5 Tips To Grow Your Instagram Fast

We’re sharing our top tips to help you grow on Instagram fast. We all know that being consistent is crucial on social media, but with the removal of Instagram likes, we need to focus more on the shares and saves. Let’s get focused on educating our audience, sharing value, and prepping for launches, new product releases, and sales. We’ve got the best 5 tips to grow on Instagram.

1. Consistency - post consistently on Instagram

   be consistent in when to post and how often so your followers know what to expect. Find out what time is best for you to post on Instagram and stick to that. Post daily, weekly, or whatever your schedule allows but stick to a plan.

2. Show more of YOU on your feed

   by you, we mean your face. Don’t be shy, post pictures where you’re in them to help your audience connect with you. Use Instagram stories to capture your normal life and share more of a behind-the-scenes view. Once you feel ready, try Instagram Live to connect with your followers.

3. Educate

   Share value with your followers and build trust, build a brand, and educate them on what you are doing by sharing more. Prepare them for when you’re ready to launch or sell; the more they know, the more they’ll be ready to support you.

4. Save and Share

   the save and share options on Instagram are the new likes so you want to create content that your audience is going to save and share with theirs. Write in the caption that you want to be tagged and credited, and do the same if you share someone else’s post. Graphics work well as they often share value and work on other people’s feeds.

5. Use the DM

   feature to connect, not spam - send genuine messages to people to reach out and build community. Send a friendly message to new followers thanking them for the follow and asking what they like and want to see more of. Connect with people, it is social media after all.

---

follow us on Instagram @sonianicolson

---

What are you doing to grow on Instagram?

Instagram Tips For Growth

Instagram is still one of the most popular social media platforms and growing on it takes time and work. The best way to succeed is to plan out what you want to post and have a clear direction for your account - niche down - this will help you understand who your audience is and know your community.

The Algorithm

Possibly the bane of your life if you’re trying to grow your account. The algorithm changes and it’s there for a good reason. Don’t fight it, don’t get frustrated, and don’t blame it. Just get on with it. Yes, they recently removed likes and that made a huge impact on how we quantify success on Instagram. Rumour has it that saves are the new likes.

Posts

Post consistent, relevant, and relatable content which is of value to your audience - bonus if it’s sharable. Instagram will reward you if your posts get an audience to spend more time on the app.

Editing

Yes, you can edit on Instagram itself but there are so many other options to edit pictures. I use the Adobe Lightroom app and have a preset.

Description/Caption

Each post allows for 2,200 characters which is about 300 words of a caption for your post. You want your caption or description to be interesting, relevant to the post, and interactive so that people want to like, save and comment. You’re looking to receive rich comments so that each comment can be built on to feed the algorithm and show it how valuable your posts are.

Hashtags

Do your hashtag research, select 5-10 hashtags that are on brand and are relevant to the image you are posting and its caption. You can use up to 30 but it looks a little spammy and it’s often better to use 5 relevant hashtags than 30 mediocre ones.

Location

To attract a potential new audience, tag your location. Tag real locations, not just random trending locations. This too can be flagged as spam.

Tags

Do your research, don’t just tag randomly. Tag yourself, tag brands, etc.

When To Post

Use the ‘when to post’ app as it tells you the 3 times a day when you get the highest engagement on your account, this is when you should post. As you build your feed, people will come to expect a post from you at whatever time or however many times a day so try to stick to it. Consistency is key. The more active you are, the more the algorithm will favour you.

Be Social

Engage. Don’t just expect people to comment and interact on your posts, do so on theirs too. Be active within your niche and interact with accounts similar to yours and with an audience you want to attract. Engage with their followers’ comments and start a conversation. Answer questions, add value, and show them that you can help and that you are of interest to them. Do not spam. The more engagement your post gets in the first 30 minutes, the higher you will rank and the more reach you will get. For comments to count they need to be 4 words or more and not just emojis. The more comments, likes, and saves, the more the algorithm is triggered. Instagram is smart, don’t try to fool it.

