If you’ve ever said, ‘the algorithm hates me,’ this one’s for you.

The truth is, it’s not the algorithm it’s the energy you’re showing up with. It’s the pause between posts because you ‘don’t know what to say.’ It’s the burnout that comes from creating for validation instead of connection. Or, more accurately, it’s your disconnection from you.

I say that with so much love, because over the last 30 days, I’ve lived it. And when I reconnected with me my real, sometimes messy, multi-layered self everything changed not only in real life - but on my social media.

My views, my engagement, my reach. Up 30% across the board.

And it wasn’t because I found some secret hashtag formula or finally cracked the mystical Reels code. It was because I stopped trying to be what I thought people wanted and started showing up as who I actually am.

The Shift: From “Marketing Expert” to Real Human

For a while, I got caught in the loop so many women in business fall into: educate, educate, educate.

Post tips.
List advice.
Be valuable.

Try to establish yourself as the authority. And sometimes when I hear myself think that - I think power suits and office cubicle. Which is the exact opposite of what my life is - or what I want my life to look like. It’s mountains, tiny homes, no make up and really just — sometimes in a blouse and mostly not.

I started to notice something even with solid posts, my audience wasn’t feeling me. I think they were scrolling and seeing ‘another account’. When we’d provide tips for hooks or how to tutorials on doing things - people weren’t really paying attention. They weren’t feeling like — they just weren’t feeling much of anything when they landed on our account.

And that’s the key word here — feeling. Connection isn’t built from expertise; it’s built from emotion. From story telling, from sharing experiences and moments. You don’t have to let people behind the bathroom door - but you do have to let them in for ‘tea’. And not the kind of tea the kids are talking about — i’m talking, come in — see some of what it FEELS Like in my world. Come see behind the brand…

When I looked at my content, I realized it had gotten curated. Clean. Polished. Too ‘strategy’ and less ‘human’, and when things look too good they usually are too good to be true lol.

I wasn’t talking about the things that made me, me. That I was and am the brand.
My tiny home life on the mountain.
My sobriety journey.
My obsession with travel and freedom. My actual freedom - that some days I drive to Calgary to work from my friends place, and the next 3 weeks i’m in my tiny little office head down in a strategy.

I love showing people that laptop lifestyle ACTUALLY means FREEDOM. Being on your laptop 24/7 is not freedom. I also LOVE sharing with people the huge pivot to tiny home living. And turns out - people enjoy hearing, reading and seeing that too.

So last month I decided …I’d just start to share more content that was where my heart was at. The season I was IN. Not the season I was trying to step into. Being real about my new journey with direct sales, and my days into sobriety. Things that I just wanted to share just because — not because I thought we HAD to. I’d spend 30 days not trying to gain authority, but rather just —- to live…almost act as if Instagram is my journal.

And the numbers? They tell the story better than I ever could.

When I wrote about my life, not just my business, people opened, read, and stayed.
They want my perspective, not my perfection.

The top posts were about my 40th birthday trip and the messy magic of “just posting.”
The lowest reach but highest loyalty (open rate + subscriptions) came from vulnerable ones like quitting wine or redefining “niching down.”

Translation—→ People don’t come to me just for marketing advice.
They come to feel inspired by a woman building freedom from her truth.

Instagram: The 30-Day Turnaround

Now, let’s talk Instagram because that’s where the biggest shift happened.

Before this shift, my account felt flat. We could NOT crack the ‘code’ on how to increase past 800 views on my reel.
Engagement was steady but stagnant. I was posting great content, but it wasn’t moving people.

Then I decided: no more overthinking, no more filters on the message.
I was going to post like I talk.
And I did.

Here’s what happened in 30 days:

• Overall reach: +32%

• Engagement rate: +27%

• Profile visits: +41%

• Follower growth: +18% (with no paid boosts)

• Story replies: doubled

But numbers only tell part of the story.
Let me break down why it happened.

I Leaned Into My Brand — Not the Trend

I stopped trying to fit into the marketing “formula.”
Instead of endless carousels and polished reels, I started showing my tiny home.
My coffee moments. My behind-the-scenes chaos. I talked about sobriety, business overwhelm, hiking with my family, and even meal prep fails.

The posts that “weren’t strategic” performed the best because they were human.
They made people say, “Oh, hey Megan”. Your audience wants connection, not content.
They want you, not your niche.

I Used Instagram’s New Tools (Because They Reward That)

Let’s get tactical for a second, Instagram is in love with people who use their newest rollouts. Lately, as of October 2025 that’s their new tool Edits.
The ability to rework and repost Reels directly within the app is their latest toy and they want us playing with it.

So I did. I revisited old Reels, tweaked the captions, shortened the clips, updated the covers. And almost every one performed better the second time when I used Edits.

Moral of the story: If you want visibility, use what Instagram is pushing. Remember when reels first came out? When you were one of the first you were rewarded with thousands of views!

