A Love and Hate Affair With Instagram
Do you have a rocky relationship with Instagram? Are you a blogger having a love-and-hate affair with Instagram?
I guess the first question is… why are you posting on Instagram?
Fair warning…
- If you use Instagram primarily to promote yourself and gain thousands of followers because you thrive from attention.
- If youāre looking for someone to validate the follow/unfollow game played.
- If buying followers is the goal.
Then, move on. This article is not for you.
However, if you can relate to having a love-and-hate affair with Instagram because you’re genuinely trying to reach a new audience, but you’re frustrated by…
- Instagram’s ever-changing algorithms and updates.
- The high expectations of unrealistic photos and videos.
- The annoying follow and unfollow game. Ugh.
- REELS! Enough said.
Then, perhaps this post is for you. Let’s commiserate together!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission at no extra cost. Please refer to ourĀ full disclosureĀ for details.
A Love and Hate Affair With Instagram
My Instagram Affair
It’s now been a few years since I first posted this article. And several years of my tumultuous affair with Instagram. An affair that some may say I lost since I’ve basically given up on it and really just don’t care anymore, but in reality, I truly won.
Because the moment I stopped caring about Instagram and started focusing on what’s important to this website, I started to see results.
And I succeeded!
Yeah, sure… Instagram and I went through our honeymoon period, too. All was great. We were getting to know each other, there was some give and take, and I was rewarded by the more time I spent on the app.
It expects you to live on it.
After a year and a half of posting, we had a love-and-hate relationship. One moment I’m in love, and then next, I was ready to throw my phone away. Why am I not gaining any followers?! Why aren’t my photos being shown? Because I have a life and can’t be on Instagram 24-7?
If you found this article, then you’re at the love-and-hate stage.
I understand! You’re doing everything Instagram wants from you, and you’re not getting anywhere.
- Iāve posted some beautiful travel photos that Iāve edited with presets.
- Iāve come out of my shell and from behind the camera to capture more photos of myself than I have ever had in years to share with my followers.
- I shared personal stories, tips, and more about myself than I ever imagined doing when I first signed up. As an introvert, itās not easy to put myself out there, but I did… for Instagram.
- I tried to figure out the algorithm and played the game of posting at the same time… every single day.
- I’ve liked, shared, and commented on other profiles.
- I’ve uploaded daily stories and reached out to fellow Instagrammers on theirs.
- I’ve commented on the top 10 hashtags that I follow.
- I’ve also participated in many Facebook follow threads.
And yet, after all of this, I maintained a steady 2500 followers after a few years. Gaining about 10 follows (sometimes more) a day to only lose 10 or more the next day.
Now that I’m in the state of not caring about Instagram anymore, I keep losing followers. But it doesn’t matter because Instagram does not pay my bills.
Am I telling you any of this because I regret my time as a blogger on Instagram? No, because I’ve learned so many lessons and have evolved.
Let’s learn from those lessons and not let Instagram waste our time or pull us under.
What Do I Hate about Instagram?
Instragam is frustrating. Pull out your hair and stomp on your phone frustrating. It is far from the perfect platform. Not that there is one, but we wish Instagram got their shit together sometimes. Right?
The Games
The games on Instagram are ridiculous. Especially the follow/unfollow. If youāre going to follow me for a follow back to then unfollow me hours later, DONāT FOLLOW ME. Thatās just RUDE. Stop wasting my time and other people’s time.
However, this is truly a problem amongst the platform users.
FYI: A follow does not cost you anything. But you shouldn’t follow anyone you do not want to see on your feed. Just don’t play the game.
The Bots / Fake accounts
Enough said. As it is, we have to deal with rude Instagrammers trying to gain our follow without even giving our account a chance to wow them. We have no time or patience to deal with bot accounts or comments.
The Mean Spirited Instagrammers
People are not only rude but mean. There is a real āmean peopleā mentality that you can easily get sucked into. Be kind. Kindness always wins.
Donāt forget there is a human being on the other side of these accounts. If you do not like them, their content, or they do not fit your bill, unfollow themāno need to be a bully.
The Creepy Old Men That Slide Into My DM
Yes, I block them! The grossest part is when they claim to want to meet me to shower me with diamonds and trips around the world. Yeah, no thanks.
Iām married. My husband and I take each other around. And hubby knows I prefer cupcakes to diamonds.