DMs

Your DMs are your messages within the Instagram app. This can get annoying and build up but they are a good place to build a community and speak to your followers or potential followers. Use them to reach out and build an audience. To thank new followers, send them a DM of a message, voice message, or video. Make it personal and intentional. The aim is to build actual relationships.

Switch To A Business Account

Once you switch, you get access to your analytics, pay attention to these as they will help you know your audience and what they are looking for.

Reach

Your reach is the new way to measure how well you are doing, your reach is your audience (total number of people who have seen your content) not just your following.

Instagram Stories

Use this feature to show your latest post, ask people to click on it and it will take them to your feed where they can like and interact. Post to your stories every time you post to your feed, this helps with distribution and drives your audience (and potentially new eyes through location and hashtags) to your post and feed.

Shadowban

Shadowban is when your account is not favoured in the algorithm or is flagged up because you are doing something dodgy and against the system; i.e. using the same hashtags on every post, using bots, using comment pods, etc. If you get a shadowban then you can be banned on Instagram, without necessarily knowing what has happened. If you get a shadowban, leave your Instagram account alone for a few days. Don’t post, and don’t be active. Check over the hashtags you use and make sure they’re still active and relevant - better still, use fresh ones.

Avoid Comment Pods

Comment pods are when a group of people posts to a group chat with a link to their post in the hope that all members of the pod will go like and interact with their post, in exchange for doing the same for the members’ posts. This is seen as spam and playing the system and is not worth risking a shadowban. The algorithm is intelligent and will suss you out. It’s not worth it.

Plan Your Feed

Planning will help you develop an aesthetic, stay consistent with it, and in posting to a schedule (posting often). Planning out the appearance of your feed is a personal preference. Have a look around and see what style of feed you like.

I use the app PLANN which allows you to plan out days, and weeks ahead of time. I sit down once a week or fortnight and plan out my content. This means I know what is going live, and when, and have the caption written ahead of time with hashtags ready to go. This is great beautiful it saves me time in the long run and, on the days when I am just not feeling it, I don’t have to find something to post and write about because it’s already in my planned feed. PLANN lets you upload pictures, add captions, and hashtags, and save lists of hashtags to easily copy and post when needed. You can also move posts around to plan the layout and look of your feed so you never post similar pictures beside each other or similar colours together.

READ: 5 Tips To Grow Your Instagram

---

Follow us on instagram @SoniaNicolson

Gallery Block

This is an example. To display your Instagram posts, double-click here to add an account or select an existing connected account. Learn more

The Self Employed Uniform

I was getting dressed, cleaning up this morning, and making the bed, the usual routine, when it occurred to me - I wonder what other self-employed people actually reach for and tend to wear on a daily basis. 

The Architect

Previously I've worked as an Architect in an office so I had to look both professional and also wear clothes that I would pop out onto site in. This meant a cheap-ish wardrobe of smart trousers and layered tops, usually from Primark or whatever. There was never anything cool or trendy about my work wardrobe - I mean I was in a hard hat and steel top-capped boots 50% of the time. 

The Lecturer

Then, moving into Academia at a private design school, my wardrobe got a lot more fun - the fact the school was in India meant I could experiment with what I wore a lot more and never felt judged or unprofessional. I could express myself more, try Indian outfits on our 'cultural days', and wear what I really felt like 'me' in. 

be comfortable, be yourself

This idea of feeling like 'me' is an interesting one, something that I thought would have developed over time and I would have my own style but in reality, I maybe dress up into the style but I live in and spend most of my time in my jeans and a simple top. I think it’s more about the material; the soft worn-in feeling is just so comforting. I tend to wear Zara skinny straight-legged blue wash jeans and a simple top. The top never matters much but I'm so lazy in my hunt for comfy clothes in the mornings that I also tend to live in sports bras. Maybe that’s TMI??

an identity

A uniform to me is something that helps present you in the role you have. A Doctor, a Firefighter, a Bus Driver, a Sale Assistant, etc. But if we don't work in professional or service-related jobs then the 'uniform' is more a perception thing, perhaps the way we dress is more about the way we think we should dress for that role or be seen as that employee. 

