Navigating the Waves of Life

Growing up, my aunt always taught us that when a rough wave came in the ocean, you go deep.  You go under the chaos to avoid the impact zone.  I never realized how that applied to life until I read a quote about it online (If you recognize the theory, please tell me. This isn’t the exact quote because it was forever ago and I don’t remember nor can I find it).

If you tried to run back to shore, it would eventually catch you and knock you down. If you tried to stand up against it, it would slam you under it’s strength.  If you go under it, go deep, you get through it.

Take a deep breath, put your head down, and go deep.

Favorite People to Follow on Instagram

via meg’s isntagram

Most of you know that I am by no means ever part of those “follow this girl” or this blogger is killing it Instagram story loops.  I do however have a few people that I truly think you should follow if you enjoy the combination of real and messy that I give you every day on the gram.  I wanted to share them with you all on here so you know I mean business. I could probably drag this list on to be about 15 people long but I will keep it short and sweet for you.

 @meghall

Meg, from For the Long Hall, is one of my Instagram friends that I have actually gotten to meet IRL.  She is just as kind and funny in person as she is online and don’t get me started on her little one.  Nell is the most beautiful little girl and more stylish than most bloggers out there. Meg shares her day to day working mom moments and has the best tips for curating a wardrobe, hard boil egg making, and everything in between.  I love her style and her husband is great eye-candy (is that weird to say, Meg?) with awesome dad style.  Trying to curate T’s closet to look like his. Starting in 2019, Meg is doing a year of no shopping. I would kill for that will power. Maybe one day.

 @thetailoredhaven

Another hilarious story teller is Mary Beth aka MB from The Tailored Haven.  Girl posts the funniest stories on her Instagram.  I am new to following her but I can already tell her content is good.  She does not hold anything back in her stories and her home is absolutely stunning.

 @lindsaysilb

Next up is a relatively newer full-time blogger, Lindsey Silberman.  I must point out her Instagram, and her husbands for that matter, to T at least once a day.  I am always so inspired by how real she is.  Her feed is totally goals when it comes to travel and she will tell you how to plan those amazing trips on her blog too.  (Also, you know her writing is good because she was an editor for Town and Country so you don’t have to worry about it being so all over the place like mine.)

 @bethereinfive

Kate Kennedy is a must follow.  For starters, she has written a book that I for some reason have not purchased for myself yet called, Twinkle Twinkle Social Media Star.  If it is any bit as funny as her Instagram page and stories are, you should buy it too.

 @cestriley

Riley of Make Things Co. and I have become such good insta friends over the last year!  We are very similar people, it is kind of crazy but I love that we were able to relate to one another so well when it came to wedding planning.  Her art is incredible.  I am dying for my own “James” print to represent me, T, and the little lady.  If you follow one artist and one artist only, let it be her.

via lindsay’s instagram

via riley’s instagram

via riley’s instagram

via riley’s instagram

Other people I love to follow but don’t want to drag this on forever:

Alex Lawrence – her vibes slay me and she has a wicked cool job.

Jenna Kutcher – do I need to get into this? I’ve taken her classes, been a guest on her podcast, she is a rockstar.

Jackie Greaney – hands down goals.

Inslee – an amazing watercolor artist and a hilarious story teller.  Her son, Jackson, is usually the focus and he is adorably entertaining.

INSTAGRAM TIP TUESDAY #4

August is the Sunday of months.  Seriously.  We love it because it is still summer (or the weekend) but we know work or school is right around the corner.  It is the best and the worst and it also means we are half way through Instagram Tip Tuesday!

This weeks tip is "don't be a one hit wonder."  I learned these words from the fabulous Jenna Kutcher (I will post more about that rockstar soon).  She has coined something called the "Jenna Kutcher 5."  I guess technically that would make this her tip! 

The JK5 is just around to remind you not to post about the exact same thing everyday.  You want variety and excitement in your posts so your followers won't know what is coming next.  You want to keep your followers on their toes so they keep coming back for more!  I am still working on this.  I am having trouble narrowing down my "five" but I can give you an example of the 5 I use for own of my clients.

1. Interiors
2. Images of delicious meals
3. Beaches
4. Lifestyle Imagery
5. Recipes from our Cookbook

We rotate through these five things (with the occasional interruption) so our grid is interesting, well-rounded, and will keep our followers coming back for more.  If we posted the same food image everyday, you all would know what to expect.  It would not be as exciting and we would blend in with every other food account.  Find what works for you and your feed that will make you stand out.

If you feel like you are having trouble finding your five and standing out, you can always hire me!

INSTAGRAM TIP TUESDAY #3

Time for the third installment of Instagram Tip Tuesday!  I love the messages I have been getting after these posts.  You guys are seriously the best.

Anyways, #3 is engagement is key!  Instagram is all about building relationships with your followers.

I have made some pretty awesome friends because of this little app and I am so thankful that I have those friendships.  Reaching out to someone, whether it is through a comment or a message, might seem scary but you never know, you might meet your soul sista.

Along with making friends, engaging with your followers will help with your own profile.  The more obvious way engagement will help is that your name will be put in front of new eyes and help traffic flow to your profile.  Engagement also increases the amount of times your profile will show up on someone else's feed as they scroll.  Photos that the Instagram Algorithm "thinks" people want to see because others are commenting and liking it show up more often in feeds.  It will rule this as a higher quality post that more people want to see.

One last reason why engaging with your followers is something we all should be doing is to grow your community.  No, I don't mean that new BFF, I mean customers or blog followers or readers.  Your community is the reason you are posting.  Whether you are a blogger, an etsy shop owner, an influencer, your followers are logging on to see what you are up to.  Your followers show up to see what you are up to.  They don't want you to just post and log off, they wanted to know you that you are a real human.  Make them feel seen and heard and your community with thrive.

If you don't have time to make your followers feel seen or heard, you can always hire me!

INSTAGRAM TIP TUESDAY #1

After I began freelancing in social media, my inbox has been filled with questions in regards to building an Instagram following organically and boosting engagement.  I decided that for the rest of summer, every Tuesday, I will give you all a little trick of the trade! You’ll have to let me know if this is helpful at all or if there are any questions you have!

Tip Numero Uno: Do not hop on the follow/unfollow train thinking it will help you gain followers (that would only make you an internet jerk).  Furthermore, don’t follow spam accounts or pay for followers.  You are not fooling anyone when you suddenly go from 1,200 to 3,200 followers overnight.  People and brands alike are able to look up when you gained followers and if it was an organic process or not.

“Grow organically and win the race.”

When you start to lie about followers on your social channels, your customers/friends/followers will wonder what else you are lying about.  Seriously.  Think of it this way; you tell your friends at college that you threw a party with 300 kids from your hometown and then they find out that only 20 friends were there.  Wouldn’t you doubt everything else they tell you?  What else are they lying about to seem popular or cool.  People are put off by bots for the same reason they are put off by liars.

Another reason that you should not try and get “bots” to follow you is because it is an easy way to get banned from the app.  Instagram has been known to crack down on fake accounts in the past and why would you want to risk that?  These fake accounts cannot drive revenue or engagement for you so there is no reward in using them.

Fake accounts are only a quick fix.  If you want your brand to be in it for the long haul, let it happen organically (or hire me).