Building & Engaging on Instagram

Nicole Siscaretti @SparklyNicole

SparklyEverAfter.com

Hi, I’m Nicole. •  Blogger, Social Media Educator,

Etsy Shop Owner, Digital Entreprenuer

•  @SparklyNicole

•  First post on Instagram December 19th, 2010

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

To lead is to serve.

Consistent

Professional

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

! Give what you want to receive Celebrate others, share & credit their photos, etc.

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 (iOS) •  Squaready – any photo into a square (iOS)

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

Make & keep your followers happy by measuring statistics. Post what they want to see = get more likes.

Ask questions & share information = get more comments Images from Iconosquare.com

My engagement ranges from 5% - 9%

Hashtags •  Starting your own •  Featuring followers- celebrating them, content for you •  Participating in others •  Widely used hashtags •  Smaller but not too small •  Bigger categories •  Pinpointed niches

Instagram allows 30 hashtags per photo. Fill another comment with hashtags to hide them.

Only hashtags you add will count.

Creative Content Everyday life

Behind the scenes Out of the ordinary Photo Challenges

Surveys Featuring followers

Contests 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. •  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 because of unfollowers. •  Do block those who write offensive things.

(Ain’t nobody got time for that)

Takeaways

Download & try a new photo app.

Create something that allows you to use a hashtag and/or highlight your followers.

Schedule time to be more active on Instagram, engaging with your followers &

relevant hashtags.

Questions Nicole Siscaretti @SparklyNicole

NSiscaretti@gmail.com