Social media. It can inspire us, connect us, and tear us down all in a matter of 5 minutes. Ya feel? Below I am going to go over a few tips and tricks I have learned along the way with Instagram, but there are a few ground rules I want to lay out. Yes Instagram has an algorithm and you can’t control it so STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. If the algorithm frustrates you, dig deeper, research and find out how to let it work for you and not against you (so keep reading because you are in the right place!). Remember that social media is a FREE platform to connect with others and for potential clients to find you.

1.  Do not rely solely on Instagram

   Ask yourself this- if instagram was to be deleted tomorrow, would my business continue to thrive? If the answer is no, I encourage you to start investing into other channels of visibility. SEO, social events, and having a well designed and thought out website are a few ideas to start with.

2. Batch work for days

   I set aside 1-2 hours per week where I sit down and plan my grid + captions on an app called UNUM. Through this app, I can save captions, create a hashtag cloud, upload directly to instagram, and rearrange photos. By doing this, it eliminates the moments of, “crap I need to post something” and streamlines the entire process.

3. Test out hashtags

   I get it- hashtags can feel like their own little language. But think of it this way- hashtags are another tool you can use for potential clients can find you. Practice role reversal- if you were your own ideal client, what hashtags or words would you search to find a photographer? You can use up to 30 hashtags per post, but be sure to switch them up every post as Instagram can recognize when you are just using the same ones over and over. Click here for a great article on more information on this.

4. Use Geotags

   I have had a handful of clients find me through a specific location I have tagged on a post. My rule of thumb is a tag the general location, but not a specific location if it is one that is less known. I don’t do this to keep my locations secret but more so that these locations stay less populated like they have always been. 

5. Interact and Encourage Others

   If you want others to comment on your photos and hit that follow button, you have to show them a little love, too! Putting work out for the world to judge can be a scary thing for all of us, so spread the love and encourage others who are following their dreams! Creating community through social media has been pivotal for me. Sorry mom, I totally make all my friends on the internet now 😉

6. Share your life, but not your whole life

   Being vulnerable is totally “in” right now and as rad as that is, it can be hard for some to open up. Being vulnerable and transparent on social media about your entire life is not always a good thing. For example- I focus on a few aspects of my life that I intentionally share with my followers. I share any and all adventures, my pup, occasionally food, and of course little moments with Drew. These parts of my life do not make up my entire life. If you are someone who struggles with vulnerability or even showing up on social media, I challenge you to identify one area of your life you are willing to share. Maybe it’s your morning walks, a fun hobby you have outside of your business, or one of the areas I listed above. By doing this, you are allowing others in to know more about you, but still keeping a boundary up of what everyone can see.

So there you have it! Six easy ways to improve your presence on social media. If you found any of these tips helpful, let me know! Comment below or send me a screenshot on Instagram of your putting these tips into practice! YOU CAN DO THIS!