Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly?
Jun 12
Instagram is such a wild beast, isn’t it? For some, it’s a place to dabble and for others it’s a place to monetize like WHOA, ka-ching ka-ching. For better or worse, it’s the place where brands, retailers and bloggers are exploding onto the scene. I’ll share my fave instagram editing tools (video!!), how to monetize your instagram and insider secrets to d’best damn instagram photos evahhhhh.
Instagram is, after all… picture perfect.
Oh, you’re a model ? What’s your agency? Instagram
You look gorgeous. What’s your secret? An instagram filter.
I'll show you how to get great at instagram, you 'grammer YOU.
Here’s the big fat juicy problem that I’m smothering with salt & slamming on the table…
Growing instagram followers is like taking a long romantic walk to the fridge. Both are tempting and regretful, all at once. It’s bloody hard to grow your instagram following. Bloody, stinking hard. It takes a lot of get-up-and-go-go.
It’s like eating a donut.
It sounds tempting until you are two bites in, and then suddenly you hate yourself.
But we try, don’t we?! We try. try. try.
Why? Because Instagram is FUN and it makes your heartbeat find a rhythm that’s a little too fast.
#AmIRite?
It’s a wild insta-fest out there.
Let’s shed some light on the sit-chu-me-ation . I’m just spitballin’ here… but the door to growing instagram followers can feel like it’s locked.
Locked flipping tight.
Naturally, that just makes us want to kick it in. But of course it does.
KICK … but admire the door track hardware *wink*
If you’re anything like me, you probably sweat bullets on how to grow your instagram following.
Instagram is the doll of social media right now. It’s a sizzling hawt tamale. It’s worth the effort, dammit Janet.
{{ Even if your name isn’t Janet. }}
Instagram is all that and a bag of chips.
Who can turn down a bag of chips?! Not me. Shhhh.
If you can turn your nose up at chips, slam your computer closed right now. We can’t be friends.
Here. Drink a smoothie.
Confession: I am obsessed with smoothies and this blender. Every.Single.Day.
That there, Missy.. was a truth bomb. Want more truths?
Here we go…
On the other side of the coin, some peeps seem to be in no rush to grow their instagram following. Really? For reals? You are in no rush? Fabulous. Beautiful.
Who’s dramatic now? Never mind.
I digress.
This is depressing
Growing Instagram followers…
Growing followers should have a purpose. Legit. If you look at fashion bloggers, gussied up to the nines… note this…they are reaping the success on instagram. They have a purpose. Fashion. It’s leading to MONEY for them. Ka-ching.
Why can’t pyjamas be fashionable? Why? Whyyyyyyyy? Pfffft.
I live for jammies
What’s your instagram purpose? Driving traffic to your site? Selling products? Growing your brand presence? Sharing your travels? Inspiring funky adventures?
Jelly jealous of the fashion grammers ? I am. <– I confess.
Truth is, as tempting as it may be to copy-cat others, it’s better to share what excites YOU.
What gets your mojo running?
Share it. But puuuuhlease share it with some pretty pics. Not perfect pictures, because that’s just annoying. Life ain’t perfect, man.
For me, I get excited about sales on home stuff, Edison bulb twinkle lights, massive amounts of candles, treehouse retreats , cupcakes, linen curtains and airstreams. Not all at once. That would just be gross. 🙂 Home decor may be yawn worthy to some, but it makes my heart explode.
What floats your boat? Instagram it.
HOME. It rocks my socks. Or I have rocks in my socks. A photo posted by Lynne Knowlton (@lynneknowlton) on
Still with me?
I promise I’m going to land this instagram plane.
Don’t yawn.
Is Instagram the best app in the history of the universe ? Yes.
Are you thinking ??!!… DAMN…. it’s one more app to figure out …. goody goody gum drops..
*Forehead slap*
Being popular on instagram is like being rich in Monopoly.
Sort of. I’ve noticed something lately and I’m desperate to know if I’m alone in this and/or drunk.
