Build a High-Value Instagram Network (Without Going Viral)

Welcome To The Orbit Marketing Newsletter 🪐 

This Week We’re Diving Into:

• 📈 How to Grow on Instagram in 2025: Learn how Avi Patel from Nitrility bootstrapped to 30,000 followers using the “mutuals” strategy

• 🤖 Marketing Automations Every Business Needs: A conversation with Grant Hushek, Founder of GrantBot Process Consulting (GPC)

Read time: 4 minutes

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📈 How To Build a High-Quality Instagram Following

Avi Patel, founder of Nitrility, has turned Instagram into a powerful business growth tool—without relying on paid ads or viral content.

His approach? Strategic networking through mutuals.

These insights come from our full interview on the Orbit Marketing YouTube channel. Watch the full breakdown here.

🚀 The Power of Mutual Connections

Most people struggle with cold outreach because they lack credibility.

The solution? Mutuals.

Avi discovered that having just 4-5 mutual followers with a prospect increases response rates by 60%, and 20+ mutuals makes conversions exponentially higher.

🤝 More mutuals = higher trust → People feel comfortable engaging with those already connected to their network.

👍 Instant credibility → When your profile shows mutuals, it signals social proof and authority.

🚪 Business doors open faster → Whether it’s partnerships, sales, or investments, strong networks drive warm leads.

🎯 How To Implement Avi’s Playbook

Here’s how Avi built a high-value network of 10,000+ influential people in business, tech, and media:

• Start with a Core Group: Connect with verified, influential people in your industry first.

• Leverage Their Networks: Follow the people they follow—this increases the likelihood of getting followed back.

• Stay Organized: Track your network in a spreadsheet, noting key contacts and their connections.

• Engage Consistently: Post Instagram Stories, reply to DMs, and share content that builds trust over time.

• Targeted Follows Daily: Follow 50-100 relevant people per day, focusing on those connected to your existing mutuals.

🔥 Proof This Works

Avi has used this system to set up 60+ meetings in San Francisco in a single day just by reaching out via Instagram.

At a recent event in Amsterdam, 7 major artists recognized him before they had ever met him in person—all because of mutual connections on Instagram.

He’s proven that business networking at scale is about playing the long game with the right people.

📩 How You Can Apply This Today

🔹 Stop chasing random followers. Instead, build a curated list of high-value mutuals in your space.
🔹 Be visible. Post Stories and updates about what you're working on. Let people see your progress.
🔹 Track your relationships. Use a simple spreadsheet to organize connections and identify who to follow next.
🔹 Commit to the long game. Spend 10 minutes a day growing your mutual network and watch your opportunities scale.

Want to build a smarter, more profitable network? Watch our full interview with Avi Patel on Orbit Marketing’s YouTube channel.

🤖 Grant Hushek: Marketing Automations Every Business Needs

Grant Hushek is the Founder of Grantbot Process Consulting, a leading automation consultancy that helps businesses streamline their workflows, enhance lead generation, and maximize efficiency through smart automation.

With deep expertise in CRM integrations, marketing automation, and data-driven lead generation, Grant has built systems that save businesses countless hours while improving revenue-driving processes.

In this video, you’ll learn:

• ♟️ The One-Question Cold Outreach Strategy: Why keeping cold emails short and simple drastically increases response rates—and how you can implement this immediately.

• 🎯 The Power of Intent Data for Lead Generation: How tracking profile visits, likes, comments, and follows on LinkedIn can create a warm pipeline of high-quality leads.

• 🔗 Automation vs. Manual Work: The Hidden Leverage Most Businesses Ignore: The two types of automation and how to utilize both for business growth.

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