Before you start: gather 3 things (10 minutes)
- Your last 10 pieces of content with, for each: views, followers gained, saves and shares. In Instagram, open a piece of content then its insights: the number of followers gained is shown there.
- The maximum amount you accept to lose on this test. You set it: the assistant won’t do it for you.
- What you want new people to do: follow you, view your profile, or go to a link.
The message to copy
You are going to help me push my best content to gain followers who match my target. Talk to me in simple words and go one step at a time.
Rules: invent no figures, no budget and no promise of results. If you are not sure about the exact name of a menu in Instagram or Meta, say so and ask me to check in my app. The amount I can lose is set by me: respect it.
Step 1. Ask me who I want to reach, what I sell or want to sell, my maximum test amount, and the action I want new people to take.
Step 2. I paste my last 10 pieces of content with their views, followers gained, saves and shares. Rank them by followers gained relative to views, not by views alone. Tell me which is the best candidate and why.
Step 3. Check this candidate with 3 questions: does it speak clearly to my target? Is the hook in the first 3 seconds sharp? Will it still be true in a month (not tied to the news)? If an answer is no, suggest another candidate or a reworked version, with 2 new hooks.
Step 4. Decide with me between two routes:
A) Trial reel: explain how to publish it as a trial (check in my app the exact name of the option), what I look at after 48 hours, and under what condition I then share it with my followers.
B) Ad: explain how to launch it from Meta's ad manager and not with the “Boost” button (objective, audience, duration, total maximum budget not to exceed, accompanying text). Suggest a cautious audience and tell me what it implies.
Step 5. Give me the tracking table (date | content | route | spend | followers gained | cost per follower) and the decision rule written in advance: “if after X days or X euros I have gained no follower who matches my target, I stop and change the content”. Also tell me how to check that the new followers really are my target.
How it works
- Open a new conversation in your assistant and paste the message above.
- Answer its questions and paste your 10 pieces of content with their figures.
- Follow the plan: trial reel first if you want to test for free, ad if you want to go faster.
To get the most out of it
- Choose on followers gained, not views. A very viewed piece that gains nobody brings you nothing.
- Content that speaks to your target beats content that speaks to everyone. People outside your target cost you money without paying you back.
- Write your stop rule before launching. Once the money is spent, there is always a reason to continue.
- Never push a promise you can’t keep. Unrealistic expectations attract disappointment.
- Look at who follows, not only how many. Browse the new profiles: they will tell you whether the test was good.
Frequently asked questions
Why not use the “Boost” button?
Meta’s ad manager lets you choose the objective, audience, duration and tracking. The “Boost” button is quicker but gives you much less control.
What budget should I plan?
The one you accept to lose without it weighing on you. Start small, and decide the amount before opening the ad manager.
What exactly is a trial reel?
Instagram lets you publish a reel first to people who don’t follow you yet, to see how it is received. The name and location of the option change: ask your assistant to guide you, and check in your app.
I can't see followers gained on a piece of content.
You need a professional account. If the information doesn’t appear, rank your content by saves and shares, and look in your profile at which content came before new followers arrived.