The Year I Quit Instagram (and My Business Took Off)
Instagram was overwhelming for me.
I felt like I couldn’t post unless I had a rock-solid strategy but no matter how many courses or content calendars I tried, I could never figure out what actually worked. I’d waste hours scrolling through trending audios, trying to find something that might get attention, or tweaking captions until they didn’t even sound like me anymore.
And let’s not forget the endless questions: Do we still use hashtags? What kind? How many?
It always felt like I was behind.
So, at the beginning of 2025, I did something that scared me at first…
I quit Instagram. Completely.
No posts.
No stories.
No reels.
Nothing.
And here’s the wild part… my business revenue grew by 50% that year.
Not only that, but I worked less than I ever have in my business.
The Moment I Realized Instagram Wasn’t Helping
I used to believe Instagram was essential for business.
That you couldn’t be a serious entrepreneur unless you were active there.
But I wanted proof… real, data-backed results.
So in 2024, I ran an experiment. I followed a “proven” Instagram strategy to the letter: daily reels, carousel posts, and stories every single day for two months straight.
At the same time, I continued my YouTube strategy, posting just one video per week.
And because I’m a data nerd, I tracked everything through Google Analytics: where my leads came from, how they converted, and how much revenue each platform drove.
Here’s what I found:
Traffic from Instagram converted at 10%.
Traffic from YouTube converted at 30%.
And I was doing at least eight times more work on Instagram to get one-third of the results.
That was my breaking point.
I deleted the app from my phone and decided to pour my creative energy into YouTube instead.
What Happened When I Quit Instagram
Almost immediately, the constant pressure lifted.
That little voice whispering, “What will you post today?” Gone.
The daily anxiety about staying “relevant”? Gone.
The endless comparison trap of scrolling other creators’ highlight reels? Gone.
It was like my brain finally had space to breathe.
With Instagram out of the picture, I had mental clarity for the first time in years. I could think strategically again.
My stress levels dropped so much that even my body felt it. My shoulders, which always sat up around my ears from tension, finally relaxed.
And without that constant social media noise, my to-do list actually shrank.
No more chasing trends or getting pulled into ideas that weren’t aligned with my business goals. Just focus, calm, and creativity.
The YouTube Shift That Changed Everything
Instead of spreading myself thin across multiple platforms, I made one simple swap: I replaced all the time I used to spend on Instagram with time spent creating YouTube videos.
Every Wednesday, I publish one new video, just one.
Each video is intentionally designed for my ready-to-buy viewer: a specific person with a specific problem that I can help solve.
And here’s the secret: every video connects to the next.
It’s not random content. It’s a bingeable series that guides viewers through a natural buyer’s journey without them even realizing it.
As they move from video to video, they build trust with me. They see proof that I know what I’m talking about. They start envisioning themselves getting results, and they realize they’re ready to take action.
That’s how I began getting messages from new clients saying:
“I found your video this week and binge-watched everything—I knew I needed to work with you.”
They weren’t cold leads I had to chase. They came to me, ready to buy.
What My YouTube Routine Actually Looks Like
Here’s what my week looks like now.
Once a month, I batch film all my YouTube videos. Because let’s be honest… I’m not Beyoncé. I don’t wake up camera-ready every day.
So I do my hair and makeup once a month, record a handful of videos, and then I’m done.
It usually takes me about two days to script, film, and prep all four weekly videos.
The rest of the month?
I’m serving my clients inside the YouTube Coaching Experience.
I’m volunteering at my kids’ school.
I’m going to Pilates at 9 AM.
I’m getting my Friday massage.
I’m having weekday lunches with friends.
And my business keeps growing without me being glued to my phone.
How One YouTube Video Turns Viewers Into Clients
If you’re wondering how those YouTube viewers actually turn into paying clients, here’s what happens behind the scenes.
Each video in my YouTube series has a specific goal and call to action.
Some viewers will sign up for my free training.
Some will buy one of my smaller offers, like my Video Game Plan.
Some will realize they’re ready for personalized support and apply to join my coaching program.
And all of this happens naturally without me scheduling discovery calls, posting daily, or spending hours DMing people.
Because when people watch your videos, they’re already in a problem-solving mindset.
They’re searching for answers. They’re ready to take action. And if your content provides the solution they’re looking for, they’ll choose you.
The YouTube Playlist Funnel That Changed My Business
The reason this system works so well is because of something I call the YouTube Playlist Funnel.
Think of it like Netflix for your niche.
Each video in the funnel serves a purpose:
One shifts a belief.
One provides actionable value.
One builds trust.
One shows proof.
And one sells your main offer.
When you create this kind of sequence, your viewers naturally binge-watch their way toward becoming clients.
And here’s the best part: YouTube’s algorithm loves bingeable content.
When people watch multiple videos in a row, YouTube rewards you by pushing your videos to even more of your ideal audience—for free.
That’s how your visibility compounds.
Proof That Small Views Still Create Big Results
One of my clients has fewer than 200 views on her videos.
Another has just 72 views on one of hers.
But from those videos alone, they’ve made thousands in revenue, $8,000 and $16,000 respectively.
Why? Because they’re not trying to go viral. They’re creating content for a very specific person, hitting a very specific pain point.
Their videos don’t need to be flashy. They don’t need a million views.
They simply need to connect with the right viewer, the one who feels seen, understood, and ready to buy.
That’s the difference between creating content to entertain and creating content to sell.
Why YouTube Converts Better Than Instagram
Here’s the key difference between Instagram and YouTube: viewer intent.
People go to Instagram to be distracted.
They open the app while waiting in line, killing time between tasks, or looking for entertainment.
People go to YouTube to solve a problem.
When someone types a question into YouTube search, they’re not just curious. They’re actively looking for a solution.
That means your YouTube viewers are more ready to buy than your Instagram followers ever were.
You don’t need to post constantly. You don’t need to chase trends. You just need to show up once a week with strategic, searchable content that helps your ideal client take the next step.
Building a Calm, Sustainable Business
This isn’t about replacing one platform with another.
It’s about creating a calm, sustainable system that works even when you’re offline.
Because here’s the truth: one YouTube video a week might not sound like much but it compounds.
Your first video gets its own initial views.
Your second video drives traffic back to the first.
Your third drives traffic to the first two.
And so on.
That’s compounding visibility.
Unlike Instagram, where your content dies after 24 hours, YouTube videos continue to grow, recommend, and sell for months or even years.
You Don’t Need to Be a YouTuber
You don’t need fancy equipment.
You don’t need to go viral.
You don’t need to mimic big creators.
Your audience doesn’t need jump cuts, high-energy edits, or trending sounds.
They need clarity. Connection. And confidence that you can help them solve their problem.
That’s what YouTube allows you to build; trust, authority, and calm sustainability.
Why I’m Never Going Back to Instagram
Quitting Instagram was one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made.
It gave me time back. It gave me clarity. And it gave me a business that runs without me constantly chasing visibility.
Now, I wake up excited instead of anxious. I create because I want to, not because I have to.
YouTube lets me build a body of work that compounds over time, serving my audience, growing my business, and freeing me from the constant pressure of social media.
If you’ve been thinking about leaving Instagram behind, maybe this is your sign.
Because the moment I stopped trying to keep up, my business finally took off.
