Building a loyal community on social media isn't just about likes or follows. It's about creating real connections with people who support you, champion your work, and stick around for the long haul. If that sounds like the dream, you’re in the right place.

In this post, we’ll chat about what community really means, how to build one without feeling like you’re constantly selling, and the exact steps I help my clients take to create that supportive, sparkly vibe we all want more of.

What does a loyal community actually look like?

A loyal community is more than numbers on a screen. It’s:

• People who engage with your posts

• Followers who tag their friends and recommend you

• Clients (or future clients!) who feel connected to you and your values

• Real conversations in comments and DMs

It’s not about shouting into the void. It’s about connection, trust, and consistency.

Start by showing your face

This is one of the biggest game changers. Whether it's on your grid, in your Stories, or through networking IRL, showing your face helps people feel like they know you. And when people feel like they know you, they’re more likely to trust you. And buy from you.

You don’t have to be perfectly polished. Just be you. The real you. Messy bun, dodgy lighting, re-sued tea cup and all.

What else helps build a community?

• Respond to comments and DMs: Genuinely and promptly. These interactions are golden.

• Engage thoughtfully: Leave more than just a fire emoji on other people’s posts.

• Ask real questions: Not just 'engagement bait' but questions you genuinely care about.

• Share stories: Behind-the-scenes moments, relatable mishaps, even off-topic thoughts can all spark lovely chats.

When I posted this reel about getting new brand photos, I wasn’t expecting much. But it turned into such a nice conversation – loads of lovely comments, a few DMs, and a warm fuzzy feeling that people are actually listening.

My favourite tools for community building

• Stories: Polls, questions, emoji sliders, behind-the-scenes updates – they’re gold. And remember, Stories are shown mainly to your current followers, so it's a great place to nurture that relationship.

• DMs: Some of the best convos happen in the DMs. They’re private, relaxed, and can lead to genuine business connections.

• Celebrating your audience: Re-share their responses, tag them (when appropriate), and make them feel part of something.

Consistency matters

If you’re here today and gone for a week, it’s hard for your audience to build trust. You don’t have to post every day, but you do need to show up consistently in a way that works for you. That could be three times a week, or once a day – whatever feels realistic and sustainable.

What if your feed feels a bit quiet?

Here are five places to start:

1. Set a clear objective overall and for each post: growth, nurture, or sales? Tailor your content accordingly.

2. Check your analytics: What worked? What flopped? Do more of the good stuff.

3. Ask your audience: What do they want to see more of? Use stories, polls, or just ask in a post.

4. Draw inspiration from others, but always make it your own.

5. Use calls to action that are super simple: "Tea or coffee? Tell me below" is enough to start a chat.

Building a community doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when you show up with intention, authenticity and a genuine desire to connect.

And yes, I help my clients do all of this (and more) inside The One Where You Learn Instagram. We work together to build confidence, connection and content that actually gets results. If you want to find out more, book an Instagram Confidence Call with me – it’s free, friendly, and not a hard sell.

Thank you for being here – you’re already part of my community and I’m chuffed to have you!