Category: InstagramCategory: Instagram
An artist asked me to look at their website (as part of my Website Resurrection offering), and I noted two things that always seem to come up.
- Stop sending your fans to platforms where you can’t reach them. Think about it, that one click away from your site could have been a click deeper into your site, so remove (or at least deprioritize) your Instagram links.
- When posting your upcoming events and award nominations on a platform where 90% of our followers won’t even see it, add those updates to your website, too!
Remember, it’s 2026 – not everyone’s on Instagram anymore. Make sure the people who were adventurous enough to seek you out can see what you’re up to.
- Stop sending your fans to platforms where you can’t reach them. Think about it, that one click away from your site could have been a click deeper into your site, so remove (or at least deprioritize) your Instagram links.
I noted this comment from Sarah Jo Austin, which perfectly aligns with our Social Media Escape Club vibes:
“I wore myself out last year making IG reels out of my Substack content. I stopped in January, thinking I would go back, but the time and creative energy I’ve gotten back is worth not engaging in IG at all.”
Trying to convince people on one platform to follow you to another (and to fork over their email address) is hard work, and eventually you need to ask yourself if it’s worth the time and energy.
From a recent Email Guidance client:
Decided to go through my “General” IG mailbox and send a version of this note: [REDACTED]
Picked up two new free sub’s in the first five mins.
This writer reached out to people already in his DMs with a note saying they could subscribe to his newsletter, and two people did that just that in the first five minutes.
I’m not saying automated systems cheapen the exchange, but honest communication certainly can’t hurt.
If you go by this post, “How Instagram creators are bringing their followers to Substack,” there are so many ways to get your Instagram followers to subscribe to your Substack newsletter! Video! Images! Text! Get creative!
In reality, however, your Instagram followers are likely very content to stay on Instagram.
Consider that best selling author Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love) has 1.2M Instagram followers, but just 203,000 subscribers. Sure, 203,000 email subscribers is great, but it’s still less than 20% of her following on Instagram.
(more…)Artist David Speed from today’s Substack Live:
“From all of these brilliant minds that I’ve had on (the podcast), the overwhelming thing that comes through is just keep making stuff. Because through the things that you will make, you will process the world around you. You will learn what resonates with people and what doesn’t. You’ll find your niche. You’ll find your groove. You’ll find your people. And you’ll get better at what you do. So just keep making stuff. I think make is the most important word that we have. And it is my mission on this planet to encourage people to make stuff. Make as many things as you can. Leave behind a legacy of beautiful things that you’ve made. Make, make, make.”
Listen to the full interview to hear us talk about:
- How 3K email subscribers is mightier than 160,000 Instagram followers
- Small in-person events build trust
- David’s monthly free studio paint sessions in London
- Start a podcast (and listen to David’s Creative Rebels Podcast)
- Plant flags everywhere
- AI slop makes people want to get back to real human-created work
You’re tired of social media, but wondering if there’s life after the newsfeed. That’s exactly what we figure out here – together. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
→ See our upcoming Zoom schedule
Say hello. Ask about working together. Tell me how you’re doing: seth@socialmediaescape.club
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