How to gain 100,000 followers as a creator: Spotify shares its tips
Spotify has pulled together the experiences from creators across genres and audiences to reveal a guide on gaining 100,000 followers.
Growing a social media following from 1,000 to 100,000 is no easy feat, but it can be achievable with the right strategies. You may have goals you’d like to reach when you start out, but the difficulty lies in getting there. Luckily, Spotify has gathered insights from successful creators to help you grow your presence.
1K followers: Authenticity and consistency
The first step is often the hardest, but it also provides a platform for future growth. This is your opportunity to learn, experiment with your content, and discover what resonates with your audience. Two key principles to focus on at this stage are:
Be authentic
It can be tempting to follow what’s trending, but standing out often comes from staying true to yourself. Audiences connect with creators who bring a unique perspective, share personal experiences, and stay genuine. Authenticity will help attract followers who value your content for what it truly is.
“In the early stages, authenticity resonates more than polished content.”
Alok Kanojia, HealthyGamerGG podcast
Stay consistent
Consistency is key to building momentum. At this stage, posting frequently might be challenging as content creation is unlikely to be your primary focus. Instead, set a realistic posting schedule to establish trust with your audience to keep them tuned in for more. As you grow your skills and audience, you can refine your strategy and increase your posting frequency.
10K followers: Expanding your reach and strengthening your community
As your audience grows beyond 1,000 followers, the next milestone is turning casual viewers into dedicated fans. This involves engaging your audience and expanding your content’s reach. By building a strong foundational community, you can benefit from a loyal fanbase who will support you throughout your career.
Social media and building a community
Use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X/Twitter to share behind-the-scenes content, engage in trending conversations, and interact with fans. For musicians, this means creating content to promote your music, while other creators can repurpose their content to maximize reach e.g. by turning podcasts into clips which can be shared through TikTok, Shorts, and Reels.
As your following grows, engagement becomes just as important as discovery. Creating interactive spaces exclusive like live-streams, live performances, or in-person meetups foster a deeper connection with your audience. Alternatively, launching channels on Discord or Reddit can help “create a healthy, engaged space for discussion”.
Collaborate with other creators
At this stage, partnerships can help expose you to new audiences. Work with like-minded artists, influencers, or industry professionals to create collaborative content that your audience will be interested in. Choose partnerships that align with your brand, your audience, and may introduce you to potential new fans.
100K followers: Managing growth, monetization and pressure
While hitting 100,000 followers brings new opportunities, it also brings unique challenges. At this stage it may be difficult to manage everything on your own, requiring additional strategies to keep everything under control.
Handling growth pressure
A larger audience comes with increased scrutiny. Negative comments and heightened expectations can feel overwhelming. By setting boundaries, taking breaks, and expanding your team, you can help alleviate stress, manage the workload, and maintain quality engagement on a consistent basis. If necessary, removing negative comments, and restricting accounts may be key to keeping your personal wellness in-check.
Crucially, it is important to remember that increased scrutiny is only normal with a large following, and is only a testament to your impact and growth as a creator.
Monetization opportunities
Various monetization options become available with this level of following, from sponsorships and brand deals to merchandise and exclusive content. These opportunities can be particularly exciting but staying selective is key. Your audience values your authenticity, so only pursue monetization opportunities that align with your brand and serve your fanbase.
The road to 100K: A rewarding challenge
Reaching 100,000 followers isn’t easy. You will face challenges and lessons may need to be learned. However, by staying authentic, engaging with your audience, and adapting to new challenges, you can build a sustainable and impactful online presence.
If you’re a musician looking for more music-focused strategies to grow your online presence, check out our blog’s Artists Advice articles.