Why Entrepreneurs Are Leaving Instagram (And What They're Doing Instead)

I built my business on Instagram and I regret it. The blog post before this one was all about how I was doing a 30-day social media break (and I did it, I’ll update y’all on that another time). But for now, let’s talk about Instagram.

I started posting on Instagram back in 2018, grew a following, and my business took off. And don’t get me wrong, I knew not to rely solely on social media, so I’ve always had an active newsletter. But aside from referrals, Instagram was my main source of traffic from 2018 to 2022.

August of 2022 was the first time I noticed that Instagram wasn’t as beneficial anymore. I’m a data girl, so I’ve always tracked where my website traffic comes from, and the shift was obvious. When that dip first happened, I doubled (actually tripled) down on learning Instagram marketing. I spent a lot of time studying the algorithm, trying to stay visible, trying to make it work. But last year, I finally accepted that Instagram just isn’t reliable for us entrepreneurs anymore.

As of this moment, only about 12% of my total traffic comes from Instagram. And if I’m being real, the amount of time it takes to create content, keep up with trends, and fight to stay visible is just not worth it anymore. This is happening to other people too and plays a huge role in why entrepreneurs are leaving instagram.

Now back in the day, between 2018 and 2021, it was a different story. Posts that offered value actually performed well. Your audience saw your content. People clicked links. It was normal for someone to swipe up on your stories, visit your site, and buy. But things have changed.

Instagram is now designed to keep people on the app. Statistically, people aren’t clicking links in bios or stories as much anymore. The click-through rate is often less than 1%. And even when someone does click, Instagram opens it in an external browser, which lowers the chance they'll actually take action.

And it’s not just me. I know multiple entrepreneurs who have walked away:

• A YouTuber I follow left Instagram with over 100k followers and is thriving.

• Another woman I follow quit with over 200k followers (and over 800k on TikTok).

• A podcast host I recently listened to stopped using IG in 2024 with 30k+ followers, fully quit by 2025, and had already made $75K by March of this year, without it.

  
  

All of them are full-time entrepreneurs. Many of us are realizing that we’re spending hours creating content for attention, not conversions. People on Instagram want to be entertained. They’re not looking to buy. So if you're struggling to make it work for your business, know that you are not alone.

More and more entrepreneurs are choosing less stressful, more effective methods to grow their business. Here’s what’s actually working now:

• Blogging (especially when it's SEO-optimized)

• Email marketing (conversion rates are 10–20% or even higher most of the time)

• YouTube (with a 2–5% conversion rate from link clicks, even with low views)

• Pinterest (with a 1–3% conversion rate to sales)

• Funnels that lead people from free value to paid offers

• Digital products for passive income

• Memberships that create community and recurring revenue

  
  

I’ve always blogged and had a newsletter. I’ve always been on YouTube. And now, I’m finally leaning into Pinterest and SEO to grow my business organically. Since doing so, I’ve seen real growth, even though SEO and Pinterest can be a little slow at first. It’s worth it to invest the time and energy.

The best part is that I’m no longer overwhelmed.

I’m not forcing content. I’m not chasing trends. I’m focused on building something that doesn’t rely on social media, and that shift has been life-changing. When I took my Instagram break, my business didn’t suffer. Sales stayed consistent. Nothing crashed.

Will I leave Instagram forever? Probably NOT! Lol. I’m a social person, so I like sharing my life every now and then. I've made so many amazing personal connections through social media. If I’m already online posting cute pics from my personal life, I might promote what I’ve got going on. But I’m no longer relying on it as a business tool. Youtube, Pinterest, and SEO are my best friends right now because that's where the growth is.

My energy is going into platforms that give me peace, time freedom, and actual results.

If you’ve been thinking about stepping away from Instagram or at least not relying on it for business, this is your sign. You don’t need it. Use your time and energy to grow your business in a way that doesn't leave you feeling overwhelmed and burned out.

✨ If you’re rethinking your relationship with social media... you're not alone.In Burn the Backup Plan, I share the real story of how I built my business from the ground up, including the role Instagram did play in the beginning - and what I’ve learned since about creating a sustainable business that doesn’t depend on it. It’s raw, practical, and made for entrepreneurs who are ready to do things differently.

📘 Grab your copy of Burn the Backup Plan using the link below, and learn how to build a business on your terms.

Start My Journey