How many times have you seen Reels to “beat the Instagram algorithm?” or have fallen for the gurus who just tell you to post more, purchase ads 😖. That stuff doesn’t work at least without losing your mind.

Here’s the truth: Instagram growth isn’t about hacking the algorithm or posting more “valuable” content. It’s about connection. Real, human connection.

Because at the end of the day, people don’t follow brands, they follow people. And the biggest Instagram growth hack in 2025 is to bring the human back into your marketing.

Let’s break down exactly how to do it.

The Instagram Shift: From Authority-Only to Human-First

Remember when everyone was shouting “educate, educate, educate” back in 2020? It worked for a while because we were all stuck at home baking sourdough and bingeing tutorials.

But now? People are craving connection more than ever. They want to know your story, your quirks, your sense of humor—not just your hot takes on industry updates.

👉 Even big brands like Minute Maid and Beyond Meat are ditching stiff product promos for conversational, human-style posts. Their secret? Using words like “my” and “I” so the brand feels like a person you’d actually want to follow.

Why Personal Content Fuels Growth

My mentor, Sara Wiles, exploded her growth this year—not by niching down harder, but by opening up. She started posting more face-to-camera videos and sharing things she’s genuinely passionate about (like motherhood and politics).

The result? A single reel brought in 14,000 new followers.

That’s the power of showing up as a human. People might come for your expertise, but they stay (and buy) because of your personality.

And before you panic—no, you don’t have to share your entire personal life. But letting us in on your world (your hobbies, your quirks, your favorite Target finds) builds the kind of trust no amount of generic tips ever will.

Instagram Growth Hack #1: The Comment Section Is Gold

Before Reels ever existed, I helped clients grow by focusing on one thing: comments.

Here’s why it still works in 2025:

• Leaving thoughtful, funny, or relatable comments gets you seen.
• Other people reading those comments click to your profile.
• If your profile is optimized (bio + pinned posts + clear content), boom—you’ve got a new follower.

⭐️ Try this:

Don’t just drop emojis—join the conversation like a human.

Spend 15–30 minutes a day commenting on posts from brands or creators your audience already follows.

Engage with local businesses, thought leaders, or even meme accounts.

I can’t tell you how many new followers I’ve gained just by commenting on posts about queso or Real Housewives. It works.

Instagram Growth Hack #2: Post Something Not About Your Business

Yes, you read that right.

One of the fastest ways to grow right now is to share content that’s personal, funny, or totally unrelated to what you sell.

Why? Because people bond over the mundane.

• A wedding planner sharing her favorite poolside sandwich.
• A money coach posting a silly reel with her husband.
• Me, joking about throwing away my daughter’s toys when I was overstimulated (true story—10,000 views in 30 minutes).

Those posts bring in new eyeballs who then check your profile, see your optimized bio, and realize: “Oh wow, she does [insert your business]. I need this.”

Like this post I did after “the announcement.”

It had NOTHING to do with my business but my followers know how much I love Taylor Swift.

It went bananas in the comments!

And just like that—you’ve grown without shouting “buy my thing” 24/7.

The Bottom Line: Bonding beats the algorithm

The biggest Instagram growth hack isn’t a hack at all. It’s bonding with your audience.

Because when you let people into your world—whether it’s your love of golf, your obsession with queso, or the reality of your business journey—you stop sounding like a brand and start sounding like a person.

And that’s what makes people follow, trust, and eventually buy from you.

So here’s your assignment this week:

• Hop into the comments section of accounts your audience follows.
• Post one piece of content that has nothing to do with your business (and everything to do with you).

And don’t forget—Instagram is supposed to be fun. Let’s bring that back in 2025.

❤️ Looking for support?

Come join the Reels Lab where every week, you’ll get 5+ industry-specific prompts to help you grow on Instagram with content that will help you not going boost your engagement but your conversions! It’s like having your own social media manager but for a fraction of the cost!

Plus, you’ll be able to join 2 live calls a month where you can get my feedback on your Reels to help them pop even more.

And before you go, download HOOKED UP, 15 hooks and captions that are going crazyyy on Instagram right now!

Happy creating!!