Navigating The Instagram Algorithm

Let's take a moment to discuss when you are posting information about an event or a sale on your social media feeds. With the current algorithm if people are not constantly interacting with your feeds they will not see your updates right away.  In fact, they might not see your updates for up to 5 days later! When you are creating that great post that says, " Today only, buy one get one free" you are hardly reaching any of your following.  Let me rephrase if you have an amazing engagement rate consistently on every post this number is obviously higher. However, if you're hovering around a 5% engagement rate and looking for a good ROI of your invested time in that post you will barely see any the day of the post.  You need to give ample notice on whatever it is you are wanting people to know, way more notice than the day of. 

I am bringing this up now because over the holiday season, I personally viewed so many posts about things that I would have wanted to take advantage of but I didn't see the original post until 3 days after it happened.  I am personally guilty of not spending my 20 minutes a day every day engaging on Maven's Instagram. Which is why I do not see stuff from people I follow right away on the day they post because I may have liked or commented on something from them a week ago. Since Instagram now filters what they think you want to see based off of what you have interacted with it's harder to stay in your followers feeds every since day right when you post. Don't believe me just check your search and scroll through all of those suggested photos. Do they look like things you've been searching in Google or on Facebook, as well as photos you've been interacting with more consistently on Instagram? 

Moving Forward

To make this transition easier for your future sales or events consider adding to your story what will be happening and snippets of what is happening in "real time" if it's an event at your business. Remember a story post is live for 24 hours but you are now able to save it to your highlight reel. Also, post about an event at least 3 days in advance on your grid, as well as on your other social platforms, and in your email blasts.  Hashtag those posts and story snippets correctly and you will begin to see a better ROI on your time and efforts promoting whatever it is you want to be promoting. 

Instagram Story Highlights

Have you noticed that under your Instagram profile a space for your story highlights?  Instagram is copying Snapchats Memories feature and going a step further, by letting you create a permanent home to show off your best stories.  For the purposes of this post I am going to call this your "highlight reel" because it should be 3 or 4 of your best Instagram story slides. Images or videos that will help a potential customer or client really know the person behind the brand. 

If you are not using stories, I'm here to say that you really need to start.  This update reflects just how serious Instagram is about Stories. Though the company (which has gone months on end without significant app updates prior to Stories) has been spinning out new features for more than a year now, updates have barely touched profiles themselves. This is because a majority of the masses are posting well-curated images once a day. We as members were and are not posting nearly enough as Instagram wants, hence why stories came about. 

Stories highlights could help to convert more people into followers by teasing the types of stories that your brand posts. According to Instagram, 200 million people view at least one brand’s profile page on any given day, but two-thirds of those people don’t follow the brand. Now the brand can use Stories Highlights to show them more of what they’re missing. Stories highlights mean that you need to step up your stories game. I'm not talking every post needs to be perfectly filtered but the ones that you think would benefit you by living on your highlight reel need to be your A game material.

For example, if you are a brick and mortar store or a venue that people could rent out to host an event make a top-notch video tour as a story and have it live on your highlight reel.  Let people into your space show them something that you don't want to permanently live in your little squares. Another idea would be to create a story slide about an upcoming promotion or sale that you are having and allow that to live on your highlight reel.   Highlights is a place where you can really showcase more of your stuff, where you can let video live and actually tell a story in your voice about your brand.

Keep in mind as well that hashtags are searchable in stories. While you should only use one or two hashtags on a story slide make sure that they are a good one. 

If you want some personally tailored ideas on what to do with your highlight reel, holla atcha girl. 

5 Tips For A Money Making Instagram Bio

 Let's discuss your businesses Instagram Bio. Your bio is one of the first things that a potential client or buyer is going to see. They are either going to find your bio by clicking over from one of your rad photos that showed up in their feed or they are going to type what you do into the Instagram search bar and find you that way.

Wait you didn't know that people can find you by typing what you do into the Instagram search bar? Well, I'm here to tell you that they can. You know that bold line right below your profile picture which probably says your First and Last Name right now. That is called the header and it's totally searchable in the search bar. 

