Social Media, Part II
PHOTO CHALLENGE | Have you ever made a friend through social media? If you have at least one account that inspires you, try to engage with them more to see how it goes. It can be really fun to login and always have someone to talk to.
With all the negativity surrounding social media right now, take some time to share things you love that inspire and spread positivity.
While social media is a pretty simple tool to figure out, it lends to complexity through the need to remain ever constant (and somewhat on trend, if you dare). However, that doesn’t mean to forego all the fun it has to offer and creating a space you can enjoy. If I’m being completely honest, if I think too much about all the “right things to do” on Instagram, I get discouraged pretty quickly and find myself not wanting to do any of it. Then a little light bulb turns on and I remember, “Hey, this is supposed to be something I enjoy doing and a space that inspires me.”
A few reminders and tips to keep things exciting:
Social media is meant to be just that: SOCIAL | Make new friends, leave comments, get to know people.
Don’t overthink your content | While it’s important to keep your images on brand and cohesive to some degree, don’t make it a chore or something you stress over. At the end of the day, if you love it, others likely will too.
Keep things interesting | If you have a hobby, or happen to be good at something (excellent coffee anyone? a fabulous garden? good eye for styling? love the outdoors? cooking? etc…) you likely have something you could share, teach, and encourage others to do. While you are posting for work, share personal things that show who you are behind the camera.
Scroll hashtags | If you’re going to use hashtags to gain some visibility, be sure to check out others’ photos on there too. When looking for a subject, topic, or place, hashtags can be super useful and a way to find new accounts to follow.
Tag your friends | By tagging your friends, you’re creating a sense of community. It encourages others to see something maybe they wouldn’t otherwise, and that helps to be seen. Whether you tag on someone else’s post or your own, try a few times and see how it goes.
Above all, be genuine | You can always tell when someone is being real about what they post or comment. No one wants a generic response. And believe it or not, people start following you because they want to know you (and hopefully like your content), so let them know who you are.