I Started Engaging Intentionally Again

Every day, 10 minutes. Not because I wanted people to follow me. But because - I wanted to soak in people that I enjoyed. I don’t like amazon hacks or things to buy - so I watch more gardening content and homesteading + pilates — I engage with those.
No excuses.
I scroll my feed and stories to connect.
I comment with intention.
I respond to stories. People are posting because they want people to COMMENT and talk to them.

I treat my audience like real people, not metrics.

And guess what?
The algorithm noticed, and I didn’t care. But for the sake of experiments — the numbers are here and they didn’t and don’t lie ;)

Instagram rewards time spent engaging just as much as time spent posting.

When you give LOVE = you get love xo

I Got Clear on Who I Am Online

This was the biggest one. I realized that for years, I’d been balancing multiple parts of me (aren’t we all?) but I was the marketer, the mom, the sober woman, the tiny-home dreamer, the freedom-chaser.

But instead of choosing one, I decided to integrate them all.
That’s when the magic happened.

When you’re clear on your message and it matches your life people trust you.
And trust converts to engagement + and engagement often converts to sales. It’s the whole point of social media if you’re using it for business. You want to connect - to convert.

But I knew this to be true….I didn’t need to niche down; I needed to own my narrative.

Let’s Talk About Pods (and Why They’re Not Evil)

Okay, this might be controversial — but let’s go there.

I recently started a POD. Cue the haters on uhhh gross. But hear me out…they’re my friends business partners and we’re all here for each other. It is no different than being invited to a party and showing up.

This pod is a real, authentic engagement pod made up of women in business who genuinely want to support each other.

Because here’s the deal: Pods aren’t about popularity, they’re about momentum.

I call it the Empty Restaurant Philosophy.

Think about it when you walk past a restaurant that’s empty, what do you assume?
“Maybe it’s not that good.” So you keep walking by….
Even if the food is amazing, the lack of visible people makes you hesitate.

Now imagine a restaurant with people inside, eating, chatting, laughing.
You’re more likely to go in, right? There’s buzz, there’s excitement, it is a draw!

Social proof works the same way online. When someone lands on your post and sees engagement conversation, comments, activity they subconsciously think, “This must be valuable.”

That’s the power of a pod done right.
It’s not faking engagement; it’s amplifying connection.

If you’re a woman in business and want to join our real, grounded engagement POD join it here. It really does help.

Rules will be pinned to the top (because structure creates safety).
We engage with intention, not ego.

Join us.

The Real Fix: Reconnect to Your Self and Strategy

I can’t say this enough: the problem isn’t the algorithm. It’s the alignment. If you feel disconnected from your content you probably are. If you have to show up ONE way online and a different way in person — you’re disconnected from your content guys.

When your content doesn’t match your energy, people can feel it.
When you’re forcing your niche, your voice, your tone they can feel that too.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. So if you’re stuck in the same pattern same views, same followers, same frustration stop.

Pause.
Ask yourself: What am I doing here that’s not aligned?

Maybe it’s that you’ve outgrown your tone. Maybe your content isn’t reflecting your evolution. Maybe you’re not letting people in anymore.

The fix isn’t harder work. It’s deeper connection — to yourself, your brand, your message.

When in Doubt Outsource (to the Right Person or agency)

If you can’t figure out where the disconnect is, that’s okay.
That’s where hiring a marketing expert (hi, it’s me) actually makes sense.

Because when I look at an account, I can spot immediately what’s missing:

• The energy mismatch.

• The inconsistency in brand voice.

• The opportunities to connect rather than perform.

A good strategist doesn’t just give you trends they give you alignment. After a few conversations we can see what’s missing and the gaps.

And when you’re aligned?
Your numbers increase.
Your brand expands.
And your business actually starts to feel like you. And when it feels like you - you do generate more sales.

Real Marketing Isn’t About Popularity

I need to be clear I don’t care about follower counts. I never have. It pains me when people say ‘oh but we didn’t really see an increase in our followers’. Well Susan - or Sarah or Bob if you don’t take the time to talk to your current followers why would new ones come into the store??

I care about conversion. If you’re on Instagram for business, then every minute you spend there should connect to something measurable. Reach more people → build trust → sell more. That’s the flow.

Because if you’re spending your time on social media, it should be working for you.
Not draining you.

That’s what this past month taught me.
When I showed up as me the numbers followed. But more importantly, the right people followed. I noticed more people messaging me saying “this really resonated, or I have also been sober for a little while” — those are the messages that matter the most.

The ones who comment, who book, who share, who reply to emails saying,

“This is exactly what I needed today.”

And that, right there, is why I do it.

Your Action Plan (Because If you care about strategy (and you should - here it is)

If your Instagram isn’t working or it’s feeling a little stale…try this:

1. Reconnect to your story.

   • Share more life. Less perfection.

2. Use Instagram’s new features.

   • Right now, it’s Edits. Next month, it’ll be something else - it is valuable to watch what these are. Remember when ‘reels’ came out? Ya — should’ve got on those haha.

3. Engage daily for 10 minutes.

   • Not just likes comments with intention. Real comments with questions - question encourage communication. Social = social media.

