The dreaded query of social media entrepreneurs all over the place: “Why am I shedding followers on Instagram?” I spent years within the trenches as a social media editor for media manufacturers and know the day by day toil it takes to maintain up with the most recent media tendencies, platform updates, and extra.
Inevitably, a scenario arises the place you might be shedding followers and uncertain of the trigger. Is it me or is the algorithm? The reply is sophisticated. However in keeping with our analysis, you’re not alone. Our Instagram Advertising and marketing Report discovered that 10% of Instagram marketers report shedding followers up to now 12 months.
When you’re part of that 10%, you could be panicking attempting to determine what’s inflicting the decline. Don’t fret — I’ve received you coated. Beneath, I’ll cowl the highest the reason why manufacturers lose followers on Instagram and supply some tips on the way you would possibly course-correct.
Why am I shedding so many followers on Instagram?
1. You’re not posting usually sufficient or posting an excessive amount of.
After we surveyed Instagram entrepreneurs, 44% stated that not posting sufficient is the primary motive why manufacturers lose followers. On the flip aspect, 18% stated posting an excessive amount of can have the identical influence.
On the subject of posting, I’ve discovered success lies within the stability. You’ll need to submit sufficient to ensure you’re reaching your target market and never disappearing in a sea of posts, however don’t need to submit an excessive amount of that your viewers is getting flooded together with your posts throughout their timeline.
As you most likely know, it’s extraordinarily unlikely that your viewers even sees the whole lot you submit as of late given the algorithm.
Right here’s What I Suggest
- First, submit at the least as soon as a day on the platform, whether or not it’s on Instagram Tales, Reels, or in-feed. If you need to select, Tales is a superb possibility simply to remain present with up to date content material.
- Second, share an in-feed submit two to 3 instances per week. You possibly can enhance this cadence primarily based on how your viewers responds, however you most likely shouldn’t decrease it.
Additionally: Don’t neglect viewers engagement.
For my part, too many manufacturers over deal with how and when they’re posting and too little on how they’re interacting with their viewers. In keeping with our information, this can be a essential mistake.
Increasing engagement is now entrepreneurs’ major purpose — and I count on this development to proceed in 2025. That features likes, feedback, interactive parts, and extra. You possibly can (and will) take your distinctive spin on it.
TL;DR: Don’t get so caught up in your whole follower rely that you just neglect to engage with your loyal audience. That’s what is going to contribute most to your progress in the long term.
2. You’re being too sales-y.
The second most typical motive for shedding followers is being overly sales-y. 43% of Instagram entrepreneurs stated this can be a main turnoff for audiences.
Our survey discovered that content material centered round a model’s merchandise/providers is leveraged by 37% of IG entrepreneurs and has the very best ROI — however sure, there’s an excessive amount of of an excellent factor.
If it’s the one kind of content material you submit, you would possibly alienate your viewers.
Right here’s What I Suggest
Stability is the key phrase right here.
Along with posts that spotlight your merchandise and/or providers, you also needs to submit content material that:
- Displays your model values.
- Invitations dialog.
- Builds group.
I do know, as a person, I get pissed off if I open up Instagram whereas I’ve a while to calm down and I really feel like each submit I come throughout is attempting to get me to purchase one thing — ick. I’m more likely to have interaction with a humorous meme or entertaining video.
The info backs this up, too: Our survey revealed that humorous content material is the second simplest for getting followers, shares, and engagement on Instagram.
3. You had bot followers.
When you purchased bot followers, you’ll be in for a impolite awakening once they all disappear and your follower record tanks.
20% of Instagram entrepreneurs surveyed say for this reason manufacturers lose followers.
Whereas it’s tempting to purchase bots to provide the appearance of a powerful follower base, this observe will solely damage you in the long term.
As an alternative, I like to recommend specializing in constructing a follower record organically via a constant posting schedule, sharing priceless content material, following tendencies, and listening to your information.
It doesn’t should take lengthy, both. Most entrepreneurs say it takes 4-6 months to achieve 1K followers on Instagram. Solely 17% reached that in underneath a month, and simply 1% took over a 12 months.
Right here’s What I Suggest
When you’ve inherited a variety of bot followers, strive manually eradicating inactive accounts to enhance the standard of your viewers and get higher insights out of your information.
Instagram now enables you to have a look at your follower rely and see any accounts which are flagged for assessment or inactive. You can begin with these lists to start out cleansing up your lists.
4. You don’t have a constant aesthetic and voice.
One factor audiences love is consistency.
Consistency in your branding and your inventive property is essential in constructing sturdy model recognition. As well as, consistency additionally helps construct a visually interesting profile.
If a person visits your profile and each submit seems prefer it was created by a special model, they’ll have a tough time understanding what your model is all about and select to unfollow you.
Personally, if I’m scrolling and I discover a model I don’t acknowledge on my timeline, I’ll go to their profile and if I don’t acknowledge their previous couple of posts, I’ll doubtless unfollow them. I think about many customers behave the identical means.
Right here’s What I Suggest
With this in thoughts:
- Determine what your brand identity and visible aesthetic are early on in your branding course of.
- Leverage instruments like Canva to construct a visible profile that stays constant throughout all platforms.
The Skimm, an e-mail e-newsletter model that sums up the most important information of the day, is a superb instance of this. Their branding is clear and constant out of your inbox to your Instagram feed. And this consistency makes it simple to face out from different information accounts I observe.
5. Your viewers has developed and also you’re not maintaining.
It could be really easy to market to our audiences if their pursuits and behaviors at all times stayed the identical.
Sadly, that isn’t the case.
This requires entrepreneurs to remain on prime of what attracts and retains their audiences. One of the crucial efficient methods to do that is by relying in your information. What’s it telling you?
Say you’re HubSpot and our feed consists of buyer success tales, product highlights, firm values, and business tendencies.
Maybe content material surrounding business tendencies used to carry out very effectively however you’ve observed a gradual decline over the previous six months. Maybe your viewers will not be as on this content material or the format by which it’s being introduced.
Perhaps if you happen to used to leverage photographs, you need to take into account switching to video.
The most important giveaway to me is utilizing outdated techniques. When you’re caught posting hashtag spam or posting giveaways to spice up follower accounts, I’d advocate attempting a few of these new greatest practices. Audiences evolve quick — and the platforms evolve even sooner — and it’s our job as social media entrepreneurs to maintain up.
Right here’s What I Suggest
When you’re on the lookout for some assist in evolving together with your viewers, try our free Instagram for Business Kit. You will learn to get followers, construct your viewers, navigate algorithm updates, and measure success.
Use This Knowledge to Information Your Instagram Technique
My greatest takeaway from this information and from my years as a social editor? You should give your viewers a motive to observe you. It’s not sufficient to simply present up and have a presence on Instagram.
You should have an outlined model, a singular voice, and it is advisable present up authentically (and persistently!) to construct significant relationships together with your viewers. That’s what your followers care about and, maybe not surprisingly, the algorithm favors too.
Lastly, at all times use information to steer your technique. When you don’t, you threat shedding contact together with your viewers and slowly seeing your follower record lower.
Shedding Instagram followers generally is a scary actuality to face. Nonetheless, when you determine the rationale behind the decline, you possibly can tackle it and regain them.
Editor’s be aware: This submit was initially printed in February 2022 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
