“Do I have to be on Instagram to grow my business? I want to run an Instagram-free business.”
If you’ve ever asked yourself that—and felt a little trapped by the algorithm, the content treadmill, or the constant pressure to show up—this blog is for you.
I’m going to walk you through three real businesses I’ve worked with that run successful, growing companies without posting on Instagram. Not “barely scraping by.” Not “only surviving because they got lucky once.” These businesses are thriving—one is multi–six figures, another is seven figures, and the third… well, I know my check always clears.
This isn’t a “quit social media forever” hype piece. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the actual strategies these businesses use to get leads, build trust, and make sales—without chasing the Instagram algorithm every day.
And yes: this is still true in 2026.
Table of Contents
I’ve Been Running an Instagram-Free Business Since November
Recently, I posted a “nine grid” on my own Instagram account as a signal that I’m stepping back. I’m not sure whether I’m done forever, or whether I’ll still pop in occasionally—maybe stories here and there, maybe a trend once in a while—but overall, I’ve been feeling done.
The reason was simple: Instagram was taking up an unreasonable amount of time and mental energy… and it wasn’t where my clients were coming from. When I posted that nine grid, I woke up the next day feeling noticeably lighter. You can hear me talk more about quitting Instagram on the podcast here.
And I wasn’t alone.
So many people messaged me saying they wished they could quit Instagram, but they felt like they couldn’t—like they had to be there because “everyone is doing it.”
In fact, in the Enji State of Small Business Report, more than half of small businesses said they would quit at least one social media platform “if they could.” But it’s hard when it feels like everyone is doing it.
But here’s the truth: not everyone is doing it. And even more importantly: you’re not required to be everywhere.
A Few Quick Disclaimers (Because I’m Me)
Before we get into the three examples, a few important notes:
- I’m not sharing any client names.
- Nothing here is confidential—if you knew these clients, you could find what I’m referencing publicly.
- This is based on my perspective as someone involved in their business and observing how they market. There may be additional revenue channels behind the scenes that I don’t see.
Also: the work I do is largely done-for-you blogging for SEO and Pinterest marketing—so you’ll notice those themes show up across these strategies.
Okay. Let’s get into it.
Client #1: The Finance Pro Who Quit Instagram in 2017 (And Never Looked Back)
This first client is in the finance world—think fractional CFO, accountant, bookkeeper, that kind of space. She’s been in business for 15 years and has been off Instagram since 2017.
So what’s driving growth?
Her business model (multiple revenue streams)
From what I can see, she has a strong mix of:
- Done-for-you services
- A group program/course she launches once or twice a year
- A digital shop selling digital products year-round
That’s important, because it means she’s not relying on one single sales mechanism. She has both a launch model and an evergreen model, and after 15 years in business, she almost certainly has a built-in referral ecosystem too.
Her discoverability engine: a seasonal podcast + SEO
Here’s where it gets especially smart:
- She runs a seasonal podcast with guest experts—designed for discoverability.
- Guests share the episode with their own audiences, which expands reach without her needing a daily platform.
And then the key move:
- Every podcast episode becomes an SEO-optimized blog post so it can be found through Google (and increasingly through AI-assisted search).
In other words, instead of her content living and dying in a 24-hour Instagram window, it becomes a searchable asset that keeps working.
Evergreen funnels + consistent email marketing
She also has:
- Evergreen funnels: website → free training → higher-ticket offer
- Ongoing promotion of digital products through episodes and content
- A strong affiliate network that supports launches
- Consistent showing up for her email list, even between podcast seasons
The lesson from Client #1
Great content + time in the game + optimized systems = sustainable growth.
And no—Instagram is not required.
Client #2: The Niche Business Coach Who Went All-In on YouTube (Not Instagram)
This second client is a business coach with a very niche audience, and she’s built her marketing around:
- YouTube
- Blogging
Her content strategy: binge-worthy video that builds trust fast
Her YouTube videos are genuinely engaging—so engaging that even someone outside her niche can get pulled in (ask me how I know lol). That matters because YouTube isn’t just “content.” It’s relationship-building at scale.
And while I don’t have access to her analytics, based on what’s visible (subscribers, watch activity), it’s reasonable to assume she may also be earning some revenue directly from YouTube—on top of using it to sell her offers.
Her funnel: YouTube → free training → evergreen offer
Her flow is clean:
- YouTube content builds awareness and trust
- Viewers are invited into a free training
- That training leads into an evergreen funnel where people can buy her course (often at a discount)
If you’ve never built an evergreen funnel before, that “discount on the backend” pattern is common: it rewards engaged people who took the time to watch the training, and it creates a clear next step.