1. Fashion bloggers = bajillion followers. Check out this fashion blogger. She has a license to print money on instagram and it ain’t monopoly money. I don’t know if I want to celebrate her success or punch her in the face. Yeah. I decided. POW.
2. Then, oh then, there’s the rest of us mere mortals. Keeping it real, sista. Keeping it real.
Here’s my secret to instagram photography success:
a. Hang out of car window.
b. Close lips tight || best bug deflector ||
c. Snap pic.
d. Admire my drive by shooting.
e. Consider myself a badass
Drive by shootings … *wink*
VSCO cam app editing
Edited with VSCO
Yup. You guessed it. VSCO
Making moola with instagram:
There’s a couple of ways to earn some bananas on instagram…
1. Work with brands that you looooooooove and share their awesomeness. Brands can provide product, you can provide an audience.
Win. Win. Fun. Fun. Sip. Sip.
2. RewardStyle.
RewardStyle is the shopping tool used by bloggers/publishers to bring in revenue on the products they promote. It’s a win win. Why?
Let’s say that I adore this, this and this. Which I do. ADORE. I can share it with you on instagram, social media or my blog and then you can easily see where I bought it. No need to drive all over hells half acres to figure out where it came from.
It takes one click. Boom. Solved.
You can buy the same product right from your email inbox. Oh. La. La.
Peeps sign up to Rewardstyle (it takes seconds and it’s free) and when you see an instagram photo with a liketk.it URL in the caption, you can give it a “like” to receive a product link in your inbox.
Here’s an example of what it looks like :
Why hello there Sunday. Relax. Rinse. Repeat. @liketoknow.it www.liketk.it/15yXf #liketkit
A photo posted by Lynne Knowlton (@lynneknowlton) on
If you click the link and end up buying something, the publisher/blogger who posted the link gets paid a percentage. It is a small percentage (like, we couldn’t buy a unicorn or pony with it) but it is better than nuttin’.
What’s the catch for bloggers/publishers?
It’s supes difficult to get in as a RewardStyle publisher. You need minimum blog traffic of 50,000 – 100,000 page views per month and a super engaged audience.*
* Or sleep with Mr. RewardStyle. I totally made that up. But still.
How to create great photos for instagram!
Do you feel like, if your photo isn’t stylized, styled, whitified and sharpified… well then… forgettaboutit ?
I can help ya.
Over the last few years, I’ve tried four-thousand-two-hundred-and-twenty-two-photo-apps to make my photo editing easier.
What an oxymoron. Or moron. I think I was both.
My all time fave app in the history of ever is VSCO cam.
I’ve been using VSCO to edit my photos for about a year now. It is my go-to awesome sauce of photo editing for instagram. I made a video for you. Yeah. I just love ya like that.
You can also see the same VSCO video here on YouTube. Before VSCO cam, I tried to Superwoman it and use every single app on the face of the universe.
VSCO is badassery ….
Do you like free? I know I sure do. Free gets exponentially better when that something free also happens to be something totally awesome.
It’s d’bomb dot com.
Now, let’s get ‘grammin and high-five online !
You got this. Sit back and admire your badass work.
What’s your fave app? What’s your biggest instagram hassle? Do you have some hot instagram tips? Share with sugar bear. I’ll send you a donut. There may be a bite out of it.
Maybe 2 bites.
Okay.
7 bites.
Wait. I ate it.
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June 12th, 2015 at 10:11 am
Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/gBxL5K2BC9 http://t.co/Gx8d1kJTIg
June 12th, 2015 at 12:03 pm
{ New Blog Post } Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly?: Instagram is such a wild beast, … http://t.co/BGno990Med
June 12th, 2015 at 12:20 pm
Great tutorial, Lynne. I think you told me about VSCO once before because I found it installed on my phone already, but I never used it. Now I’ll be playing with it! Thanks.
