It’s not always clear how a new IG follower becomes a client mainly because it doesn’t happen automatically. Sometimes it takes months for a new follower to become a client. However, the followers that I can clearly follow from new face to new client, it’s clear that they came to my account for a reason.

That’s the key: narrowing down what a new follower is looking for from your account, or what convinced them to hit follow. Once you can pin point the reason you’ve got a better chance of nurturing them from a new face to an engaged audience, and into a star client.

Now this process takes time, so be patient. 

To be 100% transparent, I am not great about tracking the how and why that I just discussed, but I am working on it.

(This is an area of “do as I say, not as a I do” situation.)

However, as I reflect on the last year of my IG history, here’s what I DO know about a few new followers that became clients in 6 months or less.

NOTE: I organized this blog into categories of the winning Instagram conversion technique, and end each section with my suggestion for you, a new copywriter that plans on using Instagram to get new clients.

Winning IG Conversion Technique: be a highly engaged follower with genuine excitement

My first organic lead from Instagram was Prymal Coffee Creamer which is a brand that I was purchasing from for a few years before they reached out to me about writing their email welcome series. Honestly, I don’t know if they were even following me.

They reached out to me because I was consistently engaging with their social content because I was purchasing their products and just loved them. Wanna know my secret? This was one of my dream clients and I did engage with their content a lot more AFTER I launched Kira Writes Copywriting, but it was just a dream to write for them. A dream that OBVIOUSLY came true, and I was ecstatic about it (just ask my husband).

Courtney, the owner, told me in her initial inquiry that she knew I would be a great copywriter for them because we’d engaged many times in DMs and I was her target audience, so I could provide great insight for them as a company. 

Suggestion: Don’t be afraid to engage with your dream clients and especially brands that you already purchase from! Show them that you know the product, share their content often (if it matches your content), and never give up! You never know what will happen. If they have a piece of copy that you think could be improved upon, or is missing, then go ahead and give them your opinion – be professional, and kind, and be ready to show them the amazing copy that you can create!

Winning IG Conversion Technique: Cold pitching an IG follower of a mutual IG account with a specific copy project at an easy low cost

This next client was converted from a cold pitch. Before you keep scrolling or totally cancel my entire blog, forget what you think about a cold pitch and give it a chance. I am all for the cold pitches that don’t seem random and ACTUALLY provide value to your prospective client – just like this cold pitch that earned me a new client.

This cottage baker that specializes in shockingly beautiful and creative sugar cookies was a client of a graphic designer that I follow. I was looking for new accounts to follow that would be an ideal client for me, and this cottage baker met my criteria. After I followed her, I began to engage with her content before I shot my shot. 

When I sent the pitch it sounded a little something like this, “Hey, I am Kira, I follow so-and-so, and when I was checking out your account I noticed that you don’t have a website. I thought I’d let you know that I can create a website for you (or start with a homepage) for just $300.00. No pressure, but if you’re interested let me know!”

She was a little hesitant because her business was fairly new, but my timing was impeccable. She was attempting to DIY her Shopify website and was struggling to get it right. The ability to hire me within her budget to get it done was worth it to her instead of struggling through it, and possibly still hating it in the end. 

While this was a learning error for me (pricing waaaay too low) it was a great experience and gave me confidence in my ability to intentionally convert potential clients into actual clients via IG.

Suggestion: Strategically send cold pitches. Save them for clients you can relate to on a personal level, and make sure to send them a specific project you can help them with and be suuuper clear about the benefit of hiring you. Make it an easy yes for them.

Winning IG Conversation Technique: Consistently posting value-packed information that proves my copywriting expertise and is filled with personality

This web designer and SEO expert followed me and began engaging with my posts multiple times a week. I am not sure where she originally found my account, but once she was consistently engaging with my content I took notice (her profile pic was official) so I began wondering what she was doing following my account (imposter syndrome at its finest).

Within a month or two she reached out to me about doing a rather large first project, and I definitely jumped at the chance. It was clear she was my ideal client, and I could EASILY write for her because we were writing to the same type of client – people that are looking to upgrade their website and ditch their DIY website. 

Posting consistently and not shying away from including my big personality attracted me to her, and instantly made it clear that we were a good fit! 

Suggestion: Even when it feels like you’re writing to no one – keep going! You will get clients if you keep posting. The worst thing that you could do is to go silent. 

Winning IG Conversation Technique: Don’t be afraid to engage with new IG accounts in your industry (or industry-adjacent) even if they seem like they know way more than you do.

One of the web designers that I follow always posts about the clients they are creating websites for, and this social media strategist’s website caught my attention. After engaging in a poll about her new website design she began to follow me and engage with my content. 

I remember being blown away by the social media knowledge that she had, and a little intimidated, to be honest, but I kept engaging with her and it paid off! A month or two later she asked if I would be interested in speaking at one of the membership monthly calls she was part of to teach about writing social captions from a copywriter’s perspective. I was BLOWN AWAY when I got this invite. I was nervous but said yes (I used to be an adjunct professor and will latch to any teaching opportunity), and the rest is history.

The presentation got me exposure to others in her network and has resulted in consistent work with this client over the last few months. I am excited to see where this will go.

Suggestion: Don’t be afraid to engage with someone that appears to be a few seasons ahead of you in business, and never shy away from showing off your own expertise. 

My experience isn’t expansive, and the remaining clients (including my long-term retainer clients) were from personal connections or referrals). But this is my experience using IG to convert new followers into clients, thus far.

How I’ll strategically use IG in the future to convert followers into new clients

Most of my IG content in the first 6 months of launching Kira Writes Copywriting was trial and error. In the last 1 year and 6 months of running Kira Writes Copywriting as my only job, I’ve had a lot less time to intentionally put into my Instagram to get the most out of it and properly nurture new followers into future clients. 

While it hasn’t been as strategic as I would like it to be I have seen seasons of major fruit of my efforts when I am working full-time hours. I don’t run my business full-time year-round and have yet to invest in hiring someone to assist with social media. That is something on my business wish list for the next season. 

Until then, I will be doing these 4 things to continue to convert new clients via IG:

1. Posting often and always 
2. Strategically engaging with potential clients that fall into my target audience 
3. Creating a Favorites List to help my outbound engagement efforts
4. Starting an IG Channel specifically for social media experts looking for help in crafting the proper brand voice for their clients’ content

New copywriters that are using IG to convert clients

It’s okay to ask for help from other copywriters. There is a lot to managing a business and getting it off the ground including, but not limited to, starting and writing a website, getting your social content up and running, and managing new projects. I am here to help you!

Have a question about how I’ve used IG to get new clients?

Want 1:1 help from me such as a copy audit on your website, an extra pair of eyes on a new project, or just want some business advice from someone a season ahead of you…