Dress the part, for success

I dress for comfort but also to feel more confident, to empower myself. I vlog looking, however, I do at that time but I make more effort for a sit-down video. I want to be seen at my best and my best is neat and presentable - teeth brushes, hair done, make-up on, thoughtfully selected clothes. My jeans are comfortable and they make me feel good, so I am more confident. I'm sure you'd agree, I don't want to wear something I'm not comfortable in as I'll feel self-conscious. 

inspiration

Don't get me wrong, I completely appreciate a good pair of PJs or leggings - I'm often wearing PJ bottoms when I sit down to film - but I thought I'd put this out there and see what you guys tend to reach for, what are your "comfies" and if you're also self employed, what do you consider your uniform. 

---

what's your Self Employed Uniform?

Job Interviews and Dealing With Rejection

Getting a job interview can be exciting but also pretty nerve-wracking. I just found out that I didn't get the job I had interviewed for here in Reykjavik so I wanted to write out some points to help anyone else who is going through the stress of job searching, applications, and the interview process. 

watch the video

ASK FOR FEEDBACK

If you’ve gotten through a few rounds of interviews, the interviewer(s) have probably gotten to know you well so there’s no harm in asking for feedback at the end of your follow-up email. There is always a chance that they won’t provide feedback because it might be seen as a liability or they are short on time.

REFLECT on the interview

Maybe the interview didn't go as well as you hoped (were you on time, dressed appropriately, prepared, or too nervous, did you research the company, understand the position, or ask good questions?)

You had a glaring typo in your resume or cover letter (mistakes happen but this is the no 1 reason employers don't call people back)

Take some time to reflect on your experience and think about what went wrong. This will allow you to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Think of it as a learning opportunity, to be a better candidate next time.

MAYBE the job or company WASN'T A GOOD FIT

Sometimes it's not about you or anything you could have done (or done differently). One thing I learned from hiring people is that there are so many great candidates and there are also a lot of behind-the-scenes decisions that go into each hire. Sometimes the decision to not hire you truly has nothing to do with you.

If you reflect on your experience, and can't find anything that went wrong, it's possible that nothing did. There could have been someone with one more year of relevant experience or knowledge of one more computer program.

LET IT GO

Don't be hard on yourself. Don’t take it too personally - everyone goes through this at some point. Move on to the next application - the job that is right for you is out there. Realize that the hiring process often takes time

Keep Applying

• You'll be able to focus better on the next application if you can get excited and motivated for it.

• The job search can be very stressful…

• Keep a positive attitude

• Remain optimistic

• Apply for multiple jobs within the same area

• Approach companies even if they aren't advertising

• Focus on continually learning and improving

• Keep your CV and LinkedIn up to date

• Practice makes perfect so do mock interviews

• Network - it’s often who you know!!

Remember, there are a lot of things in life you can't control but do your best at what you can. Be prepared and present yourself to the best of your ability. Good luck and feel free to comment below with your stories.

---

are you currently job hunting or about to start a new job?

How To Start a YouTube Channel

So you've decided to venture into the world of YouTube, and maybe even upload your first vlog. Well, a newbie myself a few months back, I've learned a few things over the last weeks of filming, editing, and uploading that I thought I would share with you today. 

---

watch the video

---

Welcome to YouTube

First off, you'll need an account. I had one set up from years ago, I honestly don't remember setting it up but it was there. Pick a name that makes sense to you and your community of followers, if you have a blog or try to get your own name. I changed the name, added the profile picture I use on my social media so it all links, and gave my channel some (very simple) channel artwork. 

The first Vlog

For me, filming out and about was fine - mostly because I had just moved to a new country so no one would recognize me. This was the point though, to record my new life and its ups and downs. Week one started and I had a rough idea of what my week would entail, so I knew I have things to film. The awkward part came when I sat down to film the intro and outro. I was in the sitting room, all alone, just me and the camera. It was surreal. In hindsight, I think the best way to deal with this is to hit record, talk at the camera until you feel 'warmed up', delete all of that footage and then go for it properly. Instead, I was faced with editing for about an hour of me nervously trying to speak and messing up, a lot. Avoid this to save your own sanity. 

