Why Do People Unfollow on Instagram? (And Why It’s a Good Thing)

There’s nothing like losing followers to send a business owner into a marketing spiral—you work so hard to grow your account only to have all the followers you gained leave. But, while losing followers feels bad, it’s a good thing (I promise).

Here’s why people are unfollowing you on Instagram and why it’s actually a good thing for your interior design business:

Why People Are Unfollowing You on Instagram

There’s a common misconception that if people are unfollowing you on Instagram, you’re doing something wrong—and I’m here to tell you: you’re actually doing something right. 

People tend to unfollow Instagram accounts for a few reasons:

• They’re no longer interested in the account (or what it does)
• They don’t feel a connection with the account
• They no longer need the services offered (or can no longer receive services offered)
• It’s just not a good fit for them

Do you see a trend? Mostly, the account simply no longer aligns with or serves their needs for whatever reason. Maybe it’s because of location, style, lack of need, or lack of connection with you (and don’t take this personally).

But It’s a Good Thing, and Here’s Why

You are a business. 

I can’t speak for unfollowing on a personal Instagram account, but I know Instagram and I know it extremely well for interior designers. I can confidently say that it’s a good thing that they’re unfollowing you. 

Why? Because they’re not interested in booking and buying. The people who will stick around are the ones who ARE interested in working with you and not just following on a whim.

Even if you’re focusing on your Instagram strategy right now, you’ll probably still lose followers—and you’ll gain some. When you create content that resonates with your ideal client, it doesn’t connect the same way with others, meaning your ideal clients will stay while others might hit unfollow (and that’s okay).

How to Prevent People From Unfollowing Your Interior Design Business on Instagram

You can’t completely prevent people from unfollowing your interior design business on Instagram because sometimes it has nothing to do with you.

Maybe they’ve moved to an area you don’t work with, maybe their taste changed and your style or portfolio doesn’t match it anymore—whatever it is, it’s out of your control.

But, if you’re determined to prevent people from unfollowing your account, focus on the things you CAN control, like your strategy and content. Spend more time following a strategy that attracts the right people (the ones who would love to work with you) vs. attracting anyone and everyone.

And to make your followers that DO stick around feel connected to you and your business, don’t forget to spend time engaging with them. Respond to their comments and DMs, interact with their posts (if they’re a public account), and listen to their needs.

Not sure where to start? Join SMM on Speed Dial, a quick + easy-to-use resource for interior designers to make posting and engaging on social media stress-free.