If you’re a regular reader of my column, you may have noticed how much I love delving into that crazy world of social media and sharing the insights I discover along the way. Well, just last week I met with Lindsay Hayes, @hoppyhayes, the amazing Instagrammer and beer influencer from one of my favorite local breweries, Catawba Brewing Co. Since I’m an independent contractor and my preferred platform is LinkedIn while she’s part of an established company and focuses on Instagram, it was interesting to note the similarities in strategy and differences based on setup. While Instagram and LinkedIn are both social media platforms, I quickly realized I was wading in with a completely different beast, and Hayes was more than ready to give me the three commandments for staying ahead of the curve and keeping content fresh.
Thou Shalt Know Thy Brand
Thou Shalt Keep Good Practices
Instagramming is not just snapping a shot, jotting down a few random ideas, and throwing in a hashtag or two for good measure… well at least that’s not what effective posting looks like. Just like everything else in life, you need to know your craft. For example, hashtags. Hayes explained that Instagram limits you to 30 of them per post, and she wields them very carefully since it determines who sees her posts. Additionally, while some posts are written in the moment, she generally sits down and drafts a week’s worth of posts in advance. And this tip came as no surprise to me since I do the same. I have found that if you try to write a new post every morning, it can feel overwhelming and becomes too time consuming. However if I sit down and write a week’s worth, the same as I would sit down and write a blog article, it gives me time and space to edit, mull it over, and adjust as needed throughout the week without having that extra pressure each day. Also, while I track my effectiveness, the Instagramming world is a separate breed. She is able to see who among their followers are the 50 most engaged. And as the algorithm on Instagram evolves, she pays attention to whether their followers will automatically see her post or if followers will need to visit her website. All in all, her arsenal includes good habits and staying informed — which are good practices we’re all too familiar with in the techie world.
Thou Shalt Not Leave it All Online
And so ends my epic adventure in the world of Instagram. While I think I will stay in my lane and stick with LinkedIn, her insights and perspective have helped broaden my understanding of and interaction with social media as a whole. So stick to the commandments and post on!
Jacquelyn Adams is a career development enthusiast and an award-winning CEO. She lives in a world of constant exploration, whether it’s summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, delving into more effective employee training strategies… or discovering how she’d do in a chocolate eating contest (answer: last place). Find more of her Lessons on Leadership articles here or connect with her on LinkedIn here.