June 12th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
I bet you will fall in luuuuuurve with it Denise. It’s super easy to use and it really makes photos look fab.
I’ve tested it. I’ve tried really ugly, non-straight, super dark photos and turned them into FAVES.
VSCO is MAGIC for blog post photos too, because it maintains the original pixel photo size without downgrading the quality.
Have fun!
xx
June 12th, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Guuuuuuurlll! I’m so excited! Just signed up for rewardstyle AND downloaded the VSCO app! BOOM! You are my insta-guru fo sho! It was your list of apps last year that led me camera+ which I’ve been using and loving – but this new VSCO app is blowing. My. Mind. Can’t wait to get out there and shoot #ALLTHETHINGS !!!! You’re the bestest!
June 12th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Hi Mellissa…
Grrrreat. I’m hungry now. I’ve been roaming around on your instagram all morning. Hahaha. xx
I’m so happy that you have enjoyed my first app book too. I was thinking about making another one but with all my latest faves. VSCO included. But of course 🙂
Thanks for the lurve.
Lynne xx
June 12th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
That app looks really comprehensive, Lynne. Thanks for the tutorial. Your photos are always gorgy gorge! Is it a free app? 😉 I don’t think I would sign up for the product promo thing. I honestly don’t take that many photos and I’m on there strictly for fun. I haven’t figured out how to promo my blog on there. That’s something I should be doing.
I recently switched my account from public to private. What are your thoughts on that? Great post, Lynne! Thanks for the info.
June 12th, 2015 at 2:11 pm
Hey Lisa,
Yes, VSCO is a free app. When you are in the app, you can also upgrade it with more filters but that isn’t necessary. The free filters are brilliantly awesome!
I added a few new filters to the mix this year, and spent the extra few dollars. It was worth it, but I really didn’t do it until after I used the app for f.o.r.e.v.e.r. LOL
Promo for your blog:
You can use picMonkey to add text over photos and then write NEW BLOG POST over a photo. Another idea, is to share blog post related photos and suggest to readers that they pop over to your blog to read the rest of the post.
More than anything, instagram is a great place to share photos that are your aesthetic. After a while, people will get to know what you and your blog are all about, if you keep it consistent… sharing book signings, photos of your book, inspiring quotes, fun ways to survive divorce, adventurous travels after divorce… all that good stuff.
I personally think you should share the naked men photos again. haha. Okay, naked from the waist up 🙂 teehee.
June 12th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Thanks for the tips, Lynne! Wonderful. I often use instagram from my iphone and my blog photos are on my desk top usually. But I’ll add photos from my desktop with the tex add ons. xoxo
June 12th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
You can always add text on your iPhone too with an app called OVER. So fun for that! Whoop Whoop!
June 12th, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Awesome, thanks for that suggestion! 🙂
June 12th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Hey Lisa,
After the novel I just wrote you, I forgot to answer one of your questions. LOL.
I would definitely take your instagram account off of private. You won’t grow your account if no one can see your photos. Most people won’t follow a private account unless that person is a bestie or something.
xox Lynne
June 12th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
You know since I put it on private, I’ve gained more followers. Weird. Thanks for your great advice. Love all your photos on insta!! Very inspiring.
June 12th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
That is the strangest thing evvaaahhh Lisa. Too funny!xx
June 12th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
It’s a good one about how to rock it out loud on #instagram @LaurenJadeATX http://t.co/bPcZJSEJ8R Enjoy !
June 12th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
New Blog Post : Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/bPcZJSn7Kh #VSCO tips too! http://t.co/xVwMYu76jG
June 12th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Hey @vsco ! I wrote a blog post with video tutorial about #VSCOcam today! It’s about #instagram and my FAVE app #VSCO http://t.co/bPcZJSn7Kh
June 12th, 2015 at 3:12 pm
LOVE this post…you are amazing and I adore your style. Completely.
I’m all in. New follower. Have a lot of catching up to do.
