INSTAGRAM Tips & Tricks

Nicole Siscaretti @SparklyNicole

SparklyEverAfter.com

Hi, I’m Nicole. Blogger Social Media Educator Etsy Shop Owner Digital Entreprenuer

@SparklyNicole

First Instagram post: 12/19/10

Why Instagram is different

Be seen: ! Users post less frequently, most posts are seen

! No algorithm (or minimal involvement) ! Users typically follow fewer accounts

Engaging: ! Easy & normal to engage with people with like interests ! Hashtags make all the difference for posting & searching

Consistency.

Professionalism.

Hashtags.

Where do followers come from? !  People that knew me from other places online

!  Liking & commenting on photos

! Giveaways

!  Photo Challenges & Surveys

!  Collaborations

! Others mentioning me in photos

!  Providing value others can’t

!  Posting content regularly & using hashtags

Growing your following ! Engaging with others

! Like & comment on others’ photos regularly

! Time consuming but worth it

Recent Changes

! Paid scheduling & managing multiple accounts with Hootsuite

! Landscape and portrait photos now available

! More ads and better suited to user

Taking quality photos on a budget

ALIGNMENT – PLANNING – FOCUS – LIGHTING – EDITING

Photo Apps •  Snapseed – editing colors & fixing light •  PicFrame – excellent for collages •  Rhonna Designs – text & stickers •  Phonto – text & your own fonts •  Lenslight – light effects •  Squaready – any photo into a square

Search the App Store & Google Play for new & popular apps. Strive to be unique.

#

Tips for Hashtags

Start your own

Participate in others

Identify the following types of hashtags in your niche: Broad – Pinpointed – Popular – Popular in the niche

Hashtag Tips

Only hashtags you add will count.

Added to timeline when photo was posted, not when hashtag is added.

Hashtags

Use caption for research.

Use another comment with hashtags to

hide them.

Spam or nah?

versus

How many hashtags can I use?

Creative Content Everyday life

Behind the scenes Out of the ordinary Photo Challenges

Surveys Featuring followers (with permission & caution)

Contests (following Instagram’s guidelines) Quotes Facts YOU!

Entertain the lifestyle that compliments your audience.

Photo Challenges

Surveys

Effective Giveaways

FOLLOW – REPOST – HASHTAG – END DATE

Dos & Don’ts of Instagram

•  Do follow as many people as you can keep up with. •  Don’t post blurry photos. •  Do keep it positive. Always. Everywhere. •  Do unfollow if you don’t enjoy someone’s content. •  Don’t post too many photos of one thing. •  Don’t ask for shoutouts or follows. •  Don’t ask “What app is that?” or other irrelevant Q’s •  Do direct people back to yourblog.com •  Don’t buy followers or likes. •  Don’t be bummed out by unfollowers. •  Do block those who write offensive things.

The First 100

An experiment using all the tips and tricks I’ve given today…

Did I make it?...

Takeaways

Research and identify relevant hashtags.

Like great photos in relevant hashtags.

Schedule time to be active on Instagram.

Questions Nicole Siscaretti @SparklyNicole

NSiscaretti@gmail.com