What Most People Are Doing Wrong on Instagram

If your Instagram growth feels slow, the problem is probably not your content. It’s your strategy.

Most people are still posting on Instagram in a way that made sense in 2020… but not in 2025.
The platform has changed. The algorithm has changed. And the way people consume content has changed.

But the biggest mistake creators and founders make right now?

They post content for their followers… instead of posting content that reaches strangers.

That single mistake is why you can post daily and still gain 0 traction.

Let’s break down what this means.

1. Your content still assumes people know you

Most people create posts like:

• “Here’s what I did today”

• “Here’s my routine”

• “Here’s what I think about…”

But a stranger who sees you for the first time doesn’t care about your day or your routine.

They care about value, clarity, and relevance.

Instagram now pushes your content to non-followers more than ever, but only if the content helps strangers understand:

• why they should stay

• why they should follow

• why you matter in their world

2. You’re trying to impress… not to teach

Many founders still create “tips & tricks” posts that sound smart—but don’t solve a real problem.

People follow accounts that make their lives easier, not accounts that sound clever.

If your content doesn’t produce a shift, spark clarity, or give someone a quick win, they scroll.

3. You post without a positioning angle

Your content can be good but still invisible if the audience can’t answer:

“What is this person the go-to for?”

Most creators give random advice on random days.
But authority (and reach) comes from repetition, consistency, and message depth.

If your content doesn’t reinforce one strong association, the algorithm can’t categorize you… and people can’t remember you.

4. You ignore the first six seconds

Instagram now decides who sees your content based on watch behavior in the first seconds.

If those first seconds are boring, confusing, or slow… the post dies.

Right now, short attention is your biggest enemy—and your biggest opportunity.

So… what should you do instead?

Here’s the simple fix:

Create content for strangers, not followers.

This means:

• hook fast

• teach clearly

• repeat themes

• build one strong association

• make the viewer feel smarter or more capable in 10 seconds

When your content helps strangers, Instagram helps you.

Because the algorithm doesn’t reward talent.
It rewards relevance.

My perspective as a Legacy-Driven Brand Consultant

I work with founders who already have credibility offline—but online, credibility often gets lost because their content is built for people who already trust them.

In the public feed, nobody knows your track record.
Your content has to carry your authority, not assume it.

The moment a founder switches from “posting what they want” to “posting what the algorithm can categorize,” their reach explodes and their authority becomes visible.

This is how you move from “unknown expert” to “obvious choice” on Instagram.

If you want daily insight on building authority and legacy online…

Follow me on Instagram @stefanravram, where I break down how established founders can turn their offline credibility into a public positioning advantage.

DM LEGACY if you're serious about scaling your influence.