Love this! There’s so many ‘here’s why I quit IG’ articles on here that it’s refreshing to hear someone (tentatively) going in the other direction… Can’t wait to see how the book launch goes.
Thank you Holly! It’s easy to get swayed into what we’re supposed to do (the movements we’re supposed to take), and I’ve early decided that I just want to do whatever feels good in that moment. I have to say I’m surprised myself as to how much I enjoyed editing these short videos and they went pretty quick! So the fulfillment of expressing so far over weighed whatever outcome. I think it’s also vastly different to do it for a specific purpose (in this case I’m advertising the release of my book fundraiser), rather than just “to be visible”.
Yes to doing what feels good in the moment! ✨ We spend so much time doing what we think we should do, don’t we? I actually touch on this in a post coming up next weekend - about how millennial women are beginning to say no to the shoulds and are plotting our own courses in life, and how this might be rooted in the women of the past.
Love that take, and I think you’re onto something there! I for sure feel that there’s no other way to walk than my own.. but it’s everything but easy!!
I agree! It's also such a great reminder of "only because a certain perspective like quitting IG is popular at the moment - it might still be worth following an own idea and try differently!"
Love this! I’m starting again on IG next week, but this morning I was having second thoughts... not quite ready yet. Your experience, though, got me hyped and gave me that extra boost of energy :) Thanks, and keep posting! Can’t wait to read your next update about IG.
This is encouraging to hear! I still post on stories on IG but haven't put anything on my feed for over three months. When I did though, I remember feeling the love and warmth of my community. Wishing you a great launch!
Thanks so much!! It’s all a trial and error (and it changes constantly) so the key is probably to do keep doing what feels right in that moment and what feels FUN ✨
I’m always so tempted to return to Instagram, but it took so much time to convince myself to quit, that I just don’t trust myself! I do want to try TikTok and eventually YouTube. Some second platform in addition to Substack. Agree with other commenters - in a sea of “I quit Instagram,” content it was so interesting to hear your experience of returning!
I understand you completely! It’s interesting how it can feel like a failure to change our mind from decisions that were hard to make, when in the end, it’s only us putting our own limitations no matter in what direction we swing 🥰 I don’t know how long this Instagram game will last but for now it’s fun again! I love Pinterest otherwise for its longevity, and YouTube was great before kids but hard to get videos done now 🫣
I have never had the luck to get any engagement when not posting for a while on a social app. But then again, Im below 100 on each platform (Yes it never went well, only bots)
You’re pointing out an overlooked aspect which is the entry level of sorts, where unfortunately it does change when you get through certain levels of audience size, wish this wasn’t the case!! 🙏🏼 so far, Substack has been the most rewarding to smaller creators compared to all of them
I have a TikTok account, but I don't post anything. I use it to watch videos sometimes. I checked out Anna's profile; she has 184.3K followers on TikTok. My best friend, a musician and active on TikTok, has mentioned that you can get a lot more visibility on TikTok than on Instagram. That could explain her great paid conversion.
I have over 12k followers on Instagram and barely get anyone except my friends to subscribe to my Substack. I mean, barely anyone sees my posts and stories these days.
I hope your experiment goes well and look forward to reading more about it. I've almost given up on Instagram.
Thanks for sharing your insights! It’s an interesting conversation as viability and conversion (and community) are all different things. And I think different platforms lend themselves good for different things. TikTok can be great for a short term campaign to build that viability or potential virality, whereas other platforms have longer shelf life (Pinterest and YouTube and substack) and community aspects… I’m unlearning and relearning how to relate to all of it for maximum benefit 🥰💖
It seems so obvious when I read your words, even though I’ve been playing with an idea for a second Substack which would be almost entirely process inspired (I’m planning to publish a poetry book that I also illustrate, and so my second Sub would be to warm me up for the book and keep momentum)
Thank you for this insight and reinforcing my idea! X
LOVE this idea of the poetry book, it’s fascinating really how we’re so engrained in the idea that what we share must be something separate, that “content” is something else than what we otherwise do… when really, it’s just a matter of how you look at it! 💗
Thank you Mika 🥰 yes it was actually! I was so surprised of how fun it was.. I just have to avoid the scroll and head right to create the thing I had in mind or else it won’t work I think haha
Love this! There’s so many ‘here’s why I quit IG’ articles on here that it’s refreshing to hear someone (tentatively) going in the other direction… Can’t wait to see how the book launch goes.
