How She Gave Up Instagram Marketing for Good with Sarah Erickson

What Can Happen if You Gave Up Instagram For Good (And Still Want to Grow Your Business)

Can I be honest with you for a second? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve asked myself, “What would it actually look like to run my business without Instagram?” Not just taking a week off or hiding the app on my phone, but walking away completely.

It feels like such a wild thought in the current online space. But for Sarah Erickson? It’s her reality.

Sarah is a brand designer who made the bold move to leave Instagram behind in 2021—before it was trendy, before burnout was a buzzword, and before Reels ruled the feed. And yet, she’s built a thriving, sustainable business. No hacks. No hustle. Just a smart, intentional strategy that prioritizes Pinterest, blogging, email marketing, and good old-fashioned word of mouth.

And what she shared with me in our conversation wasn’t just about marketing. It was about peace. Time. Sanity. And choosing a business that supports the life you want to live, not the other way around.

So if you’ve been quietly wondering, “Am I even allowed to step back from social media?” or “Could my business survive without Instagram?” friend, this post is for you.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Sarah’s Pinning with Purpose Course: https://amandawarfield–sarahanndesign.thrivecart.com/pinning-with-purpose/ (aff. link)
• Sarah Uses Tailwind for Scheduling Pinterest Pins: https://www.tailwindapp.com/
• I Use Plann (Save $10!): https://www.plannthat.com/register/?fp_ref=cus_LjPEW4WnBLpkNi&name=Amanda (aff. link)
• Should You Delete Instagram? Podcast Episode: https://amandawarfield.com/268-2
• Creative Educator Conference: https://layleeemadi.com/conference
• Action Step: Ask yourself what you would like to have more time for.
• Book Rec: Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer
• Find me on Instagram and tell me what you thought of this episode: @mrsamandawarfield

Why Sarah Gave Up Instagram (Before It Was Cool)

By 2021, Instagram had become a time-suck for Sarah. Reels were taking over, the algorithm was a constant frustration, and the platform just didn’t feel worth the emotional and time investment anymore.

She realized she was pouring hours into content creation that wasn’t converting—not meaningfully, anyway. Even when her posts got views, they rarely led to inquiries or email sign-ups.

But what really tipped the scales? The emotional drain.

She put it so clearly:

“Even if I was getting a few clients from Instagram, could I get those same clients somewhere else—without the time and emotional cost?”

The answer, for her, was yes.

What She Chose Instead (And Why It Works)

Sarah didn’t just quit Instagram and disappear. She shifted to platforms that could support her marketing long-term:

• Pinterest: As a visual search engine, it plays beautifully with her brand design work and long-form content.
• Blogging: Gives her evergreen content that builds authority and supports SEO.
• Email Marketing: Provides a direct line of communication to her audience—no algorithm needed.
• Word of Mouth: The power of deep, meaningful relationships can’t be underestimated.

This ecosystem works together to bring in dreamy c