228: The Instagram Growth Playbook That Changed Everything

I've been producing Instagram content for a long time and we haven't seen that much growth. Some posts would hit, most wouldn't, and I had no idea why. Then I discovered a tool that changed everything. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the exact system we now use to grow on Instagram. It starts with one hour of research per month, a weekly testing rhythm, and a collaboration strategy that gets 47% more reach. I also share a real example where I analyzed a client's competitors during a VIP day and found that 18 out of their top 20 posts used one specific format. The patterns are there -- you just have to look for them.   In this episode, you'll learn: • How to use Sort Feed (a Chrome extension) to find what's already working in your niche • Why monthly research + weekly testing beats random posting every time • The micro-testing framework: change one thing per week and track results • How name drops and collaborations expand your reach (with real examples) • Why we publish three posts a day and how that accelerates learning   📥 RESOURCE: Grab the resources from this episode at https://podcast.stu.me    CONNECT WITH STU: • Website: https://stu.me  • Book "Predictable Profits": https://a.co/d/4GIi1uz  • Instagram: https://instagram.com/stumclaren  • Podcast: https://podcast.stu.me  • Membership.io: https://membership.io    Subscribe and leave a review if this episode helped you.