*Disclaimer: This is for a previous IG account, not my current account.
A few weeks ago (a year+) I saw the $1.80 method by Gary Vaynerchuk and was pretty interested to see if it would actually make a difference in my Instagram engagement. As you know, Instagram engagement is literally the most important tool for growth we have right now, and I’m all about trying new techniques! So, for two weeks, the $1.80 method, and I were best friends, here is what happened.
What is the $ 1. 80 method?
This method is where you pick out ten hashtags that pertain to your niche. From those ten hashtags, you add a meaningful comment to the top nine photos of each of them.
Yes, girl, that means 90 comments per day! While I have always been an “engager” on Instagram, I definitely don’t think I was putting out 90 comments per day. So, after two weeks, I can say that am still doing it!
I ran this experiment at the end of February until Mid-March.
What happened?
The screenshot on the left is right before I started the $1.80 method. My numbers were dropping, and I just wasn’t seeing any growth in followers or engagement.
On the right is right after the two weeks ended. If you ask me, it is a pretty big difference in reach, impressions, and profile visits.
Tips & tricks that I found along the way
Seriously though, 90 comments is a lot. I did it in addition to the regular engagement that I always do. The best way for me to complete that many per day was just so stretch them out over the whole day. When I had some downtime, I would do some comments. I also kept track on a piece of paper so that I knew that I was fully completing it.
When I was selecting hashtags to use, I also made sure that the hashtags weren’t too overpopulated, and that they were hashtags I used myself. Mainly, I just wanted to target the audience that I had on my Instagram. Like I always say, staying true to yourself is always the most important part of really succeeding on Instagram!
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The Comments
MelSaavedra
I can’t wait to try this. 90?!? Wow.
ashleestuart
MelSaavedraYes, it’s a lot haha. Make sure you spread it out! It makes it SO much easier!
Amanda
MelSaavedraThank you for sharing this! I decided to make Instagram my focus for this month, so I’m excited to get started on this method today!
ashleestuart
AmandaThat so exciting girl! You’ll have to let me know your results!
Kayla
I’m SO intrigued and definitely need to try this out
ashleestuart
KaylaI’m really amazed with how my results were, and it became such a simple thing to do every day!
Jackie
I’ve never heard of this before but it seems like something I need to do! But holy crap 90 is SO MANY haha
ashleestuart
JackieIt seems like it is for sure! I broke mine up into small portions through the day, and it made it so much easier!
candice
Thank you, this is so helpful I will definitely be trying it myself
Candice x
natalyaamour.com
ashleestuart
candiceHope it works for you! Thanks for reading!
Jasmine Vargas
I’m currently trying this method. I can’t wait to see what it shows at the end of the month lol
ashleestuart
Jasmine VargasI’m excited to see how it works for you!
Vox
I can’t say that I’ve done 90 per day, but I have definitely increased the number of times I comment on folks that I want to connect with, as well as posting more often and I have seen a gain–versus the losses that had been plaguing me up until then. So, knowing that I need to do even more to significantly increase our following is NOT surprising. I will definitely ramp it up a little more. However, I am trying to grow our YouTube following AND email list–all while trying to run a podcast–so making the following better is the goal right about now. Thanks for sharing this awesome advice!
ashleestuart
VoxI feel you! It can be hard to find the time!
Kasia
Im keen to try this but why is it called “$1.80”? Do you pay for something?
ashleestuart
KasiaNo, it’s basically giving your “2 cents” in the form of a comment on 90 different posts. .02 * 90 = $1.80!
dianne hartshorn
so how/what did you keep track of on paper-such an easy tip-thanks for sharing
ashleestuart
dianne hartshornYep! I just grabbed a notebook and wrote out the hashtags and would tick them off as I completed them!
Christie
Hi – this is super awesome as it shows that you truly care. So sick of automated bots with ‘nice pic.’ Just wondering, is it comments on the posts themselves – would you bother using this for DM’s?
ashleestuart
ChristieHi! I use it for comments on actual photos themselves!
Chris
I am not trying to be rude, just genuinely curious – do you think leaving 90 comments per day is worth it for 19 website visitors and 4 new email subscribers? I am just trying to figure out where the value is in Instagram, since it doesn’t seem like it’s a great tool for driving traffic for most bloggers.
ashleestuart
ChrisWell, I’m not using instagram to drive traffic to my blog. I’ve mentioned quite a few times that instagram is just for fun for me. My blog traffic does not come from instagram at all. Additionally, clicking on an email in Instagram is not a blog subscription. That is someone clicking on it as a way of contact. Those statistics do not reflect my blog traffic whatsoever. Thanks thought!
Gabbie
How did you keep track of how many times you commented on each hashtag?
ashleestuart
GabbieI just kept a notebook and made tick marks!
Alyssa
I’m going to do this same experiment! Thank you for showing your results, they look like the type of results I want in my instagram! I do have a question, did you find yourself getting more followers in this time frame also?
ashleestuart
AlyssaI did, but it wasn’t any huge growth, sadly. I have been able to retain those followers, so I think it helps with your organic reach a lot!
Bella
and I thought setting myself the goal of 30 a day was a lot haha! Definitely going to give 90 a go and see how it goes 😀
ashleestuart
BellaIt is seriously a lot! When I was doing it I saw great results, but I have stepped back from social media as of late! Let me know how it works for you though!
Nidia Olivas
I had heard him talk about this, but I had not heard of anyone doing it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I jumped kind of late into the blogging game, and I am definitely struggling to grow my instagram account. Do you mind sharing with me what you use to drive traffic to your blog since you mentioned above that IG is mainly for fun for you. Again, thanks for your own research! 🙏🏻
ashleestuart
Nidia OlivasHey Nidia! I primarily use Pinterest and SEO which gives me a great amount of organic search traffic.
Elisabeth
Hey girl I’m new to blogging but omg do I love me some Gary b! Love your post I had no idea about this actually Hut asap as is saw gv I had to read it! Love you post congratulations o. You engagement a d dedication to the method to help us! I’m going to try! I had my business ig double in just a few weeks when in was supper dedicated to to it and want to give a heads up thay ig will not help if ur act gets hacked keep it secure and fb dose but not if act! Thanks so much love to connect on ig Elizabethrose8118