a struggle."
  [22:30]

Case Study: Minute Maid’s Misstep and Recovery on Threads

[25:01-35:00]
Shannon examines Minute Maid’s attempt to pivot their social media strategy on Threads by focusing more on product promotion. The backlash from followers demonstrated that audiences crave personal and entertaining content over direct advertisements. This case underscores the necessity of infusing personality into brand communications.

• Notable Quote:
  "We want to feel like we're following a person. And that doesn't mean big personality. It just means person, person, personality."
  [30:15]

Instagram Growth Hacks: Practical Strategies for Authentic Engagement

1. Engaging in the Comment Section

[35:01-42:00]
Shannon emphasizes the power of authentic engagement within Instagram’s comment sections. By thoughtfully participating in conversations on relevant posts, creators can showcase their personalities and attract like-minded followers. Shannon shares a personal anecdote about interacting with a language teacher, which led to increased interest and new followers.

• Notable Quote:
  "Join conversations already happening in the comment section. That is one of the biggest growth hacks."
  [38:45]

2. Diversifying Content with Personal Posts

[42:01-50:00]
Shannon advises creators to occasionally post content that isn't directly related to their business. By sharing personal interests or humorous moments, such content can go viral and lead new audiences to discover their professional offerings. She illustrates this with examples of a money coach whose funny reel about skin tone differences led to explosive growth.

• Notable Quote:
  "I want you to just post something that you would post if you weren't trying to sell something and watch it actually sell something."
  [47:30]

Insights: Reconnecting with the Core of Social Media

[50:01-58:00]
Shannon concludes by reiterating that the essence of social media lies in human connection. She argues that by embracing personal storytelling and genuine interactions, creators can achieve sustainable growth and build a loyal community. This approach not only increases follower counts but also enhances engagement quality.

• Notable Quote:
  "Just do something about you. You love golf. You love movies, you love whatever."
  [55:10]

Conclusion: Embrace Authenticity for Lasting Growth

In her closing remarks, Shannon challenges listeners to implement the discussed growth hacks by blending personal authenticity with strategic content creation. She encourages experimentation with current trends to showcase individuality, ensuring that business growth is a natural byproduct of genuine audience connections.

• Assignment:
  Shannon invites listeners to participate in a new trend where they simulate walking a runway and unexpectedly "bail," adding a personal or humorous twist. She suggests leveraging tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm creative variations that reflect their unique personalities.

Final Takeaways:

• Authenticity Over Rigidity: Moving beyond strict niches allows for a more relatable and engaging social media presence.
• Personal Connections: Sharing personal stories and interests fosters deeper connections and enhances follower loyalty.
• Strategic Engagement: Active and genuine participation in comment sections can significantly boost visibility and attract new followers.
• Diversified Content: Balancing business-related posts with personal or humorous content can lead to viral moments and organic growth.

Shannon McKinstry’s episode provides actionable strategies for Instagram growth by prioritizing authentic, personality-driven content over conventional, product-centric approaches. By embracing these methods, creators can cultivate vibrant and engaged communities.

End of Summary