How to Reach 10K Followers (Without Losing Yourself)

One of the biggest topics for many artists is social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok give us the opportunity to share our work with the world. At the same time, we often end up comparing ourselves to others, usually based on follower numbers.

A lot of people see this as a measure of success as an artist or illustrator. I can relate to that, because I used to think the same way. At times, it even drove me a bit crazy.

At some point, it led me to creating only for Instagram. Sure, I had success with it (around 40k followers), but in the end, I wasn’t happy with what I was making. What I originally had in mind was gone, replaced by pressure and numbers.

So the most important thing I want to say first is this: do what you actually want to do, before you end up working on something that makes you unhappy in the long run. Social media should be a tool, not a measure of your worth as an artist.

Because at the end of the day, social media is a bottomless pit. Whether you reach 10k, 20k or 100k, it rarely feels like “enough.” There’s always more, always faster, always higher.

Being aware of that is the first step toward building an account that actually helps you grow and provides real value to your audience.

The next important point: understand that building an Instagram account is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s about consistency, having a clear theme, attention to detail and putting in the work over time.

People can tell when you’ve put real thought and effort into your posts. Quality almost always shows even if it takes longer.

And that brings us to one of the most important factors: time. Be honest with yourself about how much you can invest. If you spend 40 hours on one artwork, it’s going to be difficult to post three new pieces a week and that’s completely fine.

Instead, think about how you can turn one artwork into multiple pieces of content. A reel, a carousel, a single post. You can also show parts of your process, your workspace, or even yourself. That’s what creates connection.

If that still feels like too much, consider formats that take less time without completely lowering your standards.

Also, try to think in series. Recurring elements, a consistent style, fixed setups, or certain workflows. All of this helps people recognize your work instantly. Recognition is powerful.

Especially in the beginning: take your time. Give yourself weeks or months to find your rhythm. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Build your feed step by step.

Ask yourself from time to time: would I follow this account? If not, what could I improve? Small adjustments can make a big difference.

Once you’ve built a routine, ideas will come naturally. And that’s the point where you can start thinking more about what your audience might enjoy without bending yourself too much.

Tell an ongoing story. Take people along. Show parts of your personality. People don’t just follow images. They follow the person behind them.

The first 2–3k followers are usually the hardest to get. At that stage, it can help to use Instagram Boost and promote some of your posts. This gives you paid reach and also helps you understand how your content performs outside your current audience.

Also, focus on reels and use carousel posts to grow further. Different formats attract different people.

Once you reach around 5k followers, things usually get easier. Instagram will push your content more, and instead of gaining 5–10 followers per post, you might gain 50–200.

That’s where motivation really starts to build and if you stay consistent, the next few thousand followers often come much more naturally.

Just don’t forget why you started in the first place.