Getting your targeting right is one of the most important steps for growing your Instagram with Flock. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to make sense for the audience you’re trying to reach.

Think like the people you want to attract

You probably already have an idea of who your ideal followers are. The next step is figuring out which accounts they already follow.

For example:

• A tattoo artist might target piercing studios, tattoo aftercare brands, or local alternative fashion pages.

• A food blogger could go after restaurant review pages, cooking tool brands, or other recipe creators.

• A content creator focusing on books might add book clubs, indie publishers, or reading challenge communities.

If the account doesn’t make sense for you, it probably won’t make sense for your future followers either.

Watch the size

Target size matters, not because big numbers mean better results, but because the extremes tend to backfire.

• If the account has under 20k followers, you’ll run out of people to engage with pretty quickly.

• If it’s over 250k, you’ll hit a wall of inactive users, bots, or followers who just won’t notice you.

The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle. Mid-sized accounts usually have the most active and responsive followers, which is what you’re looking for.

Skip what you can’t reach

Flock doesn’t interact with private or verified profiles. If the content isn’t visible, or the account is locked down, there’s nothing for the system to work with. Stick to public accounts that have recent activity and real engagement.

Solid Target types to start with

1. Direct competitors: If someone’s doing the same thing you are, their followers are probably into your niche too. Simple as that.

2. Complementary brands: Think of accounts that speak to the same audience without doing the same thing. For instance, if you’re a makeup artist, target skincare brands, beauty organizers, or even local salon pages.

3. Influencers and Niche Creators: Creators with decent engagement and an active community can be great targets. Aim for those with clean comment sections and a loyal following.

4. Hashtags that make sense: Generic hashtags won’t help much. Look for ones tied to your location, niche, or audience language. Something your ideal follower would actually use.

Final thoughts

You don’t need dozens of Targets to get started. Just pick a few that make sense, track how they perform, and update as needed. If you ever get stuck, the Targeting Suggestions feature in your dashboard is there to give you a head start.