Cellist, composer and independent artist Brianna Tam has lured more than 39,000 followers on Instagram, which may not sound like much compared to major-label acts or social influencers, but her tally is growing fast. She’s added 14,500 of those in just a month’s time, including a gain of 6,000 in just one week.

This exposure has been enough to earn her off-the-beaten-path music a Lexus campaign, placements in four films and live gigs from coast to coast. Learn how to grow your own following and translate that social media heat into business from a woman who is making it happen in real time.