Why this works (even though it sounds “simple”)
Yes, on paper it looks straightforward:
- Create good videos
- Lead people to a free training
- Sell a course
But the reason it works is because every piece of the funnel is extremely well done:
- She’s leaning into her strength (video)
- Her content quality is high
- The end product is strong, so she has real social proof
Here’s the kicker:
She hasn’t posted on Instagram in 180 weeks, and people still find her, look her up, and even comment on her old Instagram content—because they’re discovering her through YouTube and Google.
The lesson from Client #2
Simple funnels work when they’re consistent—and when they’re good.
Client #3: The Product-Based B2B Business Using SEO Where It Actually Counts
This third example is different: it’s a product-based B2B business—meaning they sell products to other businesses.
A helpful comparison (without giving away their niche): if they were in the salon industry, they wouldn’t be a salon—they’d be the supplier selling the chairs, the color, the tools.
Their growth drivers: word-of-mouth, sales reps, and product-page SEO
Because they’re B2B and product-based, they benefit from:
- Strong word-of-mouth
- Potentially outside sales reps
- Their website SEO
Product page SEO (not “blog every week” SEO)
This business is heavily driven by SEO, but not in the exact way most people talk about it.
Yes, blogging/content can be part of it.
But the bigger strategy is product-page SEO, which is perfect for a market where customers are already “solution aware.”
Meaning: the customer already knows what they need. Using the same hypothetical as earlier, they’re not being convinced they should want hair dye—they’re searching for a specific kind of hair dye to buy.
So instead of writing long persuasive sales pages, the strategy is:
- Make product pages extremely easy to find for exactly what buyers are searching
- Optimize product titles and descriptions
- Keep meta titles/descriptions updated
- Build keyword-rich “roundup” pages for niche solutions
They also capitalize on industry buzzwords (fast)
On top of baseline product-page optimization, they keep an eye on what the industry is suddenly talking about—buzzwords, trends, new “hot” terms—and update their site to rank for them while interest spikes.
(Using the hair supplies example: think of moments like when “keratin” became a huge search term—if that kind of term pops in their industry, they move quickly.)
The lesson from Client #3
You don’t always need to spend tons of time creating content.
Sometimes the smartest move is making your website do the heavy lifting—so people who are already looking for a solution can find you and buy.
Why SEO Beats “Scroll Marketing” for a Lot of Businesses
Here’s something that doesn’t get said enough for those of us who want an Instagram-free business:
When someone is searching for you (or your solution), they’re much more likely to take action than when you’re interrupting them mid-scroll.
Think about how people typically use Instagram:
- Standing in line at the grocery store
- Waiting to pick up a kid
- Killing time between tasks
That’s not exactly “I’m ready to make a serious investment” energy.
And if people do buy higher-priced items from Instagram, it’s often after repeated exposure—sometimes because the brand is running ads (which is a whole separate conversation).
SEO, on the other hand, meets people at a moment of intent.
What All Three Instagram-Free Businesses Have in Common
Even though these businesses are in very different industries, they share several key traits:
- They lead with value first
Through blogs, podcasts, YouTube—real content that helps. - They’re easy to find (discoverability is built in)
SEO, Pinterest, referrals, affiliates—channels that keep working without daily posting. - They use intentional funnels
Systems that convert attention into leads and sales without relying on constant visibility. - They’ve stopped performing for vanity metrics
They trust a strategy that works over time instead of chasing likes, views, and algorithm swings.
And honestly? This is where marketing is headed.
The Bigger Shift Happening in 2026
With AI becoming more integrated into how people search—and with people increasingly looking for niche, specific solutions—your:
- blog posts
- YouTube videos
- podcast episodes
- product pages
…are going to matter more, not less.
And while this isn’t an overnight “get rich quick” approach, SEO isn’t going anywhere. In fact, Adobe is set to acquire SEMRush for 1.9 BILLION dollars. That’s a pretty clear sign that big companies see the value (and are making big investments).
The opportunity is real—but it requires a plan, commitment, and patience.
If You Want to Quit Instagram And Grow an Instagram-Free Business, Here’s the Takeaway
Instagram is one option. It is not the option when it comes to marketing a small business.
The businesses above prove that you can grow without daily posting by building:
- discoverable content
- clear funnels
- strong website foundations
- long-term marketing assets that compound over time
If you want your marketing to feel lighter—and to actually produce results—you don’t need to do more.
You need to do what works for your business, in a way you can sustain.
