Building a loyal Instagram audience used to feel like a full-time job. Between content creation, editing, engagement, and managing collaborations, growth always came last on my to-do list. But like many creators, I hit a wall. My content was getting better, but my audience wasn’t growing at the same pace. That’s when I decided to try https://www.pathsocial.com/ and see if it could help. https://www.pathsocial.com/ https://www.pathsocial.com/ After months of experimenting with different strategies and platforms, I decided to try AI Instagram growth for 90 days. I approached it like a campaign, not a shortcut. This is what I learned—and how I went from stuck to scaling. My Starting Point: Quality Content, Flat Growth Before discovering Path Social, I had 3,200 followers. I was averaging around a 2.1% engagement rate, but reaching new audiences was hit or miss. My Reels were performing well, but my posts rarely showed up on explore. My niche - wellness and mindful living - was a growing trend, but there were so many other creators targeting the same eyeballs. And my most significant problem? Discovery. No matter what I did: hashtags, shares, giveaways - I could not figure out how to get consistent access to the right audience. Why I Chose Path Social Initially, I was skeptical. I had witnessed the harm bots can do to accounts: ghost followers, shadowbans, and inauthentic engagement in general. What intrigued me about Path Social was their hybrid model of AI-based audience targeting + real humans involved in the process. They were not convincing people to engage with bots or mass follow. They were providing targeted discovery of followers. Setting Up My Campaign After signing up, I completed a thorough onboarding form. I answered a lot of questions about my niche, important hashtags, competitor accounts, and even a few brands that I wanted to partner with. This gave Path Social some context for more precise targeting. I also made sure my content library was optimized: Updated my bio with a clear CTA Pinned 3 strong Reels Highlighted recent brand collabs in Stories Updated my bio with a clear CTA Pinned 3 strong Reels Highlighted recent brand collabs in Stories Then I waited. The First Two Weeks The first sign that something was working? My story views nearly doubled. From there, engagement followed. In week one, I gained 230 new followers. Week two brought in another 300. But what stood out most wasn’t the number—it was the relevance. People DM’d me about posts I’d published weeks earlier. Comments were longer, more thoughtful. It was clear: this was the right kind of audience. Analytics Snapshot (90 Days) Followers: +3,480 Engagement rate: 2.1% → 3.4% Shares: +61% Saves: +42% Brand DMs: 5 new pitch inquiries Story Replies: +98% My reach finally matched my content quality. Followers: +3,480 Followers: +3,480 Engagement rate: 2.1% → 3.4% Engagement rate: 2.1% → 3.4% Shares: +61% Shares: +61% Saves: +42% Saves: +42% Brand DMs: 5 new pitch inquiries Brand DMs: 5 new pitch inquiries Story Replies: +98% My reach finally matched my content quality. Story Replies: +98% My reach finally matched my content quality. What Made the Difference The Path Social team didn’t just run traffic—they curated it. That was the difference. The AI system filtered potential followers by interest and behavior. The human side helped guide those choices based on feedback and performance. It was like working with a talent scout for my audience. Tips for Other Creators 1. Approach Growth as a Campaign Don’t think “set and forget.” You want clear goals. In my case, more engagement and brand collabs. 2. Make Sure Your Profile is Conversion Friendly When a new user lands on your page, you have just one chance. Make checks that your bio, highlights, and best pieces of content speak to that user. 3. Let the Data Drive Content When your new audience starts coming in, pay attention to what they are responding to. I learned that quick wellness how-to type content performed much better than aesthetic posts. This is what informed my calendar for the future with content. 4. Consistency is Key Without content, growth is just wasted traffic. During my campaign, I maintained a 3x weekly posting and daily stories. 5. Be Patient, But Curious Not everything will spike overnight. But over time, the trend line matters more than the peaks. The ROI Beyond Follower Count What impressed me? The inbound brand interest. Because of the increased engagement and niche clarity, two eco-friendly beauty brands reached out about partnerships. One of those collaborations turned into a long-term ambassadorship. Followers are the entry point. Real value comes from what they do after they follow. do More Than Just Numbers If you’re a creator who’s burnt out from chasing the algorithm, I can say this with full honesty: Path Social helped me reset my strategy. It didn’t replace my effort—it focused on it. With the right tools, consistent content, and a clear voice, growth doesn’t have to feel random. For me, Path Social wasn’t a growth hack—it was a growth partner. I’d recommend it to any creator ready to take themselves seriously. Because the numbers matter, but the people behind them matter more. people This story was distributed as a release by Sanya Kapoor under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. This story was distributed as a release by Sanya Kapoor under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. This story was distributed as a release by Sanya Kapoor under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program
