Why I’m Letting Go of Thousands of Instagram Followers (On Purpose)
Let’s talk about something that might sound crazy: I’m hoping for unfollows on Instagram. Yes, you read that right. In episode 31 of The Bright Balloon, I opened up about how my once-thriving business Instagram account has become a bloated, unhelpful mess—and how I’m made intentional changes with a new Instagram strategy for my balloon business.
THE PAIN: A Huge Following That Doesn’t Convert
If you told me five years ago I’d have 27,000 followers, I would’ve assumed I was famous—and rich.
Spoiler alert: I’m neither. Somewhere along the way, my account became inflated with followers who don’t comment, don’t like, and definitely don’t buy from me. The worst part? That hurts engagement and makes it even harder for potential customers to see my posts.
It’s like shouting into the void.
How did I get here? I fell into the same traps many of us do: I leaned into viral videos, used every popular hashtag, and posted daily just to stay visible. Those things brought in a flood of followers… but not the kind that build a local, service-based business like mine.
THE VISION: A Clean, Purposeful, Local Instagram Presence
So now, I’m flipping the script.
Instead of chasing growth, I’m chasing clarity. My goal is to create a professional, customer-friendly Instagram feed that inspires trust and converts viewers into buyers—whether I have 27,000 followers or 2,000.
Because truthfully, I’d rather have 500 followers who buy than 50,000 who scroll past.
I want potential clients to land on my page and instantly know:
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What I do
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Where I’m located
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How to hire me
That means being intentional about what I post, who I’m talking to, and how my content supports my business goals.
THE SOLUTION: My 5 New Instagram Rules
Here’s what I’m doing differently from now on—and what I suggest if you’re feeling the same:
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Celebrate unfollows. I want irrelevant followers to leave so the algorithm works better for the right audience.
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Keep the feed professional. I’m curating my top posts using high-quality images and local work only.
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Ditch viral strategies. No more chasing views for views’ sake.
- Reclaim the fun. I’m tailoring my feed to lift me up—not wear me down.
If Instagram feels exhausting, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This platform can work for your balloon business—when you’re intentional.
Listen to the full episode of “Why I’m Letting Go of Thousands of Instagram Followers (On Purpose)” here!