The Pressure
The pressure we put on ourselves to reach the elusive 10k followers just because it looks better. Thankfully, we no longer need that swipe feature.
The Unnecessary Competition
I did not start Instagramming to compete with anyone. We will rise faster together, not against each other.
Unrealistic Content Without Disclosures
Once upon a time, I used to be a great photoshop manipulator. (Those days are behind me. Itās been so long that I open photoshop now and fear it.) So when I see photoshopped content, especially when it comes to travel, I think there should be some disclosure.
Why? Because some people can be gullible, and you’re setting their expectations too high.
Of course, I admire the content creators out there creating art, which is their niche. That’s what they are known for. They’re not trying to hide anything about it.
Irresponsible Influencers
This is a can of worms I have no interest in opening. Everyone has their own opinions on this. Sometimes I agree, and sometimes I donāt because I am one to ālive and let live.ā
However, some influencers do not realize that their actions can cause a chain reaction and hurt certain places, people, and things. Sometimes I do not even think they care about anything else but the number of followers they will gain after they post.
Reels
Do you hate reels as much as I do? When did Instagram become a video platform? Wish they stopped trying to be TikTok. A lot of the reels on my feed offer no value whatsoever. Some of them flip through so fast that you can’t even appreciate what they are trying to share with you.
I scroll pass most reels unless there is a cute dog.
On Instagram, I’m mostly there for the photos… oh, and stories.
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What to Love about Instagram?
My love affair with Instagram did not start when I decided to be a blogger. Far from it! I’ve been a part of the community for years. I have a completely separate and private account where I post personal pictures.
Yes, I am a selfie poster that loves to share what she’s eating and how cute my dogs are. Damn right, you better believe I’m showing off when I’m on the beach on vacation.
Of course, this is my private account for my friends and family. I just had no idea there were accounts as influencers and bloggers out there sharing this sort of content for a living until I started researching travel blogging. I found a whole new world!
Instagram Is a Visual Platform
I am a visual person. Content and photography will always be number one for me. Itās why my Facebook presence is minimal and my Twitter engagement is almost nonexistent. No matter how frustrating Instagram is, I am drawn to it. So even if I’m not posting on my accounts regularly, I still show up to check my feed.
I truly enjoy photography, positive quotes, and cool illustrations. I genuinely love seeing everyone cooking, drinking, and reading. As someone who loves to travel, the photos shared worldwide are inspiring and make my day.
I love seeing the world through other peopleās eyes, whether youāre a professional photographer, an influencer, or someone on their yearly vacation. And your smile may make my day if it’s a photo of you.
I love reading through inspiring captions, especially uplifting, positive messages.
I get excited about cool travel tips and great travel stories. Amusing tales that will provide me with a daily laugh. Hey, I love cute animal pictures!
You Don’t Have to Agree With Everything on Instagram
Do I agree with everything posted on Instagram? No way! We all have our way of doing things, and as long as you’re not causing harm to yourself or anyone, I scroll on.
Just don’t be riding an elephant, or I will judge you. (HUGE HINT: Do not ride the elephant!)
Also, respect your surroundings and don’t be reckless because you’re influencing someone else to do the same thing.
Photography is Art
Photos do not need to be edited for me to appreciate them. They do not need to fit within a theme. Yet, this is what people are looking for.
I can’t deny that there is an aesthetic appeal to the eye when you come across a pretty feedājust being honest. That doesn’t mean you have to follow along. For me, it’s fun to connect with my artistic side. Long ago, I was obsessed with photoshop and loved graphic design. I can appreciate created content.
Engagement is Key!
As an introvert, engagement is my downfall! Admit it. It is one of the most important parts of Instagram! I do not reach any level of engagement expected, but I don’t care.
Do I love that engagement of any kind is expected? YES. I do.
I appreciate that it forces me out of my comfort zone. I am grateful for the Instagram friends I’ve made through social media because we would never have met virtually without communication through comments or DM.
Itās fun to virtually meet people from different parts of the world with similar interests. If all I did were hit ‘like’ and move on, I’d miss out on some great friendships and collaborations.
Stories can be fun!
I’d post more stories if I had more time in the day. I used not to like posting stories, but thanks to the encouragement of others, I realized after some time I enjoy sharing stories. It’s more fun than posting.
