Instagram has an uncanny ability to make business owners want to throw their phones out the window. Between glitchy stories, algorithm changes, and content that feels like it’s disappearing into the void, it’s no surprise that so many creative service providers feel exhausted by the platform.
But here’s the thing: Instagram isn’t the real problem. The real issue? Your brand might not be pulling its weight. If your content feels forced, bland, or misaligned, it’s because your brand strategy isn’t fully supporting you. Let’s break down why Instagram feels so damn hard and how to flip the script.
Instagram thrives on trends. The algorithm favours familiar formats, so it rewards repetition: the same viral audios, the same post styles, the same hooks recycled over and over. But as a service provider, your goal isn’t to blend in. It’s to stand out.
That’s where the frustration kicks in. You’re trying to market your business in a way that goes against Instagram’s natural pull towards sameness. And if your brand isn’t rock-solid, the platform will eat your creativity alive.
If showing up on Instagram feels like a never-ending struggle, it’s probably because your brand isn’t doing the heavy lifting. Your visuals, messaging, and personality should work together to make your content instantly recognisable to your ideal clients. Otherwise, every post feels like reinventing the wheel.
Your content is your shop window. It’s the first impression potential clients get of your brand. And if that impression is inconsistent, unclear, or forgettable, no amount of algorithm hacking will help. Let’s get into some practical strategies to simplify your Instagram presence and actually enjoy it again.
Stop starting from scratch every time. Upload your brand colours, fonts, logos, and patterns into Canva so that designing posts is a plug-and-play experience. Better yet, create branded templates so that your content stays visually cohesive without the stress.
Trying to do everything (reels, carousels, long captions, lives) at once is a recipe for burnout. Instead, pick two or three content types that work for you and your audience. Maybe storytelling captions and carousels are your sweet spot. Stick with what feels good and effective.
Instead of scrambling to post daily, batch your content. You can either create full posts ahead of time or break tasks into steps, i.e.: one day for writing captions, another for designing visuals, another for filming reels. This removes the daily pressure and keeps your content intentional.
Your audience isn’t seeing everything you post, and they definitely don’t remember something from six months ago. Reuse and reshape your best content. Turn a blog post into a carousel, a podcast clip into a reel, or a client question into a new post. Repetition reinforces your brand.
A perfectly curated feed doesn’t book clients: connection does. The Instagram posts that land the best clients aren’t necessarily the ones with the most likes. They’re the ones that speak directly to your ideal audience in a way that makes them say, “Yes, this is exactly what I need.”
Instagram should work for YOU, not the other way around When you stop treating Instagram like a popularity contest and start using it as a brand amplifier, everything shifts. You don’t need to be on all the time. You don’t need to go viral. You just need to be strategic, consistent, and true to your brand. And if your brand isn’t clear enough to make Instagram feel easier? That’s a branding problem, not a social media problem. Let’s fix that.
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This episode was co-produced with Adrienne Cruz.
Over the last 5 years as a Brand & Marketing Designer, I’ve helped freaks like us design their unconventional brands so they can step onto the main stage & own their weird. Because if you wanted to be, look or sound like everyone else, you wouldn’t be where you are today. Now it’s your turn.
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