5 Ways To Up Your Instagram Story Content

Pretty sure we all abandoned Snapchat and ran for the hills a few months back when Instagram unveiled their Insta Stories function. Like I don't actually have to be jumping back in and out of one app and another anymore. Not gonna lie, it was exhausting. 

Most people find that their Insta Stories (as a blogger/influencer) reach a LOT more people than snapchat. I'm talking 100's more people for me rather than my mere 30 followers on Snapchat who care more about what kebab they're picking off the floor on Saturday night than what bits you've been hauling at your local Boots store. 

The best bit about Insta stories is you can mute stories too, without that said person knowing. So if some of your followers don't appreciate them, that's fine. You have a more targeted audience for it.

I *think* I've really upped my Insta story game recently, like OMG I've actually spoken in them and no, YOU watch yourself back 100 times after posting it. Anyway, if you're wanting to make yourself known more on your Insta Stories and reach out to your followers on a different level, here's 5 ways to up your Insta story content.

1. Get Haulin'

There's no surprise that people love a haul, I've been in the game too long now on my blog to know that it's one of people's favourite type of post. However, even I prefer in it video format now, so taking it to your Insta stories is a smart move.

You don't have to talk if you don't want to, I try to take different pictures/boomerangs/videos of each of the items. I get a lot of engagement from it and messages afterwards asking me various questions about what I've shown so it's definitely helping build the relationship that I have with my followers.

Always tag the brands in your hauls, as everyone loves a shout out and it might even help them notice your Instagram/blog that could potentially lead to exciting opportunities. 

2. Polls

I love a good poll, I loved them even more when I found out you could actually see who had specifically voted Yes and No....Or maybe that's not such a good thing. Either way, I'm loving this interactive element to stories, they're so knocking Twitter out of the ball park with them.

I'm still seeing a low ratio of voters to viewers, whether this is because people don't want to answer them/it's too fast or they haven't quite got their head around the polls yet, I'm not sure. However, it's here to stay and I'm finding it so helpful for answering questions to help improve my content and appearance on Instagram. I really do value my followers thoughts and want to be providing really good content/stories I'm proud of, and that my followers will like too.

I've sussed out whether my followers want to see more talking/haul vidoes and whether they like Fashion or Lifestyle content more. It's such a quick way to get an insight into your followers thoughts and motives, it also switches your content up when you might not otherwise have much to share.

3. Text & Emojis

Still images just aren't enough for me on stories, I want to know what the meaning behind the picture is too. I always add text, layer the text for a bold effect and of course add in emojis. 

Change the text colour too, it took me 6 months to work out you could swipe for more colour options and also press down on a particular colour to colour pick your own unique colour. Magic.

Any image can benefit from an emoji, or even lots of them. The little love heart Instagram like is my go to boo. It's cute, simple and says that I'm just really loving something. I add in 10 for extra effect. 

I find it also works well adding various amounts of text, but getting the viewer to click through/wait until the next image to see further snippets of text. I love watching continuous stories like this as it keeps me engaged, and stops me from swiping away.

4. Switch It Up

I'm not even lying to you when I say I was almost sick with dizziness after once watching someone post 3 boomerangs in one go. It does not make for easy viewing, one bit. It's also a bit boring.

There's so many functions and different ways to show your content these days, that you don't need to keep it the same. Post still pictures, boomerangs, videos, talking videos, get drawing on your photos, add emojis in. Just make each one different.

I find the drop off rate of viewing stories is less when it's not 10 clips straight of just you talking. Like when I post any Instagram picture, I always think would I like watching this? If the answer is no, move on and post something different. 

5. Share Your Day (Even The Boring Bits)

But most of the time, we just like seeing what you're doing - on a day to day basis. I feel like I'm part of my favourite bloggers brunch run, and living my life through them at times, but I like it. You feel connected on a distant level and I love the interaction you get with bloggers that you think will never reply. Like OMG Hannah Gale actually replied to me once in response to her story. Highlight of my blogging career, and what?

