Episode Summary: How I Built a 100K Instagram Community in Two Years
Podcast: The Abigail Peugh Podcast
Host: Abigail Peugh
Episode: 48
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Title: How I Built a 100K Instagram Community in Two Years
Introduction
In Episode 48 of The Abigail Peugh Podcast, host Abigail Peugh delves into her remarkable journey of growing her Instagram community to 100,000 followers within just two years. Abigail shares actionable strategies, personal insights, and answers questions from her engaged audience, providing a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring online entrepreneurs aiming to build a thriving social media presence.
Strategies for Growing to 100K Followers
1. Sharing the Entire Journey: Embracing Authenticity
Abigail emphasizes the importance of transparency in her content strategy. Rather than showcasing only successes, she shares both high and low moments of her entrepreneurial journey.
“I have never showed up and pretended that everything is perfect all the time. Right? Like, I share the good, yes. But I also share the hard moments and the hard lessons that I learned along the way to get there.”
— Abigail Peugh [05:15]
This authenticity fosters a deeper connection with her audience, making her community more relatable and trustworthy.
2. Incorporating Personal Elements
Building a community goes beyond business topics. Abigail integrates personal interests to humanize her brand.
“Connection happens first and the sale happens second.”
— Abigail Peugh [07:30]
She shares hobbies and preferences, such as her obsession with pickles and the color pink, which resonate with her followers and create a sense of camaraderie.
3. Experimenting with Content: Embracing Failures
Abigail encourages taking risks with content creation, accepting that not all posts will perform well.
“It’s okay to just test content and to just try things and see what works.”
— Abigail Peugh [12:45]
She views unsuccessful posts as valuable data, allowing her to refine her approach continually.
4. Offering a Digital Product: Providing Value
Having a digital product to sell gives clarity to her content and attracts a targeted audience.
“Having something to sell makes growth so much easier on Instagram.”
— Abigail Peugh [15:20]
Her product, Rich Girl Launch, offers comprehensive guidance for launching digital products, further enhancing her authority and appeal.
5. Leveraging New Instagram Features: Early Adoption
Abigail capitalizes on Instagram's new features, such as trial reels, to boost visibility and engagement.
“When Instagram drops something new, I feel like they reward people for taking advantage of new features.”
— Abigail Peugh [19:10]
This proactive approach has significantly contributed to her follower growth, exemplified by her rapid increase to 102,000 followers through trial reels alone.
6. Collaborating with Peers: Carousel Collabs
Collaborations expand her reach by tapping into other creators' audiences. Abigail prefers carousel collabs over live sessions for their flexibility and lower pressure.
“Carousel collaborations... you're getting yourself in front of somebody else's audience that already trusts them.”
— Abigail Peugh [24:35]
Her collaboration with Brock Johnson highlights the effectiveness of aligned partnerships in building brand recognition.
7. Avoiding Content Pillars: Maintaining Flexibility
Abigail rejects rigid content categorization, allowing her creativity to flourish without being confined to specific themes.
“When you're growing on Instagram, you don't have to do it how anybody else does it. You can find your own unique way.”
— Abigail Peugh [28:50]
This approach ensures her content remains authentic and manageable, especially as a solopreneur.
Audience Q&A
Abigail addresses five questions from her listeners, providing tailored advice based on her experiences.
1. What Were Your First Posts Like When You Had a Smaller Following?
Abigail advises showing up confidently, regardless of follower count, to build genuine connections.
“You have to show up and just be yourself, regardless of how many followers you have.”
— Abigail Peugh [32:10]
She recommends presenting content as if engaging with a close friend, fostering intimacy and trust from the outset.
2. How Did You Build Consistency and Manage Storage Space?
Consistency:
Abigail builds habits by committing to monthly challenges, focusing on one new consistent action every 21-30 days.
“Pick one thing to do in your business for 30 days every single day, and do it.”
— Abigail Peugh [35:05]
Managing Storage:
To handle content storage, she upgraded to an iPhone with 1TB of storage and meticulously organizes files into categorized folders.
“I just ended up getting a bigger phone, which was so annoying for me.”
— Abigail Peugh [36:40]
3. How Do I Get More Followers?
Abigail shifts the focus from merely increasing follower count to building a meaningful community.
“How can I build a community where people feel comfortable, where they feel like they can come here and laugh, where they feel like they can come here and just feel seen and heard in my content?”
— Abigail Peugh [38:55]
She emphasizes clarity in messaging and understanding the audience’s needs to attract engaged followers who are likely to convert into customers.
4. Utilizing Trial Reels Effectively
For trial reels to be successful, Abigail advocates for vulnerability and sharing authentic aspects of her journey.
“Trial reels that get the most followers for me have been the ones where I'm getting vulnerable and sharing parts of my journey that are a little bit more uncomfortable to share.”
— Abigail Peugh [41:20]
This approach helps viewers connect with her on a deeper level, encouraging them to follow and engage with her content.
5. Carousel Collaborations: Maximizing Reach and Trust
Abigail elaborates on the benefits of carousel collaborations, highlighting their ability to introduce her to trusted audiences.
“Carousel collaborations... you are getting yourself in front of somebody else's audience that already trusts them.”
— Abigail Peugh [44:15]
She provides practical tips for initiating collaborations, such as simplifying the process for the collaborator and ensuring audience alignment.
Conclusion
Abigail wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of genuine community-building over mere follower counts. She promotes her flagship offer, IG Growth for Sales, designed to help entrepreneurs grow an Instagram following composed of potential buyers.
“If you're struggling with growth, you don't know how to set your account up and get things just ready to grow your Instagram full of people that want to buy from you, right? That is definitely the place to be.”
— Abigail Peugh [50:30]
Expressing heartfelt gratitude, Abigail thanks her listeners for their unwavering support and encourages them to share the episode on social media.
“I am so truly honored that you show up and you listen to my podcast every single week...”
— Abigail Peugh [21:03]
Key Takeaways
- Authenticity is Crucial: Sharing both successes and struggles fosters genuine connections.
- Personal Touch: Incorporating personal interests humanizes your brand.
- Experiment and Learn: Embrace content experimentation and learn from failures.
- Digital Products Provide Clarity: Having products to sell aligns your content with your audience’s needs.
- Early Adoption of Features: Leveraging new social media features can significantly boost growth.
- Collaborate Strategically: Collaborations can expand your reach and build trust within new audiences.
- Flexibility Over Rigid Plans: Avoiding strict content pillars allows for creativity and sustainability.
By implementing these strategies, Abigail Peugh successfully built a robust and engaged Instagram community, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs aiming to achieve similar success.
Links and Resources Mentioned:
- Rich Girl Launch – Abigail’s program for launching digital products
- IG Growth for Sales – Course to grow Instagram followers who are potential buyers
Stay Connected:
Follow Abigail on Instagram and tune in every Tuesday for more honest and actionable advice on building a successful online business.