# Instagram Growth > >- - **Type:** Skill - **Install:** `agentstack add skill-social-media-skills-skills-instagram-growth` - **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior - **Seller:** [social-media-skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/social-media-skills) - **Installs:** 0 - **Category:** [AI & ML](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/ai-and-ml) - **Latest version:** 0.1.0 - **License:** MIT - **Upstream author:** [social-media-skills](https://github.com/social-media-skills) - **Source:** https://github.com/social-media-skills/skills/tree/main/skills/instagram-growth - **Website:** https://social-media-skills.com ## Install ```sh agentstack add skill-social-media-skills-skills-instagram-growth ``` Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent. ## About # Instagram Growth This is the Instagram-specific **growth system** — not another content skill. It diagnoses *where* growth is stuck and routes to the skills that fix it, on top of the 2026 reality of how Instagram actually distributes content. Three truths shape everything: 1. **Instagram is a discovery engine, not a follower feed.** ~94% of distribution is AI recommendations; most reach comes from **non-followers** via **Reels and Explore**. Reach is earned per post — **follower count is a vanity number.** 2. **Watch time and sends drive reach.** The top signals are watch time (the first ~3 seconds decide a Reel) and **sends-per-reach** (DM shares), which are **~3–5× more valuable than likes** for reaching new people. Strong hook + send-worthy content = travel. 3. **Each surface has its own algorithm.** Reels = discovery, Feed = followers, Stories = retention, Explore = discovery. Match the format to the surface's signal. (Full model: `references/the-growth-engine.md`.) ## Step 0 — Read the foundation + the current state Load `brand-profile.md`, `social-strategy.md`, `audience.md`. Get the **goal** (reach / follows / leads) and the **current state** from native Insights (reach, non-follower reach, sends, saves, profile visits, follows) — WoopSocial has no analytics. ## Step 1 — Diagnose the broken stage (the growth loop) Find which stage is stuck: **Reach → Follow-conversion → Retention/Sends → Sustainability.** A growth problem is almost always **one** specific stage — diagnose it before prescribing. See the diagnosis table in `references/format-and-diagnosis.md`. ## Step 2 — Fix the reach engine (Reels-led) If reach is the issue: prioritize **Reels** (the non-follower engine), nail the **3-second hook** (watch time), and clear the **eligibility gates** — **original, no TikTok watermark**, has audio, under the length cap, **clear niche** (the algorithm must categorize you). Use **Trial Reels** to test with non-followers risk-free. → `reels-script`, `hook-writer`. See `references/the-growth-engine.md`. ## Step 3 — Pull the sends lever Sends (DM shares) are the dominant discovery signal. Engineer **send-worthy** content — relatable, useful/reference, conversation-starting — so people forward it. Track **sends-per-reach** (aim past ~1–2%). See `references/the-sends-lever.md`. ## Step 4 — Run the formats as a system **Reels = reach · carousels = saves/authority · Stories = retention · photos = low discovery.** Map each format to the signal its surface rewards; don't post them interchangeably. → `reels-script`, `carousel-writer`. See `references/format-and-diagnosis.md`. ## Step 5 — Convert + retain - **Convert** the reach: if views are high but follows are low, the **profile** is the problem → `profile-optimization`. - **Retain** the warm audience: **Stories** (polls/questions/replies) + fast comment/DM replies + a **broadcast channel** (one-to-many DMs — the highest-attention surface for superfans) + community. This boosts early signals on every new post. ## Step 6 — Niche, SEO, cadence, measurement - **Niche clarity** + **keywords** (caption/on-screen/audio) so Instagram categorizes and surfaces you → `hashtag-strategy` / `social-seo`. - **Sustainable cadence** (consistency > volume) → `content-calendar`. - **Measure** via native Insights (sends-per-reach, saves, watch time, profile visits, follower vs non-follower reach). Never claim WoopSocial analytics; **follower count is vanity**. ## Orchestration map instagram-growth diagnoses and routes; these execute: `reels-script` · `hook-writer` · `carousel-writer` · `caption-writer` · `profile-optimization` · `content-calendar` · `hashtag-strategy` · `trend-jacking` · `viral-reverse-engineering` · `cross-platform-repurposing` · `scheduling-and-queue`. ## Quality bar — self-check - Did I **diagnose the broken stage** rather than spray generic tips? - Did I center **Reels for reach** and **sends + watch time** as the signals? - Did I **route to the right skills** to fix each stage? - Did I respect the **eligibility gates** (original, no watermark, niche clarity)? - Did I reframe **follower count as vanity** toward reach/sends/saves/profile-visits/leads? - **Sustainable cadence**, **native-Insights** measurement, **no analytics claims**, **no growth hacks / no guarantees**? ## Edge cases & pushback - **"Get me 10k followers / buy followers"** → refuse fake engagement; reframe to reach/sends/leads; follower count is vanity. - **"Repost my TikToks"** → watermark + originality gate throttles them; make native versions. - **"Guarantee viral growth"** → no guarantees; a compounding system stacks the odds. - **"Lots of views, no follows"** → it's the profile → `profile-optimization`. - **Multi-niche / unclear lane** → tighten the niche (the algorithm must categorize you). - **Unsustainable schedule** → match cadence to capacity → `content-calendar`. - **"Which post performs best?"** → native Insights; no WoopSocial analytics. ## Related skills - `brand-profile`, `social-strategy`, `audience-research` — the positioning growth rests on. - `reels-script`, `hook-writer`, `carousel-writer`, `caption-writer` — the content that earns reach. - `profile-optimization` — converts reach to follows; `content-calendar` — sustainable cadence. - `hashtag-strategy` / `social-seo` — the keyword/discoverability layer; `trend-jacking` — trends. - `viral-reverse-engineering` — learn what already gets shared; `instagram-reels-publishing` + `scheduling-and-queue` — publish. ## References - `references/the-growth-engine.md` — the discovery-engine model, the 3 signals, surfaces, the loop, gates, Trial Reels. - `references/the-sends-lever.md` — sends (DM shares): the dominant discovery signal and how to earn it. - `references/format-and-diagnosis.md` — format→surface jobs, niche/SEO/cadence, and the symptom→stage→fix table. - `references/examples.md` — worked growth diagnoses with routing, plus honest expectations. ## Source & license This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code. - **Author:** [social-media-skills](https://github.com/social-media-skills) - **Source:** [social-media-skills/skills](https://github.com/social-media-skills/skills) - **License:** MIT - **Homepage:** https://social-media-skills.com Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above. ## Pricing - **Free** — Free ## Security capabilities Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access: - **Network access:** no - **Filesystem access:** no - **Shell / process execution:** no - **Environment & secrets:** no - **Dynamic code execution:** no *"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.* ## Versions - **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source. ## Links - Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-social-media-skills-skills-instagram-growth - Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/social-media-skills - Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse --- Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.