I have started to do this a bit more, and I really do think it helps people relate with you on a personal level. Instagram photos may look perfect, but Insta stories allow you to reveal that personal element (if you want to) to show your viewers you're normal too. You have a normal life, and not every day is a good day. 

Whether you fancy jumping on on the walk to work, just fancy having a chat or you're taking your viewers on holiday with you. Share anything and everything, there's no rules with insta stories - but we're all nosy. We love seeing the bits we have never seen before, and I think it sets the precedence of what's to come in 2018. 

Jumper - Missguided

Bag* - Boohoo

Jeans - Topshop

Do you like Instagram stories? What are your favourite things to watch as a viewer?

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5 Changes I'm Making To My Instagram

Like NO, you're addicted to Instagram. Without realising, or maybe with a little bit of intention to put my finger up to the Instagram algorithm, I've really started to change a few key things about the way I post and engage on Instagram. Girl, gotta do what a girl gotta do to get more than 11 likes in 3 hours at the moment. What about that? 

I've also unfollowed a lot of accounts recently to have a bit of a 'mental' declutter. Too much time is spent following people we only follow out of 'well they're following me' and 'I'll feel bad if I unfollow them' - the worst that's gonna happen is they're gonna see your name pop up on Instatrack (and that's only if they're an addict), they'll get over it. Same can't be said when someone unfollows me who I have devotedly followed for years, but whatevs.

I've started to make these 5 conscious changes over the last month or so and I'm really happy with my place on Instagram at the moment, despite the *cough* non existent likes. 

#1. Longer Instagram Captions

I feel like I'm always harking on about longer Instagram captions, well that probably has something to do with the fact I've mentioned it in the last few posts, soooo. But an attractive, visual image is just not enough these days. I want real life, I want to see an insight into peoples lives, know what made their day, what embarrassing moment that should never be shared but does and we laugh because we know we do it too. 

I've started to write captions in the way I speak on a personal level, because that's ME. Sometimes I'm still like 'This is a cute bag' - but I'm getting there, and the Instagram captions are taking progressively longer to write, but I like it. Someone that nails this is of course the queen who is Hannah Gale - love her meaty and witty captions.

#2. More iPhone Shots

Corrr the iPhone 6 takes a good photo, doesn't it. Well, sometimes. My DSLR makes my skin look all pretty, and WOW is that even me? But the iPhone camera gets more of the outfit and location you're shooting at in. I prefer these raw shots, and I'll always add a good dose of brightness and contrast to it as well that by the time I'm finished it's good enough quality to post.

Going back to the accounts I've been unfollowing recently, it has mostly been bloggers with editorial, photoshopped and unattainable pictures and lifestyles. I'm never going to be able to travel the world and constantly live in bikinis nor do I even want to own every new designer bag that comes out. For me personally these images don't have any personality or character that I can relate to. It's a lifestyle I'm not interested in, so more relatable shots are the way forward for me. Plus my flat lays always look 100% better on my iPhone, so there's that.

#3. Comment on 5 Photos A day

Okay, so I'm not limiting myself to 5 here, but it's a target. Nobody got time for Instagram pods, but as I'm scrolling through pictures, like them and think that looks amazing, why am I not commenting? Sharing the love is the best way to engage and build a rapport with the other persons account. They may even repay the favour on a photo of yours. Maybe.

Engagement is key to beating the bloody algorithm and I ALWAYS try to reply to all comments on my photos, even if it is a 'thanks lovely'. Lol.

#4. I Have A Theme

Like how did that happen? An actual theme I try to follow, well most of the time. I'm losing my mind trying to get it back onto track since coming back from Paris though. A theme is hard to follow when you actually have more plans than coming home from work and slobbing out on the sofa. 

