[FAQ]

Hello all,

I’ve got this goal of hitting 10,000 followers on my social media (still figuring out the best platform, but thinking something like Instagram or TikTok). My main question is, can this actually be done for free these days? I mean, without paying for ads or, heaven forbid, buying followers.

Is this a realistic target if you’re just relying on organic growth? What kind of strategies and sheer effort would that take in 2025? I’m also curious about any common stuff-ups people make when trying to grow organically to that kind of number.

Any advice or success stories much appreciated!

[Jeff Bullas]

Aiming for 10,000 followers for free is a solid ambition, mate! And yes, it’s possible, but “free” in this game means no cash splashed, not no effort. It takes a serious amount of work and smarts.

Here’s the guts of growing organically, no matter the platform, really:

Bloody Good Content: This is non-negotiable. Your stuff has to be valuable, entertaining, or super useful to the people you want to reach. Know your audience and what they’re after. Quality trumps quantity, but…
Consistency is Key: You’ve got to show up regularly. Whether it’s a few times a week or daily, find a rhythm you can stick to. It keeps your audience engaged and tells the platform algorithms you’re active.
Nail Your Niche: Don’t try to be all things to all people. Focus on a specific area or topic. It makes it easier to attract a dedicated bunch of followers.
Use Platform Features: Get amongst what the platform offers – Reels, TikToks, Shorts, Stories, Lives, Carousels, you name it. Platforms often give a bit of a boost to content using their preferred formats.
Smart Hashtags & Keywords: These are your signposts. Use relevant ones so people looking for your kind of content can actually find you. Do a bit of research here.
Engage Like a Real Person: It’s “social” media, so be social. Reply to comments and DMs. Chat with other creators and people in your community. Don’t just post and ghost.
Cross-Promote: Got a website, another social profile, or an email list? Chuck a link to your profile there.
Watch Your Numbers & Learn: Pay attention to your analytics. What posts are getting traction? When are your followers most active? Learn what works and do more of it.

Important Bit: “Free” doesn’t mean easy or quick. You’re swapping cash for your time and effort – and it’ll take a fair whack of both. Steer clear of anyone promising “10k followers overnight for free” – that’s usually a shortcut to a list full of bots or a lot of disappointment. Buying followers or using dodgy follow/unfollow tactics will only hurt you in the long run.

So yeah, 10,000 followers without opening your wallet is achievable, but only if you’re dead set on creating awesome content and building a real community. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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