Thank you Holly! It’s easy to get swayed into what we’re supposed to do (the movements we’re supposed to take), and I’ve early decided that I just want to do whatever feels good in that moment. I have to say I’m surprised myself as to how much I enjoyed editing these short videos and they went pretty quick! So the fulfillment of expressing so far over weighed whatever outcome. I think it’s also vastly different to do it for a specific purpose (in this case I’m advertising the release of my book fundraiser), rather than just “to be visible”.
Appreciate you being here 🥰
Yes to doing what feels good in the moment! ✨ We spend so much time doing what we think we should do, don’t we? I actually touch on this in a post coming up next weekend - about how millennial women are beginning to say no to the shoulds and are plotting our own courses in life, and how this might be rooted in the women of the past.
Love that take, and I think you’re onto something there! I for sure feel that there’s no other way to walk than my own.. but it’s everything but easy!!
I agree it’s anything but easy! And yet we keep on… 🥰
I agree! It's also such a great reminder of "only because a certain perspective like quitting IG is popular at the moment - it might still be worth following an own idea and try differently!"
Absolutely! 🙌
Love this! I’m starting again on IG next week, but this morning I was having second thoughts... not quite ready yet. Your experience, though, got me hyped and gave me that extra boost of energy :) Thanks, and keep posting! Can’t wait to read your next update about IG.
Thanks Andi! Delighted to see you here, sometimes we need those refresh, while also being open to change again right 🥰
This is encouraging to hear! I still post on stories on IG but haven't put anything on my feed for over three months. When I did though, I remember feeling the love and warmth of my community. Wishing you a great launch!
Thanks so much!! It’s all a trial and error (and it changes constantly) so the key is probably to do keep doing what feels right in that moment and what feels FUN ✨
I’m always so tempted to return to Instagram, but it took so much time to convince myself to quit, that I just don’t trust myself! I do want to try TikTok and eventually YouTube. Some second platform in addition to Substack. Agree with other commenters - in a sea of “I quit Instagram,” content it was so interesting to hear your experience of returning!
I understand you completely! It’s interesting how it can feel like a failure to change our mind from decisions that were hard to make, when in the end, it’s only us putting our own limitations no matter in what direction we swing 🥰 I don’t know how long this Instagram game will last but for now it’s fun again! I love Pinterest otherwise for its longevity, and YouTube was great before kids but hard to get videos done now 🫣
Congratulations Elin. Everything happens at its right time and yes you’re right re substack budgets. I need to cancel some honestly! 😅
Haha yeah it’s fascinating to put ourselves in the shoes of audiences on different platforms… xx
I have never had the luck to get any engagement when not posting for a while on a social app. But then again, Im below 100 on each platform (Yes it never went well, only bots)
You’re pointing out an overlooked aspect which is the entry level of sorts, where unfortunately it does change when you get through certain levels of audience size, wish this wasn’t the case!! 🙏🏼 so far, Substack has been the most rewarding to smaller creators compared to all of them
I have a TikTok account, but I don't post anything. I use it to watch videos sometimes. I checked out Anna's profile; she has 184.3K followers on TikTok. My best friend, a musician and active on TikTok, has mentioned that you can get a lot more visibility on TikTok than on Instagram. That could explain her great paid conversion.
I have over 12k followers on Instagram and barely get anyone except my friends to subscribe to my Substack. I mean, barely anyone sees my posts and stories these days.
I hope your experiment goes well and look forward to reading more about it. I've almost given up on Instagram.
Thanks for sharing your insights! It’s an interesting conversation as viability and conversion (and community) are all different things. And I think different platforms lend themselves good for different things. TikTok can be great for a short term campaign to build that viability or potential virality, whereas other platforms have longer shelf life (Pinterest and YouTube and substack) and community aspects… I’m unlearning and relearning how to relate to all of it for maximum benefit 🥰💖
I feel so happy for your Instagram followers to know you have a forthcoming book!
Yay thank you Deb 🥰🥰🥰 I’m excited about it, really hoping it will all be good ✨
Mmmm love this reminder that process = content.
It seems so obvious when I read your words, even though I’ve been playing with an idea for a second Substack which would be almost entirely process inspired (I’m planning to publish a poetry book that I also illustrate, and so my second Sub would be to warm me up for the book and keep momentum)
Thank you for this insight and reinforcing my idea! X
LOVE this idea of the poetry book, it’s fascinating really how we’re so engrained in the idea that what we share must be something separate, that “content” is something else than what we otherwise do… when really, it’s just a matter of how you look at it! 💗
Endless obvious content, it doesn’t have to be hard!
Looking forward to following you on your journey. It must have been nice to connect with your Instagram followers again. xx
Thank you Mika 🥰 yes it was actually! I was so surprised of how fun it was.. I just have to avoid the scroll and head right to create the thing I had in mind or else it won’t work I think haha