How to Get New (and Old!) Followers to Binge Your Content

Creating your own signature series should not feel overwhelming, and if it does I’m here to change your mind because it is absolutely doable for you. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to create binge-worthy, repeatable content that's not only uniquely you, but also fits naturally into your business and life. I’m sharing tons of real-life examples and clever series ideas from all kinds of creators to inspire your own irresistible content, because we want your audience to seek you out, even if the algorithm isn’t cooperating. 

In this episode we’ll be covering:

• How to create bingeable, return-worthy Instagram content your audience looks forward to every week.
• Simple, repeatable ideas for launching a content series that actually fits your brand.
• Tips for incorporating your personal journey or business process into a signature series.
• Real examples of successful series for artists, food bloggers, designers, and brick-and-mortars.
• Creative prompts and hooks for building a series that attracts your target audience and increases visibility.

Featured content in this episode:

• Vnessali: Day one of trying a new hobby to recover from burnout
• Ella_mobbs_art: Revealing my art until it reaches my audience
• Zarasmixtapes: Albums every music lover should listen to
• Orenmeetsworld: Are you buying the product or are your buying the brand
• Ingrid.j.j: If you’re naturally attracted to these types of men
• Eatingwellish: Great American Restaurants
• Littlejoycoffee: Day one of trying new drinks for our fall menu
• Calebulf: Little luxuries: $500 Smart Lamp
• Jenneatsgoood: 10 Days of fall dinner

Recommended episodes:

• Episode 069: Why Slow Summer Vibes and 90’s Nostalgia are Stopping the Scroll This Summer
• Episode 074: How to Humanize Your Account When You Feel Stuck in Business Mode
• Episode 076: Create Content That Makes Them Want to Keeping Coming Back
• Episode 078: Your Winning Content Strategy is Hiding in Plain Sight
• Episode 081: Your Next Powerful Piece of Content is Already on Your Phone

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Transcript

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:00]:
I am your host, Shannon McKinstrie. Welcome to Good Content, the podcast where I remove the never ending content creation, guesswork and overwhelm so that you can actually enjoy being on social media again and growing your business with what has always worked. Good Content. So I'm going to actually beg you today to take what I'm about to share with you and run with it. I've been wanting to do this podcast episode for a while, but the biggest thing for me is I don't want this to feel overwhelming and I want this to feel super doable. Because with a signature series, that's exactly what it should be. It should be something that's already kind of built in your life, your everyday.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:00:42]:
Right. But there's so many ways to do series and I think people get overwhelmed by it because they think it has to be daily. These can be weekly. These can be even something on your feed that you don't even call a series. It's just something people know you for and they know every week you're going to share it. But I do this with a lot of my content. People just know they're going to get at least once a week for me, some sort of trending audio with hooks to go with it. Right.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:03]:
I don't call them series. It's just something that my audience expects. But this is the reason series are so important, and this is the most important thing to know. In addition to just being consistent, you need to be returnable. Your account needs to be something that people want to actually, even if the algorithm's not showing your content, they're going into Instagram and typing your username or business name to find you and look at your content because they've missed it. And I promise you, people are looking forward to your content more than you realize. I know it's really hard not to compare yourself. I know it's really hard to see other people in your industry growing faster than you are.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:01:36]:
And you're like, I'm working so hard. I want to get my voice heard. Trust me, I get it. I've never been an account that has grown rapidly. I have grown slowly but surely over time. And actually, to be honest, even though of course I see other people in my niche growing faster and I'm like, boo hoo. It's just part of this journey of being an entrepreneur. And because I've grown slower over the past, let's say I started posting consistently on Instagram.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:02:01]:
I would say 2018, 2019. I've been on Instagram since 20... I started my business account, I think 2016, 2017, but I was posting like, hardly ever because I was managing so many people's accounts and I wasn't honoring the fact that I wanted to create my own content, right? Like, I was like, oh, who cares what I have to say? And then later on I woke up and I hope you have too. You deserve to show your own business love and, and share your journey and share your thoughts and things like that. So one of the things that really did, where I got big spurts of growth are when I do some sort of series. A 30 days of this or 10 days of this type of series, or I even did a series on series a while back. They're great for getting people to not just follow you, but also return to your account. So when I'm scrolling the feed and I see this is part three of whatever and I like it, I'm going to go to your account and binge your.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:02:49]:
Find the other two or maybe even have more since the third. You have 10 up by now because we know the algorithm pushes. You know, there's no. It's not chronological, right? So it's a really great way to grow your account. Like I said, get new followers, but also get people to return and keep coming back to your account. If your goal right now is like, Shannon, I gotta get in front of new people. I need a big surge and new follows, this is it. And then you just keep the series going Again, like I said, for me, I have series.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:14]:
I don't really call them series. It's just kind of what people expect. So. But with that said, the key to a series that is going to be successful is something that is one uniquely you and two is easy to repeat over and over and over again. I don't want you doing a series that you're like, well, I don't even naturally do this in life. Like, no, it needs to be stuff that's already part of who you are in your business. If you want to get it up right. You also want to make sure the series is bingeable, that it's going to make them want to go and watch the other parts.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:03:42]:
So again, there's so many ways to do series. There's ones that you can do once a week for the rest of your entire life. Right. Or there's, you know, ones that are more on a time constraint, 30 days of 10 days of some sort of journey you're on. And that's where I'll start. Is one of the best ways to start a Series is a journey that you're on. Day one of figuring out, blah, blah, blah.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:02]:
Day one of testing this for my business. Day one of revealing my art until the right people find me. And you do 10 days of it, right? And you do the same reel for 10 days showing a different piece of art, a different outfit, whatever it is. I love those types of series because they're. It's a really good one for you to start out with. Now, again, when I talk about identity, I talk about it a lot in a lot of other podcast episodes. Cause a really good series for you to start out with if you're intimidated by it or just like trying to figure it out is just day one of sharing blank until I find my people or until I find all the homeschooling moms, until I find all the blah, blah, blah, obsessed people. Right? So mine could be something like day one of sharing trending audios and my favorite hooks.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:04:46]:
Actually, I might do this until everyone trying to grow on Instagram without burning out finds me. Right? And it would be a trending audio playing me, probably dancing. And then in the caption would be my favorite hooks. And I could do 30 days of that. Day two, day three, day four. Right? So that's a really easy one that you can do and start today. But again, like I said, I don't want you to do something generic, boring that they've seen before. It needs to be uniquely you and really emerge in your life.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:11]:
And that makes it repeatable and easy to create. Okay, so here's a great example. It will be in the show notes. She starts off by saying, day one of here, I'll just let it play. Ready?

