Finding Instagram Overwhelming? Here’s What We’re Learning ??

You’re not alone if Instagram’s constant changes have left you feeling a bit lost or pressured over the past year!

A drop in reach is a common complaint and we're all left wondering "now what" if running ads isn't an option.

Being told to "just create Reels' has left many cold and frozen out who aren't that great being on camera and no good with filming or editing.

Instagram told us not to create Reels that are over 90 seconds back in May, as that could harm reach, and then we're told that we can't use videos from other platforms if they have a watermark.

What are business owners meant to do with this info??

My personal account saw its reach tank hard the past couple of years and I have 4k followers!

I gave up trying to grow it last year and started to only use it for testing Reel formats and trying out ideas that could become ads - oh, and posting the occasional cat picture.

After studying some of the bigger creators like Gary Vaynerchuk, Amy Porterfield, and even Kamala Harris, I switched back to focusing on images to see if I could grow the account again, and it’s been amazing to see how much engagement has revived.

You see these guys aren't posting Reels everyday - they're also posting carousels and static images.

Kamala Harris' account is one of the most engaged online right now with a high following in the millions.

The Harris team post multiple times a day and so if you study what they post, you can see what works by looking at their likes and comments.

Video is a big part of what they have to do, but simple observations show they are posting a carousel almost every other post.

If they're doing this - why can't I?

So off to work I went creating carousels in October, and guess what? Reach is up 170% (receipts below).

My follower count isn't up - but at least people are seeing my stuff!!

This approach has resonated with so many people recently and obviously I've been telling all of my clients about this.

Here are just a few of the comments I’ve received:

“This is so good to hear as I’m starting to get back into Instagram again but hate making reels… I just can’t work out how to do good ones and hate the pressure of having my face emblazoned all over my grid!”

“Wow, let’s get on this!”

“I need to make changes ??”

It’s great to know I’m not alone in feeling the same challenges with keeping up with these shifts.

That’s why I believe in experimenting and testing to find out what truly resonates without having to force trends that don’t fit your style or brand.

The icing on the cake has been Adam Mosseri - Instagram head honcho, recommending carousels for better reach in a video post last week.

I felt seen, and I felt validated, my friends ??

My focus has always been on testing strategies, tweaking formats, and trying new things out.

I love analysing the technical details so that each post—or ad campaign—is built to get maximum engagement and have some fun at the same time too.

Sorry reader, I have to sell some stuff now - I hope you keep on reading?

If you’re looking to build a social media presence that doesn’t feel forced or overwhelming, I’d love to help you and your business set it up for 2025.

I’m offering a 90-Minute 2025 Social Strategy Planning Session in November where we’ll dive deep into what works for your brand so you don’t have to navigate Instagram alone or feel pressured by trends that aren’t a fit.

Here’s what our session will cover:

?? Audience & Market Analysis — so you’re reaching the right people with the right message.

?? Content Strategy — helping you decide on the formats that resonate with your audience, not just what the algorithm is pushing.

?? Ad Strategy — create a targeted ad roadmap to reach more people effectively.

?? KPIs That Matter — setting goals that align with your 2025 objectives, so you’ll know what’s working and why.

If this sounds like the right move to start 2025 strong, DM me and let me know you're interested.

And if this is of no interest to you then at least go and start experimenting with your own Instagram posts and report back to me in the DMs to let me know if your reach goes up too?

Promise? Good.

See you next week with more social strategy ideas.

Vicki - The Social Ads Squad