It's been since I moved into my own home that it has changed, probably something to do with the fact everything is white, pink or copper. I only shoot outfit pictures against pastel walls now too, and I love it! I even shot some against the lilac walls of council flats last week, ingenious and effective! Also people really love the PINK - I always get my most likes with pinks, whites and well Instagrammable backgrounds!

#5. Mix It Up More

Looking back I'm really interior focused, then fashion and then just food, mostly food. I have a thing where I feel funny if I post 2 food photos in a row, or they fall on top of each other, I don't know if that's an OCD thing if I'm just really, really not well.

I haven't shared any interior posts for a while and I love doing them as I always get a lot of engagement on them. It's like getting that work/life balance right, so hard to master but once you're done it's easy! I think I need to schedule things in advance to try and really nail this. So expect more variety, food, fashion, interior, and not much else!

Have you made any changes to how you post recently? What do you think about my changes?

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8 Signs You're An Instagram Addict

I'm starting the month with yet another post dedicated to Instagram, the social platform of the moment, and hey if 'they' see this they might even give me that nifty swipe up function, or not. I'm quivering between 2960 and 3000 followers and I am on tenterhooks. In the last few months I've done everything from how to get regrammed by big brands on Instagram to tips for perfecting the perfect flatlay of food - I live, sleep, breathe and eat Instagram, and I'm sure a lot of you can relate.

The people at Instagram have made every effort for us to hate and loathe it more, but I still find myself running back at every excuse like the ex boyfriend you really can't get rid of. If you can identify with at least 4 out of the 8 signs here you may as well just hand your life over to Instagram for good, there's no going back.

#1. It's Your 7am Newspaper

In the olden days it was about a coffee and fag with The Guardian for brekkie, or even a good dose of the Tweenies with your bowl of coco pops. Whilst you devour your perfectly poised avo on toast or stack of cold pancakes, Instagram is your daily news feed. You've already got a direct debit going out to ASOS, the latest gossip on your top bloggers and 30 minutes of time you'll never get back. But it's what we do, what we've always done and we couldn't dream of doing our 7am wake up call any differently.

#2. You Buy Things Based On The Grammability

Lol. Imagine buying a bag just for Instagram and then never using it again. Who would do that? Like no, YOU bought a pair of shoes just for Instagram and still haven't worn them. I'm looking at you pom pom heels from ASOS.

After all, fashion is fast these days. Why not buy into the latest item going around the influencer sphere and get your share in the Instagram likes too? You start believing in the Instagram commandments that you didn't even know existed, thou shalt not buy items that don't have cute slogans that get me.

#3. Instagram IS YOUR Travel Trip Advisor

You rate your local restaurants and hotels on the insta-factor, aint nobody got time for travel trip advisor, for actual words and reviews. If it looks good on paper, ticks all the boxes then you're sold. 

#4. You Watch The Views On Your Insta Story Like A Bird Watches Its Prey

Watching the views on your Insta stories is legit better than watching an episode of Jeremy Kyle in your Jim jams. It's like 'Oooo I wonder who's gonna come looking today?' 5 months on - do these people still not realise I can see that they've had a little snoop, v cute. 

The ex boyfriend from 5 years ago and your brothers, girlfriends cousins even had a look, jealousy is a bitch, right? In between all this, you'll check your views 'almost' as regularly as the likes on your latest post. Oh, and what's snapchat?

#5. Insta Track Is Your Daily Jam

The day you download Insta Track to your phone, there's no going back. This app will slowly suck your soul from you like a dementor. If you don't download it, you'll always be wondering who your fans are (who follows you, but you don't follow back) and who you're following but has already unfollowed you WTF I DONT EVEN LIKE HER PHOTOS, I WAS ONLY FOLLOWING HER BECAUSE SHE FOLLOWED ME, GOD DAMN YOU. 

This will happen every time you refresh that lovely little list. Seeing your follower count drop more than it goes up is really damn nice too.

