Creating a new social media account and publishing immediately might seem like the fastest way to get started. But platforms like Instagram and TikTok need a little more context before they know who to show your content to.
This process is often called warming up an account. It can help personalize the content recommendations you see and give you a better understanding of your niche, although it does not guarantee a particular level of reach.
Good to know: We recommend waiting at least 24 hours after creating a new Instagram or TikTok account before publishing your first post. This is a practical recommendation rather than an official waiting period required by either platform.
Before you start
Complete your profile before you begin following accounts or publishing content. A finished profile helps visitors understand who you are and what they can expect from you.
Choose a username. Pick one that's:
Easy to remember and spell
Relevant to your business or brand
Consistent across Instagram and TikTok, if possible
Avoid adding unnecessary numbers or symbols if a simpler version is available.
Add a recognizable profile photo. Use an image that people can identify easily, such as:
Your business logo
Your brand icon
A clear photo of yourself if you're building a personal brand
Use the same or a similar image across your social accounts so people can figure out your business more easily.
Write a short bio. Sum up what your business does in one or two short sentences.
For example: Handmade candles inspired by nature. Shipping across the US.
Or: Practical social media tips for small businesses.
Complete the remaining profile details. Depending on the platform and account type, you may also be able to add:
Your website
Contact information
Your business category
If you plan to connect Instagram to Zeely, use a public professional account set up as a Business or Creator account. Your TikTok profile should also be public before you connect it to Zeely.
Before publishing your first post
Make sure you’ve:
✔ Spent a few days engaging with content in your niche
✔ Completed your profile
✔ Engaged naturally by watching, liking, commenting, and following relevant creators
✔ Waited at least 24 hours after creating your account before posting
Natural activity matters more than reaching a particular number of likes or follows. Engage only with content that is genuinely relevant to your business.
Avoid:
✖ Following more than 10 accounts on your first day
✖ Posting immediately after creating your account
✖ Performing lots of actions all at once. Instead, spread your activity throughout the day
✖ Buying followers, likes, views, or comments
Instagram and TikTok both discourage spam, automation, and artificial engagement. You can review Instagram’s recommendation guidelines and TikTok’s Community Guidelines for more information.
Day 1
Start by teaching the platform what your niche looks like.
Search for keywords related to your product or niche and open the Videos tab.
Spend about 20 minutes watching relevant videos. Watch them through to the end whenever possible.
Follow 5 to 10 relevant accounts. Avoid following more than 10 accounts on your first day.
Like or save 20 to 30 relevant posts.
Leave 3 to 5 genuine comments.
Repost 2 to 3 relevant videos.
Tip: Watching videos all the way through sends a stronger engagement signal than skipping after a few seconds.
Days 2 and 3
Continue engaging with content, but this time use your For You page on TikTok or your Explore and Reels feeds on Instagram.
If unrelated content appears, simply skip it. If your feed becomes mostly irrelevant, repeat the first day's keyword search to reinforce your niche.
As you keep interacting with relevant content, your recommendations should gradually become more aligned with your business.
At this point, you're ready to publish your first post.
You're ready to post
By the end of the third day, your feed should primarily feature content related to your niche. That's a good sign the platform has started to understand your interests.
Keep the momentum going
After your first post, continue at a pace you can maintain.
Post consistently without uploading a large batch at once.
Reply to genuine comments and questions.
Continue watching and engaging with relevant content.
Try different topics and formats over time.
Review your results to see which posts hold attention and encourage interaction.
Focus on useful, original content rather than quick engagement tactics.
Consistency does not mean posting as often as possible. A manageable rhythm and thoughtful content are more valuable than publishing several rushed posts and then disappearing.
Connect your account to Zeely
Once your account is set up and ready to use, you can connect it to Zeely and begin planning or publishing content.
For Instagram, follow How to launch a campaign on Instagram.
For TikTok, follow How to use Social posting for TikTok.
If you have trouble connecting an account or publishing a post, contact the Zeely Support team through the in app chat or email [email protected].