Your content is flopping because you're treating IG like LinkedIn
I made this mistake for MONTHS
Hey bestie,
I just witnessed a content creator have a complete meltdown in my DMs.
"Archie, I don't get it. My content is GOOD. It works on LinkedIn. But I don’t understand why it fails on IG?"
And I immediately knew what was happening.
She was treating Instagram like LinkedIn.
Look, I've been there.
And then when you do…nothing happens.
Zero engagement. Zero reach. Zero love.
It's not because your content sucks
It's because you're speaking French to people who only understand Spanish.
Here's the brutal truth: Your content's flopping because you're treating IG like LinkedIn!
That’s it!
Every platform has a completely different vibe, different consumer behaviour, and different expectations.
And most people don't know what each platform is actually looking for.
Like, if you upload those long-form YouTube videos straight to Instagram? It will FAIL.
Why?
Because the platform psychology is completely different!
Let me break this down for you:
LinkedIn Users Think: "I'm here to learn, network, and advance my career. Show me something professional and valuable."
Instagram Users Think: "I'm here to be entertained, inspired, and escape reality for a bit."
YouTube Users Think: "I have time to dive deep. Teach me something or entertain me for the next 10-20 minutes."
TikTok Users Think: "Make me laugh, shock me, or teach me something in 15 seconds or I'm scrolling."
See the difference?
Same person, different mindset depending on which app they opened.
It's like showing up to a beach party in a business suit. Technically, there's nothing wrong with the suit... but you're reading the room completely wrong.
I learned this the hard way when I posted this super professional, data-heavy carousel on Instagram.
On LinkedIn? 50K views, hundreds of comments, shares for days.
On Instagram? 847 views and 12 likes. From my mom and my closest friends.
Because Instagram users weren't in "learning mode." They were in "scrolling and vibing mode."
So here’s what I post on each platform with a different approach:
For LinkedIn: Professional stories with clear takeaways. Data. Industry insights. "Here's what I learned from..."
For Instagram: Behind-the-scenes moments. Quick tips with personality. Visual storytelling. "POV: When you..."
Same core message. Different packaging.
That’s why you need to understand the psychology behind each platform and speak their language.
Stop trying to force LinkedIn content onto Instagram.
Stop uploading 20-minute YouTube videos to TikTok.
Start matching your message to the mindset of your audience.
That's when everything clicks.
Rooting for you (on every platform),
Archie