I now find myself setting up my camera and talking with relative ease or vlogging as I walk down the street - it's only when I think about what I'm doing, that I catch someone’s odd look or they ask if I want my picture taken that it becomes obvious to me how odd it is. 

Filming

For my sit-down videos, I use my Nikon D5300 on a large adjustable tripod. I would like to invest in a microphone as I think the sound quality would improve a lot but all in time. I use my Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 to film with and take close-up shots with my Nikon 35mm 1:1.8 and Nikon 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6. To make sure I'm in focus, I use a remote control for filming, this also allows you to take photos for your thumbnail. 

Vlogging - generally people will find it a bit odd. It's still a new thing to do. I vlog on my Canon G7x and I sometimes use my medium-size Gorillapod tripod with this. This is quite a standard vlogging camera and has a nifty flip screen so you can see yourself as you natter away. This is good but it takes a little getting used to so you aren't distracted by looking at yourself all the time. As far as 'point and shoot’ cameras go, it's a big camera so a little heavy but it's a great one and I love mine. I also have a nice little collection of SD cards too so I never run out of space, I recommend a 64GB to start off with and I have two 32BG cards as spares. I also have a GoPro but I've not ventured into that yet. 

Thinking of where to film is important so consider your backdrop, lighting, and noise. Set yourself up with your camera on a tripod (or a stack of books, etc), sit in a comfy chair or on the end of your bed, and face good lighting (I use natural lighting because let's be honest, I don't have professional lights after getting the camera, lenses, tripod...). I try my best with backgrounds but we are still setting up home so this will improve. Try to think of acoustics too, avoid an echo and edit out background noise such as neighbours and bin lorries, etc. Sometimes I film in my studio, it's a little echoey so I bring in some cushions and so on to absorb the sound - it’s hilarious what's going on behind the scenes!!

Editing

I use iMovie on my MacBook and back up all my videos to my external hard drive so they don't take up loads of storage on my laptop. I find iMovie very easy to use and when I have a problem I tend to find a tutorial on YouTube that can help me. The editing is relatively straightforward and user-friendly, and I am getting a lot quicker at it each week. I like adding titles and little notes in my videos so I use the titles sections and add my fonts to match the branding of my blog. Music is starting to become an issue as finding copyright-free and user-friendly music can be difficult. YouTube has a library you can download from in their creators’ suite so I'm exhausting that first.

To help you get an idea of what it all looks like, here's a screenshot of a video I am currently editing. 

Editing yourself - you'll get sick of hearing yourself starting each video with "hi guys" or something as cheesy but you get used to hearing your own voice played back. You get used to always having a camera on you and, hopefully, it will become quite natural to bring your camera out of your bag and start talking to it as you walk down the street.

The whole process

I made this nifty little checklist to ensure I'm happy with my videos before they go live. If you like, feel free to download it and print it out. Try planning out your first 10 videos and give them a title. Once you have filmed some footage and are ready to edit, start working down the checklist ticking each item off as you go - you'll soon be on a roll with content!!

Titles

People say "Make your titles catchy, so they entice the viewer in". This is up to you really but I don't like to be misleading and, for now, I'm happy sticking with "Moving to Iceland..." or "Living in Iceland - week 1..." until I get a little more creative. I've started doing more architectural / designer-related videos and at the moment they are simply titled "5 Reasons to become..." or "10 Reasons I became..." so I have a good starting point that introduces the direction of my content and I plan to do a lot more of this kind of content. I also add my name into the title so it's more search engine friendly and try to make my tags and keywords part of the title too, i.e. architecture, study design, travel advice, etc.

