You're Not Shadow-Banned—You're Just Not Engaging
Why Your Content is Getting Crickets (and What to Do About It)
Let’s rip off the band-aid, bestie.
You’re not shadow-banned.
You’re not cursed.
You’re not invisible.
You’re just... not engaging. Yep, I said it. And I say it with love, but also with a little tough truth that your business might need to hear right now.
If you're showing up online expecting droves of followers, fire emojis, and sold-out launches—but you're not doing anything to connect with your audience—you’re not building a brand, you’re shouting into oblivion.
What Does It Really Mean to "Engage"?
Engagement isn't just responding to the occasional comment or tossing up a poll once a month. True engagement is about starting conversations, joining them, and nurturing the community you're trying to grow.
According to Sprout Social, brands that actively engage with their followers see 4x more ROI from their social media efforts. Why? Because relationships > reach. Every time. Let’s break down what engagement actually looks like in real life—and how different business types can nail it.
Business Coaches: Lead With Connection
You’re out here dropping wisdom and fire content, but if you’re not mixing that with genuine interaction, you’re missing the point.
Here's how you can show up:
Comment on your followers' posts with intention. Go beyond "love this!"—drop insight, encouragement, or a question that gets them thinking.
Use Instagram Stories to host mini coaching sessions. Ask your audience what they’re struggling with and give them micro-solutions.
DM new followers or frequent likers. Not with a sales pitch, but with a “Hey, love having you here! How’s biz going for you right now?”
64% of consumers want brands to connect with them. And for 76%, that connection leads to loyalty.
(Source: Sprout Social)
Service Providers: Be the Hype Squad (and the Expert)
If you offer a service, you’re in the trust business. And trust is built through conversations, not just transactions.
Try this:
Shout out your current or past clients. Show off their wins, tag them, and tell your audience why you love working with them.
Post a “Did you know?” series that solves tiny problems your audience didn’t even realize they had (hello, credibility!).
Engage with local or niche hashtags and drop thoughtful comments to connect with potential clients and collaborators.
Business Bestie Tip: Save templates or scripts for common DMs or replies so you can show up quickly and consistently without burning out.
Product-Based Businesses: Create a Vibe, Not Just a Storefront
You’re not just selling clothes, jewelry, or skincare—you’re selling a lifestyle. So your job is to invite your audience to see themselves as part of your brand world.
Ideas to increase engagement:
Run polls and "This or That" stories to learn your customers’ preferences (and get market research at the same time).
Repost customer content and ask your audience how they’re using your product.
Use UGC (user-generated content) in your feed with a branded hashtag to create a loop of community and validation.
79% of people say UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions.
(Source: Nosto)
so, Stop Blaming the Algorithm…
The algorithm is not out to get you. But it does reward the people who show up consistently, provide value, and interact like a real human. If you’re not commenting on posts, responding to your DMs, or being part of the digital conversations happening around you—you’re not building relationships, you’re posting and ghosting. And nobody wants to build a connection with a ghost.
Let’s make it practical. Here’s a quick list to kickstart your engagement game:
Respond to comments and DMs daily
Comment on 5–10 posts in your niche per day
Share community content or tag clients/customers weekly
Ask your audience questions that you actually care about
Use polls, sliders, and Q&A boxes in stories 3x a week
Set aside 15–20 minutes per day to genuinely interact—no sales pitch needed
You don’t have to be glued to your phone or fake your way into being "that girl" on IG. But you do need to care about your people. Because your audience can tell when you’re just posting to post—and when you’re showing up to serve, connect, and grow.
Want more engagement? Start engaging.
Not in a fake-it-til-you-make-it way.
But in a real, I-give-a-damn-about-my-people kind of way.
You’ve got this—and I’m cheering you on (but also holding you accountable, because duh 💁♀️).
P.S. If you want help building an actual social strategy that doesn’t feel like a full-time job, check out my offer, The Social Glow-Up. I’ll help you get cute AND consistent—with visuals, captions, and engagement strategies that convert.