Have you ever posted something that performed well… and then immediately thought:
“Okay great… but now what?”
Instead of building on momentum, most creators panic. They feel pressure to top the last post. To go bigger. To go more viral. To be more creative.
And then?
They guess.
Today, we’re putting an end to that.
Because the truth is:
You don’t need more inspiration.
You need better interpretation.
Your account is already telling you what to post next.
You just have to look at the right things.
First: You Probably Don’t Need a New Account
Let’s clear this up quickly.
Most people do not need:
- A new account
- A new niche
- A dramatic pivot
Unless you bought followers or completely changed what you talk about, your account is salvageable.
What you actually need is:
- Pattern recognition
- Clear metrics
- Intentional repetition
Each account behaves differently. Some audiences love carousels. Some binge reels. Some respond best to storytelling. Some want quick tips.
Your job isn’t to copy someone else.
Your job is to study your own patterns.
Stop Looking at Only Views and Likes
Views fluctuate constantly.
They shift based on:
- Season (January dips are normal)
- Summer behavior
- Platform traffic
- Audio choice
- Overall content volume on the app
And likes?
People are stingy with them now.
That doesn’t mean your content isn’t working.
Instead, look at these metrics:
What Actually Matters
1. Shares
Shares tell you your content is:
- Relatable
- Impactful
- Funny
- Helpful enough to send to a friend
Shares = growth.
If people are hitting that airplane button, you’re onto something.
2. Followers Per Post
This one is huge.
A post with:
- 8,000 views + 40 followers
Is more valuable than - 100,000 views + 5 followers
This tells you what attracts aligned people.
That’s brand awareness gold.
3. Saves
Saves signal long-term value.
Even if someone never comes back to it, they thought:
“I need this.”
That’s powerful.
Look for topics that consistently generate saves.
4. DMs Generated
Did someone message you because of that post?
Did it:
- Start a conversation?
- Lead to a sale?
- Get a “I needed this” response?
Your silent lurkers rarely comment.
But they DM.
Track it.
5. Website Clicks & Conversions
If you use ManyChat:
- Track keyword comments.
- Track link clicks.
If you don’t:
- Check external link taps.
- Check email signups.
- Check sales tied to specific posts.
This is real momentum.
My Simple 10-10-10 Audit
This is how I audit accounts.
It’s simple on purpose.
Step 1: Look at Your Last 10–15 Posts
Just scroll.
Don’t overthink.
Step 2: Categorize Each Post
Put them into one of three buckets:
- 🔥 Growth (followers per post)
- 💬 Connection (DMs + comments)
- 💾 Value (saves + shares)
Step 3: Identify Patterns
Ask yourself:
- What topics show up in the growth bucket?
- What format performs best? (Talking head? B-roll? Carousel?)
- What hook style worked? Direct? Story-based? Bold statement?
Patterns > guesses.
Step 4: Double Down
If something worked once, it deserves a sequel.
Instead of reinventing:
- Make a Part 2.
- Go deeper.
- Change the angle.
- Change the example.
- Switch the format (turn a reel into a carousel).
Iteration beats constant innovation.
Every time.
How to Turn This Into Next Week’s Content
Let’s say you discover:
- Talking head reels bring followers → Do two next week.
- Carousels get saves → Create one deep-dive carousel.
- Personal stories bring DMs → Add one connection post.
Structure your week like this:
- 1–2 growth pieces
- 1 connection/nurture piece
- 1 high-value tip
- 1 sales post
- 1 experimental post (optional)
Now you’re not guessing.
You’re building momentum.
Why Most People Don’t Do This
Because they’re scared to look at their data.
They see:
- Lower views
- Fewer likes
And assume it flopped.
Meanwhile, the post has 120 saves.
Or sparked three DMs.
Or led to a sale.
Data removes drama.
How Plug & Post Fits In
If you love this strategy but don’t want to sit and reinvent hooks every week, this is exactly why I built Plug & Post.
Inside the membership:
- You get growth, value, and conversion content weekly.
- You get ready-to-use hook formulas.
- You get scripts, captions, story prompts.
- You can plug in topics you already know perform well.
It removes:
“What do I even post?”
And replaces it with:
“Cool. Let’s execute.”
Consistency becomes easier.
Decision fatigue disappears.
And you stay strategic.
Your Action Step This Week
Audit your last 10 posts.
Write down:
- 1 post that brought followers
- 1 post that sparked DMs
- 1 post that generated saves
Now create one follow-up post to one of them.
That’s it.
Do this every week and watch what happens.
Because growth isn’t random.
It’s patterned.
And now you know how to read it.
• • The Plug and Post membership: Instagram content ideas, picked by me (an IG strategist) every week so all you have to do is film and press post! ** Reels, carousel and story prompts – Join here!
