There’s no single way to grow on Instagram, and that’s kind of the whole point. Some people want a quick boost. Others are all about steady, long-term engagement. With Upleap, you don’t have to pick one forever — you just pick what works best for where you’re at.

Let’s unpack what these two growth methods actually do and how to choose the right one.

Targeted growth

This one’s all about precision. You tell Upleap the kind of people you want following you (think specific accounts your audience already interacts with or hashtags they use). From there, Upleap starts doing the outreach. Quietly. Consistently.

Here’s how it rolls:

• You log in with your Instagram so Upleap can start working on your behalf

• You add Targets (either accounts or hashtags your future followers are already into)

• Upleap follows those users, maybe likes a post or two, watches a Story, and sends the occasional DM

• After a short delay, the system cleans up by unfollowing so you’re not stuck following a bunch of users

The pace is slower, but the people who follow back? Way more likely to stick around. It’s growth with intention.

Growth Pods Network

Need to get seen fast? This is your lane.

With Growth Pods, Upleap groups you with other real users in similar niches. Everyone helps each other out by increasing visibility, engagement, and, most importantly, the follower count. It’s not artificial or forced, it's just a faster, smarter way to get in front of users in your lane.

When you sign up, Upleap automatically drops you into a pod that matches your niche. That way, the followers you gain aren’t totally random, since they’re at least loosely relevant and active in your niche.

It’s a great starting point if you want traction before moving into something more curated.

Switching between the two

You’re not locked into one method forever. You can bounce back and forth depending on your goals. Want to start with the Growth Pods to get things moving and switch to Targeted Growth once you’re rolling? Go for it. You’ll find everything you need to make the switch inside your dashboard.

By default, every new user is placed into the Growth Pods Network since most people want to see some movement before they commit to a more tailored strategy.

The takeaway

There’s more than one way to build your audience. The hustle should fit your style, not the other way around. Some days you need precision. Other days, you just need momentum. Upleap gives you both. Pick what works today, pivot when needed, and let the system meet you where you’re at.