This process usually takes a few hours to do with my clients, but it helps make your profile stand out and attract new followers.

Once you have your theme or aesthetic figured out, check out some apps I recommend below.

Phonto

Dress up your images with different fonts, thought bubbles and badges. Try to always use the same 2-3 fonts so it is consistent on your feed.

Snapseed

Snapseed is so freaking awesome! You can edit photos and even remove people from your background. There is so much to do with this free app.

Retro VHS and VHS cam

Not only is the interface for this app retro, it creates vintage and retro vibes. Perfect for B-rolls or just if you like some VHS vibes. I prefer the VHS cam app over the Retro VHS because you can do more with the app. Also omg the selfie option for the Retro VHS app is so scary. It makes you look like a monster! LOL

The interface for both of these apps are super cute as you can see below.

UNUM, Planoly or Preview.

These preview apps are SO important because they will help you stay consistent with your aesthetic.

The way these apps work is by uploading a photo or a series of photos on your Instagram feed.

These photos DO NOT get published onto your feed. It is just so you can see how your photos will look in your overall Instagram squares. If you are happy how your image fits, then you can upload directly from the app.

I suggest uploading directly from Instagram because you get higher engagement when you’re not using 3rd party apps to upload on Instagram.

If you enjoyed reading this blog check out this post here where I talk about content creation tools.

If you want to increase your Instagram engagement during the holidays read this quick post.

The post Apps that help you create an Instagram aesthetic appeared first on SalmasPalette.

5 reasons why you’re not getting followed back on Instagram:

1. Different Niche

Your profile is a different niche than the user visiting your profile or they can’t tell what your Instagram offers.  People want to follow you if you’re providing value.  Unless you’re some trainer or a hot model, no one really cares about your selfies or your gym routine.

2. FUGLY feed

Your Instagram feed is ugly.  Yes.  I said it.  Your photos are blurry, there is no flow or aesthetic and you’re using different filters for each photo.

3.Your captions are not telling a story

What story are you sharing with your audience?  People are nosy and bored on Instagram so you have to give them something to stop scrolling and read your content but also something to remember you by. You sharing your thoughts and experiences makes it personal and memorable.   

4. Authentic and transparent

Be vulnerable and share something that you are going through so people can relate.  When everyone is posting perfect squares and “living their best life” show your human side.

5. Ghosting your Instagram account

Ghosting pretty much means you have stopped posting. If a user stumbles upon your account and the last post was dated 3 months… why would they want to follow you if aren’t even active on the gram? They already know you won’t be contributing to the engagement so it doesn’t benefit their account to follow you.

Next Monday I’ll be sharing the Art of having someone follow you back.  Until then read about how to boost your Instagram post organically here.

The post Why you’re not getting a follow back on Instagram appeared first on SalmasPalette.

Personally I don’t follow accounts that don’t provide me any value.  Depending on your brand and service your caption should benefit the reader.

Ready to write easy to read captions that get you engagement?! Okurrr (If you know, you know)

HOOK/headline

So let’s start off with the hook. That is the first few words your followers see when scrolling.
Make sure you hit them with something enticing and exactly what your caption will be discussing.

Here are a few examples of some great hooks/headlines.

Yesterday I was in Target and the lady behind me…

I lost 40 lbs in 6 months…

I grew 50 followers in 2 days

SPACING

Example of a BAD no spaced caption. ⬇️

GOOD Caption example:

Try to write your paragraphs with space.  It just makes it easier for the reader and your message just flows.

Use www.pretty-caption.com a website that easily creates empty white spaces. After typing your caption on pretty-caption’s website simply copy and paste the text straight on to your Instagram post.

CTA (CALL TO ACTION)

The Call To Action is literally the action you want your followers to take. You have to tell people what to do sometimes.

If you are selling something your CTA can be “buy now,” “register now,” or “click here.” The most common is “link in bio.”  

You can also have a fun CTA by asking a question to your audience. I love learning about my followers because I realize how much in common we have.

See the example below where I asked my followers what’s their favorite drink and so much of my community engaged. I got 173 likes and 63 comments.

On my next post I’ll be sharing how you can get reposted on top accounts and get more traffic to your Instagram account. Read this post on how to organically boost your Instagram post for more likes and comments.

The post Instagram captions that get you comments/likes appeared first on SalmasPalette.

