Join FLODESK with my link and get 50% off (!!!) your entire first year: https://flodesk.com/c/7STJFA
FLODESk is the email marketing platform that I personally use and LOVE. Stop sending ugly emails and instead send beautiful ones that people are actually excited to open. FLODESK is super easy to use and is proven to increase clicks and conversion for your business.
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Hi friends! Welcome back to The Eternal Entrepreneur Podcast. I’m Ashleigh Malangone, and today I’m getting real about something that’s been personally affecting me and shaking up the influencer world behind the scenes:
What happens when your business is built on Instagram… and Instagram decides to pull the plug?
If you’re a creator, small business owner, or even just someone who’s worked really hard to build a following, this episode is a wake-up call. Because I’m living it right now.
So here’s what happened.
A few weeks ago, Instagram restricted my account’s ability to onboard new products and earn through monetization features, until August. No warning. No clear explanation.
And get this… the reason was tied to a reel I had already appealed and won back in March. The content was reviewed, restored, and found to NOT violate guidelines, yet somehow it triggered a second restriction months later.
I’ve had no luck getting help. No clear answer. No way to escalate beyond vague support forms. And just like that, a major stream of my income was gone.
The scary part? I did nothing wrong. No shady content, no spammy tactics. Just wellness content I’ve always shared. But it didn’t matter because at the end of the day, the platform controls everything.
It’s like building your dream home on land you don’t own and the landlord can evict you whenever they want, with no explanation.
I’m not alone in this.
Creators everywhere are getting shadowbanned, demonetized, or shut down entirely...often without clarity or recourse.
Why?
Because we’ve become dependent on platforms like Instagram for visibility, income, connection, and validation.
But Instagram isn’t a business partner. It’s an algorithm.
And here’s the truth no one wants to hear:
✨ If Instagram is your only audience, you don’t own your business...you rent it.
It doesn’t matter how many followers you have. If the algorithm flips, if the app glitches, or if a bot misreads your post, you’re vulnerable.
This is not to say we shouldn’t use Instagram. It’s powerful. It’s where I built my brand. But what I’m learning the hard way is: we need to stop putting all our eggs in a rented basket.
So what do we do?
We build our own audience outside the algorithm.
Here’s why I’m now doubling down on my email list:
• No algorithm decides who sees my message
• No random review team can demonetize it
• I own my list—and I can take it anywhere
An email list might not be sexy or viral, but it’s powerful. It’s direct access to your most loyal audience.
Whether you’re selling a product, launching a course, or just building community, your email list is your safety net.
And if you’ve been putting it off because “Instagram is going fine,” let me be your cautionary tale. Fine today doesn’t mean safe tomorrow.
Here’s your takeaway from today:
If Instagram disappeared tomorrow...would your business survive?
Start that list. Nurture that community. Diversify your income.
Because the algorithm does not care about your livelihood.
And if this story hit home, please share this episode with another creator. Let’s protect each other, and stop relying on platforms that don’t protect us.
I’ll keep you updated on my account situation and in the meantime, please head to: https://tinyurl.com/tcets269 to join my list.
Let’s stay connected in a spaces we actually own.
Thanks for being here. I’ll talk to you next time 💛
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Join FLODESK with my link and get 50% off (!!!) your entire first year: https://flodesk.com/c/7STJFA
FLODESk is the email marketing platform that I personally use and LOVE. Stop sending ugly emails and instead send beautiful ones that people are actually excited to open. FLODESK is super easy to use and is proven to increase clicks and conversion for your business.
