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Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore

Let’s talk about a hot button issue for bloggers, brands, and influencers: Instagram! Between the unpopular algorithm replacing chronological order, Stories and other new features, Instagram remains one of the most talked about topics for many businesses. Today I’m sharing the frustrations I’ve had and the things I’ve started to do instead of just being annoyed by it.

I’ll admit it, when the algorithm first got introduced I was super frustrated. Over time, I’ve accepted that this is the new way and learned to better prioritize my time when it comes to growing my following and strengthening my online presence.

When the Instagram algorithm was introduced I was frustrated. Click To Tweet

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featured | shein: blue peplum knit tee c/o {UNDER $15} + yellow skinny pants {similar, UNDER $50} + lucky brand: booties c/o dsw {UNDER $100} + sugarfix by baublebar: mint statement earrings c/o {UNDER $15} + leopard calf hair clutch {similar linked and here} + billion dollar brows: universal brow pencil c/o goody’s + billion dollar brows: eyebrow duo pencil c/o goody’s + colourpop: ultra satin lip {in cozy}

Featured | Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore:

Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore | Frustrations

I went from being able to easily grow my following by 100 each week to maybe gaining 100 a month to a bit of a standstill. One of the things that I stopped doing for my own sanity? I stopped looking at who was unfollowing me. I used to use an app that would tell me how I was gaining and losing but with so many influencers and businesses using the follow-unfollow method, I saw my steady growth go flat. PS. If you’re frustrated by follow-unfollow, be sure to read Summer’s post here.

RELATED: Complete the Look! Finishing Touches You Need for Fall

Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore | Refocusing

I quickly figured out that while I could sit around and bitch about the algorithm change, the best thing I could do for What Nicole Wore as a brand was to keep trucking along and grow on other platforms. You know how your mom told you not to put all your eggs in one basket when you were younger? Same concept.

Bloggers, don't keep putting all your eggs in one basket. Click To Tweet

I took some of the time that I’d been using to respond to Instagram comments and developed a Pinterest strategy so that I could increase traffic to my blog. This really was my focus for the second quarter of the year and has paid off; my largest traffic source is Pinterest.

RELATED: How to Boost Your Pinterest Game & Up Site Traffic

After I got comfortable with Pinterest, I decided to tackle Facebook and Twitter. While they’ve been more daunting, I’ve seen really great growth with Facebook and even had some brands take notice. For me, Facebook has been a great way to engage with my audience that isn’t as active on Instagram.

Twitter has been slower to grow but I’ve found a lot of the community type vibes that made Instagram so attractive in the beginning are starting to show up there. Learning to schedule out social posts for Facebook and Twitter has been KEY to getting traction and really made the process of putting energy into these platforms less intimidating.

RELATED: Grid Print Peplum

Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore | So what about Instagram?

Honestly, posting started to feel like a chore at some point over the summer. Come up with content, post it, wait to see results, get frustrated when engagement isn’t what I think it should be. The cycle admittedly took a toll on me mentally and I started to question whether my work wasn’t up to par. Add this on top of the fact that I was dealing with some body insecurities and it made Instagram kind of miserable for me.

And so I took a break. Nothing insane, but I didn’t force myself to post twice a day, every day, at peak times and…the world didn’t stop. I still was getting collaboration requests from brands, I posted to Instagram stories and was able to engage with my followers there. Really, it was anticlimactic for me because I always felt like it would be a huge deal to just slow my roll. The thought of not posting for 5 days would have given me a terrible bit of anxiety at the beginning of the year.

Has the IG algorithm change how you spend your time online? Click To Tweet

Now? I don’t feel {as} freaked out about things. Has the Instagram algorithm changed how you put time into creating your digital footprint? I’d love to hear in the comments!

Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore | The Outfit

I’m a real navy or nothing kind of gal so this comfy knit peplum is right at home in my closet. I love that it looks good with color denim or a pair of chino pants and can be dressed up or down. Wearing it also gave me a chance to break out my new $13 mint statement earrings from Sugarfix. These are SO lightweight and come in blush as well at Target so be sure to snag a pair while you can.

Why I’m Not Sweating the Instagram Algorithm Anymore | J. Crew Factory New Arrivals

It’s no secret that I love me some J. Crew Factory; today you can snag pieces {including their new arrivals} for 40% off.  So many of these pieces are great to wear now and will be awesome for the holidays; I actually ordered the striped button up shirt with the black watch plaid pocket!  Click any item in the below collage of my favorites to shop it.

RELATED: Best J. Crew Factory New Arrivals for September

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Comments

  2. mary says

    Nicole,
    Thank you so much for this post. It is good to hear that other bloggers are feeling the same way I am. Being a small blogger, I feel like it is so hard to be seen and I spend all my time stressing over photos and hashtags. But recently I have taken a step back too and said “I don’t HAVE to post every day!” I actually get most of my blog traffic from PInterest too, so I have also been focusing on that platform.

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      I’m glad to hear you can relate! Not letting it frustrate me has been really freeing and actually helped me to boost my blog traffic by putting effort elsewhere!

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      So so true! It’s frustrating realizing there’s not much you can do without totally cheating the system but I think once you accept it, it’s kind of freeing!

