What Happened When I Switched from Instagram to X: A Designer’s Honest Analytics

Do posts with pictures perform better on text‑based platforms?

 

Do you only share your thoughts, or do you try to add a picture every time, hoping it’ll catch more eyes?

 

If you’re a visual artist, designer, illustrator, photographer, maker, traveler, food or nature lover, your feed is probably full of beautiful images.

 

Creating visuals that stop people mid‑scroll is a real skill. Even if you’re a naturally photogenic woman, you still think about the angle, the outfit, the lighting, the smile. Good visuals take intention.

 

I’ve built this habit of scrolling for visual inspiration across platforms, first Instagram, then Pinterest, now X, and sometimes Rednote.

 

If you’re an Instagram regular, you’ve probably noticed your photos don’t perform like they used to. Reels dominate. The feed feels like TikTok. For me, Instagram is dead.

 

That’s why I moved to X. I wanted a place to share my designs, my illustrations, my process, my philosophy as a visual creator.

 

I hoped clients would find me through my work. When you’re a freelancer, you are your own marketing team.

 

No agency magically discovers you when you’re invisible. X wasn’t just for fun, it was necessary. Just like LinkedIn. Just like my website. Some call it a funnel. I call it work.

 

The market is brutal. In 2024, I sent over 2,000 resumes and got zero jobs. I had a portfolio, but almost no social presence. I felt small. I felt invisible. But I didn’t want to give up. I believed I had the skills, I just needed to prove it.

 

So I made a decision:

If nobody believed in me enough to hire me, I would build a brand that made them regret overlooking me.

 

By 2026, I had posted aesthetic content on X every single day. I rarely went viral, but I built something more important: a recognizable brand. I don’t compare myself to big accounts. I compare myself to Day 1 me. And that’s enough.

 

Are you making progress toward your social media goals?

If you’re here for fun, are you enjoying it more?

If you’re here to build a network or a business, are you seeing more opportunities, more income, more clarity?

 

I hope you are.

 

For me, the most rewarding part of building a personal brand on X as a designer wasn’t the numbers, it was finding my voice.

 

At first, I only posted art in niche communities, waiting for validation from other artists.

 

Now I have a wider audience who reads my thoughts, not just my visuals. I improved my communication skills because I genuinely want to know people, talk to them, understand them. X gave me that space.

 

I remember in 2025, one of my X connections, a writer, told me I could share design tips when I didn’t know what to post. Back then, I avoided design content because it felt salesy, cringe, too niche. I was posting memes and chasing trends instead.

 

This year, I want deeper conversations. More evergreen content. More substance. Posting niche, in‑depth content takes courage, but it’s part of building a real brand, one rooted in identity, purpose, and self‑awareness.

 

I’m a graphic designer not just by profession but by love. I’m not changing my identity to please an algorithm. I’m sticking to my brand.

 

So I’ll talk more about art. I’ll develop my style. Even if it’s unpopular.

 

I’m less addicted to X now. I even find it boring sometimes, not because of you, but because of the trending content. Once you find your purpose online, the noise becomes easier to ignore.

 

But if you want your posts to perform better on X, here’s what I’ve learned from posting pictures every day, not as a guru, but as someone who’s lived it:

 

• Celebrity photos perform extremely well, pop stars, athletes, tech and business icons, especially in “this or that” formats.

• Multiple images boost engagement, food, travel, landmarks, lifestyle.

• If you have good energy, confidence, humor, post yourself. People love the human touch.

• Close‑ups of pets always win hearts.

• If you share advice, try writing it on paper and photographing it. It feels personal and real.

• Show your workspace. Show yourself working. It builds trust and signals ownership.

• If you’re building a brand, watermark your handle or name. It helps discovery.

• For long‑form posts, create a cover image with keywords, and include your face if you’re comfortable. Supporters engage more when they recognize you.

• Document your wins, big and small. You’ll need those photos later when you tell your story.

• Don’t hide behind AI. Don’t make yourself replaceable. People can feel when the real you disappears.

• And yes, have fun with memes if that’s your thing.

 

 

If you’re just shitposting, ignore all of this.

But if someone you know is trying to build a brand, share it with them.

And if you want help or want to talk more, just send me a message ☺️