My thoughts on Instagram are all over the place. I adore the app, I can’t stop looking at it but like Etsy, it’s saturated. How in the world do you find good IG accounts? Luck.
I especially despise the IG accounts who simply repost other’s pictures. YUCK
I adore accounts with decor ideas, fashion tips, gorgeous vignettes, pretty food, countries I’ve never visited, close up shots that show detail. Those grab my heart. I’m in love with antique and vintage French, so, of course….that would draw me in immediately.
Off to check out the app you mentioned. Thank you for the inspiration you give! Your sense of humor is the best.
June 12th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Hiya @instagram I wrote an epic blog post about you today 🙂 http://t.co/bPcZJSEJ8R #ILoveInstagram http://t.co/GnvEwLXZym
June 12th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Hi @rewardStyle !! I wrote about your awesomeness today on ze blawg http://t.co/bPcZJSEJ8R ! http://t.co/A98YGZi92B
June 13th, 2015 at 6:04 am
Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/yOUXFMJSEO
June 13th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Fun post as always, Lynne! I do love the app myself, and have been getting the hang of increasing my followers. I read alot about your account being “theme” based, but I agree with your idea that it should be whatever you enjoy. I like mine to be varied depending on where I am and what I am doing. I use android so your edit app won’t work for me but I will check to see if they have the android version. My biggest help with followers are the hashtags which are important for folks to find your account. I have been trying to use the most popular, and I do find it has helped a great deal. Any app with photography is something I really enjoy. ♥
June 13th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
RT @MelanieKissell: Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? – http://t.co/9YxNjH07Q8 via @lynneknowlton
June 13th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
RT @MelanieKissell: Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? – http://t.co/9YxNjH07Q8 via @lynneknowlton
June 13th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
New Blog Post : Is being popular in #Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/bPcZJSn7Kh #VSCO http://t.co/QByJicN5Pq
June 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Thanks for the beautiful share @MelanieKissell Is being popular in #Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/bPcZJSn7Kh #VSCO
June 14th, 2015 at 9:15 am
I loved your article, as usual! If you’re equating Instagram to Monopoly, then I own a lone, dark purple property on Mediterranean Ave. I fill my Instagram feed with daily pleasures I encounter, and I mostly don’t try to advertise anything.
June 15th, 2015 at 10:59 am
Great article… can’t wait for the tutorial (will watch at lunch). I literally just signed up for Instagram last week (Denise made me do it 😉
So in Monopoly, I am like one of those cheap properties that no one knows or remembers. I am stepping into it, but since I love photos (even have a book I published of mine… a real use-it, sans coffee-table tome type) – I figured it would be a good place to be.
So thanks!
Paula
p.s. I am a vitamix girl, but I can like you anyway 🙂
July 2nd, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? http://t.co/FYUczkBLtm
July 2nd, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? | Design The Life You Want To Live http://t.co/9QwRoHTZrj via @lynneknowlton
August 28th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Do you have an Instagram account? I don’t see it listed with your other accounts. Thanks
September 26th, 2015 at 9:20 pm
Awesome tips and hilarious content…I was obsessed with instagram when I first started…it’s like the cool guy you’re trying to impress but could care less about you…it’s damn hard to crack into!!
September 26th, 2015 at 9:27 pm
Oh my Alana,
Well said !! Why didn’t I think of that? LOL!
It is super duper tricky to crack into. Like a tight bottle of champagne.
Lynne xx
October 6th, 2015 at 10:43 am
Don’t you think you should teach a class….in the treehouse?? That would be (in your words) – badass!!! Please please DO IT …for all us newbies out there who have a dream! Love your work!! XO
January 8th, 2016 at 11:00 pm
Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? https://t.co/gBxL5JL0KB
January 9th, 2016 at 1:16 am
RT @lynneknowlton: Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? https://t.co/gBxL5JL0KB
August 7th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
RT @lynneknowlton: Is being popular in Instagram like being rich in Monopoly? https://t.co/gBxL5JL0KB