Whitney Nic James

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Social Media | 5 Ways to Increase Your Visibility on Instagram

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Despite the janky algorithm, Instagram is still my favorite social media site. Many of my fellow creatives and entrepreneurs have complained about the lack of engagement on their posts, as well as the random drop in their following. Trust me, I see it and I’ve been affected. My following seems to be at a standstill, and my feed seems to be stuck on only sharing the same 6-7 posts, from the same people.
The algorithm is jacked up, but there’s still hope for Instagram. #wnjsocial

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I get it, trust me I do. However, I still enjoy scrolling and double tapping through my favorite feeds, and I’m quickly becoming a huge fan of Instastories. I believe the Instastories feature has revived Instagram. While the new feature has allowed me to engage with my audience more, there are a few things I’ve noticed that have helped increase my visibility. Continue reading to find out 5 ways you can increase your visibility on Instagram (at the moment). I would say in 2018, but we all know there’s a strong possibility things may change. But for now, the tips below will definitely help.

  1. Be honest and transparent with your audience
    • think of Instagram as a way to visually tell a story
    • make sure your story is relatable, authentic, and true to you/or your brand
  2. Engage with your audience
    • ask a question at the end of certain posts to spark a conversation (be sure to respond back)
    • make your caption a “short story” to increase the chances of receiving genuine feedback
  3. Engage with fellow creatives within your niche
    • genuinely comment on their posts (and they just might follow you back)
    • respond to their questions
    • share and tag their Instagram handles with your audience
  4. Tag the brands of the products you post
    • shout out your favorite brands when posting about them (you never know who’s watching or reading)
    • ask your audience their thoughts on the products you share (be sure to respond back)
    • ask your audience to share some of their favorite products from that particular brand
  5. Get familiar with the Instastories feature
    • ask poll questions to get your audience involved
    • share bits and pieces of your everyday life
    • share behind the scenes of your brand/or job
    • go Live by yourself or with someone else
    • tag bands when sharing products

As far as the aesthetics of your Instagram feed, I’m a big fan of theme based feeds. I find these accounts more visually appealing. As a content creator who has their own Instagram theme, I will say this makes coming up with content less stressful. Not only do you have an idea of what to post next, but you’re audience also knows what to look forward to. I call my Instagram theme IPL: Inspiration (quote or scripture), Personal Style (outfit post), and Lifestyle (food, family, products, etc.).

Think of Instagram as a way to visually tell a story that is relatable and authentic. #wnjsocial

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So tell me, what do you think about Instagram? Do you find any of these tips helpful? Let me know! 

I plan to share more social media content in 2018, so feel free to let me know what you’d like to read about! As always, thanks for reading and commenting and until next time, be blessed and stay safe.

Love & light…xo!

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#WNJSocial | 5 (More) Amazing Women to Follow on Instagram

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In case you didn’t know, I’m a very visual person. When it comes to how I learn and how I go about growing my business(es), how something looks is very important. In a nutshell, beautiful images, clean and simple design, as well as appealing imagery makes me happy. Because of this, I’m very particular in choosing who to follow on Instagram. If your feed has pretty pictures, inspiring quotes, well designed flat lays and cute kids, I’m all in! Below are 5 (more) amazing women that I follow on Instagram.

* See Also: Why You Shouldn’t Follow Everyone on Social Media

Women to Follow on Instagram

1. @WhitneyNicJames | I had to include my account, of course. I’ve actually had quite a few fellow bloggers and followers comment on the style of my feed and content. I’m extremely thankful for the positive feedback. I’ve worked hard to create a certain aesthetic and I continue to challenge myself to post inspiring, stylish and uplifting content regularly.

2. @DaynaBolden | Dayna’s warm spirit and down to earth personality can literally be felt through her images and captions. Dayna executes her mission to inspire women to do all things with Love, Passion & STYLE flawlessly. Her Instagram feed is full of aesthetically pleasing style, lifestyle and product photos, along with the occasional posts of her adorable and ever so stylish baby girl.