Thumbnails

I make all of my thumbnails. If you don't have access to Adobe or similar design software then I recommend using sites like Canva and PicMonkey. I usually use four images from the vlog to make up the thumbnail giving an insight into the video, and then add text with the title on top. For the other more focused content videos, I tend to use one main image (either of me or the item I'm talking about) and then add a filter on top with the title written in the font and colours that match my branding. When designing your thumbnails think of how small they are displayed in the sidebar. Make your text legible and aim for lighter images as they stand out more. 

Downbar

This is the information bar, located below your video on YouTube. People can click on this to expand it and read more about you and your video. It's good to give a short description of the video, introduce the people featured in it, including any relevant links, and state where you got any music from. Try to shortener links so they are more click friendly, I use a URL shortener. This is a good way to share your website and other social media links with your viewers. If you feature products, etc then consider putting a disclaimer in here. 

Tags

Tags are like keywords, they will help you get more views so think of relevant search terms your ideal viewers will be using to find your video. These will change as per the content of your video so fill that box with good search terms i.e. "vlog", "moving to Iceland", "travel", "ex-pat", "living abroad", "culture shock", etc. 

Share it

Once you have your video uploaded onto your channel, you are going to want to get views so start telling people about it. Tweet, Instagram, and Facebook the heck out of the link. Do this for the first few videos so they pick up clicks and shares. After that, and once you have some subscribers, it's up to you BUT if you don't share it, who's gonna know about it?! Make use of all that social media.

Comments

The good, the bad, and the ugly. You're putting yourself out there, online for anyone to watch and form an opinion of. Haters Gonna Hate and all that. Having said that, I've been very lucky with comments and have only had a few thumbs-down clicks. I love it when people comment, I always comment back and think it's important to communicate with your viewers, form a connection, and hopefully, they will keep coming back. I get lots of really lovely emails too, to be honest, I've found my viewers to be nothing but encouraging. 

Make a welcome video

Make an 'intro' type welcome video for newcomers to your channel, this plays automatically so they see a short introduction to you and your channel ad will hopefully subscribe and watch your videos. Plan out what you want to say and show, keep this short (about 2-3mins) and try to give an overview of what your channel offers. Be upbeat energetic, and friendly, and make it interesting so they want more.

Go, Get filming...

It's a nerve-racking thing to start doing, I know. I have some footage from a trip to India*, I filmed this well over two years ago and haven't edited and uploaded it yet. This was the first video I made with the idea of uploading it to YouTube. But I kept putting it off. Mainly because I was too nervous to put it out there. Why would anyone watch it, who am I to share my travel video anyway? And, I knew I'd have to film an intro - at least explain why I had filmed it. I liked the idea of making videos and sharing them online but it wasn't until I moved to Iceland and had what I could call 'a a legit reason to make vlogs' that I did it. But you know what...you don't need a reason, just go for it. Do it for you, because you want to. 

---

Subscribe to my channel here

29 Ways To Stay Creative

It is so true, we creatives love our lists and we tend to love things like coffee, singing in the shower, breaking rules, taking risks, and going somewhere now. We also love working with others, discussing our ideas with like-minded people, and collaborating. All too often my students feel their ideas are too precious to share or get feedback on, they don't want to present them too early in a project for fear of someone copying and they are hesitant to approach others and collaborate.

This is a reminder for them, for young designers, and creative entrepreneurs alike - stay as creative as you possibly can and have fun with it!! 

29 ways to stay creative

1. Make lists

2. Carry a notebook everywhere

3. Try 'free writing'

4. Get away from the computer

5. Stop beating yourself up

6. Take breaks

7. Sing in the shower

8. Drink coffee

9. Listen to new music

10. Be open

11. Surround yourself with creative people

12. Get feedback

13. Collaborate

14. Don't give up...

15. Practice, practice, practice

16. Allow yourself to make mistakes

17. Go somewhere new

18. Count your blessings

19. Get lots of rest

20. Take risks

21. Break the rules

22. Don't force it

23. Read a page of the dictionary

24. Create a framework

25. Stop trying to be someone else's 'perfect'

26. Write ideas down

27. Clean your workspace

28. Have fun

29. Finish something!!

---

What ways do you like to stay creative?