Kate’s Real Food drove 419% growth in Instagram engagement rate, 350% increase in comments, and 428% surge in shares through Volume Nine’s strategic organic social media approach, all while eliminating $15,000 in monthly paid social spend and reducing posting frequency by 66%.
Kate’s Real Food, an organic snack bar company, was established in 2010 by Kate Schade. The company produces plant-based, organic energy bars made with whole food ingredients, that are minimally processed, certified gluten-free, and non-GMO, using natural honey as a sweetener.
Working with V9 has been incredibly positive. Not only are they kind, responsive, and collaborative—but their work yields results. They’ve helped us increase engagement and develop an airtight social strategy that is helping us build our brand.
”Kate’s came to us with solid fundamentals—consistent posting, beautiful content, and an engaged community. But their paid social spend ($15K/month on Facebook and Instagram) was delivering diminishing returns, and they knew their content strategy could work harder.
They wanted:
They weren’t looking for someone to just “manage their social.” They wanted a strategic partner who could help them scale smarter, not just bigger.
Most agencies would have told Kate’s to post more, boost more, and increase ad spend. We went the opposite direction.
Our approach:
Why? Kate’s wasn’t suffering from too little content—they were drowning in it. Their audience didn’t need more posts. They needed better posts worth stopping for and sharing.
What we built:
Strategic Content Framework
Five content pillars aligned to audience personas: outdoor adventures, authentic product use, behind-the-scenes storytelling, community spotlights, and value-driven content that served beyond selling.
Audience-First Strategy
Deep psychographic understanding of outdoor enthusiasts, health-conscious snackers, and busy professionals seeking grab-and-go nutrition they could trust.
Multi-Channel Integration
Social content driving strategic website traffic, email campaigns reinforcing brand messaging, and cross-channel alignment supporting launches and sustainability messaging.
Community Engagement
Shifted from broadcasting to genuine two-way conversations—responding authentically, sparking discussions, and building belonging.
Performance Optimization
Monthly data analysis informed every decision. We doubled down on what worked and cut what didn’t.
The bottom line:
We maintained Kate’s authentic brand voice while applying strategic discipline. We weren’t creating posts for the algorithm—we were building a digital ecosystem that strengthened community and drove business results.
By eliminating paid spend and posting 66% less, Kate’s achieved results that most brands can’t hit, even with daily posting and hefty budgets.
Social Media Performance (September Year-Over-Year)
Not bot engagement. Not engagement pods. Real people genuinely connecting with content and amplifying Kate’s message to their networks.
Website Performance:
Email Marketing:
Beyond the metrics, Kate’s is now positioned as a trusted voice in the outdoor and natural foods communities—brand equity that will continue driving growth long after individual posts disappear from feeds.