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Blog ‘Gram: Repurposing Blog Content to Instagram – Recap

March 3, 2021 by Sarah Wohlner

The IFBC21 Social Media Virtual Summit took place on January 15, 2021. We had an informative session with Instagram guru Tameka Bazile. Read on to learn how to create multiple pieces of IG content from one blog post creating fun, viral and engaging videos, static and live content around your blogs! *This is a summary of her talk. You can view the full video session by registering now.*

1. Are you ready for Instagram?

“The secret to growth + sales on Instagram is knowing how your brand should translate to the platform. This demands you create a following based on reciprocity, connection, and community.”

Instagram is a community-based app while blogs tend to be just you and your keyboard. Are you ready to come out from behind the keyboard? If yes, keep reading.

2. How to repurpose blog content

Toni from @boulderlocavore does an excellent job at turning blog posts into engaging IG posts and driving traffic.

You are busy! There is never enough time to create original content for each individual platform. Here is how can you repurpose blog content to make your life easier:

Step 1: Recognize content to repurpose
- Take apart the blog post
  - Subtopics (why you created the recipe, how long it took to make the recipe, equipment, etc.)
  - Content pillars
  - Delivery
Step 2: Create content
- Use templates
- Share the same photos on your blog to Instagram
- Turn your blog post into a video
Step 3: Post on IG
- You don’t need to show up in every aspect of Instagram in order to be successful. Try focusing on two or three of the following:
  - IGTV (1+ minute video)
  - Reels (15-30 second video)
  - Stories (learn how to engage your following on Stories from Jenny Melrose)
  - Main Feed

Register now to get more information and listen to the full video session from Tameka Bazile! To view all sessions from the January 15, 2021, Social Media Virtual Summit check out our Agenda Page.

Advanced Content Marketing for Bold Businesses – Recap

February 10, 2021 by Sarah Wohlner

For the IFBC21 Social Media Virtual Summit on January 15, 2021, we had the awesome brand guru Phil Pallen from Phil Pallen Collective join us to talk about how you and your business can stand out amongst all the competition. This is a summary of his talk. You can view the full video session by registering now.

1. 2021 is a new year. How should you approach it?

James Clear says “Every day, you should try and do something 1% better.” Why? Because it has a compounding effect. That means if you get 1% better each day for a year, you will be 37x better by the end. The trick is how. Phil says you don’t need more information to get better, you need a better strategy.

2. Be experimental.

There is no right or wrong on social media. Different strategies work for different people. “You won’t know what works until you experiment.” This doesn’t mean it will take a lot of work but it will take time. Phil also recommends not hiring outside help. For examples and case studies, register now for the full session.

3. Be consistent.

A little reminder from Phil: Being consistent is important but it’s not more important than life. Create a balance. Prioritize your mental health.

Understand the algorithm and how to create content that is shown in front of more people.
- Relationship: How well do you know each other? The better you connect directly with people more your content is shown to them.
- Interest: What content interests your audience? The algorithm gives users content they are interested in.
- Timeliness: How recent is your post? More recent posts are more likely to be seen.
How do you be consistent?
- Recycle posts. You can turn a photo into a video, you can do a slide show of photos, update an old photo, use #throwbackthursday to repost, etc. Instagram posts don’t have a long life so reuse!
- Encourage quick and easy engagement. Use Instagram stories or DM to make it easy. Check out Jenny Melrose’s session for more information on how to easily engage your audience in Instagram Stories.
- Add hashtags and locations for your stories. Some people have access to these features, some don’t. Utilize them if you do.

4. Be intentional.

Phil uses Instagram in many of his examples but he’s not saying to only use Instagram in 2021 but be aware of your time. Realize where your time is best spent. Go on platforms where you can surround yourself with things that inspire you and make you better.

Create content that people will like.
- Research keywords and trends.
Plan your content ahead of time.
- Write it down. Create a template and plan it out for the week. It will help you experiment and stay consistent.

5. More information!

Register now to get more information and listen to the full video session from Phil Pallen! To view all sessions from the January 15, 2021, Social Media Virtual Summit check out our Agenda Page. See you at our next live event!

How to Use Instagram Stories to Attract an Engaged Audience – Recap

February 3, 2021 by Sarah Wohlner

For the IFBC21 Social Media Virtual Summit on January 15, 2021, we had the expert herself Jenny Melrose from JennyMelrose.com join us to talk about Instagram Stories and how to get real, qualified, consistent engagement. This is a summary of her talk. You can view the full video session by registering now.

1. So many platforms, so little time. So, first and foremost, why Instagram?

Currently, Instagram has over 1 billion users. 79% of those users are between 18-44. Ask yourself, is this the audience you’re trying to reach? There is more to Instagram than the main feed. In fact, there are five different aspects that each present a large opportunity.

IGTV
Reels
Stories
Live
Feed

Are you looking to work with brands? In 2021, 63% of brands intend to increase their marketing budget in the next year. 79% of those brands consider Instagram an important part of their marketing campaign, this is higher than YouTube and Facebook. Brands are looking for micro-influencers because they realize engagement is key. So one great one to increase engagement is IG Stories.