1. Header: Automatically Instagram will fill your header (name bar) in with whatever name you registered the account under. You should erase this immediately and instead write searchable keywords that describe your service, brand or product. This way you will show up when a potential client or customer begins a search of these words.  You have 30 characters to use in your header, make them count. 

2. Body: Tell your audience and ideal customer what you do right off the bat. Think of this space as your 20-second "elevator pitch" written in a sentence that you give at networking events. 

3. Personalize: You should have more than enough room and characters left to add one or two personal things about you after your "elevator pitch".  Include something personal about you like you love Target, an emoji of your favorite food or a pin of where you currently are. 

4. Call To Action: What do you want people to do next? Do you want them to click on your stories? Do you want them to click to download your e-course?  Whatever you want them to do you need to describe because...

5. Link: Whatever your call to action is this is the link to it. Promote your latest project, your opt-in offer, even just your website. This is the place you want new visitors to click and go down the rabbit hole of your business' world. 

The Instagram bio is the first thing I check out when I'm searching and find photos I like. Why? Because I'm nosy and want to see if I like all of their work and read a little about who they are. Instagram is a social network key is to make a good first impression and get some type of engagement started. Remember you only have 150 characters so make the most of it. Be clear, be strategic, be intentional. Your Instagram bio only has one purpose: tell your ideal client how YOUR brand can help THEM.

Engagement Season Package

In case you didn't know, I manage the Instagram accounts of a number of Portland wedding professionals and put together a package specifically for wedding photographers. I know that It can be time-consuming to keep up with frequent social media posting and engagement. This service is already helping my clients focus on shooting and responding to clients. As you know, the more you are posting & sharing, the more your work will be seen by potential clients. I am opening up 8 spots to post your content for you from January 2 - March 31, 2018, the height of engagement season bookings. All I need from you is two weeks worth of your beautiful content drop boxed by December 15th to begin.

These packages are for posting only. I will write the captions for you in your brand's voice and use your established hashtags for the appropriate package you have signed up for. Posting packages are for 3 posts per week or 5 posts per week.

Lane' Richards of Something Borrowed Portland  had this to say:

"I have been working with Jade from Maven Muse for the past 8 months and can't imagine ever going back to managing our Instagram account. She is reliable, consistent and takes the stress out of what and when to post. Especially during the busy summer season in the peak of wedding season we're still able to maintain consistency in our posting as our clients have grown to expect daily postings of content that's relevant to them and their needs. Because of her services, we have seen a return on our investment 10 times over so let me tell you, it's worth every penny! You'll not only save time but increase your bookings - and who doesn't want that? Jade with Maven Muse is at the top of our referral list because we love working with her and see solid results."

For the specifics shoot me an email and let's discuss keeping your profile updated during the height of wedding photograper searching session. 

(Photographer: Ashley Courter)

Cyber Monday Deal

Cyber Monday is the day when most people just show up to work and are online for most of their day hunting deals. Well at least I did that when I worked my desk job in the corporate world, and I can't have been the only one.

I know that you have a long list of people that you are going to buy for but is your business on that list?  If not it should be, I know that you're over there starting to think about your 2018 goals and well I have an offer to get you started on all of your goal setting.

Through December 1st I am offering 25% off my social media assessment and strategy package. Included in this package is a 30 minute goal exploring phone call or Skype Meeting, 60 of your most interactive industry-specific hashtags, a written out posting strategy and a followup call or Skype meeting to answer all of your questions and discuss one on one. Total Investment: $225 

This package is curated to help you to stop posting just to post and instead have your social media posts creating leads for you to close more deals and make more money. All the work will be done December 20th so you will have time to celebrate the holidays, then start implementing all the strategies we discuss and kick off 2018 with a bang.

When you're ready, fill out the form below and let's get started on your 2018 business social media strategy. 

Social Media Terms Of Service

Y'all I fucked up. I went outside of the terms of service of a social media platform. I did it unknowingly.  I got called out and immediately deleted the post. Terms of service, how many of you actually read them in detail before you accept the terms? 

Yeah I didn't think that very many of you did.  I am here to tell you that you should at least give those good ol' terms and conditions a once over or at least Google the Cliffs Notes version of them after you accept them. 

All of this brings up the question, who legally owns your photos on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest? Let's get educated, shall we?

Instagram

The answer from Instagram, “People in the Instagram community own their photos, period. On the platform, if someone feels that their copyright has been violated, they can report it to us and we will take appropriate action. Off the platform, content owners can enforce their legal rights.”  

Ok that makes sense, Instagram has your back by what anyone does with your photo on Instagram, offline you are on your own. But did you know that reposting is actually in violation of Instagram Terms? Yeah I didn't know that either, but given the platform and how it works, a majority of users are cool with you reposting as long as you are linking back to their account. However, always ask before assuming that it's alright.  This is what the terms of service statement says, 

"You represent and warrant that: (i) you own the Content posted by you on or through the Service or otherwise have the right to grant the rights and licenses set forth in these Terms of Use; (ii) the posting and use of your Content on or through the Service does not violate, misappropriate or infringe on the rights of any third party, including, without limitation, privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, trademark and/or other intellectual property rights; (iii) you agree to pay for all royalties, fees, and any other monies owed by reason of Content you post on or through the Service; and (iv) you have the legal right and capacity to enter into these Terms of Use in your jurisdiction."

Facebook

Ok cool that's Instagram terms, now let's talk Facebook. Does Facebook own your photos once you load them onto your account?  No, the photos are still your photos, not Facebooks. In fact, it’s right in Facebook’s terms of service: “You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook.“  However, let's address what rights Facebook does have with your photos once you've uploaded them. 

You own all of the content and information you post on Facebook, and you can control how it is shared through your privacy and application settings. In addition:

1. For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.
2. When you delete IP content, it is deleted in a manner similar to emptying the recycle bin on a computer. However, you understand that removed content may persist in backup copies for a reasonable period of time (but will not be available to others).

Basically, Facebook can use your photo "royalty free" however they feel without asking for your permission or paying you any money they may get from using your photo. 

Pinterest

Great, we've got the big two out of the way now let's focus on Pinterest. Are you using photos from Pinterest as almost a form of a stock photography site? Do you think that just because it's on Pinterest you can borrow it? Well here's the deal unless you are repinning it, that content needs to live on Pinterest. If you do this it's considered copyright infringement. Yeah, buzz kill huh?

Here's what Pinterest actually says,

"If you post your content on Pinterest, it still belongs to you but we can show it to people and others can re-pin it."  You can refresh yourself with Pinterest's Terms and Conditions here. 

In conclusion, is it okay to repin images on Pinterest? Maybe. Is it ok to repost on Instagram? Sometimes. Using other peoples photos on the internet these days is tricky business.  All you can do is refresh yourself with the particular terms of service. How are you feeling about all of this information, are you going to go back and read the terms and conditions? 

Converting Your Social Media Following To Dollars

If you are an online business, a service provider or a brick and mortar the number of followers that you have on social media really doesn't matter. Your business is not online to win a popularity contest, your business is online to gain exposure and put money in your bank account. 

Are the people following you even your ideal client? Are you getting into the feeds, and in front of your ideal client?  In this workshop, we will answer these questions as well as learn the basics of how to start converting your social media following from Facebook and Instagram into dollars. You are spending your valuable time on social media, let's start returning that investment into paying customers, and payment notifications instead of just "like" notifications. 

I am teaching an in person workshop in Portland on this topic

Thursday, October 5, 2017, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

You can sign up HERE hurry seats are limited.

Social Media Marketing Best Practices

A Huffington Post contributor had decided to write an article about the lives of Social Media Managers.  He wanted to showcase that there was more to this type of work than just picking out a pretty photo and posting it to a businesses social media channel.

One morning I sat down with my coffee and began to fill out the questionnaire that he had emailed over. Six experts were going to be chosen for the article. Well, he had 100's of responses, so many good ones that he decided to increase the number of experts to 26.  I am happy to announce that I am one of the included experts.