  6. Gita says

    I feel you, girl! Instagram has been the bane of my blogging existence since the algorithm change. I really need to get savvy on Pinterest, but guuuuhhhh engaging on Insta is taking so much of my time

    – Gita (www.mimiandchichi.com)

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      I totally hear you! Figuring out how to spend less time on IG while still engaging is really tricky.

  8. Emily says

    I am so so with you, girl!! For a while it was driving me crazy- but then I changed my perspective on it & it’s become more enjoyable again!

  10. Danielle says

    Loved this post! I have been so frustrated lately (and can totally relate to posting feeling like a chore) and this is encouraging me to focus on other platforms.

    xx, Danielle | Pineapple & Prosecco

  11. danasia fantastic says

    I’m so over Instagram at this point because their algorithm is complete trash. It’s great that you started focusing your attention on other platforms, I need to do the same thing!

  13. Kileen says

    This is such a great post and I totally agree. There’s not much we can do about the changes, so we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves! I’d rather not stress out about it, because then it stops being fun 🙂

    Kileen
    cute & little

  15. Mariam says

    The algorithm sucks but I think as long as you are giving content that matters – nothing else will. Numbers mean nothing. It’s the heartfelt connections you make along the way that matter the most.

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      You’re so right that we as bloggers should focus on content and community!

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      Exactly! It makes me sad to see people working so hard to “beat” the algorithm when we really can’t longterm

  17. jcrewismyfavstore says

    Such a great post! You’re absolutely right about broadening our approach to include other social media platforms. And,your outfit is super cute!!!

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      Aww thank you Rynetta! I’ve found reinvesting time in other social media platforms has really helped me to increase my blog traffic!

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      I’ve found that reinvesting my time in Pinterest has been so beneficial to me

  21. Ashley DTKAustin says

    Instagram sucks now. I rarely post anymore and if I do, I don’t expect to get amazing engagement anymore. I’m over it and literally hate posting; even photos I absolutely love!! I’ve definitely put my focus elsewhere the past year and haven’t looked back!

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      See and your feed is so 🙌🏽 I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one that dreads posting!

  24. Ashley Houston says

    I feel like everyone is sharing these same struggles! Refreshing to see others feeling the same way

  25. Anna Baun says

    I could not agree more with all of this! It has been so frustrating these last several months, but I too have been taking it in stride. Staying positive and promoting on other avenues is definitely the way to go! XO

    Anna || A Lily Love Affair

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      So glad to hear that even the IG superstars like you two are noticing changes too! ❤️❤️

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      I’m so glad to hear that Facebook has helped for you; I know you kill it on Twitter too!

  33. amy says

    Love the outfit! That peplum top is so pretty and it looks perfect with the yellow pants and booties. As for Instagram the follow/unfollow thing always bothered me. What I do is I never follow back unless I really am interested in that person’s content. I never noticed much of a change when they started using Algorithms. Pinterest has always been the greatest drive for my blog. I pin everything to drive traffic to my blog.

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      How interesting that the algorithm didn’t change much for you! I’m right there with you on following; I don’t follow too many accounts and only follow those that I’m really interested in!

  34. Julie N says

    You know, I used to post to Instagram at least once a day. I had outfit pics lined up for each day of the week. Well, when I look at my blog stats, most of the traffic, if any, isn’t even coming from Instagram. So, I focus more on Facebook, which drives a lot of traffic, even though my follow numbers aren’t huge on Facebook, and I focus on blog linkups, which drives a ton of traffic. Now, I only post on Instagram every several days. I may post a story that has not a thing to do with fashion. If something isn’t helping you, don’t worry about it.

    • whatnicolewore@gmail.com says

      You hit the nail on the head here! For so long, I placed way too much importance on making sure I had daily posts but I really wasn’t seeing a huge ROI. Putting more time into linkups, Facebook, etc. has been so beneficial to my blog

  35. Sheree says

    I definitely agree that it is so important to not sweat over Instagram. It is so empowering to hear you speak about this! Also, your outfit looks stunning on you.

    ~xo Sheree
    PoshClassyMom.com

  36. Emma Peach says

    It does seem to be all about Instagram at the moment but I’m sure that will change. I’ve seen a slow steady growth on my account but the follow/unfollow game does mean that my number of followers fluctuates quite a bit. I’ve found Pinterest a hard nut to crack but I feel like it shouldn’t be because everyone else seems to have great success with it. I tried scheduling with Tailwind and using Tribes but it had no impact…I’m still stuck at more or less the same number.

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

  37. Jennie says

    Great post! I don’t have a lot of time for social media period, and as much as the algorithm change is frustrating, accepting there isn’t much I can do about it helps with my sanity. Love your pretty floral top!

    Thanks for linking up with Fabulous Friday!

    Jennie – A Pocketful of Polka Dots

  38. Mandy Gragg says

    Totally feel you on that! I’ve found the more I continue to spread the love across all platforms, and focus on the content itself on the blog, the better it’s gotten. Loved this post, and you look totally fabulous, love the content you post!

  40. Tristan Dennington says

    I am so with you on this. Instagram has been so frustrating, but I am trying to focus on my actual blog instead. I don’t own my IG account, but I DO own my blog. It’s the only thing I can control!

    -Tristan