3. @Brosiaa | This Arizona based Youtuber and Content Creator has been on my radar for years. I was first inspired to follow because of her minimalist lifestyle but as time went on I started to enjoy her candid, yet visually pleasing, lifestyle Instagram posts as well. Her tips on style, beauty and even fitness are always honest and presented in such a retable way.

Who to Follow on Instagram

You should be following these 5 amazing accounts on Instagram. #wnjsocial

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4. @Styleandpoise | I’ve been following style blogger, Roni, for years. I’m such a fan of her colorful and chic style, but more importantly, she’s so positive and inspiring. Anyone who can inspire me AND look fly while doing it, you’re winning in my book. I also like the fact that Roni’s messaging is the same across all platforms. Trust me, that’s hard to find these days. Take a look for yourself; I’m sure you’ll love her just as much as I do!

5. @IamDionneDean | Dionne captures you right away with her exciting and lively Instagram feed! I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling and double tapping through her fashion-forward images, and I’m constantly inspired by her smart shopping tips and tricks.

So tell me, are you following any of these accounts?  Any amazing women on Instagram you think I should check out? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by today. I plan to share more #WNJSocial posts this year. My love for social media and blogging has grown over the years and I’m excited to share my thoughts, tips and what I’ve learned along the way. Until next time, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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#WNJSocial | My New Instagram Approach + 5 Amazing Women to Follow

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For the past 8 weeks, I’ve been steadily building my new Instagram account. I’ve been able to grow my following from 0 to 850 (+) in this short amount of time. When I had my old Instagram I had a decent following, yes, but I mostly posted without intention. I aimlessly shared images that I liked and hoped people would find them interesting. Not the best tactic.

As a visual person, I’m constantly inspired by images, which is why I now focus so much on imagery. I do my best to share clear pictures, provide quick and valuable content, as well as a few real-life moments here and there. All in all, I share images with intention and images that are aligned with my purpose. I share what I want to see. I’m also more aware of who I follow and who I allow to follow me. I’m very protective of my brand and I’m picky about what I allow my mind to be consumed with when it comes to social media. Below are 5 amazing women I enjoy following on Instagram. Check them out!

Who to Follow on Instagram

1. @FearlessWoman_Iam | By now I’m sure you’ve heard about the #FearlessWomanIAM movement, created to highlight and inspire fearless, stylish and entrepreneurial women of today. I decided to create an Instagram account in hopes to continue uplifting women by sharing images of other powerful women, insightful quotes, and thought-provoking questions. The feed is interactive, positive, and geared towards the fearless women.

2. @KylaLive | The creator of Pink Proverb, an inspirational and lifestyle blog, has a very inviting feed. From real-life happenings to heartfelt reminders/quotes and a sprinkle of personal style, Kyla shares a plethora of enjoyable images. This is definitely an account to follow if you fancy that mix.

Be careful what you allow yourself to consume on social media. Protect your mind. #wnjsocial

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3. @Alex_Elle | I love a good word or quote and Alex provides just that through her intentional and minimal Instagram feed. Her transparency is refreshing, and her intention to inspire is always evident.

4. @FourOneOhBlog | I fell in love with this account after meeting Tia, the blogger behind Four One Oh!, this summer. Her images tell a story and you can tell that she’s very intentional with what she shares. From fashion, to food and events, Tia’s feed comes to life! Seeing some of her pictures make you wish you were there.

5. @SwitchPivotorQuit | Filled with encouraging business & lifestyle content, this Instagram feed is designed to support and encourage women. According to the SPQ website, the creator, Ahyiana Angel, creating an environment where others find encouragement as a result of her positive energy, skill, and fearless attitude is one of her proudest moments.

So tell me, who are some of your favorites to follow? Let me know!

Until tomorrow, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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