Instagram has been an amazing tool in my business. Here are some tips that I have spent hours figuring out. These tips take time and practice but have proven to help me be successful in my business on Instagram.
Last week I had the chance to speak at Snap, a conference for bloggers, about Instagram. I spoke with two other talented creatives about tips that have helped us be successful and has helped us figure out ways to make better content for Instagram. Here are a few of those tips.
Here is a highlight of the points that Natasha from Violet Tinder shared:
- Treat your Instagram as if it is a portfolio of your work
- Use Instagram to tell a story and build your brand
Pictures to avoid sharing…
- Ask yourself: If someone I didn’t know personally shared this picture, what would I think?
- BE CONSISTENT – work to create a coherent feed
When creating a cohesive feed:
- Categories of photo themes
- Reuse props
- Always use great lighting!
- Signature props, help tie things together
Rachel from Lines Across shared some great tips too:
- Use relevant hashtags
- Engage authentically in the community
- Participate in contests or challenges (like WHP and @itsmyweek)
- Participate in giveaways
Here are some tips I shared:
- Remember People want to connect to others, it’s part of human nature.
- You can use up to 30 hashtags. Hashtags are ways for people to find you so use as many as you can. Something I do is I have a few in my notes of my phone and I just copy and paste it when I post.
- Pick three words that describe your brand and post photos within those words.
- Remember general composition for your photos. Remember the rule of thirds. Use the guides on your phone. Straighten photos. Play with your photos. Edit, edit, and edit, but not too much. Keep your photos over 1500 pxl.
The tips share were so good and if I had known these at the beginning it would have saved me hours of my life. I hope they help you! Let me know if you have any questions and I’d be happy to answer.
Ok! And here is our ultimate hashtag guide that we all put together:
Instagram Hashtag Resource Guide
By @linesacross @violettinder and @canary_jane
General:
#nothingisordinary
#nothingisordinary_ @nothingisordinary_
#huffpostgram @huffingtonpost
#dslooking @designsponge
#lovelysquares @lovelysquares
#thatsdarling @darling
#theeverydayproject @annapolisandco
#photosinbetween
#pursuepretty @jemmacraig
#petitejoys @allieseidel @rougeandwhimsy
#livethelittlethings @runstylerun
#rslove @real_simple
#postitfortheaesthetic @andreaxxdianne
Happy:
#howyouglow @howyouglow
#prettylittlething @officialplt
#thehappynow @thehappyhunters
#TheDulcetLife @dulcetcreative
Colorful:
#abmlifeiscolorful @abeautifulmess
#dscolor @designsponge
#candyminimal @mattcrump @candyminimal
#colorventures @amyventures @colorventures
#livecolorfully
#ThatColorProject @eslee
#makeyousmilestyle @brightbazaar
#colorcolourlovers @xantheb
#colorhunters
#popyacolor
Crafty & Creative:
#colorfullycrafted @thecraftedlife
#abmcrafty @abeautifulmess
#mybeautifulmess @abeautifulmess
#wemakecollective @wemakecollective @fallfordiy
#craftsposure @craftsposure
#makersmovement @makersmovement
#madewithmichaels @michaelsstores
#myhandsmaking @fallfordiy
#makersgonnamake
#ohwowyes @buzzfeeddiy
#creativityfound @trouvemag
#thenativecreative @inkandpulp @saltwatermocha
#peoplescreative
#workspacewednesday
#oneofthebunch @bunchmagazine
#creativityfound
Fun:
#bandofun @shopbando
#flashesofdelight @theglitterguide
#myunicornlife @bourbonandgoose
#SoBestFriendsForFrosting @bestfriendsforfrosting
#studiodiymoreismore @studiodiy
Art:
#dsart @designsponge
#calledtobecreative @_calledtobecreative
#doitfortheprocess @Emily_Jeffords @doitfortheprocess
#carveouttimeforart @melissahuber @heatherkirtland
#brightbrushstrokes @etavee
Food/Recipes:
#rsreboot @realsimple
#buzzfeast @buzzfeedfood
#buzzfeedfood
#huffposttaste @huffposttaste
#tastespotting
#Marthafood @marthastewart
#Marthabakes @marthastewart
#TheKitchn @thekitchn
#yahoofood @yahoofood
#bareaders @bonappetitmag
#EEEEEATS @infatuation
Flowers:
#rsblooms @realsimple
#fridayflowers @marthastewart
#dsfloral @designsponge
Candy/Sweets:
#thecandyrainbow @violettinder @linesacross
#abmlifeissweet @abeautifulmess
#studiodiysugarfix @studiodiy
Home/Decorating:
#abmathome @abeautifulmess
#foundforaged @houseofhipstersblog
#BHGhome @betterhomesandgardens
#myhousebeautiful @housebeautiful
#happyhousedreams @sophlog
#elledecor @elledecor
#apartmenttherapy @apartmenttherapy
Walls/Murals:
#studiodiywallcrawl @studiodiy
#abmlovesmurals @abeautifulmess
#ihavethisthingwithwalls @ihavethisthingwithwalls
Travel:
#abmtravelbug @abeautifulmess
#dametraveler @dametraveler
#mytinyatlas @tinyatlasquarterly
#finditliveit @madewithmap
#RSroadtrip @real_simple
#ExploreInBetween @heleneinbetween
Specific:
#crafttherainbow @houselarsbuilt
#dresstherainbow @houselarsbuilt
#proptoit @violettinder @alishylishy
#ihavethisthingwithhearts @ihavethisthingwithhearts @alisonrubke
#ihavethisthingwithpink @ihavethisthingwithpink @houseofhipstersblog
#ihavethisthingwithfloors
#dspattern
#dstexture
#dslettering
#targetdoesitagain
Seasonal:
#howissummer @real_simple
#abmsummer @abeautifulmess
#abmholidayspirit @abeautifulmess
#abmspring @abeautifulmess
Pets:
#MarthaStewartPets @marthastewart
#dogsinbetween @heleneinbetween
#ruffpost @ruffpost
#weeklyfluff @instagram
#barkpack @barkbox
#awwfeed @awwfeed
#topdogphoto @topdogphoto
#bestwoof @bestwoof
#pawpack @thepawpack
Fashion/Style:
#ABMstyle @abeautifulmess
#stylemacarons
#buzzfeedstyle @buzzfeed
#ootdinspiration (outfit of the day)
#aboutalook
#momentsofchic
#yougotitright
#wearitloveit
#asseenonme
Creative Business
#mycreativebiz @caitlinbacher
#creativelifehappylife @merriweatherac
#girlboss @girlboss
#TNChustler @thenectarcollective
#savvybusinessowners @heathercrabtree
If you are looking for more posts about blogging and social media here’s a couple other posts I’ve wrote: