This is a juicy one — I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing exactly how I more than doubled my Instagram conversions in just 30 days… without posting more. Yup, you read that right. Whether you’re looking to grow your reach, get more people onto your email list, or increase conversions without going viral, I’m walking you through step-by-step how I did it. You’ll get all five steps I followed to drastically grow my reach, see more email opt-ins, and make more sales — without burning out or spending hours glued to my phone.
This strategy is perfect for online business owners prepping for Q4 promos (hello, Black Friday!) or anyone wanting to get serious about short-form content that actually converts.
Why I Needed a New Instagram Strategy
Let’s rewind for a second. Between pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and chronic illness, I had unintentionally coasted on Instagram from mid-2024 through early 2025. My content got less strategic, and while I was still posting, I wasn’t seeing the kind of growth I knew was possible.
Now that I’m about a year postpartum, I’ve been diving deep into what actually works on Instagram right now. Reels have evolved, short-form content has changed, and it’s not just about getting views — it’s about real, meaningful conversions. And the results? In June 2025, I had around 170 people go through my ManyChat automations. In July? That number jumped to over 450 — without any viral content.
So let’s talk about exactly how I did that.
Step 1: I Made My Account an Embodiment of What I Teach
The biggest shift I made wasn’t a content hack — it was a mindset shift.
Instead of just showing up as “the girl who teaches YouTube” or “the girl who teaches digital products,” I decided to embody the lifestyle and results my audience actually wants. I focused on showing what it looks like to run a multi-six-figure business in 20 hours a week, with my husband home full-time — and how I got there through digital products, YouTube, and short-form content.
Think about it this way: people don’t just want tips. They want to see how you live what you teach. This shift showed up in how I wrote my bio, what I shared on stories, and the kind of content I posted — showing the outcome of what I teach instead of just the mechanics.
This works whether you’re in the mom niche, online education, health, or something totally different. It’s about creating a brand people want to be part of because they can see the transformation you’re helping them achieve.
Step 2: I Made Selling a Daily Non-Negotiable
If I wanted results, I needed to treat Instagram like a real part of my business strategy — not just a fun place to post content. So I made one rule for myself: I had to sell five days a week, Monday through Friday, either in my feed or in stories.
Selling didn’t always mean pushing a paid product. Most days, my CTA was to grab a freebie via ManyChat, which added them to my email list (where most of the actual sales happen). This approach helped me show up consistently with purpose — and even though I wasn’t perfect every single day, the commitment kept me focused and intentional with what I was posting.
Let me be clear: selling doesn’t mean being spammy or sleazy. For me, selling is simply inviting my audience into something more — more free value, more transformation, more support.
Step 3: I Made My Posts Juicier (Here’s How)
Let’s be real… my content had gotten boring. It wasn’t intentional — I was just coasting. But when I started studying what was working (especially content getting hundreds of comments through ManyChat), I noticed one huge thing: juicy, specific hooks.
Most people are over the “3 tips to X” type of content. That’s what ChatGPT is for. What works now is content that grabs attention, feels personal, and builds trust fast. I changed up my hook strategy and made my content way more specific and results-driven.
Some of my favorite hooks right now:
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“Most people don’t realize this, but…”
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“I wish someone had told me this sooner…”
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“This might be controversial, but…”
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“It’s always wild to me when…”
Even if you’re saying something others are saying, how you say it matters. The content I’m creating now reflects my values, my perspective, and what makes my approach unique — and that’s what builds connection (and conversions).
Step 4: I Used ManyChat for Every Single CTA
If you’re still telling people to “click the link in bio” or using a link sticker — stop. It’s 2025 and there’s a better way.
Every conversion-focused post or story I shared used ManyChat with a keyword trigger. This simple switch allowed me to collect emails directly in DMs (without sending them off to a separate page where drop-off happens). And the difference was huge — up to 80% of people who commented a keyword gave me their email address. Before? I was lucky to get half that.
I’ve even created a free ManyChat template that shows you exactly how I set this up, including how to connect it with your email provider. You can grab it below the video.
By using juicy content paired with strategic ManyChat automations, I turned DMs into my highest-converting funnel — without extra time or effort.
Step 5: I Stayed Consistent (But Didn’t Burn Out)
Over the 30-day period, here’s what I actually posted:
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11 feed posts with a ManyChat CTA
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7 story slides with a ManyChat CTA
That’s not a crazy amount of content. Some posts flopped. Some stories got just 13 replies. Others got nearly 100. But all together? They led to over 450 people opting in through my automations — and those people are now on my list, in my funnel, and buying my digital products.
One of my best-performing stories had 2,162 views and 97 replies — and it was super simple. Just a juicy hook, a compelling freebie, and a clear CTA.
You don’t need to post every day. You don’t need viral Reels. You need intentional content that sells in a way that’s aligned with your brand and feels authentic to you.
Want to Implement This Strategy for Yourself?
If you’re ready to blow up your own Instagram — for real conversions and list growth — start by embodying your brand, showing up consistently to sell, and getting strategic with your hooks and CTAs. And if you’re not already using ManyChat? Now’s the time.
I created a free Manychat template you can grab to start collecting emails inside the DMs (no clunky landing pages needed).
And if you want real-time updates as I keep testing and tweaking what’s working on Instagram, make sure you’re following me over at @stephanielynnkase. I’ll be sharing more behind-the-scenes tips you can implement right away.