I also love watching everyone else’s stories.
Don’t be afraid to share!
Sharing is caring. We list some of our favorite tools and courses we used to get started.
The Number of Followers Does Not Matter
Let me say again: the number of Instagram followers does not matter.
Ultimately, if you’re a blogger on Instagram looking to be successful, Instagram numbers do not matter. Think about the amount of time you spend on Instagram. Could you have taken that time and written a blog post instead?
I chose to dedicate my precious time to learning how to blog, how to write for SEO, keyword research, and writing. I consistently put out content that is helpful for my readers.
Imagine the number of blog posts and other amazing things you could do with your blog if you stopped focusing on Instagram numbers.
If you want to be a social media influencer, keep doing what you’re doing on Instagram and other social media platforms. But get yourself a mentor or coach that can help steer you in the direction you need to go and help you grow. And don’t get scammed by businesses offering you a taco in exchange for a photo.
But don’t call yourself a blogger if you’re not blogging.
Also, the number of followers you have doesn’t matter. Cause even if you have three followers, they are three people you have the attention of. They are three people that you can inspire, and you have a responsibility.
Ultimately, it’s not about that magic number. It’s about connecting with followers who truly enjoy what you have to offer. Hopefully, as we gain followers, they will stick around because they want to, not because they want a follow back.
Once I realized what was important, my unhealthy relationship with Instagram stopped. That toxic mental back-and-forth just ceased to exist.
I keep things between us on my terms. I post when I want and what I want. And sometimes, that is a reel, but only if it makes sense.
Instagram is just a tool for my blog. And extension of my business. That’s it.
If I ever want to make it a priority, I will hire a social media manager.
Safe, secure, and unlimited photo storage
8 Instagram Survival Tips
Since this post is not a normal social media post, I decided to stay consistent and write tips that have nothing to do with hashtags, captions, or how to gain 10 million followers.
You can find those blog posts on Pinterest; some can help you grow your Instagram.
These are survival tips to help keep you sane during your unstable affair with Instagram. There will be times you will need an Instagram break and when you do, remember these tips.
- Stay true to yourself. Your feed represents who you are and what you believe in. Do what fits you.
- Be responsible and mindful. The moment youāre profile is public, and you have a following of even one real person, you have a responsibility. What you share may influence your following.
- You are allowed to grow and evolve as you see fit. If you have a vision, go for it.
- Donāt pay attention to negative comments. Block. Delete. Report if you have to. Not everyone will love what you post, and thatās okay. You will find your audience.
- Support others. Engage. Comment on posts. Support endeavors. The number of followers you have does not matter. Itās the relationship you create with the followers you already do have. Focus on them.
- Be open to other peopleās advice. But make sure that whatever you do makes you happy.
- Donāt be a jerk. This one is so important! Seriously people! We are humans (bots not included) sitting behind our profiles. Don’t be a jerk.
- Have fun! Donāt take this too seriously. For some of you, Instagram is part of your job, which is why you work your ass off. But, if youāre not having fun doing it and feel you’re slaving over it… why bother?
Tell me all about your love and hate affair with Instagram.
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
I love this post! Iām on limited WiFi but I just wanted to say, itās perfect! Also love the hat ad and Pinterest pin. Iāll be back for my real comment later. Lol Just thought you should know ??
So I finally found the missing comment amongst all the spam! Appreciate your kinds words about the graphics and post. Also, thanks for reading and commenting from Iceland!
OMG it’s so weird that it is there now!! AHAHA. That’s Iceland Wifi for you!
Love, love, loved this read! (Also, major kudos for the design of the header image!) My favorite line (and a part that really spoke to me) was: “This doesnāt mean Iām a different person or Iām conforming to expectations.” As you know, this is something I’ve battled with myself, especially after starting to work with brands. I also love how you said it’s about connections, not numbers. I cannot deny that numbers are important to me as I’m looking to monetize and gain new opportunities, but the connections I’ve made on here have been the absolute best part of my time investment. Thank you so much for shedding light on an important topic (and one that is on my mind daily). Great work!
Thank you so much! Means a lot. You know how I feel.
One connection the gram can’t take credit for is OURS. We met via Pinterest. If I hadn’t clicked on that pin, commented on your blog post and you hadn’t reached out, don’t think we’d be friends now, š
Itās great you can find some positives to take away from the Gram… the downsides do really suck but having that perspective is great.