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:25]:
Now that has 277,000 likes, 17,000 shares. She's sharing a journey she's on and why she's on it. It's incredible. We, we. That's literally one of the top reasons we're on social media. Not just to connect with others, but to share each other's journeys that we're on. So that's a great way to do one. But like I said, the other one is day one of sharing my blank until I find the right people.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:05:46]:
Let me find it. Hers says. So again, this is great for the photographers, the artist that, you know, if you share outfits or whatever it is revealing my art until it reaches my audience, my target audience. Day one. And then I'm sure she did many others. And all she does is hold the piece of art from the you can only see the back of it. And then she slowly reveals it. Everyone in the comments, you found me.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:07]:
That's me. This is what I love, right? Really brilliant way to do a series. And then she probably does it for like 10 days or 30 days, something like that. And then there you go. You've got your content, you've got 30 days of content done. And obviously show something different every time. And again, it could be. It could be a coffee shop.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:22]:
Until everyone in Boise finds our coffee shop. That's something like that. Other ideas for series. Okay, ready? This one's brilliant. This one is about. This one is from Zara Mixtapes. And she's talking about albums that every music lover should know about or albums, right? And of course, anyone who loves music is going to stop and watch this. And then she goes on to say, this is part three.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:06:47]:
So people go watch more. This is it.

Video [00:06:49]:
Five albums. There are five albums that I consider perfect that every music lover should listen to at least once in their life. This is a part three of the series. So if you want more recommendations, check out parts one and two.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:01]:
You could literally write down that script and go throw it into chat GPT and say, how can I make. How can you tailor this as an interior designer? How can you tailor this as a realtor in Denver? How can you tailor this as. Right, because you could talk about my favorite neighborhoods. You could talk about whatever it is. So I love that she started it out with a really strong hook. And then she went on to say, by the way, this is part three. Go watch one and two. Also, here's another one.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:24]:
Now this one, I love this creator. He does this, but again, he doesn't call it a series per se. He just says, are you buying the product or are you buying the brand? And then he breaks it down. He uses a green screen. So I'm gonna let it play so you can hear what I mean. Product where you buying the brand? Eyewear Gentle Monster. So again, instead of episodes, he has new series. Are you buying the product or the brand? Eyewear edition.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:44]:
So it's another way you can do a series without it being series episode. Just saying, this is blah, blah, blah, edition. Here's another example.

Video [00:07:52]:
If you're attracted to these type of men, I'm going to tell you exactly what I think that means about you. You're naturally drawn to men who feel as if.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:07:59]:
Now, this creator has done so many of these, and they're brilliant. And she's holding a laptop and going through the process and Showing you. Okay, if you're attracted to these types of actors or these characters. This is what that says about you. And of course, we love learning about ourselves. So this is a great way you could do this. You know, let's say you're in therapy mindset, or you just, like, love dissecting stuff like this. And she's done so many others.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:08:20]:
If you go to her page, her account is Ingrid Jennison. And then I love this. This is from a local food blogger, actually, back where I'm from in the dmv. I grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and I actually used to work at Best Buns in Shirlington in high. All through high school, it's owned by Great American Restaurants. Now, if you live in D.C. you know, great American Restaurants, there's. It's like, it's a chain per se, but not really because they're all different types, but it's like a restaurant group, right? Incredible food, no matter which one you choose.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:08:47]:
Banging. Okay. So I saw this randomly and I was like, what a cute little series that she's doing. So I'll let it play so you can hear it.