Before finding your niche you have to understand what it is.  Niche is a segment of your market that caters to a specific group of people.  For a longer definition read the glossary at the end of this blog post. ⬇️

Industry: Health & Fitness

Niche example : Workout clothes [product] for moms who breastfeed [target audience] 

Make sure you put your niche statement in your Instagram bio, so your audience understands who you are and what solution you provide.

Bad example of a niche statement on Instagram:

I am a trainer that helps you lose weight and get the body you always wanted.
⬆️ This statement sounds gimmicky and is full of fluff.

Good example of a niche statement on Instagram:

I’m a certified trainer that specializes in exercises specifically for mothers that have diastatis recti (seperation of abdominal muscles) after giving birth.

⬆️ This breaks down WHO they are, WHAT they specialize in and WHO they train.  

You’re thinking well how can someone make money if their product, or service isn’t catering to the general public. Less is more in this case. You are catering to a specific target audience, so you are an expert in this subject.  If I am a mom, and I have diastatis recti I will most likely choose a female trainer who healed from this condition.  I would NOT pick a male trainer regardless of how big his calves are, or if he has 6 pack.  

How to choose a niche?

• Focus on finding a solution to a problem.

• You should choose a niche that you have alot of passion and knowledge about. 

• Research if your niche is profitable, and if you are able to provide your product or service online and local. If it’s local, and there is not a high demand for it you might want to rethink your niche.

• Once you have a niche break it down again, so your product or service is specific to your target audience.

A niche can increase your following and engagement rate on Instagram.

Having a niche on Instagram results in an increase in following because people understand what you have to offer.  When you are interacting with people in your niche you are more likely to show up in recommended profiles that are in the same niche as yours. Another way to increase followers and engagement is using alt text. If you don’t know what alt text is read about it here.

Do you need help finding your Niche?  If so, DM me on Instagram or subscribe so I can always share digital marketing knowledge just in case Instagram shuts down again lol.

Now don’t be greedy with this knowledge.  Share it with someone who is aspiring to become a content creator, or is struggling to make sales with their online business.

Glossary

Niche: A small but profitable segment of a market suitable for focused attention by a marketer. Market niches do not exist by themselves, but are created by identifying needs or wants that are not being addressed by competitors, and by offering products that satisfy them. 

Source found here.

The post How to choose a profitable Instagram niche. appeared first on SalmasPalette.

Alternative text a.k.a alt text is NOT a new term and is often used in websites.  It is written text that takes the place of an image if it doesn’t load.  It also describes your image to people who have visual impairments.  Search engines use crawlers that scan your alt text if it is written correctly.  This can potentially lead to more followers and a higher engagement rate because your image has shown up in SERPS (Search Engine Result Pages).

How to use alt tags

On Instagram, choose the image you want to upload and hit “next.” Scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced Settings. Choose the option “write alt text.”

Upload picture and tap “Next”

Scroll down and tap “Advanced Settings”

Scroll down and tap “Write alt text”

Write your Alt text in the text box and remember to tap “Done”

Good alt text:

“A black iPhone being held with the screen showing an instagram feed.”

Bad alt text:

“An image of a person holding a black smartphone with lots of smaller images in squares.”

What helps me write alt text is looking at the picture I am uploading, then closing my eyes and using descriptive words that paint that same picture in my mind.

Here are some more tips for writing alt text:

-Do not put the words “picture of” or “this is an image of.” Screen reading tools can pick up that it is an image.

-Keep your alt text fewer than 125 characters so you are sure to use descriptive words and get to the point of what the picture is about.

-Use your keywords in the alt text. If your photo is about a banana split on instagram, then make sure you have “banana split” written.

The post Easy tutorial on how to create alt text on Instagram photos appeared first on SalmasPalette.

I learned so much about the blogging world and how long filming takes—even just for a 30 sec clip. Most of all, it taught me patience and that things don’t always go as planned. We can create a timeline of our goals, and we have to accept some goals take longer to reach.

My goal is to organize this blog space and add more healthy recipes, instagram worthy food spots and fun events for you to visit in South Florida.

What are some of your goals for 2019?

***********************************************************************

Future blog posts of Artechouse and The Art Banksy Exhibit coming soon!

Instagram worthy date night spots can be found here

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