Estimated Reading Time: 7-10 minutes

“Growth isn’t magic — it’s mechanical. Once you understand the rules of the game, you can apply strategic inputs & control its outcome.”

Most people treat social media like a slot machine.

• They scroll endlessly.

• They post randomly.

• They hope something hits.

And when nothing happens?

They just assume “This isn’t for me”

But this isn’t a “talent” problem.

It is a “strategy & system” problem.

When I started 26 months ago…

I was the last person you'd expect to build an audience.

• Introverted.

• Zero presence.

• Always behind the screen.

I spent almost 6 months on LinkedIn with little to no progress.

I wasn’t getting any engagement.

So I jumped into Threads.

Using my knowledge in ads, outreach, copywriting & persuasion…

I knew that I needed to do something different…

I couldn’t just “post & forget it”

That’s when I came up with the Growth Mechanisms.

I went into a deep-focus (10h x/day — 1x/week) workaholic session of pure grind:

• I replied to every relevant creator in my space.

• I got my work seen, shared, and discussed.

• I built a system for strategic DMs.

Within 12 months — I gained 3,500+ followers.

No paid ads. No viral posts.

Just a system & relentless execution.

I do not spend that amount of time on networking anymore.

But I can tell you this…

During those months I was generating 100 to 250 followers x/week consistently.

And if you’ve ever started from zero…

You know that the first 1,000 is the hardest.

• No social proof.

• No authority.

• No audience momentum.

People underestimate how much that number matters.

Follower count is like product reviews.

Nobody wants to be the first one to buy.

It's a heavy grind you have to overcome with strategies.

Audience growth isn’t random.

It’s built on mechanics:

• Certain formats perform.

• Certain hooks always hit.

• Certain strategies always work.

Once I figured this out, everything changed.

Today I want to show you the exact 10-step system I used to get my first 1,000 followers in 6 months.

It’s called: Audience Growth Mechanisms

The system is divided into 10 steps:

• The Growth Mechanism.

• The Evolution of Networking.

• Publish Content Daily.

• Inbound Networking.

• Board of Advisors.

• Replies Done Right.

• Outbound Networking.

• Viral Hunting.

• AI Networking.

• DM Networking.

With this framework, you will be able to:

• Build an audience from scratch.

• Get a consistent source of followers.

• And have complete control over your growth.

That being said, let's dive in:

Warning: This is a very long framework. I recommend sitting down, getting rid of all distractions, and fully focusing on understanding the following key principles.

I’m giving all of this information for free…

So you don't need to pay thousands of dollars for coaching, courses, or digital products.

The Growth Mechanisms.

“Stop hoping for the Lord and Savior, the algorithm, to save you. All platforms have a ‘backed-in mechanism’ that you can use to command attention”

The secret is to get eyes on your content.

To win the social media game…

You need to understand its rules & mechanics.

Posting content is just 50% of the equation.

You need to learn how to network & grow on the platform itself.

If writing content & getting followers were that easy…

Everyone would be a content creator.

In short, the mechanisms are very simple:

• You need good content.

• And exposure to that content.

To get exposure you need:

• Replies

• And DMs.

That’s it.

We will dive deeper into the specific strategies, how to do replies, & how to engage with creators later in this system.

For now, focus on 2 things:

1. Networking (1h x/day)

Network with creators & grow together.

Comment on larger accounts & expose yourself to their audience.

Make them believe that you’re everywhere.

This is how you manufacture “reach”.

There are 2 types:

Board of Advisors:

Engage with a specific number of creators every single day.

Viral Hunting:

Hunt for virality & use their reach as leverage.

2. Long Form & Lead Magnets.

Make your stuff so good that people can’t help but talk about it.

Give away a micro solution to a multi-step problem.

Lead magnets, newsletters, threads, carousels & videos — are amazing opportunities to provide extreme value to your audience.

Provide “value” to the marketplace…

And the marketplace will provide “value” back.

Usually in the currency you need the most.

That being said…

You need both good content & eyes in your content.

Today we are focusing on how to get your stuff in front of people.

The Evolution of Networking.

"Gone are the days you had to be born in the right circle or location. Now, anyone — with a laptop and Wi-Fi connection — can get in any room & attract the right opportunities”

• You don’t need connections.

• You don’t need a fancy degree.

• You don’t need to live in the right city.

What you need is simple:

• A laptop.

• An internet connection.

• A valuable skill.

That’s it.

We’re not living in 2005 anymore.

The rules of “access” have changed.

With one great idea…

Written clearly and shared online — you can reach:

• A millionaire.

• A founder.

• An investor.

• A potential client.

You can reach anyone in the world, at any point in time & get them to engage with your work.

Everyone is one message away.

Status doesn’t mean what it used to.

Neither does income.

What matters now is “skill”.

And content is how you display that skill in public.

• Your feed is your resume.