The downsides do suck, they really do. If I were to focus on alone, I’d be in a bad mood all the time. HA. Seriously though, the gram is like having a toxic boyfriend. I prefer to be in a healthy relationship rather than one that screws with my moods and emotions all the time. It’s not worth it. In real life, I’d kick this toxic bf to the curb and not look back. Since it’s just social media, I can simply ignore the BS, focus on what I love about it and continue putting out positive energy. =)
Yes! Oh my god I have a love/hate relationship with Instagram too! So many frustrating things about it, but ultimately, I agree, I just want to relax, do my own thing, and enjoy! Connect with awesome people like you and itās all good! Rise together thatās for sure!!!
Love this! Thank you for writing what many of us have been thinking. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Yes, it’s frustrating but we are not gonna let Instagram break us! Thanks again so much for the help you gave me. I appreciate it.
Tip #1 is my favorite: Stay true to yourself.
My IG profile was private for the longest time so it stayed very small and cozy and was limited to people I knew IRL. When I started my blog 7 months ago, I changed it to a public profile. Maybe the fact that I am new to a public profile means that I havenāt been trained to watch the numbers, but I enjoy following and engaging with my 200 or so followers. Thatās a small number but I love the quality of content that appears in my feed.
When itās all said and done, I will continue to stay true to myself!
Consider it a blessing if you haven’t been sucked into the whole numbers game. Continue doing what you’re doing!
I agree with many of your points, but I especially hate the follow/unfollow game so many users play. As soon as I see an account that calls out unfollows in its bio I’m wary of following them as I feel like they might just be using Instagram for the fame game or not really care about their content or followers as long as they’re reached that 10k mark. I think a successful Insta presence means sharing content you enjoy, engaging with others, and like you said, have fun! I look at it like a community, we all support each other and value the time it took to create the content or take the photo. š
You’re so right! Sharing content you enjoy, engaging and having fun is the core of having successful insta presence. I think so many miss this point and it’s important to be reminded. As frustrating as it is, there are a lot of pluses to being part of the community and supporting each other.
You spoke sooo much truth in this post!!!!!!!! Every single word! I agree Instagram can be a huge pain in the neck but it can also be fun to engage and discover new people, ideas and things!
Thank you! I had written this post 2 weeks ago and sat on it so I can think about it some more before revising it a bit. I was nervous to post and cause drama, but in reality, I just want to steer people into a positive direction instead of getting wrapped up in the negative. š
Kathy, I knew when I saw that you had written a post Instagram that I would love it. I knew when I saw the tittle āA love and hate affair with Instagramā that Iād resonate with it. Instagram is a tough nut to crack and I think most of us can agree that it often takes up way to much of our valuable time. The Instagram game is easy to become a victim of. The platform at times drives me crazy & I often feel like I get obsessed with it! Iām guilty of studying the gorgeous feeds out there and putting myself down. But recently like you I had a little bit of an Instagram breakthrough deciding that Iām not going to let it suck me in. I stopped editing every single photograph, like you I love being create and actually enjoy the editing process! But it can take time and sometimes we just donāt have enough of it! So when I donāt have time Iāve stoppes editing and just posted a great photograph from our life or travels. & youāll never guess what? My engagement has increased from this small step!
There has been a lot of discussion lately that Instagram is focusing more towards creating an authentic presence. Giving accounts that show real life more chance to grow rather than the pretty photographs that have been manipulated to within an inch of their life!
Also as a travel blogger I think we need to be conscious of how much we edit! We are promoting the amazing places of the world and should be doing so truthfully, if the sea wasnāt aqua blue where you visited donāt make it! It may disappoint people!
Those things said I love how visual the platform is and adore gorgeous photographs of travel and just real life! I also love getting to know people via their stories! Like the time the lady gave you some shoes! That story reminded me that kindness does always win!
Great post Kathy & very wise!
Alicia
Hey Alicia! Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. I love that you loved it and was able to relate it.
I have to be honest, editing the photos to me is always a breeze and the part that I enjoy the most. So for me, it’s something that I look forward to doing. What stops me from posting daily? Captions! I rarely know what to say besides where I am and what we’re doing. So sometimes I wait for inspiration to strike me before I post. I sometimes wish it was the other way around that I had so much to say that I just type away what I need to say and then just a picture that coincides with it without editing. That’s just not me. I love the visual aspect of it all.
