With two billion monthly active users worldwide, Instagram can be an awesome place to spend time and promote your podcast. But making meaningful connections and boosting your engagement means more than just posting about your brand new episode and then disappearing off the app until the next one goes live. Today’s guest, Jillian O’Keefe, is sharing all things Instagram with us. From getting new followers, to engaging with those followers, strategic ways that we can grow our audiences without posting 50 times a week, and more! This week, episode 166 of Listeners to Leads is about the power of authentic engagement on Instagram!
Key Takeaways:
- Creating authentic content that connects with your audience.
- Using collaborations to expand your reach and connect with new audiences.
- Focusing on the quality of engagement, not on the size of your following.
- Utilizing hashtags effectively on Instagram in 2024.
The Power of Authentic Engagement on Instagram with Jillian O’Keefe
As a podcaster, you know how important it is to build an engaged audience. After all, your listeners are the lifeblood of your show – they’re the ones who tune in, share your content, and ultimately help you achieve your goals.
But when it comes to social media, particularly the ever-changing landscape of Instagram, it can feel like an uphill battle to grow your following and keep your audience engaged. Between the constant algorithm updates, the pressure to post reels, and the temptation to chase vanity metrics, it’s no wonder so many content creators feel overwhelmed and burnt out.
That’s why I recently sat down with Jillian O’Keefe, an Instagram strategist who specializes in helping bookish entrepreneurs and podcasters build authentic, engaged followings. In our conversation, Jillian shared some game-changing insights that can help any content creator thrive on the platform.
One of the biggest myths Jillian debunked is the idea that you need a massive following to succeed on Instagram. “You can have a following of, let’s really be modest here and say 100 to 200 people,” she explained, “if you’re engaging with them and you’re connecting with them.”
The key, according to Jillian, is to focus on quality over quantity. Rather than chasing vanity metrics like follower count, put your energy into building a loyal, engaged community. This means responding to comments, sending personalized DMs, and collaborating with others in your niche.
“If you’re being honest, and it is really you responding to them in the DMs, people become taken with that,” Jillian said. “They’re like, ‘Wow, this podcast, or this business owner, this author, whatever is interested enough in me to take the time to message me.'”
As someone who has seen the power of Jillian’s “Engage Like a Boss” strategies firsthand, I can attest to their effectiveness. When my team and I were launching our second podcast, we were able to grow our Instagram following from zero to over 2,000 in just three months by prioritizing authentic engagement.
We didn’t post 50 times a week or chase the latest Instagram trends. Instead, we focused on building genuine connections with our audience. We responded to every comment, sent personalized DMs, and even collaborated with other podcasters in our niche. And the results spoke for themselves – within the first two weeks of launching our show, we had over 200 downloads.
Of course, the idea of adding yet another task to your already-packed to-do list can feel daunting. That’s why Jillian recommends starting small and setting a manageable posting schedule, even if it’s just twice a week.
“Having a busy posting schedule is not necessary,” she said. “That if you can post twice a week and be consistent about that, that is most important.”
Once you have your posting schedule in place, Jillian suggests dedicating just 15 minutes a day to engaging with your audience. This could involve responding to comments, sending DMs, or even reaching out to potential collaborators.
“It’s something that you can do. Probably could go through in a day, if you just dedicated, you know, a couple of hours to it, and then you just start engaging and people grow,” Jillian said.
And when it comes to finding new people to connect with, Jillian recommends using hashtags strategically. “I would like to say to still use them on your on your posts, maybe only you know a handful of them,” she advised. “Try to find some that aren’t super huge. So maybe looking for ones that are under 100,000 posts tied to it.”
By using niche-specific hashtags, you can increase your visibility and connect with others who are interested in your content. And as you engage with these new followers, Jillian suggests asking questions and fostering genuine conversations.
“If you keep going, and you keep connecting with them, and you’re genuine and authentic, you will eventually likely get a new follower from that, then because you’ve connected with them so deeply, you’re likely to build more to the point where they’re lists. Start listening to your podcast, they start they buy your book, they buy your product, whatever it is that you are doing or selling, they’ll be interested in that.
Of course, the key to all of this is maintaining a positive, stress-free mindset. As Jillian pointed out, it’s easy to get bogged down by the pressure of social media, but that’s the surest way to burn out.
“If you are stressing, take a break,” Jillian advised. “That’s my recommendation. Take a break, walk away, come back in a week or two and make it fun. Do not make it stressful, because you will not keep up with it if you make it stressful.”
And when it comes to collaborations, Jillian emphasized that Instagram is actively encouraging these types of partnerships. “I do feel like they are pushing to have those collabs. They want you to tag the person, and they want you to invite them to, you know, I guess they call it collaborate on it with them, but it’s their way to bring people together.”
By teaming up with other creators in your niche, you can not only expand your reach, but also foster deeper connections with your audience. Jillian recommends reaching out to potential collaborators through “coffee chats” – 15-30 minute Zoom calls where you can get to know each other and explore ways to work together.
“If you’re chatting with someone and they’re like, oh my gosh, my best friend is an author who is looking to build her Instagram immediately, not necessarily a collab, but that’s, you know, a business opportunity for myself right there,” Jillian explained.
And even if a collaboration doesn’t immediately lead to a business opportunity, the connections you make can pay dividends down the line. Alesia shared her own experience of having a guest on her podcast two and a half years ago reach out with a potential client – proof that building genuine relationships is key.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the constant changes and demands of Instagram, take a deep breath and remember that less can often be more. Focus on creating a manageable content schedule, engaging authentically with your audience, and exploring strategic collaborations. By prioritizing quality over quantity, you can ditch the stress and start enjoying Instagram again.
And who knows – with the right mindset and approach, you might just find that Instagram becomes a game-changer for your podcast and business. As Jillian said, “Social media doesn’t have to be a chore – with the right mindset and strategies, it can be a game-changer for your business.”
Ready to start engaging like a boss? Let’s do this!
Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on turning your podcast listeners into leads and to hear even more about the points outlined above.
Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me! And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Listeners to Leads at www.listenerstoleads.com
CONNECT WITH JILLIAN O’KEEFE:
CONNECT WITH ALESIA GALATI:
