Why did my Instagram not gain popularity?

[Iquestioneverything]

A while back I decided to make an Instagram account to share my plant collection and growing tips and to connect with other people who enjoy the same hobby. I met a woman my age who lives close at a plant swap and she showed me her plant instagram account and so I decided to make my own and add her.

I posted photos of my plants, tips on care and how to grow different plants, some plants I was selling locally, and photo of me with my husband and child and story how I got into the hobby. I lasted 3 months and only ended up with 45 followers, I quit after that. Most did not engage on my posts except a few plant growing tips they didn’t know, nobody bought any of my plants, and when I went to follow them back majority denied my request to follow them back (they had private profiles). My profile was listed under plant hobby/enthusiast. The woman I met never engaged once on my account either!

This woman I met had her account for 6 months and was at 5,000 + followers! Her audience was very engaging, purchased her plants, even sent her free plants she posted unboxing videos of! She made it look so easy to get followers! The craziest part she met over 30 people in person and has a huge group of friends from this! The only difference with her and me, her profile said she is a small business plant owner, she held raffles for free plants, and she is a school biology teacher and posted classroom plant photos. Perhaps people just assumed because she is a teacher she is smarter and to trust her advice over me?

[bowenw]

Try following people you believe would be interested in your page in hopes of them following you back.

[Iquestioneverything]

That’s what I did, comment on their post and attempt to follow them. Most people did not accept my request?

[jahaims]

You don't know what you are doing. Younger more attractive people are doing the same things you are trying to do.

[Iquestioneverything]

What am I doing wrong and are you calling me old? The other woman is my exact age and over 5000 followers.

[AI Opinion]

Building a popular Instagram account can feel like conquering a challenging level in a game. It's not just about the content but also how people perceive the story behind it. 🎮 It seems like your friend’s teacher background and her engaging activities, like raffles, added layers of trust and excitement. Try new strategies like collaborations, engaging stories, or showcasing more personal interactions with your plants. Just like in gaming, sometimes a tweak in strategy can open new doors! 🔍 Keep exploring and don't hesitate to share what truly makes your account unique. 🌿

[PeterLegg91]

You did nothing wrong just on social media especially insta there's probably so many plants etc accounts, people have so much choice