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What Happens When You Leave Instagram For Good (And Still Want to Grow Your Business)
Can I be honest with you for a second? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked myself, “What would it actually look like to run my business without Instagram?” Not just taking a week off or hiding the app on my phone, but walking away completely.
It feels like such a wild thought in the current online space. But for Sarah Erickson? It’s her reality.
Sarah is a brand designer who made the bold move to leave Instagram behind in 2021—before it was trendy, before burnout was a buzzword, and before Reels ruled the feed. And yet, she’s built a thriving, sustainable business. No hacks. No hustle. Just a smart, intentional strategy that prioritizes Pinterest, blogging, email marketing, and good old-fashioned word of mouth.
And what she shared with me in our conversation wasn’t just about marketing. It was about peace. Time. Sanity. And choosing a business that supports the life you want to live, not the other way around.
So if you’ve been quietly wondering, “Am I even allowed to step back from social media?” or “Could my business survive without Instagram?” friend, this post is for you.
Why Sarah Left Instagram (Before It Was Cool)
By 2021, Instagram had become a time-suck for Sarah. Reels were taking over, the algorithm was a constant frustration, and the platform just didn’t feel worth the emotional and time investment anymore.
She realized she was pouring hours into content creation that wasn’t converting—not meaningfully, anyway. Even when her posts got views, they rarely led to inquiries or email sign-ups.
But what really tipped the scales? The emotional drain.
She put it so clearly:
“Even if I was getting a few clients from Instagram, could I get those same clients somewhere else—without the time and emotional cost?”
The answer, for her, was yes.
What She Chose Instead (And Why It Works)
Sarah didn’t just quit Instagram and disappear. She shifted to platforms that could support her marketing long-term:
- Pinterest: As a visual search engine, it plays beautifully with her brand design work and long-form content.
- Blogging: Gives her evergreen content that builds authority and supports SEO.
- Email Marketing: Provides a direct line of communication to her audience—no algorithm needed.
- Word of Mouth: The power of deep, meaningful relationships can’t be underestimated.
This ecosystem works together to bring in dreamy clients without the need for constant social content.
Building a Pinterest Marketing Machine (That Runs Without You)
Let me pause here and say: Sarah’s Pinterest strategy isn’t just throwing up a few pins and calling it a day.
She’s creating volumes of pins per post or opt-in—using Canva templates from her course, Pin with Purpose. We’re talking 100+ pins for a single blog post or freebie. That content then gets scheduled through Tailwind (usually just twice a year!), and it brings in leads passively, every single day.
“I’m still getting leads from content I posted in 2021. That just doesn’t happen on Instagram.”
And here’s the part I love most: because this system is built on evergreen content, she doesn’t have to constantly be creating new blog posts or new freebies.
Her business keeps growing, even when her season of life demands rest or slower rhythms.
The Real Gift of Leaving Social: Deeper Time, Deeper Relationships
Of course, walking away from Instagram comes with fears—especially around connection and visibility. But Sarah reframed it in a way I can’t stop thinking about:
“I wanted fewer relationships, but deeper and richer ones.”
Instead of trading double taps and story replies, she now prioritizes email check-ins, snail mail, and real in-person connection at events like the Creative Educator Conference.
Without Instagram feeding the illusion of constant connection, conversations have become more meaningful. More curious. More personal.
And that’s not a loss. It’s a win.
So, Could You Leave Instagram?
Maybe. Maybe not. But you can start by creating a little breathing room.
Here’s what Sarah recommends as a first step:
Make a list of the things you wish you had more time for. And then, next time you’re tempted to scroll, choose one of those things instead.
So simple. So powerful.
This isn’t about quitting cold turkey. It’s about building a business that gives you your time back. Your peace back. Your creativity back.
And if you are curious about what Pinterest could do for your business? Sarah’s course, Pin with Purpose, is the most straightforward, time-efficient way I’ve found to get started.
I binged it in a weekend, created over 100 pins for my own content, and scheduled everything in just a few hours. The templates are gold, and the strategy is built to support you for years, not days.
Ready To Try Something Different?
If Instagram has been draining you dry, you’re not alone.
You can build a thriving, sustainable business without it. You can build deeper relationships outside of social media. You can simplify your marketing and still grow.
So here’s your gentle nudge: take one step this week.
- Create your list of what you’d rather spend your time on.
- Schedule one blog post to Pinterest.
- Sign up for Sarah’s course.
- Or just take a walk and remind yourself why you started this business in the first place.
It’s not about quitting. It’s about choosing what stays.
P.S. If you want help planning content that doesn’t rely on social media, make sure you grab the Chasing Simple Content Planner. It’ll help you plan your 2026 content in a way that actually feels manageable—and gives you space to step away from Instagram, if you choose.
And if you’re still on the fence about leaving Instagram altogether, I’ve got a podcast episode that dives even deeper into the decision. You can listen to that right here.
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