Now I do agree about people going overboard with their presets and like making water another color than it is. It’s one of my peeves when I edit. However, I will say that most of the times what I photographed looks NOTHING like what I experienced and remember, the dullness depresses me because I want the photo to be as grand as I remember the place being. I think Lightroom works really well to accomplish this. I guess there is a fine line for travel bloggers, but there is a difference between content creators that edit for the art of it all. Photography is a form of art. That’s mostly how I see it.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I will always be honest in my blogs and captions about what I experienced. Traveling is not all rosy.
And omg, those shoes! They actually saved my night one day when I needed fancy flats for a night out. Totally saved me. Now I’m gonna pay it forward and hand over the shoes to someone else who does need them.
Thanks again! So happy we found each other in this community.
Love this! I also have a love/hate relationship with Instagram. I do enjoy seeing peoples photos, especially travelers, food bloggers, etc, but I also hate how elitist it is at times. I agree that the follow/unfollow game is incredibly annoying, especially when trying to grow your followers. Wonderful tips. Staying true to yourself is so important, and not just on Instagram, but everywhere in life.
Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting! I do agree about it being elitist sometimes and that sort of crowd is just not for me. That’s why I focus on doing my own thing. You’re right, we have to stay true to ourselves in everything in life.
I’m so bummed that my original comment never posted. Darn it! Like where did it go Wordpress?! Where?!
I think my biggest struggle with IG is that right now it is oversaturated with bloggers and business owners all trying to do the same thing. I am one of them so I totally get it. This can be great, but it also leads to a lot of shade, F/UF, and selfish tactics/intent. I think my goal for 2019 is to attract the non-business people and bloggers to my account. Don’t get me wrong: some of them are great for networking and connections. I learn a lot and have built a blogging community. But, I also want people who are interested in my content as consumers, travelers, and just fun users. Those are the people who stick around, check out blog posts, purchase items, and are the real trusted, targeted audience. How we find and attract users like this, though, is seemingly impossible lately. Even they want to be an IGer.
I’m definitely trying to figure out how much time I want to spend on the platform in 2019. It is a huge time commitment if you want it to be a larger part of your business model. I am not sure if sponsorships and brand work is really the way that I want to go (although I occasionally accept an offer that is fitting with my values). I also don’t have the time or willingness to post the required every day. I’d need an assistant for that to keep up with engagement. AND REAL engagement is SO important to me.
I also decided at the end of 2018 to unfollow accounts who were not aligned with my business and personal values; there is just some content that I can never get on board with–which is fine if I don’t have to see it/support it/have it connected to my community. I’ve watched a lot of people slide into roles to make money, and while I’m not ready to get trolled again or have that debate, it’s just not for me. I will find other ways. As a world traveler and US Fulbright scholar, I struggle to see the way we portray cultures and the world nowadays–so travel blogging and travel influencing have really made that an interesting scene that I haven’t figured out how to swallow yet. We know that sometimes I want to barf it ALL up. LOL.
I always wonder what the future of IG will hold. I read somewhere that for every 1 person that gives up or leaves the platform, 11 more join. I have seen huge bloggers decide to delete their accounts. It’s terribly interesting.
For now, I plan to have nothing to do with the recent wave of bullies (some of my book friends have been getting trolled and not just kindly left alone or having a sensible debate for their book opinions. WTF!!). People are destroying people for opinions they don’t like but then fail to realize that their opinion is just that too. I also plan on unfollowing content that makes me sad for the travel world and is against my values. I hope to keep my account true to me regardless of brands–you saw my upcoming brand pic haha–and I really just want to focus on my blog. I will continue to put out solid content with captions that I spend time on, but I’m not going to go wild.
With buying followers, soliciting followers in FB groups, and secret pods, IG might see huge changes in the future anyway.
Great post!
I was recently thinking similar, wondering where are all the non-blogger followers? How do we get them?
I really don’t know where IG is going, but it is only going to be more popular, just like FB. I remember thinking so many times it would go away and it has only gained popularity as a free platform.
Primarily focusing on the blog and the content you provide definitely should be the priority. IG is just an extension of it for you. While some influencers, their entire lives revolve around IG, their followers, and their numbers. If IG was to go away, they are screwed. We just have to keep looking at IG as a small part of a bigger picture.
