How I went from 0 followers to 500k+ followers on Instagram

full-time-influencer-grow-your-instagram-podcast-episode-1.jpeg

HOW I WENT FROM 0 TO 500K + FOLLOWERS ON INSTAGRAM

You see the followers, the sponsorships, and the press trips, but do you know what it takes to get there? It’s time to meet the woman behind the feed, so for the first time ever, I'm going in-depth on my personal journey: why I got started, what I had to give up to have this life, the point at which I almost called it quits, and everything else I encountered on the path to 500K.

TUNE IN: APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | Google podcast

I’ve always loved hearing about other people’s journeys and the obstacles they overcame to become successful. It’s not only inspiring but empowering for me as I encounter difficulties on my own.

I know that many of you are working to build your self-made careers, so I wanted to share my influencer journey - and how I went from having a few friends and family as followers to now half a million reach on social media.

Life as A Designer

I graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2012 and landed a job as a lingerie designer. While I found it fun at first, it ended up being unfulfilling with little pay.

One of the best things to come out of that job was listening to Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, which changed my life forever. It shifted my mindset and I launched a blog because it was the cheapest business to start.

How it All Started on Instagram

In October 2016, I announced on Facebook to all my friends and family that I was launching a fashion blog. I set up an Instagram account and began posting outfits on what is now Of Leather And Lace.

I was so excited to shoot outfits for my new account and assumed that people would find me organically and follow along once I started posting. But reality set in and nobody tuned in because there was no good reason to.

Key Takeaway: Tell everyone what you’re doing even if you’re afraid, and put a date on it so that you can hold yourself accountable.

Overcoming Obstacles

There were so many obstacles at first, and not just because I knew nothing about photography, but I had no photographer friends. I was also working a full-time job. I’d ask my boyfriend to take my photos, but he hated it and we’d fight about it. I resorted to Craigslist for photographers, and by posting consistently, I grew from a few hundred followers to a few thousand.

The lack of photography knowledge wasn’t the only roadblock though. A huge one was that no one in my circle understood what I was building. However, I knew in my heart that there was something more and kept going.

Key Takeaway: People often ridicule what they don't understand, but it’s no indication that you’re ridiculous or that you can’t achieve something.

The Risky Leap To Full-Time

With just 10k followers and a handful of brand contacts in May 2017, I decided to pull the reins on everything and quit my job to pursue Instagram.

I spent endless hours on Instagram, noticing that the people who were growing the fastest were in the travel niche. So I booked a month-long trip to Europe where one of my posts unexpectedly went viral for the first time. I knew then that shareable content was the key to growth.

Key Takeaway: If you’re considering leaving your full-time job, make sure you have a financial buffer to cover your expenses.

The Turning Point

By the end of 2017, I had grown to about 50k followers and came to the realization that it was time to learn photography. I started by editing my own photos in Lightroom, watching YouTube videos, and asking friends that I met along the way for help.

It was a huge turning point because knowing the limitations of photography and editing meant that I could take full control of my content. And best of all, I no longer relied on a photographer to create content.

Key Takeaway: Photography and content creation can seem like an impossible, daunting task when you’re just starting. However, it just takes time and practice. Remember to use your resources, talk to other photographers to better understand the craft, and practice as much as possible.

The Time I Almost Quit

I finally hit 100k followers in 2018, and the bulk of that growth came from viral, shareable content. But, I ran into another obstacle... It wasn’t profitable.

I always thought that if I hit 100k followers, brands would come knocking. They didn’t. I was creating content without a monetization strategy and my engagement dropped so low that I almost gave up. Brands were lowballing me, and I was afraid to reach out because I didn’t know my worth. It was definitely one of the lowest points of my journey.

Key Takeaway: Follower count is not the most important metric when building a business as an influencer. It’s all about pitching and networking - all of which I teach in Full-Time Influencer.

How I Pivoted into a Profitable Business

I eventually got sick of feeling bad for myself and decided to shake up my content strategy. I started color-coordinating my feed, educating others, and connecting with industry insiders. Soon, my engagement and growth skyrocketed and opportunities trickled in as I hit 200k followers.

In 2019, I went on a press trip of a lifetime to the Maldives with Qatar Air and Four Seasons Hotel. I even worked with brands on my dream list, like Fujifilm, Jill Stuart Beauty, and more. I had so many pinch-me moments in such a short time - it was unbelievable.

Key Takeaway: Be prepared to put in a lot of work without recognition and remember that you’re planting seeds. These efforts will compound over time and blossom into the results you want.

Then COVID Happened

When COVID hit in 2020, I could no longer travel. I was challenged once more to get creative with home and lifestyle content, so I began toying with props and backdrops.

I had gotten such great feedback that I started a Patreon account to teach my subscribers how to create content. This taught me that more people wanted to learn my method and that I genuinely enjoyed teaching.

The Birth of Full-Time Influencer

I began dabbling with the idea of starting a course that would teach the A-Z of becoming an influencer. However, I still wasn’t confident that anyone would be interested. One of my good friends then told me I’d be robbing people of my knowledge if I didn’t. The lightbulb went off and that was the birth of Full-Time Influencer.

Since then, I've launched three times and now have over 900 students. It’s currently not open to the public, but you can head to FTI to sign up for some really good emails.

How I Grew Over 200k Followers

Reels had also launched. I initially hated it because it meant learning video editing, but I jumped on board seeing that other influencers had great results. After 9 reels, one of my videos took off and I knew then that reels were the real deal.

After creating several viral reels and amassing almost 20M views, I grew from 215k followers to over 500k+ in less than a year. I then decided to combine everything I knew about creating viral reels into a comprehensive course, The Reels Rocket Ship, which is available HERE.

Life Today

Nowadays, I get to create content I love for myself and brands. I also get to help and watch my students transform their hobbies into side hustles and from side hustles into full-blown careers. In the near future, I’ll be launching a YouTube channel and my first ever clothing line.

When I look back at where I started, it’s hard to believe how much I accomplished. I know now that the possibilities are truly endless when you work hard. I hope that by sharing my personal story, it can inspire and motivate you to embrace the journey knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.