Video [00:08:54]:
We're eating at all 12 great American restaurants to see which one is the best. Today we're in Tyson's corner to eat at.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:00]:
So she starts out saying, I've been eating at every great American restaurant to decide which is the best. The hook over her head. Ready? Rating and ranking all 12 great American restaurants, part 11. Brilliant. So if you're in the local space, that's a great way. Or you can even rank your own foods. If you're a restaurant. Right.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:16]:
Maybe like you do, this is a great way to do it. If you own a boutique, a restaurant, a spa, have each episode is your employee or staff giving their recommendations. People love this stuff. Here's another great example for brick and mortars.

Video [00:09:30]:
Today is day one of trying new drinks till we find one good enough for the fall menu.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:35]:
Now this is Little Joy coffee. And he said, day one of trying new drinks for our fall menu. And of course, our curiosity is going to lock in because we want to know what it's all about.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:45]:
And I'll share one more with you because this is great for, like, interior designers. I'll just let it play real quick so you can hear.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:51]:
This is a $500 smart lamp, and it's what I call a little luxury party.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:09:55]:
A little luxury. We know the word. This, starting out with a talk to camera script is so good. Just this, right? And then he's using a Green screen as well. Be sure to check the show notes for all of these. And the last one I'll share with you is something seasonal. If you can do a series around seasons, I mean, just know it's going to take off. I'll let this one play real quick.

Video [00:10:13]:
If you ask me, there's nothing better than cozy fall recipes and I'm sharing. Easy, creative, healthy ways to enjoy them. In my 10 Days of Fall dinner series.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:21]:
10 Days of Fall Dinner series. And then she puts the title of the dish directly under it. For this one, it was Slow Cooker Corn Tortilla Soup. So what I hope this helped you with today is think of something that you either love to teach and you break it into a series. It's either part one, part two, day one, day two and if the cool thing is if you can't commit to day by day parts once a week, part one, part two, episode one, episode two. Or do you like the others where if you do art, jewelry, et cetera, revealing my website, maybe you're a website designer. Until I've reached my target audience.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:10:54]:
Day one. And you do that 30 days. What a fun way to just introduce yourself to your audience and create content that just goes simply. And one of the 30 will take off, right? Or maybe all 30. I even saw a while ago a fashion blogger and she was like, day one of convincing you that it's not your body, it's your clothes, right? And then the second one was like day two of proving to mid sized girlies that they can pull off, blah blah blah. So even though day one, day two, it always had a separate hook, it was kind of cool because I was like, oh, she's testing to see what words on screen grab people. So either way, it was every day she was sharing a new outfit, but she was saying day one of blank, day two of blank. And she changed the wording every time, which was brilliant because now she knows what identifiers people see in themselves and what words to use and what words the algorithm soaks up as a keyword.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:11:41]:
So there you go. I hope you create a series because honestly, every time I do a series, it's led such great growth. I wrote down some series for you guys just to spit a couple out to help you out. Let's say you are. I came up with these myself, so feel free to steal them for someone who's like in the coaching space. A save yourself series. So this could be a series where you're giving people permission to do things like whether it's taking it, you know, building your schedule around whatever it is, right? I don't know, something that you can show them cool automated tasks to do, cool tools you love. Whatever it is, it could be anything.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:12:14]:
Save yourself, right? Or a steal my setup series is another cool way to do it. Okay, more series ideas for you. Let's say you are the food blogger, pantry chic eats, one pot to table dinners, things like that, right? And you just do day one. Or it's a series that you do once a week for my bookstagram people. Books that live in my head, rent free, blank edition, authors who owe me therapy. I thought that'd be kind of funny, right? And you guys can talk about books that like ripped your heart out in the best way. And then we always love a challenge.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:12:47]:
A you know, of whatever dollar dinner challenge, outfit challenge. Right? And then for my lifestyle people, maybe it's unrush your week. Maybe it's 10 to your system if you're yoga, things like that. And then lastly, for products right behind the cart, maybe you talk reasons why your customer purchased something, right? Maybe they purchased your product, but it was a reason you never even thought of before. That would be so cool to see. Or the story behind the scent, right? You talk about the perfume you made or the candle you made. All right. I know this was a longer episode.

Shannon McKinstrie [00:13:18]:
I wanted to make sure to just really help you nail a series and crush it and dominate and stop thinking so much and make sure it's something that's already. It's uniquely you, it's ingrained in your life and it's easy to create. I love you, friend. I can't wait to hear how this goes for you..