I started my blog a long time ago, mainly focusing on relationships and break ups and hoping I was helping other people through what I was going through. And since it’s transformed, it’s more general but I’m still trying to help people through what I’m going through.
I’ve always been a writer, I’ve always been better about hiding behind my words instead of standing in front of a camera. Being an influencer and a blogger goes hand in hand, so I started building my Instagram following and taking on sponsored campaigns. It was fun for a while, but now it’s just work.
I have a blogging epiphany like every 3 months and recently I was staring at my Instagram feed and was noticing what people liked about it and what they didn’t. I was mostly noticing that 90% of my following doesn’t even interact with my posts, but the 10% that do really care about what I’m doing. That’s when it hit me.
I don’t want people to follow me just because I’m following them and I don’t want to follow people just so they follow me. I’ve recently started unfollowing hundreds of accounts, from mommy bloggers, to people who don’t speak the same language as me, to style bloggers who dress a world’s outside my budget. And I’m actually starting to enjoy Instagram again and seeing people who actually inspire me.
Now my 10% who cares has my focus and they are who I really want to target and inspire. Even though my numbers will drop and that will mean less sponsored posts, I’m so much happier creating content on my terms. I’m hoping this will relieve the stress I feel from a stupid app.
Rosie Culture 
I don’t have Instagram, so what you just said about an app stressing you out makes me sad, but it sounds like you’ve taken a step in the right direction. 🙂
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I know people who stress way more about it than I do, it makes me really sad for the younger generations
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That’s crazy!! The only app that brings me stress is Candy Crush! 😀
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I love this! Instagram is so hard. I no longer use my Instagram for my blog and it’s taken the pressure off of me. One day I might start my Instagram back up but for now it’s fun to just interact with other people and see what they are up to.
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Yea it’s just too much, I had combined my personal and blog one about a year or two ago and now I am just letting it get closer to personal.
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Well said. Should not allow social media to rule our lives.
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I was shocked at how many people I was following who haven’t posted in years! It’s so time consuming to unfollow. I wish there was an easier way. I still am working on that. I don’t really like the app.
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I used the app cleaner to clear my inactive users and now as I’m scrolling I unfollow people who I can’t relate to. I think I’ve unfollowed a couple hundred so now I’m to the point where I see all these accounts I’ve never seen and I’m like when did I even follow this person?!
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In the end, you have to blog for you.
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I have noticed that too and I just started my blog and more recently connected it to my Instagram. I feel so much pressure now to blog or post now! It is stressful and has lead to writers block majorly.
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It does lead to so much pressure! I really let my instagram become more important than my blog and it just didn’t make sense for me! I would rather have the pressure to write than to post on instagram all the time for no real reason
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Such a good idea! It can get annoying with how many people only follow you to get you to follow them. I feel like most of them will even unfollow you once you follow them back, which is just dumb. I love the idea of just following those you really care about!
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yes! I love to support people but it makes no sense for me to keep seeing content that is completely unrelatable to me
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I think you’re doing the right thing. You should enjoy your interactions and not worry about the rest of it.
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Thanks! I think so too
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I just discovered you. I think you are such a great writer. I read your posts about break-ups and relationships as I am going through a broken engagement right now. I have started my blog on this too. Thank you for writing so honestly. Please check me out if you have time xxxx
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Thank you so much, I’m sorry to hear about your broken engagement I know how tough something like that can be. I will definitely check out your blog!
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On a side note, do you call out users who do the follow-unfollow game? I’ve recently had some cases where I had to post some thots from the UK who do this despicable practice.
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Uh no. I don’t get worked up by follow/unfollow. I don’t do it and it can be annoying if they do it more than once, but the f/uf practice is like knocking on the door, they’re following you in hopes you’ll see them and like their content. I don’t really think it’s despicable.
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I see. The problem with that argument, however, is that people who practice the follow-unfollow tactic aren’t looking for actual engagement. Just adding to follower numbers. It would have been a better option for them to just buy “fake” ones if follower counts are the benchmark.
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Well they are looking for actual engagement because once you follow them they’re hoping you engage.
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Hi! Apologies if I was only able to come back to you now.
I mentioned above those “thots” who kept on following me on Instagram recently. I tried engaging with them, but apparently – the only language these “influencers” understand would be empty air-headed compliments. It’s just saddening, truth be told.
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Maybe they don’t want to engage with you because you call them thots…
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Maybe yes, maybe not. But I call ’em as how I see ’em!
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Love this. It feels good to “clean house” and follow those you really want to follow. Less stress and you get more out of it. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming and not as inspiring.
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How do you even gain that many followers? Lol I can’t get anyone to follow me for anything.
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It took me a while! I switched my personal to my blog instagram so I had a good start that way, then it just kind of takes some work. Following people in the same niche then following their followers, interacting all the time, putting out content regularly. Even though I have 7,000 followers, most of them don’t engage so it’s really not about the number you have but the amount of people you’re actually reaching.
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I get it. I’m not on Instagram a lot and unless it comes up in my feed I never see it. I know that I should probably be on it more to grow my blog, but I just can’t get into it.
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great perspective, Rosie!
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For all the positives and negatives of the internet culture, the opportunies to connect with people on the same wavelength and indeed discover new wavelengths you never thought you would be interested in are probably the most interesting. Kind of hollow of course if the connection is purely transactional, although random follows can turn up some gems!
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I completely agree with you about how Instagram can quickly feel like a fake place. It’s easy to be taken over by likes and following the accounts we feel like we should be. Social media can quickly become a very negative place and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about taking breaks and setting new boundaries. I also applaud your decision to start unfollowing accounts that don’t mean anything to you and start focusing on building relationships with the people and content you actually care about! Thank you so much for sharing!
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Thank you for reading 🙂
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Great story! I’ve realized who you follow reflects part of what your interests are and following bloggers in the same realm inspires me as a blogger/ instagrammer more. Thanks!
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