Growing 255% Without Social Media: How One Founder Built a Thriving Tutoring Agency by Stepping Away From Instagram
“Our business has grown 255% from Year 1 to 3, and to this day, I’ve never gained a single client from Instagram.”
The Beginning: When Instagram Felt Like “The Business”
When I first started Math Refresh, I thought launching an Instagram account was what made it official. I had been playing around with a logo and a website, but Instagram felt outward-facing, like my business was finally real.
A fellow business owner pushed me to get that first post and story out there, and once I did, I poured myself into the app.
Suddenly, so much of my energy was going into trying to stand out and make space for myself on IG instead of into my actual business. 💰
I didn’t realize how many ideas I had for social media and to rebrand math content, but that creative energy didn’t equal income. I was scripting, filming, editing, lighting, all to create short pieces that would hopefully “catch". Each post took about four hours to make. I remember sitting on my dining room floor surrounded by tripods and lights thinking: This is going to take forever to do all of this myself and what's the return.
At the time, content creation felt like an equally important part of my business.
Until it didn’t…
The Turning Point: When the Metrics Stopped Making Sense
The signs came slowly. Even when I’d get 4,000 views overnight, the numbers didn’t translate into revenue.
“Views don’t translate into income.”
The people following me weren’t even my target audience. The parents who hire us (gen X and elder millennial families), aren’t doom-scrolling Instagram looking for a tutor. They value personal connection and trusted referrals.
💡 That realization changed everything.
I started shifting my focus to income over influence. I began investing my energy in email marketing, local partnerships, and community outreach instead of chasing likes. The results were immediate and real.
Reconnecting With Real Humans
A mix of health issues and business fatigue forced me to reassess how I was spending my time. I turned away from social media and leaned into my local community.
I started showing up in real life:
⚡️ joining networking groups
⚡️ visiting co-working spaces
⚡️ sharing through other people’s platforms
⚡️ speaking publicly about education and family learning
“These actions were pivotal.”
We expanded our client base drastically, built an incredible referral system, and created steady, sustainable growth, all without relying on hashtags or algorithms.
Today, Math Refresh thrives through real relationships and word-of-mouth trust. Our team keeps growing to meet demand, and I’m more connected to my clients than ever before.
Beyond the Algorithm
If you’re afraid of stepping away from social media, you’re not alone. I was too.
During the pandemic, so many of us believed that online visibility was the only path forward. But somewhere along the way, we lost the personal touch that used to define small business.
“People appreciate feeling like they can see and talk to a human behind the business, not just scroll past one.”
Now, when I attend networking events or meet other entrepreneurs in person, those connections bring far more return, both emotionally and financially, than any viral post ever did.
You can make five to ten meaningful contacts at one local event. That’s more powerful than chasing 5,000 views.
What If You’re Not Ready to Leave Social?
I don’t think it has to be all-or-nothing. There are seasons when showing up online makes sense, and others when it doesn’t. It’s okay to go through flows. Show up when it feels natural, not forced.
If you’re not ready to step away completely, try thinking outside the algorithm. Co-host a workshop. Partner with a local business that shares your audience. Collaborate on a newsletter or create an offline experience for your clients. You don’t have to disappear from social media, but you also don’t have to depend on it.
“Get out from behind your screen, your business may pivot or grow in ways you couldn’t imagine.”
Redefining What “Official” Looks Like
Ironically, I studied marketing in college. I was taught that social media was essential for every business. I took the copy-and-paste approach, but realized I had to do it differently.
Today, I keep a minimal presence online. It’s not about growth anymore; it’s about connection. It’s great if someone wants to find me, but I don’t rely on it.
It hasn’t affected my revenue in any way. If anything, it’s made me more intentional, more focused, and more at peace. I had a hard time letting go of the idea that I wasn’t constantly posting, but my numbers proved otherwise.
Proof in the Pivot..
✨ In three years, Math Refresh has grown 255%, all without a single client coming from Instagram!
I’m not anti-social-media, but I am pro-sanity, pro-connection, and pro-results.
“I’d rather not have social media at all. I’m not deleting it, but I don’t live and breathe on it anymore, and that feels really good.”
Visibility isn’t the same as viability. And for me, true growth began the moment I stepped away from the feed. ♥️
Jacqueline is the Founder of Math Refresh: An online math tutoring agency serving families across regions, growing through connection, community, and word of mouth.
Jacqueline’s business growth strategies were developed in part through consulting work with Johanna Setta, who is the founder of this online publication, Mondays by Design, and has helped countless entrepreneurs build thriving businesses, without social media.