• Your ideas are your business card.

• Your followers are your social proof.

The right idea can reach more people than any networking event.

You can build from scratch.

You can create a consistent source of attention.

You can package your knowledge into systems, products, and services & make a sustainable source of income.

You’ll finally become free in every aspect of your life.

That’s the reason why you started, right?

Welcome to the creator economy.

Publish Content Daily.

"People don’t engage with information. They engage with tension, emotion, and clarity.”

As we already mentioned…

The first step before networking with anyone is to post GOOD content.

Focus on 2 things:

• Choose 1 platform.

• Post every single day.

You need to learn how to write persuasive copy.

Keyword: Persuasive.

You have to capture, hold, and deliver value on attention.

Do not just write whatever you want.

Every post must check at least 3 of these 5 boxes:

1. The Hook

Start with friction.

A bold claim, open loop, or sharp observation.

The goal: stop the scroll.

2. The Problem

Make it relatable.

Speak to a real struggle your audience feels — today.

If it’s too vague, it won’t land.

3. The Solution

Give them a way out.

Preferably a system or strategy you used.

People trust experience more than theory.

4. The Benefit

What’s in it for them?

State the desirable result.

Make it easy to understand & implement.

5. The Edge

Be firm. Polarization builds authority.

Always provide your unique perspective.

Check 3-4 of these.

Then hit publish.

That being said…

If you want to learn how to capture attention & build persuasive content.

Get the (free) Writing System.

Inbound Networking.

"The people who comment on your posts are already interested. Treat your replies like DMs — because each one is an opportunity to connect on a deeper level .”

Once you get good at content…

People will start to leave some likes & comments on your posts.

The next step is to 10x your audience growth.

Here’s how:

• Go to your post’s comment section.

• Like the comment they left.

• Answer every comment.

• Add value to the conversation.

• Go to their profile.

• Like 3 of their latest posts.

• Leave a good comment on 1 of them.

When you do this 4 things happen:

• It pinpoints who is posting similar content in your niche.

• People are encouraged to leave comments on your posts.

• They see that you provide extra value in answering questions.

• It lets the platform know that people like your stuff.

Boosting its reach as a consequence.

Be social. Is called social media for a reason.

This is what I call: Inbound Networking.

Now, let's dive into how to do Outbound Networking.

But first, we need to build your Board of Advisors.

Board of Advisors.

"Double down on your connections. Build a circle of creators who actively engage with your work — and watch your audience multiply."

There is gonna be a point…

Where you see the same creators comment over and over again.

These creators will become part of your Board of Advisors.

After 3 posts commented by the same creator…

You are going to do the following:

• Follow them.

• Activate the notification bell.

• You will have a maximum of 50 selected.

• Make sure they post similar content.

If a better creator comes to your world…

Delete the worst from your list.

How do you know who is a good creator?

Simple:

• Follower Count (10% Importance).

• Post Frequency (15% Importance).

• Engagement Rate (25% Importance).

• How much they engage with your stuff. (50% Importance).

If someone has a massive following,

They post every single day,

And a good audience engagement,

BUT — they barely engage with your stuff.

THEN, that is a bad Board Member.

Be ruthless with this.

Cut anyone that is not helping you grow.

Pro tip:

If you’re starting out…

You need to “choose” instead of waiting for them to show up.

If that is the case…

Choose your 50 creators.

Add them to your list following this criteria:

• 100K to 1M (3 creators).

• 50K to 100K (5 creators).

• 10K to 50K (7 creators).

• 5K to 10K (15 creators).

• 0 - 5K (20 creators).

Replies done right.

This is the simplest step of the process.

But surprising enough…

I barely see anyone doing it right.

Most creators reply with nothing to add to the conversation.

Here’s how to do it properly:

You write a tweet that’s engaging, that captures, holds, and delivers value on attention.

You need to leverage the original post, & stack value on top of it.

• Pull something from the post.

• Dive deeper into that.

Use the opportunity to develop a post below the comments.

Something that adds to the conversation.

Outbound Networking.

Now that you have your Board of Advisors.

Go to every single profile and engage with their content.

Follow this simple process:

• Block 30 minutes daily

• Engage with all of their posts for that day.

Make sure to leave valuable comments.

That’s it — Keep it consistent.

Viral Hunting.

"Viral content isn’t luck — it’s leverage. You don’t need to go viral. You need to insert yourself into virality that’s already happening.”

At this point, you’ve learned how audience growth works.

Now it’s time to apply those principles to strategically insert yourself into viral conversations.

Here’s the core idea:

• You don’t need to follow the creator.

• You don’t need to be in their niche.

You just need one thing:

A post that’s blowing up — and overlaps with your topic.

Here’s what to do:

Find a viral post related to what you talk about.

Reply — but not with a random comment.

Instead:

Reply with one of your existing posts that directly relates to it.