#6. You Refer To 'The Gram' and 'The Feed' In real Life Conversations

The distinction between real life and your online Instagram life is distorted, they merge. You're out with your friends drinking coffee and before you know it you've dropped the G or the F bomb. You forget that 'normal people' don't know what the Gram or the feed is. 

It's very much like 'that picture would ruin my feed' or 'doing it for the gram'. But let's face it, everything we do is for the gram <3

#7. Checking likes

You posted a new picture on Instagram 2 minutes ago and you've already refreshed the likes 20 times, YOU STILL ONLY HAVE ONE LIKE. It's all down to that god damn algorithm, so you keep refreshing the likes and don't do anything until you've hit at least 11. You're safe then.

#8. Caption Writing Takes 20 Minutes

Caption writing almost takes as long as picking 'the one' from 50 of the same photos, almost impossible. Gone are the days of posting one word and 50 emojis, it's all about handing over your soul to the devil on the platform now. Those chunky captions are where it's at, the wittier the better.

Can you relate to any of these?

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6 Tips For Taking The Perfect Instagram Picture of Food

I like food, you like food, we all like food. We all want to see each others food, we only want to eat the most instagrammable food, and we certainly don't go without taking pictures. Because how can you possibly eat a slice of cake and not take a picture? I'm getting a rash just thinking of it. On Instagram, food pictures are completely split, you get the perfectly put together ones, laid out to perfection, and the one's where it looks like 2 weeks worth of leftovers have been slopped onto a plate. No thank you.

I'm obsessed. I cannot eat without taking a picture without thinking of the gram, and I almost always opt for the most instagrammable thing on the menu regardless to its price, how it tastes and if it will make me ill. But if it 'looks good' then who cares, right?

There's more to food flatlay photography than you think, this post if for you if you want to nail that shot to perfection!

#1. Choose Wisely

I'm 100% sure I'm not alone here that I will always choose the nicest looking thing over the fact whether it actually tastes any good. Someone gotta do it. For me, brunch always looks good as I pretty much eat pancakes and anything sweet. Sweet stuff always seems to get the most likes over something like a fried breakfast or scrambled eggs. Just ask yourself, if it came up on my feed 'would I like it?'.

#2. The Lighting

Lighting is everything. There's nothing worse than having the most appeasing dish delivered to your table when you realise that your table is situated in a place darker than a dementors soul or you got all the spotlight going on. Get a table that can do both. You need to consider the table you choose too, plastic table cloths are a no no.

#3. No Hands In Shot

Harder than it sounds believe me. Bribe your guests if you have to, or better yet eat alone so you don't have to worry about it. Let their food go cold in the process to get that perfect shot. Hands in photos, bites already being taken are real life, yes, but it ruins the photo. Less is more here.

#4. Lay It Out

Turn your dishes around, move the pot of flowers over into the shot, move your plates closer, do your thing. Just like you play around with products or items for a flatlay the same should apply for any food shots. Keep changing it around until you get it right. Waiters/waitresses are inconsiderate and will not take Insta needs into mind so this part is up to you.

#5. Grab Some Props

I love me some props for a food flatlay. I haven't got to the stage of taking my own props in a bag yet, but it is going that way. Use what's around you, but some things that are perfect for foodie flatlays are; newspapers, magazines, sunglasses, flowers, quote cards (in case you got a spare one in your bag..), laptops, hands & watches etc, etc.

#6. Aerial View

Get the aerial view going. Standing up to take photos of dishes is common place now, everyone is getting in on the act and there is no need to be embarrassed. Embrace the food shots! Standing up will always give you the cleanest, laid out look, you can then shoot as much or as little in it as you want. 

Have you got any tips for nailing the perfect food shot?

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How To Get Regrammed By A Big Brand On Instagram

If I knew how beneficial getting regrammed by a brand on Instagram was 3 years ago, I'd be laughing now. Sure, it's not all about the followers, but building your Instagram following also comprises of a number of factors like 'Can you actually take nice pictures?', 'Do you have a theme?' 'How much do you engage with others and post?'. But since that algorithm launched and has slowly grown into an incurable disease, what ways are left to actually boost your following quickly, without paid ads, comment pods and dare I say it, Instagram bots?

