Why Your Competitor Is Growing Faster on Instagram and What You Can Learn
- Active Toast
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
You're showing up. You're posting. But somehow your competitor's page is blowing up — more likes, more comments, more sales.
What gives?
If you're frustrated by slow growth on Instagram, you're not alone. Many small business owners and creators feel like they’re doing "all the right things" — but the results just aren’t showing up.
Here’s the truth: growth isn’t about luck or algorithms. It’s about intentional strategy. And the good news? You can learn exactly what your competitor is doing right — and apply it to your own content.
Let’s break it down.
They're Not Just Posting — They're Strategizing
At first glance, your competitor might just look more consistent or "on trend." But if you look closely, there’s something deeper happening: strategy.
They’re likely:
Posting with content pillars that support their brand message
Creating intentional funnels that guide followers from content to DM to conversion
Planning content ahead of time instead of posting reactively
Random content rarely converts. Strategic content builds connection, trust, and sales.
Not sure where to begin? Our SMM STARTER TOOLBOX includes a content calendar, funnel planner, and checklist to help you set up a system that mirrors what smart creators and brands already use.
They Know What Their Audience Actually Cares About
Your competitor’s content might feel more engaging because they know exactly who they’re talking to. That means:
They’ve studied their audience’s pain points
They’re asking questions in Stories and using polls
They reply to DMs, save feedback, and adjust their content accordingly
If you haven’t already, create a simple buyer persona. What does your ideal customer need to hear today?
Use that clarity to create content that makes your audience feel seen.
They're Using Hooks That Make You Stop Scrolling
Let’s be honest: if the first 3 seconds of your content aren’t strong, most people won’t even see the rest.
Your competitor is likely using proven hook formats to:
Start their Reels with attention-grabbing lines
Open carousels with curiosity-building questions
Begin captions in a way that stops the scroll
Not sure how to write hooks like that? The Hooks That Work in 100+ Ways is a game-changer. Many fast-growing creators use similar templates to structure their intros — so they don’t waste time reinventing every caption.
Examples of high-performing hook styles:
“Here’s why most advice is wrong”
“How I got 3 leads in 24 hours (without ads)”
“If you’re a [job title], read this”
They’re Turning Engagement Into Sales with a Simple Funnel
Posting is only one part of the puzzle. You also need a way to turn viewers into buyers. Your competitor is probably doing this by:
Using CTAs in captions and Stories to invite DMs
Following up on comments or replies with clear offers
Sharing testimonials and results regularly to build trust
Remember: followers don’t automatically become customers. You need a system.
The SMM STARTER TOOLBOX can help you build that system with templates for funnels, onboarding, engagement tracking, and more.
How to Ethically Reverse-Engineer Their Growth
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about copying. It’s about observing with intention.
Here’s what to pay attention to:
What post formats do they use often? (Reels, carousels, Stories?)
What time do they post?
What kind of language and tone do they use?
How do they respond to comments?
What do their Highlights say about their offers?
Use what you find as inspiration. Adapt it to fit your voice, brand, and audience.
Bonus: The Real Secret Behind Their Momentum
Your competitor probably isn’t sitting around waiting for the "perfect idea." They’re showing up consistently, repurposing high-performing formats, and using systems.
Need proof? Read:
Whether you’re a business in India, the UK, or Australia — we’ve seen brands grow faster simply by mastering content strategy.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be more entertaining. You don’t need to post 4 times a day. You don’t need 10K followers.
You need strategy, structure, and systems.
Want help analyzing what’s working (and missing) in your current strategy? Book a free Instagram audit — we’ll help you turn quiet content into consistent growth.
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