How Arslan Awan Gained 5,000+ Followers in a Year
In this interview, I sat down with Arslan Awan, a content creator
with over 5,000+ Twitter followers,
shares the strategies and experiences that helped him gain his first 1,000 followers.
Below, we dive into his journey, with practical insights for creators who are just getting started.
Q: Can you start by introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your journey on Twitter?
Arslan:
Sure! I started my journey on Twitter about a year ago as an AI content creator.
In the first two months, I gained 2,000 followers.
After that, my reach slowed down due to algorithm changes, but over time, I worked on building relationships, engaging with others, and providing value.
That helped me grow to 5,000 followers.
My focus has shifted over time, and now I’m more into content strategy and ghostwriting, but the foundation of my growth was consistency and engagement.
Q: Can you share the strategy that helped you gain your first 1,000 followers?
Arslan:
Consistent engagement on Twitter was my key strategy.
When I started, I made it a point to leave meaningful comments on other people's posts every day.
I aimed to comment on at least 100 tweets per day. By doing that, I was able to build relationships and make myself visible in the community.
Start with smaller accounts (under 500 followers) for better engagement, then target mid-level accounts (5k-10k followers) for broader reach.
Ensure your comments are meaningful, not generic, to attract attention and followers.
Q: Did direct messaging (DMs) play a role in your growth strategy? If so, how did you use them effectively?
Arslan:
Absolutely. DMs played a big role in how I built relationships on Twitter.
After engaging with someone’s content, I would often follow up with a DM, but not to sell anything.
I just wanted to have a conversation, ask for their thoughts on a topic, or share something helpful.
Don’t use DMs as a way to immediately pitch your services.
Use them to genuinely connect with people.
Build relationships first. Ask for feedback on your content, or start a conversation based on something you’ve both talked about on the timeline.
This will help you stand out and build trust.
Q: Let’s talk about profile optimization. What did you do to make your profile stand out and attract followers?
Arslan:
Your profile is like a landing page—it’s the first thing people check when they decide whether to follow you.
I focused on making my profile clear and professional.
My profile picture is simple but recognizable, and my bio is straightforward about what I do.
I also use my pinned tweet to showcase some of my best content.
Make sure your profile picture is clear and professional.
Your bio should clearly state what you do and the value you offer.
If you provide services, mention that.
And don’t forget to pin a tweet that highlights what you’re all about—it could be your best-performing content or a tweet that explains your mission.
Q: You mentioned consistency earlier. How did staying consistent help you grow, and what does “being consistent” look like to you?
Arslan:
Consistency is everything. Even on days when I didn’t feel like posting, I made sure to engage with others.
I would comment on people’s posts, retweet things I found valuable, and respond to DMs. This constant activity kept me visible and helped me build a stronger presence over time.
Make it a habit to be active on Twitter every day, even if you’re not posting.
Just 30 minutes a day of engagement can make a huge difference.
Q: Did you use any specific tactics to accelerate your growth, like giveaways or trending content?
Arslan:
Yes, giveaways helped me boost my follower count quickly.
I offered something valuable, like a resource or a free consultation, and required people to follow and retweet to enter. It worked really well because it got my account in front of a lot of new people.
I also took advantage of trending topics.
For example, when something big happened in the AI space, I would create content around that.
Trend-jacking is powerful because people are already looking for that information, so you can get a lot of engagement if you add value to the conversation.
If you’re running a giveaway, make sure the prize is something that’s relevant to your audience.
And when it comes to trend-jacking, timing is key. Don’t wait too long to jump on a trend or it’ll lose its impact.
Also, don’t chase every trend—only go after the ones that align with your niche and audience.
Q: How did you maintain engagement after hitting your first 1,000 followers? Was it easier or more challenging as your audience grew?
Arslan:
After hitting 1,000 followers, I found it a bit easier to maintain engagement because I had already built a reputation.
More people were interacting with my content, which meant I didn’t have to put as much effort into getting noticed.
That said, I still had to stay consistent with my content and engagement.
The first 1,000 followers are the hardest, but once you build momentum, it gets easier.
Keep engaging with your audience, replying to comments, and starting new conversations.
Q: What would you say to creators who are thinking about switching niches? Did you experience any challenges with this?
Arslan:
Switching niches can be tricky.
I started out in the AI space and then moved into ghostwriting, which caused a dip in my engagement.
If you’re going to switch, do it gradually and start engaging with the new niche before you fully shift your content.
If you switch niches, expect a temporary drop in engagement.
Start building relationships in the new niche before making the switch. This will help ease the transition and keep your audience engaged with your content.
Q: What final piece of advice would you give to creators who are just starting their journey on Twitter?
Arslan:
The key to success on Twitter is consistency and relationship-building.
Don’t just post and disappear—engage with people, start conversations, and provide value. It takes time, but if you stay consistent, the followers will come.
Be patient and persistent.
Twitter growth doesn’t happen overnight, but if you focus on building relationships and consistently providing value, you’ll see results.
Thanks for sharing your journey Arslan! You can follow Arslan on X
Actions to take after reading the Interview:
Step 1: Start with Engaging Comments:
Step 2: Build Consistent, High-Value Content
Step 3: Build Relationships through DMs
Step 4: Optimize Your Profile
Step 5: Stay Consistent with Engagement
Step 6: Leverage Giveaways for Quick Growth
Step 7: Utilize Trend-Jacking for Viral Potential
Final Thoughts: Stay Consistent and Adapt
About Me:
Hey My Friend, Thanks for reading till here.
I’m Sumith Building Onlyforcreators -A platform for finding helpful tools and resources for Content Creators.
I interview successful content creators and ask them to share their growth and audience-building strategies.
If you are a creator: Subscribe to our newsletter, so that you do not miss our content.
If you are a Founder building tools for creators: Submit your tool at Onlyforcreators