My follower account has stagnated for months, and whilst my motivation has waned to continually post, I've found that the only way you can really boost your following organically in a very quick period of time is getting regrammed by a big brand on Instagram. I'm talking about gaining between 100-300 new followers in one day.

With the potential level of exposure you can gain by reaching millions of followers it seems like a dream too good to be true, but it begs the questions; how do I get regrammed? How do I know what certain brands are looking for? And will I have a chance when X account is tagged in thousands of pictures every day? It does seem impossible until it's done.

With 2,700 followers on Instagram, HEY I'm no influencer from the stars, but I've been regrammed from a variety of brands I idolise with a massive following including ASOS, Primark, Boohoo and Made.com. Once you know what to do and what makes each brand tick, anyone can get a regram, and you don't need 20k + followers or a sponsored ad to get it, KA-CHING.

- The Regram Criteria -

Research The Brands Insta

We all have aspirations of getting a regram from one of our favourite brands, mine were always ASOS & Primark. I always loved their content, knew it quite well and of course, always had one outgoing bank payment to them, which does help.

You need to really learn what makes the brand tick on Instagram, do they already share bloggers images or customer photos on their feed? Do they mostly do model shots or product shots too? It's also worth bearing in mind that some brands NEVER share bloggers photos even if they're amazing quality and fit their theme, from what I've seen H&M and Zara never do, so it's not even worth bothering with brands like this.

Another thing worth thinking about is, has the brand already shared an image of the product you want them to regram? If it's a yes there is a 95% chance they won't share one like it again, Primark and ASOS for example have thousands of products and they never seem to share the same product more than once.

Product Focus - Brand Specific

Flatlays are great, there's so much to look at, so many brands to tag, an Instagram dream, but unless it's a much smaller brand on Instagram, the brand may like your photo but it has little chance of getting a regram. 

From my experience, brands like it when it is just their product as the main focus of the image, dress it with flowers etc but leave out other branded products that could steal the limelight. I would say this is one of the key criteria you need to meet if a brand considers regramming your image

Old Products Are A No No

This is very much brand dependent, but with fast fashion, items of clothing from major fashion retailers are never here for long until the next season of clothing comes around. Using old items of clothing or products that are no longer available on the site stand little to no chance of getting regrammed, soz. 

It makes sense really - brands aren't going to be pushing products to millions of customer's that the said customer's can no longer buy. Stick to current items that you know are still sold and are current, and again, that the brand hasn't featured before. 

Tag The Brand & Hashtags

When uploading the image to Instagram, tag the brand in the photo and in the caption, brands are tagged in hundreds of photos every day so you need every chance to make yourself as visible as possible. It's worth noting if there are any specific hashtags that the brand uses too to discover the image, such as for Oliver Bonas - #OBStyle and Missguided #BabesOfMissguided. Make sure all angles are covered so you have more chance of being noticed.

It's also worth posting the same image on Twitter and tagging the brand account as on one occasion Primark picked up my image on Twitter instead and used on it on Instagram from there.

Good Photography

Duh. So yeh, this goes without saying, but even if you meet the above criteria a brand will not regram your photo if it is poor quality, dark and (potentially) if it doesn't fit with the colour scheme of their brand, lame I know. 

Some pre-research on the brand's insta will help with whether you need to stick to a colour palette or not. Generally spoeaking when I take any picture I always ask myself 'Would I like it?' If the answer is no, retake it and try again. 

If you bring natural lighting, a clear background and a crisp image together, there's no reason that your photo won't get a regram - you made it! And even if you don't, you know you're that bit closer to cracking the insta 'brand' code and getting seen by their millions of followers...

Do you have any tips on how to get regrammed on Instagram?

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