That’s what I always wondered too: I almost just decided to dedicate everything to IG in the very beginning…I’m sure I could be decently successful if I was on the dang platform full-time. BUT, what if IG goes away or transforms? Unlikely, but that was not a chance that I was willing to take. Look at MySpace. I do think FB is struggling too–and there was an article about how IG is slowly going to almost completely replace FB. Not sure if it’s true, but the thought is now in my mind. Google Plus crapped out of the running…you just never quite know. I always learned that you need to have multiple eggs in multiple baskets. lol
This is such a great article! We’ve been noticing a lot of disillusionment among the travel community lately when it comes to Instagram. Sometimes it feels like you just can’t win with this app! We used to do the same things you mentioned: post every day, interact, etc. but now we’ve let go of that pressure and are taking a more relaxed approach. It’s definitely sooo much better for our mental health to not agonize over who is following/unfollowing. Thanks for putting so well into words this frustration!
Hi Katie! I appreciate the comments! When I first wrote this post, I was basically spitting out all my thoughts and feelings onto a page after seeing so much turmoil online over Instagram. I didn’t understand why we are letting a social media platform mess with our hearts and minds, but then I remembered I am one of them I wasn’t sure if I ever was going to post it, but after another draft, I felt I needed to share because so many of us need to learn to really to take a step back and breathe. Instagram is so much easier to deal with when we’re not obsessing over it. =)
I feel ya sis!! I did social media for foks in past and quickly learned that IG is a fickle beyotch. Love this post. Your writing is divine and we have been Twitter friends for awhile and could have sworn I was following you here too. Playing catch up as I have read some of your posts before and I thought I had liked them too!:) So when you get a mil notifications from me today, they are legit. š
Hi Dee – Thank you for your lovely comments and for stopping by. I can’t imagine having to do social media for others. I’d be frustrated all the time. HA.
Hi Kathy, reading this post was an absolute breath of fresh air!
Before I started blogging, I really loved going on Instagram for fun – there was always so much inspiration to be found. Of course, Instagram is still that in many ways, but I’ve found that as a blogger, it has become a real burden. And I think you and Christine make great points about wondering what Instagram’s future holds. While it looks like it’s going to go very strong for quite some time yet, at the end of the day, it’s still simply a social media platform – and each social media platform has its day!
You are so right. Who knows where IG will be 10 years from now. Which is why it’s so important to focus on our blogs. From the beginning, I focused more on IG than my blog and it was fun at first, but then it just started to feel like a chore and stressful. Also worrying about what pics to take or not take while I’m trying to enjoy my time away. No thanks! I now have a new perspective. I do believe achieving greatness on IG is possible, just not where my head is at right now. Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Let’s see what the future holds for this platform!
Everyone who wants to start an IG page for their blog/business should read this post. As you know, IG can be such an exhausting platform, so I appreciate your tips. Iām definitely not going to bother getting worked up over it! It takes the fun away from blogging and, besides, we have way more fun on Twitter anyway! Thanks for posting
Thanks so for reading! It is possible to be successful on IG, but I think everyone needs to ask themselves, at what cost? You know? I can’t post daily and I don’t have it in me at the present time to be on top of it just because it NEEDS attention. I have a job and other responsibilities. So at this point, IG just needs to sit on the sidelines until I feel like posting and I keep it fun. As long as I continue having fun with it, that’s what matters. I agree Twitter is definitely a different ball game.
I think all bloggers relate to this so much! It is a constant battle to stay up and generate a decent following. No WiFi one day = lose 20 followers. It really is a vicious cycle but much like you, I love the visual nature of the gram. I just wish brands knew the importance of engagement over numbers!
I know it may not seem like it, but I think brands are starting to see the importance of engagement over numbers. There is a shift happening. I see a few micro-influencers currently working with big brands and while their following is small, they are engaged. So it is possible. Don’t give up.
I hear you about losing followers. It’s so frustrating, but the truth is at the end of the day, those followers weren’t going to be real followers. They were just looking for that follow back. So good riddance. I think the people that we should be trying to reach are non-bloggers that we can serve.
Thanks for reading. So glad you can relate too!
Going through a love/ hate relationship with Insta right now. Great read!
It’s probably the most toxic relationship in my life right now. I get it. Thanks for reading!