What Nicole Wore

I recently surpassed 10,000 followers on Instagram, something that still seems unfathomable to me, and wanted to dedicate a post to what I’ve learned, what’s worked, what hasn’t worked and why the platform has worked for me.  I wrote a similar post about what I learned during my first year of blogging that you can check out here.

1. Engagement is everything.

For whatever reason when I first started my fashion Instagram I never interacted with other accounts beyond maybe liking their photos.  When someone “likes” your photo, it is making it so that your post is in the “Explore” tab of all their followers; growth on Instagram has many factors but being able to network out is big.  Responding to comments has been key as well as putting myself out there when I love something about a post.  More recently responding to every single comment has become tougher, just do to the sheer volume.  I try to respond to comments that are questions in a timely manner {usually within 48 hours if at all possible} and leave love on the pages of those that have taken time to comment on my posts.

2.  Be consistent in content delivery.

Another thing that it took me awhile to get the hang of.  I try now to consistently post new content twice a day. I’ve been using Iconosquare for the past nine months or so to pinpoint when I get the highest engagement rate from my audience and take those analytics and go crazy using them to my advantage. I’m able to track exactly when a good posting time is and if I find that a certain time is inconvenient to post at am able to figure out another time.

3.  Post quality content.

Blogging has been super helpful in this aspect as I now have a library of high quality photos to dig through if I’m having a day where taking a photo for Instagram just isn’t happening {see: day off/post leg day}.  We’ve all seen {and taken/posted, let’s be real} photos that are grainy, dark, blurry and otherwise just not our best “work.”  Featuring clear photos is key and leads right into number 4….

4. Change up your feed.

 This is probably the most ~controversial tip I’ll give; some people swear by a continued aesthetic, color scheme or angle of photography.  For me, I like when my feed is full of different colors, angles, types of shots, etc.  I try to make sure to mix things up by taking full body shots, close ups of accessories and detail shots, outfit “selfies” from above, using flatlays to show off outfit inspiration or items that are new to me and the occasional mirror selfie.  {Disclaimer: I can’t seem to nail this last one, so it’s featured the least.} Changing up your background and where you take photos can be a big thing too.  I shoot quite a bit at my house but try to make sure I move around and shoot in front of my garage, on the side of my house, on the deck, etc.  Keep things interesting.
5. Tag your brands.

Another thing that I never did when I first started a fashion Instagram.  This is the age of social media and everyone {ok not everyone but almost} is on this platform.  When you get ready to post a photo, be sure to hit “Tag People” and tag the brands you’re featuring.  This is an easy way to connect with brands for possible collaborations, be discovered by fellow enthusiasts of your favorite shops and potentially even get featured by the brand.  While I’d love to take credit for being discovered by all my followers (:, it goes without saying that I wouldn’t be at 10,000 without the features I’ve had from brands like Old Navy, Vera Bradley, DressBarn, Francesca’s, Hautelook, etc.

6. Use appropriate hashtags.

This is -Donald Trump voice- huuuuuuuuge.  I always try to use the hashtags that the brands I’m wearing are using as well as a few others {eg. Rebecca Minkoff uses #myRM and ColourPop uses #colourpopme}  Some favorites: #realoutfitgram #bloggerstyle #outfitinspo #styleblogger  I also try to use more specific ones as well {eg. #kentuckyblogger and #blackgirlswhoblog}; these allow brands and social media lovers that are looking for more specific things to find you! You also have a higher chance of coming up as one of the “top posts” which means when people are searching these terms, you’re coming up first.

7. Include your email address in your bio.

I have brands discover me through all of the different platforms that I use, but you want to make it as easy as possible for them to contact you.  You can share a little about yourself, your location, what you blog about, your snapchat, etc. but be sure to include the email address so that you’re easily accessible to brands as well as fellow bloggers and followers.