Social Media: 6 Steps to Fast Track your Instagram Growth (episode 063)
by April Buencamino-dyAllison is an Instagram Coach who helps her clients build their Instagram presence through organic methods, focusing on making it both fun and easy!
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How Allison Got Started On Instragram
Starting off as a blogger, Allison came up with the concept of Boss Lady in Sweatpants and creating a blog for moms who, like her, are trying to balance work and family.
In doing her blog, she also got into social media specifically Facebook and Instagram, but it was the latter she fell in love with because of the pretty feeds and beautiful stock imagery.
Admittedly, she says she did Instagram wrong in the beginning because while she was posting her products, she wasn’t making connections with actual people. She struggled for a while before she came to understand the platform and what she wanted out of it.
The 3 Cs of Instagram Growth
Clarity
For Allison, clarity means so much more than just knowing what to put on Instagram. It’s really getting clear on your own branding.
Ask yourself this question: what do you want to be known for on Instagram? So many realize they haven’t thought about this, but knowing the foundations and core content pillars for your brand is crucial when you get started.
Content
To begin creating quality content, go back to your brand pillars.
Create content based on who you are and what you’re about because this is what your audience will look for and come back to when they get to know you.
Consistency
This is different for everybody so go ahead and create your own consistency pattern because what’s working for someone else might not necessarily work for you.
It’s also important that you have the energy when you do show up for your audience because people can tell if the person behind the posts is really into it or not.
The 3 Vs of Growing Even Further
Variety
Allison recommends incorporating a variety of ways of posting on Instagram to keep things interesting for your audience.
Create carousels and experiment with reels. Aside from posting photos, also use video and don’t forget to show your face as the person behind the brand.
Having variety will help you connect and engage with your audience, and will help grow and expand your brand.
Video
Using video will help your visibility, and you can start by doing Instagram stories which you can also download and repurpose as a reel.
Instagram is a place for relationship-building. Showing your face and using your voice through videos will help attract the right people to you and connect with you.
Value
Serve your target audience by giving them value.
Share content that will teach, inspire, or motivate them, and show them that you may be going through the same experiences as they are.
Growth is inevitable when you provide value and when people start to trust you, they’re going to keep coming back to you.
Insider Tips
If we’ve inspired someone to take their first step with organic social media – what do they need to know to give themselves the best chance of success?
Get clear on your brand message is Allison’s number one tip.
Know who your audience is, what their pain points are, and what solution you’re offering. Make sure that you think of these in coming up with your brand message and reflect this on your website and social media platforms.
Once you’ve started of course you’ve got to ‘keep optimising’! So what’s your favourite way to improve organic social media performance?
Allison goes back to the 3 Vs for improving your Instagram performance: examine your variety, incorporate video, and deliver value.
Come back to these when you get stuck and unable to move forward with your content.
If someone listening wants to learn more about organic social media is there one cheap/free resource you’d recommend?
Grab Allison’s 3-part Instagram Makeover which breaks down how you look at your account, teaches you how to write your Instagram bio, and gets into the kind of content that’s right for your brand and your audience.
Crystal ball time – what’s coming up in the next 6-12 months that we should be getting ready for in organic social media?
You’re going to see more videos and reels on Instagram.
The best way to getting started with these 2 formats is by showing your face and using your voice.
Interview Links
Allison on Social media:
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