UPDATE | What “Insta-gate 2019” Made Me Realize and What I Decided to Do

Hi guys! You can read the original blog post below, but I wanted to write a little update to it since I’ve been asked about it.

As you read (or if you didn’t read it yet, read below first then scroll back up!), I got pretty fed up with IG and said adios to it weeks back. I was off it completely for a week (deleted the app from my phone, etc). It was a great week, and it really allowed me to think about the role Instagram plays in my life and the role I’d like it to play going forward.

My thoughts still remain the same that I will never (and I urge you to never) put all your eggs in the IG basket. Focus on your blog / website and your email list / newsletters. Focus on the things you own and can control. That’s what I’ve been doing, and even more so now. I also have been spending more time than I did before on other platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, and so on…).

The part(s) I did miss about Instagram that week was connecting with the people I enjoyed connecting with on the platform and sharing content I was proud of and wanted more people to be able to enjoy and hopefully benefit from in one way or the other. The parts I didn’t miss..well, that’s a longer list. Ha!!

So when I decided to go back on the app, I chose to mute several people (eek!) and I simply don’t check people’s accounts if they don’t inspire me, make me laugh, or leave me feeling happy. Plain and simple. Does that mean I don’t like those people? Of course not. It just means that their content doesn’t add anything to my life, and sometimes I walk away feeling “worse.” Thus, mute!

In a nutshell, I’ve decided to be more mindful of the app – what I use it for, who I follow, etc.

This week, for example, I’ve been in a posting groove due to lots of excitement with the podcast, fun updates, and so on. Next week? No idea. I might decide to take another hiatus. This week, though, it’s been full of positivity, humor, and fun. YAY.

Bottom line is I’m doing what feels right for me, and that might change day to day, post to post, or week to week even.

One day at a time is the name of the game, amiright? 😉

Original post below from 7/7/19

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Sunday was the first day I didn’t go on Instagram at all in probably a couple years.

This might not sound like a big deal to some of you, but for someone who goes on Instagram daily (err – multiple times per day really) it was something.

With insta-gate 2019 (x2) under our belts (aka when Instagram was down), I can’t help but think about Instagram and the role it plays in my life.

We all know by now that we don’t own instagram and have zero control over its algorithms or if it doesn’t work one day or if it ends altogether. I’m not saying IG is going anywhere anytime soon, but the only things we own in this space are our website and our email list, and in my mind it’s important to recognize that and focus on those areas.

While I’ve never necessarily let my self worth be affected by how many likes I get on a photo, I can’t deny questioning if what I’m doing career-wise is working when I get less than an “ideal” number of likes on something I’ve posted, and I can’t help but look at others and “compare” even when I try not to. I have never really looked at IG as a personal connector. Of course yes it does that, and it’s fun to keep up with people that way, but for me it’s most always been about building a brand.

So, is what I’m about to tell you career suicide? Quite possibly. But hopefully not. 

I said adios to Instagram Saturday night.

Yup, I did. I still have my username of course and I still have access if I wanted it, but it’s been deleted from my phone. So strange at first. The first few times I picked up my phone I immediately went to the spot where the IG app was located. It had become a habit. Muscle memory! But then that feeling subsided.

Something happened via IG the other night that made me realize IG is just not worth it and it can often do more harm than good. People are being hurt and affected by things that were never meant to hurt, and I honestly want no part in making others feel that way or even to be the receiver of that.

While it may seem fairly impulsive to delete IG, it’s not. I’ve thought about it multiple times but have always stopped myself  because I was afraid of what it would do to my brand and business and what I’ve been working to build for years. But then it dawned on me – if I can’t be successful without Instagram, then so be it. Instagram CANNOT be THE reason a company or brand or person is successful. If I’m not successful bc I don’t use IG then I’ve got to figure out another way. 

Will I be done with IG forever?  No idea. I could sign back in, in a week, a month, a year, in a couple days, who knows, but for now I’m really happy with this decision of mine.

Will it be harder for me to promote my podcast and blog posts and so on? Absolutely. I promote my content on IG a lot – it’s my biggest audience in terms of social media channels. I hope those on IG find me other ways and still follow and actively seek out my episodes and posts. I’ll promote via Twitter (which I love and get my news from) and my business Facebook page (I’m not a big Facebook scroller…in fact, I was off Facebook years back for several years), as well as LinkedIn (which is very underrated), and of course my email blast. My focus will be on my website and my email list and what I can offer readers, listeners, and followers that way.

Will I miss interacting on IG stories? Totally. You know I love stories, but I’m going to think of other ways to do so. I might work on getting back into YouTube and do some sort of “daily vlogging,” only time will tell. Whatever it is, IG won’t be the focus. Yikes! Am I crazy? Maybe. Am I happy with the decision? You bet.

Now, I want to hear – how do you feel about Instagram? Have you ever thought about being done with it altogether? Let’s discuss below! And I’d love it if you signed up for my emails here, and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Have a great Monday!