It's harder because mastodon (it's not even mastodon, it's the fediverse) users wont all be on the same instance and whichever instance you are on might not know of the one they are on. In order for you to appear in a search, someone, somewhere needs to have made 'contact' with you or someone on the same instance.
'contact' because boost / like is included, not just replies.
'contact' because boost / like is included, not just replies.