No. Instagram's 2025-26 algorithm updates aggressively penalise accounts whose follower-to-engagement ratio looks bought. The algorithm now treats inflated follower counts as a negative signal, hiding posts from real audiences.

For a niche-focused account starting from 0: 200-500 real followers per month with consistent posting (4-6 times weekly), authentic engagement, and quality content. Faster growth usually means burned-out tactics that backfire.

Reels carry significantly higher organic reach but feed posts retain higher conversion-to-follow rates. The hybrid approach: 70% Reels for reach, 30% feed posts for community-building.

It is now the dominant ranking signal. Instagram explicitly tilts distribution toward accounts that stay tightly within a niche. Posting outside your niche dilutes future reach for weeks.

Useful but less so than 2022. Use 3-5 tightly-relevant hashtags rather than 30 generic ones. The 2025 algorithm update made keyword-based search more important than hashtag indexing.

60-90 days is the realistic minimum for a new account. Instagram's algorithm is conservative with new accounts; growth tends to compound after the 8-week mark, not before.

Yes, but always upload native (no TikTok watermark) and adjust caption-style. Cross-posted Reels with watermarks see ~40% lower distribution.