Social Media Growth & Engagement Virtual Assistant (Instagram Focus)

About Us We're My Front Porch, a fast-growing seasonal porch design and pumpkin delivery company serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Every fall we transform hundreds of front porches with custom pumpkin displays, and during the off-season we focus on creating fun, authentic content that reaches new audiences and builds excitement for the upcoming season. We're looking for someone who lives and breathes Instagram—someone who gets excited about trends, understands how the algorithm works, and knows how to turn engagement into community growth. Our goal isn't just to post content—we want to grow our audience organically, reach more non-followers, and become the go-to seasonal brand in our market. Please note: We conduct our entire hiring process through Upwork. Please do not contact us via email, LinkedIn, social media, or our company website. Applications and all communication should remain on Upwork until a contract is in place. What You'll Do Community Growth & Engagement (Approximately 2 Hours Per Day) Your primary responsibility is helping us grow organically through authentic engagement. Daily responsibilities include: Respond to comments, DMs, and story replies in a friendly, on-brand voice. Build relationships with current followers to strengthen our community. Proactively engage with potential customers through thoughtful comments and interactions. Engage with local businesses, creators, influencers, home décor pages, mom communities, and complementary brands. Identify collaboration opportunities with creators and local businesses. Monitor notifications and flag customer questions that require our attention. Help increase organic reach through strategic daily engagement. No spam. No bots. No copy-and-paste comments. We're looking for authentic relationship building. Trend & Content Research (Approximately 1 Hour Per Day) Every day you'll research Instagram and TikTok to help us stay ahead of trends. You'll provide ideas including: Trending Reels Trending audio before it becomes oversaturated Viral hooks Reel concepts customized for our brand Content ideas based on current trends Seasonal and holiday content opportunities Competitor research Caption inspiration Instagram algorithm updates and new features Weekly Deliverables - Each week you'll provide: 10–15 trending Reel ideas 5 customized content concepts for our business Trending audio recommendations Viral hook ideas Competitor observations Content inspiration from successful creators A short report with recommendations for the upcoming week Success Metrics (KPIs) We're looking for someone who thinks strategically—not someone who simply completes tasks. Success looks like: Engaging with 75–100 targeted accounts each day Responding to 100% of comments and DMs during your scheduled hours Helping increase our organic follower growth Increasing engagement and conversations on our posts Identifying trends before they become saturated Bringing fresh, creative content ideas every week Helping increase our reach to non-followers Ideal Candidate You might be a great fit if you: Love Instagram and consume Reels daily Understand how the Instagram algorithm works Know how to identify trends before they peak Think creatively and strategically Have experience growing Instagram accounts organically Enjoy building online communities Stay current on social media best practices Are proactive and bring ideas without being asked Have excellent written English Are dependable and organized Preferred Qualifications Experience growing Instagram accounts organically Experience with lifestyle, home décor, seasonal, or small business brands Familiarity with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube Experience using CapCut, Canva, or Instagram Edits Basic video editing experience Strong understanding of short-form video content Experience interpreting Instagram Insights and analytics To apply please answer the following: 1. Tell us about an Instagram account you've helped grow organically. What results did you achieve? 2. Share one recent Instagram or TikTok trend and explain how you'd adapt it for a seasonal home décor business. 3. What do you believe are the three biggest factors that help a Reel reach non-followers? 4. If you joined our team tomorrow, what would be the first thing you'd look at on our Instagram account? 5. Please include links to Instagram accounts you've managed (if available). Please Note: Please keep all communication within Upwork during the hiring process. Applicants who attempt to contact us outside of Upwork before being invited may not be considered. What We Offer Flexible schedule Collaborative, creative work environment Opportunity to make a real impact on a fast-growing small business Bonus: If you have experience with ManyChat, influencer outreach, or UGC sourcing, be sure to mention it in your proposal. While not required, those skills are a plus as we continue to grow.