That reply should be either:

• A post you published this week.

• An evergreen post from your top-performing archive.

Once your reply gains traction…

Repost the viral post.

Then — after 2–3 hours — go back and repost your own reply.

Here’s an example of how it works:

This is one of my favorite growth mechanisms.

You’re using the platform’s rules to your advantage.

Pro tip:

• Combine this strategy with the Board of Advisors.

• Split 1h of work into 2 blocks (30 mins each)

But maybe you don’t have 1 hour to spend on Networking.

I get it — you’ve other stuff to do.

That’s why I’ll show you how to automate your replies with AI.

AI Networking

"You can’t outsource your thinking — but you can automate your output, enhance productivity & solidify your consistency. That’s what AI is for.”

• Open Chat GBT.

• Use the setup prompt.

• Copy-paste the post that you will leave the comment.

• Copy the answer of Chat GBT.

• Tune it before posting.

• Repeat.

Setup Prompt:

Sometimes the AI will forget its instructions.

You can tune the AI prompts by giving simple directions.

Examples:

• More casual.

• Less words.

• Follow this hook formula.

• Remember to follow this format, etc.

Pro tip:

I believe this is obvious.

But please always make a final edit before posting.

Social media is about being social.

Is about making real connections.

AI is a tool to enhance your productivity around repetitive tasks…

Not to outsource your thinking.

People are becoming increasingly susceptible to how AI writing sounds.

Use your knowledge to edit & make every reply unique, human, and relevant.

Don’t sound like a robot.

DM Networking.

"Likes & replies are surface-level networking. Real growth happens in the DMs — where relationships are built through conversation”

Most people sleep on DMs.

They scroll, they post, they engage…

But they never stop and think:

“What if I just messaged this person directly?”

People think they’re annoying someone by sending a message.

But if you’ve been consistently engaging with someone’s content, and then you send them a well-thought-out DM — not asking for anything, just showing support, maybe asking a smart question, or sharing something valuable — they’ll respond.

Relationships are built in the DMs.

It’s the most intimate, high-trust space on social media.

If you’re a creator, consultant, or one-person business —

DMs aren’t optional.

They are your distribution engine.

Here’s the 7-step DM system I use to build real relationships and grow:

1. Pick the right person

Don’t message people at random.

Find someone you respect, admire, or want to collaborate with.

Make sure there’s alignment or potential for mutual benefit.

2. Send a real compliment

Lead with value — not a pitch.

Tell them exactly what resonated with you from their content.

The more specific, the better.

3. Show interest in their work

Ask what they’re building.

Get curious.

People love talking about their projects — it opens the door to real conversations.

4. Lead with value

Don’t ask for anything.

Give first.

Share a resource, an idea, or a template

5. Optional: Hop on a call

15 minutes is all it takes.

Calls build trust faster than back-and-forth texting.

You don’t need an agenda — just curiosity.

6. Stay top of mind

Keep bringing value.

Send something relevant to their goals:

A system, article, resource, or idea.

Be helpful — not needy.

7. Then (and only then) — ask

You’ve built trust.

Now you can:

• Ask a question

• Share a post

• Make an invitation

DMs are not just messages — they’re micro-relationships.

If you treat them like that…

You’ll never run out of opportunities.

These traffic mechanisms are the foundation.

Once you understand them…

You’ll achieve complete control over your growth.

Inputs become predictable outputs:

• Wake up

• Post your content

• Network for 1h

• Write some replies

• Check your DMs

• Analyze data

• Improve

• Repeat.

Do that for 6 months…

And I guarantee you’ll get your 1000 followers.

Ultimate Action List.

If you forget everything in this article…

Follow this action list:

1. Publish Content Daily

Pick 1 platform.

Post daily to build trust & data.

No content = no visibility.

2. Start Inbound Networking

Reply to every comment.

Engage with your audience’s profiles.

Be social — it’s called social media for a reason.

3. Build Your Board of Advisors

Choose 50 creators.

Follow, turn on notifications, and engage daily.

4. Master “Replies Done Right”

Add value to the conversation.

Structure your reply like a post

5. Go Viral Hunting

Find posts blowing up in your space.

Drop a strategic reply using your own related post.

Put your content in front of people.

6. Run Engagement Sessions

Block 1h x/day.

Comment, connect, and share value.

7. Automate with AI (Optional)

Use AI for fast, high-quality replies.

But always edit.

Robots don’t build relationships — people do.

8. Use the 7-Step DM System

Send real compliments.

Ask curious questions.

Give before you ask.

There you have it, Audience Growth Mechanisms.

I hope you found these helpful.

Take some time this Monday to begin implementing what I've shared here today, and then hit me up on LinkedIn in a few weeks with an update.

Let’s build together!

Sebastian Morino

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1: Build your clarity, systems, and growth with 1:1 consultations here.

2: Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Threads for more operating systems.

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