How to Lose a Follower in 10 Days

There’s nothing quite like the sting of watching your follower count drop, one by one, like autumn leaves falling from a tree. In a world where every double-tap, share, and DM feels like validation, losing followers can feel personal. But sometimes, we sabotage ourselves without even realizing it. Let’s break it down, day by day, with a humorous but all-too-real guide to “How to Lose a Follower in 10 Days.”

I’ve lived through some of these cringe-worthy moments (and maybe caused a few of them myself), so grab a blanket and settle in. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what not to do.

Day 1: Posting Outside of Your Niche

Picture this: You’ve built a cozy corner of the internet dedicated to minimalist home décor. Your followers know you for your clean lines, neutral tones, and those Pinterest-worthy shelfies. Then one day, you post a deep dive into your favorite sci-fi movies.

Cue the confused comments: “Wait, is this still the same account?”

Look, we all contain multitudes, but your audience follows you for a specific reason. Pivoting wildly outside your niche—especially without context—feels like inviting people to a dinner party and serving tacos when they expected sushi. Sure, tacos are great, but it’s not why they showed up.

If you want to introduce something new, ease into it. Give your audience a reason to care about your new passion without making them feel like they accidentally followed the wrong account.

Day 2: Lacking Originality

Once, during an Instagram scroll, I saw three creators post a reel using the same audio with nearly identical captions. The trend was funny the first time—but by the third? Not so much.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of copying what’s trending, but originality is what sets you apart. Your followers didn’t hit that “follow” button for a carbon copy of someone else’s content. They want you.

Think of your content as your signature dish. You can use trending ingredients, but the recipe should always have your personal touch.

Day 3: Not Using Captioning in Your Stories

True story: I once watched a creator’s story while waiting in line at the DMV. Well, “watched” is generous—I clicked through because there were no captions, and I didn’t have headphones.

Here’s the hard truth: Most people watch stories on mute. If you’re relying on audio alone, you’re alienating a huge chunk of your audience. Not to mention, captions make your content more accessible.

Tools like Instagram’s built-in caption stickers make this easy. No excuses. Every time you skip captions, you’re leaving engagement on the table—and possibly losing followers who are tired of guessing what you’re saying.

Day 4: Talking Bad About Other Content Creators

Ah, the subtweet of the influencer world: shading other creators. Maybe you think it’s harmless venting, but here’s the thing—your audience sees it differently.

Years ago, I watched a creator I admired spiral into a rant about someone copying their content. While their frustration was valid, the delivery was…not. It felt petty and unprofessional, and I found myself unfollowing.

Your followers come to your page for inspiration, entertainment, or education—not drama. If you’ve got an issue, keep it offline. Otherwise, you risk looking like the mean kid in the cafeteria. No one wants to sit at that table.

Day 5: Announcing You’re Taking an Extended Break

“We need to talk.” No one wants to hear those words—especially not from their favorite creator. But that’s essentially what you’re saying when you announce a long social media hiatus.

I once followed someone who, mid-content streak, posted, “I’ll be taking a break for the next few months. See you when I’m back!” Spoiler: I didn’t. Their audience moved on, and by the time they returned, their engagement was a shadow of what it had been.

It’s okay to take a break. Heck, it’s necessary sometimes. But don’t make it a big production. Quietly step back, and if possible, schedule content to post in your absence. Your followers shouldn’t feel abandoned.

Day 6: Complaining About Burnout

We get it—being a creator is hard. But venting about burnout too often can feel like complaining to your dinner guests about how much work it was to cook the meal.

I’ll never forget a series of stories from a creator who spent 20 minutes lamenting the algorithm, their workload, and how “no one appreciates how hard this is.” Yikes. It was awkward and made me feel guilty for being a follower.

If you’re struggling, take a break (quietly, remember?). And if you want to talk about mental health, frame it in a way that’s helpful or relatable to your audience. Don’t make them feel like the problem.

Day 7: Talking Too Much in Stories

Remember that one friend who dominates every group conversation? Yeah, don’t be that person in your stories.

One time, I saw a creator post 40 stories in a row—yes, I counted. By story number 12, I was so overwhelmed I tapped out.

Your followers are busy. Respect their time. If you have a lot to say, break it up into digestible chunks or go live instead. Brevity is your best friend on social media.

Day 8: Low Video Quality

Blurry videos, bad lighting, shaky hands—it’s a one-way ticket to the “unfollow” button.

I once followed a cooking account where the creator shot all their videos in a dimly lit kitchen. The recipes were great, but the low-quality visuals made it hard to stay engaged. Eventually, I unfollowed because it felt like they weren’t putting in the effort.

You don’t need fancy equipment, but you do need decent lighting and a steady hand. Your content is your storefront—make sure it’s inviting. In our iPhone Photography & Videography course we teach you how you can shoot on your iPhone like a professional. Sometime’s it’s just about using the right tools and techniques to maximize what you already have.

Day 9: Don’t Ask Your Followers What Kind of Content They Want to See

Ever been in a relationship where your partner never asked how you were feeling? That’s what it’s like when creators don’t engage their audience in meaningful ways.

Once, I saw a creator post endless beauty tutorials without realizing their audience was more interested in skincare tips. A simple poll could’ve steered their content in a direction that resonated.

Your followers are your focus group. Use polls, question boxes, or even DMs to find out what they want. Ignoring their preferences is like baking a cake no one ordered—it’s a waste of effort.

Day 10: Not Balancing Sponsored Content with Organic Content

Imagine you meet a new friend, and all they ever do is try to sell you something. That’s what it feels like when creators post too many ads without balancing them with organic content.

I unfollowed someone recently because every post was an #ad. It felt like I was watching commercials on repeat, with no glimpse of their authentic self.

Sponsored content is fine—in fact, it’s great when done well. But make sure your audience feels like they’re still getting value, not just being sold to. We shoot for an 80%/20% balance of organic to sponsored content each week.

The Takeaway: Your Followers Are Your Foundation

At the end of the day, losing a follower isn’t the end of the world. But if it’s happening consistently, it’s time to take a hard look at your habits. Avoid these 10 pitfalls, and you’ll not only keep your audience—you’ll grow it.

Want to level up your creator game? Check out the Good Influence(r) Course for everything you need to build a loyal, engaged audience. From content strategy to monetization, we’ll help you become the influencer you were meant to be—no unfollows necessary.