On Getting Zero Likes

And why I'm trying Substack

Oh, the Instagram algorithm… ‘Tis a game I’ve barely managed to play, let alone master. My engagement was feeling awfully low, so I scrolled through past posts to see if my assumptions were correct. And, indeed, I found multiple posts with ZERO likes or comments. Many others had only one, two or three hearts. Sure enough, people are not seeing my posts.

My purpose for writing this isn’t seeking validation or provoking sympathy (though, if you do you want to keep seeing my Instagram posts, then please like, comment, and share!) Of course, there are ways that I could improve my content (reels, reels, reels…)

The truth is that it’s not only Instagram. My blog is stagnant and so is my podcast listenership. Getting ears and eyeballs is a mystery to me (and one that I’m sure I could figure out if I prioritized it, which I probably need to do for the sake of my business.)

But I want to share why I choose to keep going regardless of likes/listens and why I am shifting my content:

1. Email Newsletter - This is the most direct way for me to communicate with everyone. I had great engagement, but it was difficult to keep up every week, so I took a break. Now I’m back to once/month long-form emails, with additional emails sent out as needed for special announcements and weekly podcast blasts.

2. Instagram and Facebook - My professional accounts are connected. As previously mentioned, there is a lot I could do to improve how well my business content gets seen. That said, it’s a hamster wheel that never ends. Right now I’m foused on creating content that lasts.

3. Podcast - A name change this season helped the podcast to be more voice focused. Even though listening and share levels (and, thus, growth) are not where I would like them to be, I know how important it is to continue sharing my voice. The podcast is a vehicle to chronicle my ideas, my learnings, my experiences, and my teachings. It’s a way to share my knowledge to a wider audience for free (for them, not me - haha) and a tangible record that will live on for years to come. The podcast is the heart of how I share my work with the world.

4. Substack - I’m so excited about this new venture! While I have a blog on my website, I rarely use it. It’s always felt clunky to blend the voice content with the lifestyle content. Thanks to Substack, I’m feeling inspired to write more and hope that this will be my new blog. With my background in writing, it really feels like coming home. It’s sleek, easy to use, and a way to potentially monetize my work down the road. Like my podcast, Substack is content built to last. I also love that it takes the pressure off of having to do a million things (photography, video editing, graphic design, etc.) and gets down to the heart of the message. It also connects to my email list so that you can hear from me directly.

And so I ask you:

• How are you sharing your work and your ideas?

• Do you share your voice even when it feels like no one is listening?

• What do you have to say that simply needs to be expressed, regardless of external engagement or validation?

• What do you feel called to create in the world for the simple art of making a hat? (Sondheim, anyone?)

• How are you creating content to last?

• What shifts might you make in your strategy?

Let me know how you are liking these Substack posts. I’m hopeful that this will be a better way for us to engage rather than relying on the pressure of social media. The intention is for it to be part my professional thoughts and ideas and part public journal. My plan is to keep writing what’s on my heart - enjoy!