How I got from 50 followers to 50,000 followers on Instagram

50,000 followers is amazing! I'm blown away by the support I've received to build my instagram following. If you're reading this then it's most likely that you're following me. Thank you. I wouldn't be here without your kindness and support.

When did this happen?

This week, I've been watching the numbers and it ticked over to 50,000 followers on Sunday 26th January 2025. I'll admit that it's been a five year journey in the making, creating different styles of content as trends change and keeping up with my daily workout, wrestling with the algorithm. Instagram is my favourite platform. I love it for a whole host of reasons. It has helped enormously to build my confidence (yes, I suffer from Imposter Syndrome too!) and the platform has always been a significant driver when it comes to building my silver nutshell jewellery business.

When did you set up your account on instagram?

I launched my brand, Silver Nutshell, and my instagram account @silvernutshell in October 2019, having thought about it for a whole year! That is one of the downsides of working in publishing. I was used to 90/95% perfection, having built brands and developed a fiercely keen eye for detail. Sometimes, you have to launch 'dirty' as I've been told, and clean up as you learn and grow. But of course, I didn't listen to myself because after years of training to spot every double space between two words, typos in seconds, and minuscule details, my route to get here has probably taken longer than most. Organic, I call it! Measured and carefully curated. Most definitely.

Describe a special milestone?

No one prepares you for the fact that it will take an age to gain followers when you begin using any of these social media platforms. However, I'd managed to get to 50 by May 2020, with many of those loyal followers still with me now. One of my most significant milestones was in the same. year.

The Kernowcraft Instagram Jewellers Challenge

I joined the Kernowcraft Jewellers Challenge, knowing little about what I was doing, or what it might mean for my account. I duly posted, it was photographs back then, and enjoyed the simplicity of sharing what I love every day. I never considered that I might win! To be honest, I hadn't realised there was a prize. I just loved being part of something much bigger than me. And, guess what? I WON! Subsequently, Kernowcraft asked me to create a silver metal clay video and an episode of A Day in the Life, which you can watch here.

Watch my episode of a Day in the Life from Kernowcraft

How to make a silver metal clay daisy

That was, and still is, a especial milestone for me. My followers leapt from 50 to 100 in a day, which felt like I'd won the lottery! Not that I know how that feels. I was getting follower requests and lots of them, which was the start of a special relationship with the Instagram jeweller community. I took the call to tell me that I'd won, standing under a tree at Blenheim Palace! I was on a visit with a good friend and we got so excited, I think we bought ice-creams to celebrate. Watching my followers jump to over 100 that day made me realise what a wonderful community this was. There is no better way to feel good about your small business than to share what you do with others. It's a great place to share your problems, get answers, learn new skills, and meet new friends, some of which I've gone on to meet in person.

So, how do you feel about it now?

Roll onto to 2025 and I'm truly grateful for every single one of my 50,000 followers. As anyone with a small business knows, it's jolly hard work. It's no longer okay to just be good enough at anything. We have to excel at everything because the world is watching. That sounds scary but it doesn't have to be. I treat my account like my friendship group. Everyone is welcome but there are rules. I have zero tolerance to anything that I wouldn't tolerate in real life. I've learnt a massive amount about the algorithm. It's a canny beast that just when you think you've learnt how it works, changes tack! It's a bit like a game of snakes and ladders, really.

What have you learned?

I've learnt a lot during the past 5 years and my instagram account looks very different now to when I first started. I've also launched another brand, Silver Metal Clay Courses, and I'm learning more about website building as I grow. From posting a single photo on instagram every day, some of the time, to recording, editing and sharing my technique reels twice a day, instagram is a brilliant marketing tool. Okay, it does feel like there's a party going on and it's a great place to get distracted, but staying on message, behind the hype, there is a huge group of amazingly creative people to connect with on there. They are the reason why I keep turning up.

I've also learnt how much of a data geek I am! It's a powerful tool. I'm constantly looking at the data and changing my activity to disrupt the algorithm. When you are starting out, you don't know if low engagement is caused by something that you've done, or not done, or by something connected to the algorithm. That's why it can be a frustrating platform for a lot of makers.

I've learnt to be patient because Instagram has it's own rhythm and you need to, as they say, lean in and roll with it. In September 2023, one of my reels went viral. That was another huge milestone for me. I now have 41 reels with over 1 million views. One has 26 million views, and counting. I've not paid for any activity, sponsored any posts or in fact, got paid to do so. I have however, learnt something about what works for me. Of course, the algorithm keeps changing, so the game is always on. But, insight and experience helps me understand how to get the best out of the beast... until it changes again!

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
If you're keen to know more about Instagram, please comment below (click on 'contact' at the bottom of the page). I'm considering writing a Guide to help you all play the game. Because that's what it is. You have to be in it to win it , but it's also important to enjoy the journey. Comment below with your thoughts, what you need to know and let's see if I can help you achieve your goals!

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