The article is full of great information from 25 of my peers. I highly recommend the read, especially if you were ever looking to learn more about social media management, or better yet, looking to hire someone to help you with your social media. You can find the entire article HERE

20 Minutes To A Healthier Instagram

Is 20 minutes really enough time to get something accomplished, to save your health to grow your social media engagement?  Today we are going to explore whether 20 minutes is actually enough.

Here's the deal we all bitch and moan about the "new" Instagram algorithm, which isn't even new anymore.  The current algorithm is now the standard, in Instagramming.   Here's the deal are you just double tapping on posts or are you actually commenting on the photos that you like?  If you answered that you are only double tapping you are wasting your own damn time. 

I get it, you actually like a photo but why do you like it? Do you like the photo itself or is it the caption that goes along with it? Does something that the person wrote resonate with you?  If you nodded your head to either of these things then why aren't you telling the person? Why did you only double tap and not write something? Are you afraid that you're going to sound like a cheeseball?  I get it, but guess what social media is about being social not just passing the time by looking at pretty photos. To the current algorithm it's not about how many likes a photo gets, it matters how many comments you get. 

Instagram is going back to it's roots, it wants people to ENGAGE. Yeah that's right I just yelled at you. ENGAGE with the masses.  My method for madness is 20 minutes of engagement a day. Set a timer and just start spewing your thoughts. I have a client that religiously does this 3 times a week and you know what their account gains on average 20 new unique followers and comments over night every damn time they engage.  

I get it you can't do 20 minutes a day, but I see you scrolling your feed at least twice a day and I know that you're just scrolling to waste time. Why not make that random scroll time work for you?  Five minutes waiting in line at Target, write 2 comments.  Getting a 20 minute pedicure, dammit you have no excuse comment while your toes are transforming, you are scrolling anyway. 

So in the end, Yes, 20 minutes of engagement is better than nothing. Stop scrolling to keep boredom at bay and start scrolling to build.  Any and every session of commenting contributes to a fitter audience, - and, very likely, happier - you! Just think that by putting in 2o minutes of commenting you are presenting yourself to an entirely new audience filled with potential new clients or sales. 

4 Things Every Boss Should Be Doing Before 8am

Survey: Who here sets their alarm for 30 minutes before they absolutely need to get out of bed then proceeds to hit snooze at least 3 times? Not going to lie, I used to be guilty of this exact move.  Then one day I just realized that I can either continue to lay in this comfy cozy bed and dream about how I want my life to turn out or I can get up, put some pants on, do the work and make my dream life happen. Obviously I chose the later. Everyday I wake up around 5:30am yes even on "weekends" and I do the same routine to get my brain ready to make shit happen. Here's what I do.

Drink Water

First thing I get out of bed and drink a huge glass of water, because after being asleep your body and most importantly your brain is thirsty. Your brain requires water to function and to make shit happen properly, you may think coffee first but nope water first then coffee.

Mediate

 I mean seriously if this is something big time businesswomen like Oprah swears by I'm going to try and do it.  Also, not going to lie, meditating takes work y'all. Quieting your brain first thing in the morning when you are thinking of all the things you need to accomplish that day is tough.  Here's the thing though mediation is like the anti aging regime for the brain. It helps curb mind-wandering, is an effective anti-depressant and anti-anxiety treatment, increases focus and more. When it comes to meditation, anything helps, whether it's only five minutes or as long as an hour. I'm still training myself to do this and I'm only up to 15 minutes, I'm working my way to 30 minutes. 

Eat Breakfast

My nutritionist wants me to eat 30 grams of protein 30 minutes within waking, and here's why.  While you sleep, your body is doing a ton of maintenance, and part of that means it dips into your fat stores. When you give your body sugar in the morning, it’ll burn the sugar. Eating protein right away after waking  has been shown to increase energy levels throughout the day, reduce snacking and even improve short-term memory.

Make a list

I'm a big calendar blocker, meaning that I block out sets of times for certain tasks but also while  eating my breakfast and scrolling my feeds I brain dump all the things that have come into my mind. This is an awful way to make a list for the day, so I take my brain dump and narrow it down to things that need or can  be achieved that day. 

Then I drink the coffee, fire up my computer and begin kicking ass for the day.