4. Be clear about who you are online.

   • You aren’t just your product. Or a mom. You have cool things to show — make a list, tiny home? vegetarian? Pilates? Expert Homesteader? - I totally talked about this in one of my other articles so skim and read please!

5. Join (or start) an authentic pod.

   • Surround yourself with women who actually want to see you win. Like Business to business - we often support each other and it’s pretty great!

6. Outsource what feels heavy.

   • Your energy should be spent creating, not chasing algorithms. Sometimes hiring help to do your emails, or help with your posts is good - just make sure they aren’t losing YOUR voice in the content.

In the last 30 days, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from hacks it comes from honesty. Honestly showing up athentically ;) The moment I let my voice, my tiny home, my sobriety, my marketing brain, and my travel loving self exist in the same space things clicked.

So if you’re in a season where you’re questioning everything you’re doing online, let this be your permission slip:

Stop performing. Start connecting. Start loving yourself enough to share your message, your voice. YOUR personality.
Stop analyzing. Start expressing. It’s okay if Bob from Saskatchewan doesn’t like you and unfollows you.

What My 30-Day Instagram Growth Really Means

I decided to stop chasing what I thought would perform and start showing up as me. And the numbers don’t lie this shift worked.

From September 22 to October 21, my account reached almost 50,000 views, had 1,700 interactions, and gained 108 new followers.

My profile visits jumped 83 percent, and my engagement rate stayed strong at over 3 percent, which is well above industry average for a creator account my size.

But here’s the thing the growth wasn’t just numerical; it was energetic.

When I began blending my worlds tiny-home living, sobriety, motherhood, marketing, and freedom — people connected deeper. The proof? My most-viewed reels weren’t polished campaigns; they were the real moments:

• me at the beach talking about freedom (6.2 K views),

• a raw family scene inside our tiny home (3.9 K views),

• day 11 of my sobriety journey (3.6 K views).

That mix of honesty + strategy was the sweet spot. My audience wasn’t just watching; they were feeling it. What this means for me is alignment the kind you can’t fake.
The algorithm didn’t suddenly love me; it just started mirroring my authenticity.
Because when you stop performing and start communicating, your content becomes magnetic.

Megan Moore Marketing (my own Instagram)

30-Day Growth Highlights (Sep 22 – Oct 21)

• Views: 49.8K (up ≈30%)

• Interactions: 1.7K (total = 894 likes + 372 comments + 55 saves + 49 shares + 6 reposts)

• New Followers: 108

• Profile Visits: 1,074 (+83%)

• Total Reach: 12.2K (+24%)

• Reels = 63.3 % of views, Stories = 25.5 %, Posts = 11 %.

• Top Performing Reels:

  • Sep 29 – Beach/freedom clip: 6.2 K views

  • Oct 16 – Marketing/Education: 5.2 K views

  • Oct 14 – Tiny-home scene: 3.9 K views

  • Oct 10 – Sobriety Day 11 reel: 3.6 K views

Observation: Personal + lifestyle content (tiny home, sobriety, family, travel) performs just as well or better than pure marketing reels proving your audience wants the blend of real life + strategy.

Engagement ratio: Interactions/views ≈ 3.4 %, which is well above average for a creator account of your size (~27.6 K followers).

Follower movement: –1.6 % overall, but with 108 new authentic follows and strong non-follower reach (43.9 %), meaning you’re reaching new people while pruning the passive ones, this is a healthy reset phase. You want to purge some of your old followers - they may not even be ON instagram anymore!

How You Can Replicate My 30% increase on your own Instagram Account

1. Blend the personal with the professional.
   People don’t want experts, they do not want perfect, they want humans who know their stuff. Let your life inform your lessons.

2. Use what’s new.
   I leaned into Instagram’s latest editing tools, because the platform rewards creators who experiment. Every update is an invitation to grow visibility. Use EDITS, Instagram’s new editing software - it’s been incredible and easy to use.

3. Engage like it matters because it does. Networking makes a huge difference.
   Ten intentional minutes a day watching stories, replying, and commenting changed my reach more than any hack ever could.

4. Get clear on your energy.
   If your feed feels forced, it probably is. Audit your last nine posts: do they sound like you? If not, that’s your starting point. Do they sound like ChatGpt? Are they from someone ELSES post? Say bye to that strategy lean into YOURSELF.

5. Find your people (and engage with them).
   Whether it’s a supportive pod or a circle of collaborators, connection amplifies momentum. The empty-restaurant effect is real energy attracts energy. I absolutely LOVE following Gardening accounts, even though it has nothing to do with marketing — I just really enjoy them.

This 30-day experiment and split test reminded me that alignment is the best strategy. Always. And when you can find your core pillars for 30 days and post about them — you will grow. Look at my numbers, this isn’t a ‘heya do it exactly like me’ it’s a — what are YOU posting about, what do YOU want to be known for? And it can pivot and change, but give it 30 days, okay? Anything else it wouldn’t be a fair ‘test’ of what is working and what’s not.

When your content feels like your truth, your growth becomes effortless not because the algorithm changes, but because you do.