Podcast Episode Summary
Podcast: Massive Agent Podcast
Host: Dustin Brohm
Episode: Why I Deleted My Instagram and Started Over From ZERO
Release Date: November 27, 2025
Episode Overview
In this eye-opening episode, Dustin Brohm candidly shares his experience of deleting his Instagram account—then with 13,000–15,000 followers—and starting again from scratch. He reveals why he took this bold step, details the mistakes that led to the stagnation of his old account (especially buying followers), and teaches agents what it really takes to grow on social media today. Through his personal journey, Dustin imparts actionable insights about the Instagram algorithm, audience engagement, and the importance of authentic growth. This episode is a must-listen (or read) for any real estate professional using social media to generate leads and build credibility.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Frustration: Stagnant Instagram Growth
- Dustin recounts a year-long period of frustration where his Instagram account’s reach and engagement plateaued despite consistent posting and effort.
- He first considered the possibility that his content was the problem rather than the platform:
- “You never want to blame the damn algorithm, okay? … Take responsibility first before you blame the platform.” (06:38)
The “Swipe Up” Temptation and Fatal Mistake
- Instagram once reserved link-sharing in Stories (“Swipe Up” feature) for accounts with 10,000+ followers, which Dustin coveted as a marketer.
- To reach that threshold, he made the “stupid, short-sighted, wildly uneducated decision” to buy 2,500 followers.
- “I wanted the Swipe up feature in my stories. … So I bought some followers to get me over the 10,000 follower hump just so I could get the Swipe up feature.” (10:39)
- Immediate enjoyment turned to regret as his content hit a sharp engagement and reach ceiling.
The Consequences of Fake Followers
- Dustin learned from both personal experience and peers like Neil Dhingra that buying followers devastates reach:
- Algorithmic Impact: Instagram initially shows new posts to a small, random slice of your audience. High engagement in this group triggers wider distribution. Fake followers—being bots or inactive—never engage, dragging down engagement rates and crippling growth.
- “No matter what, the best post—even if 100% of the real people, the real followers engaged with it, watched it, and loved it—still only has a 50% engagement rate because the other 50% that’s fake can’t engage.” (18:16)
- The audience size only matters for first impressions (i.e., social proof):
- “There’s a certain social proof and credibility that comes with a high follower count … I believe that is literally the only value of having a high follower count in today’s world. It’s an ego thing.” (14:38)
The Solution: Radical Reset
- Starting over was the only way to fully undo the damage:
- Dustin announced his move to a new account, migrated as many followers as possible, and gave notice before deleting the original.
- “Within hours … my engagement was through the roof on an account with like 400 followers—so much more than an account with 15,000 followers.” (30:34)
- He committed to never again using artificial tactics:
- “No bullshit. Just post good content, engage, reply to my comments, try to be interesting, try to have a personality…” (31:42)
Algorithm Demystified: What Works Now
- Algorithm priorities have shifted: Authentic engagement wins.
- “Your follower count does not matter as far as distribution to people … You could have 165 people following you and you could reach millions of people with your content.” (13:20)
- How content gets distributed:
- Instagram tests posts with a small sample of your audience. Good engagement means wider reach, including to non-followers.
- “This is how you start to grow … by doing good stuff with a certain target audience in mind. … Even if you only have 145 followers, it can go absolutely crazy … and have 10 million views on a video. It happens. It absolutely happens.” (38:18)
- Success comes from following proven blueprints, consistent posting, and authentic interaction.
When Should You Start Over?
- Don't rush to delete your account unless you’ve undeniably poisoned it with fake followers.
- Focus first on content quality, consistency, and personal branding.
- “What you need to do is start doing the right shit, start doing better content, learn hooks, learn the content formats that work … But focus on you before you start blaming, ‘Hey, I need to delete my account and start over.’” (34:25)
Final Lessons & Encouragement
- Success on Instagram (and social in general) is built on authentic, natural engagement—no shortcuts.
- “Doing social media the right way organically is the most powerful way to do it. Without a doubt, all the other fake shit is just a bandaid for uneducated people.” (33:56)
- Massive Agent Society will be releasing new free tools and resources to help agents level up their social media game soon.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On self-responsibility:
“You never want to blame the damn algorithm, okay? … Take responsibility first before you blame the platform.”
— Dustin Brohm (06:38) -
On the mistake of buying followers:
“You buy followers if you want to crush your account.”
— Dustin Brohm (13:56) -
On discovering newfound engagement:
“My engagement was through the roof on an account with like 400 followers. So much more than an account with 15,000 followers. That told me all I needed to know.”
— Dustin Brohm (30:34) -
On what truly matters today:
“Your follower count does not matter as far as distribution to people … It might matter in the context of like, if somebody lands on your account, do you look credible … That is literally the only value of having a high follower count in today’s world.”
— Dustin Brohm (13:20, 14:38) -
On growth and success:
“If you just get the formula, get the blueprint, follow it to a T, be consistent every day, you will grow, you will grow faster than ever. … But just do the work.”
— Dustin Brohm (41:28)
Important Segment Timestamps
- 00:34 – 03:30: Episode setup and the promise of personal Instagram story.
- 06:38: The importance of self-examination before blaming algorithms.
- 10:39 – 13:56: Admission of buying followers for the ‘Swipe Up’ feature and immediate regret.
- 18:16: Explanation of how fake followers ruin your engagement and account reach.
- 30:34: Realizing the benefits of starting over—spiking engagement and follower quality.
- 33:56: Emphasis on genuine, organic tactics and why “fake shit” doesn’t work.
- 38:18: Deep dive into how the current Instagram algorithm actually distributes content.
- 41:28: Concluding motivational advice about consistency and following proven content strategies.
Episode Takeaways
- Never buy followers or use artificial engagement tactics—these will limit your organic growth and kill your reach.
- The only real value in follower counts today is surface-level social proof; algorithms prioritize engagement, not numbers.
- If you’ve never bought followers, focus on improving your content and consistency before considering drastic account resets.
- Authentic personal branding and consistent, quality posts are the best path to social media success—regardless of your starting point.
- Proven strategies and blueprints, not shortcuts, will get you results in the long run.
For Dustin’s two-minute video and free resources on transforming your social media into a lead-generating machine, visit: massiveagentsociety.com/easy