How did Shivesh Bhatia Gain 1 Million Followers in 6 Months?

What does it take to grow by a million followers in just 6 months on Instagram? For Shivesh Bhatia, India’s favourite digital baker, it was not just about pretty cakes and colourful reels. It was a well-thought-out mix of timely content, addictive series, recycled hits, and most importantly, being present and human with his audience.

Let’s understand how he did it, what worked, why it worked, and what you can take away from this if you’re building your own brand.

The Power of Topical Content: Stay Relevant, Stay Seen

One of Shivesh’s biggest growth triggers was topical content. According to him, creating reels that matched the season or trending moments was the best way to stay relevant and boost discovery.

Example That Went Viral:

• Mango Cheesecake Reel – Built around India’s love for mangoes, this single reel hit 37 million views and gained 78,000 new followers.
• The trick? Making something that looks good, is seasonally relatable, and feels like a must-try.

Key Learning: Use seasonal ingredients like mango, strawberry, or festive moments to ride the wave of current interest and search trends.

Episodic Content: Give People a Reason to Return

Shivesh didn’t just post random recipes. Like mini TV shows, he built series where people knew what was coming next.

Some Winning Series He Created:

• A to Z Desserts
• Sweet Summer Treats
• Festive Treats
• No Oven, No Problem

This structure gave his audience something to look forward to, making it addictive. When they get hooked on a theme, viewers stay longer and return for the next “episode.”

Massive Win:

• His “No Oven, No Problem” series alone got a mind-blowing 380 million views.
• Suji Bread reel led to 180,000 new followers on its own!

Hook Strategy: Every reel in this series started with a visual + verbal hook.
For example: “No oven, no maida bread”, while showing a soft, fluffy loaf being squeezed. It was simple, sensory, and super clickable.

Festive Feeds: Season + Sentiment = Success

Festivals brought their special flavour to Shivesh’s content calendar. From Diwali fusion mithais to Christmas classics with a twist, his feed felt warm, timely and worth sharing during celebrations.

Why did it work? People love to save and share festival content that is nostalgic, emotional, and practical, whether it’s a new idea for gifting or a dessert to try with family.

Tip for Creators: Always align your content calendar with key Indian festivals, such as Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid, etc. Sentiment + relevance = shareability.

Real Engagement: Don’t Just Post, Talk

Shivesh believes social media is not a stage; it’s a street. A two-way street. While many treat it as a place to post and leave, Shivesh always converses with his audience.

What Did He Consistently Do?

• Replied to DMs
• Reposted fan reactions
• Answered questions in stories

He always kept the conversation going, which helped him build a real community, not just a following. People feel seen, heard, and connected, which turns casual viewers into loyal fans.

Smart Recycling: Old Gold Can Shine Again

Another growth hack Shivesh shared was what he calls the “6-month stretch”. He doesn’t believe that every post has to be brand new. Instead, he smartly reuses old hits by:

• Updating captions to be crisper
• Reposting at the right time
• Giving older content a second life

He noticed that recycled posts often went viral again, especially if their content was still fresh and useful.

Takeaway: If a post once worked well, it can work again; just polish it up and re-present it differently and strategically.

Clear Focus + Human Touch = Sustainable Growth

Lastly, it all boils down to having:

• A clear niche (baking + easy recipes)
• A content structure that sparks curiosity
• Solutions to real kitchen problems
• Timely, seasonal relevance
• A consistent, visually appealing storytelling style
• And staying genuinely human online

Shivesh didn’t just post pretty desserts; he solved problems (like baking without an oven), entertained, and made people feel connected.

Gaining 1 million followers in 6 months is no joke.

Shivesh Bhatia’s journey is special because of how simple, smart and human his strategy was.
If you’re trying to grow your food content page or any niche:

• Tap into seasons and trends
• Create binge-worthy series
• Talk to your audience, not at them
• Give old content new life
• And always stay relatable

Numbers will follow, but more importantly, you’ll build a loyal community like he did.

Also Read: The Sweet Success of Shivesh Bhatia: Instagram’s Beloved Baking Boy