2. Why Instagram Stories? Because it speeds up the connection.

You need to ask yourself the following:

What makes you unique?
What’s your brand?
What makes you an expert?

By doing this you are on your way to creating an engaging story.

There is so much competition. How do you stand out among the millions of other influencers? Be authentic. This also means casual and making mistakes. Your main goal is to get into their DM’s. Why? It’s a more personal interaction. The IG algorithm will then also show more of your content to them in the future because they know you’ve interacted with them. How? You need to warm DM them. This means trying to get them to interact with you before you slide into the DMs. Try the following:

- Polls
  - Ask and question with two options and if they respond positively, DM them more information.
  - Example question:
    - Have you seen my interview with ___ yet?
    - Do you prefer ketchup or mustard?
- Questions
  - Use questions to get opinions. Answer the question on your story and DM them too. Build a connection.
- Quizzes/ Multiple Choice
  - This is not used to get opinions, use polls for that. Use multiple-choice to ask questions like two truths and a lie. Then your audience can get to know you more and you can continue the conversation in DM.
- Countdown Timer
  - Use this to inform people of a new blog post, or product coming out.
  - A timer increases a sense of urgency.
  - People can get reminders.
  - You can also use a timer and couple it with polls for increased engagement.
- Sound! Let’s talk about it.
  - 75% of users watch Instagram with their sound off.
  - This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use it. Instead, also include text in the story of what you said or tell people through text to turn their sound on.

3. Here is your homework for today from Jenny.

Post 3 stories utilizing three of the above features. Tag @jenny_melrose and @foodbloggerconferece so we can see and give feedback.

4. This is just the start.

Register now to get more information and listen to the full video session from Jenny Melrose! To view all sessions from the January 15, 2021, Social Media Virtual Summit check out our Agenda Page. See you at our next live event!

6 tips to up your ‘Gram game

April 25, 2019 by Sarah Wohlner

This guest post is by IFBC19 sponsor Heather Sawyer, Director of GCI Digital Marketing

At GCI, we’re passionate about providing the fastest technology available to some of the most remote corners of North America. We’re also passionate about tips and tricks that make technology great! As bloggers, you know by now there is an easy (and free) way to increase traffic to your blog. The key is getting your content on the platforms people are already spending time on. With over one billion active users, it’s no secret people are spending time on Instagram, so if it isn’t already part of your game plan to increase your website traffic, it should be. People likely want to discover your blog, they just don’t know it, yet! A strong Instagram game will show them just what they’ve been missing. By engaging with your audience online, you’ll build a community and create lasting relationships, which will lead to new opportunities.

Here are a few tips to take your Instagram page to the next level, courtesy of #AlaskaBornandRaised GCI.

Create consistent content.

Whether you’re creating a new page for your brand or just trying to refresh your feed, pay attention to the look and feel of your content. Make a point to decide on a consistent aesthetic. This could mean using the same filter on every image or only posting photographs taken from specific angles.

Having a predetermined aesthetic will make your page especially nice to look at. Your followers will begin to recognize content you post by the images alone without even looking at your handle. It will also help to streamline your creative process which will allow you to turn around content at a faster rate – very important in the fast-paced world of social media.

Get tagging, it’s important.

Take time to learn and understand what different forms of tags (hashtags, location tags and in-photo tags) are used for and how other people and brands in your network are using them.

Identify a handful of hashtags that apply to your content and post the most relevant 3-5 tags with every piece of content to reach people who aren’t already following you. In addition to following users, people can follow specific hashtags. This means posts shared with tags that people follow will pop up in their feed, even if they’re not already following you, the OP (that’s original poster for anyone who doesn’t speak Instagram yet).

To extend the reach of each post and make it easy for people to discover your content, it’s also beneficial to tag your location and any other brands that have items featured in your content. If your goal is to work with these brands, showing them a little love will have the added bonus of showing them you are a genuine user of their products, and not just another sponsor-hungry influencer.

You’ve got to be social!

It seems obvious, but this is one of the most overlooked points by people and brands trying to grow their social media presence. Tap into the food blogger community and engage with posts from other accounts.

When you come across something you like, do more than just “like” it, leave a comment! Thoughtful comments and insightful questions can go a long way, and really help build a community.

Go beyond the feed.

Don’t be afraid to venture beyond the main feed! Instagram stories, Instagram live and IGTV are great ways to find accounts to engage with and great ways for people to find you. Instagram stories and Instagram live also provide a tremendous opportunity to get real-time feedback from your audience on how your content is being received.

Mind your analytics.

Be mindful of your insights. Instagram provides a great set of tools within the application for understanding your audience’s habits. Not sure what time of the day to post a picture? Check out insights to see when past posts performed best. Want to know where your followers are based? Insights has the answer. Be sure to conduct A/B tests, such as varying the time of day you post or the hashtags you post with, to make sure you’re getting the most engagement.

Have fun.

Maintaining an Instagram page can feel like work, but it’s important to have fun! Your followers will be able to tell if you aren’t being genuine. If you’re not getting any pleasure from making connections and building a community with like-minded individuals, well then, it might be time to go back to the drawing board.

Remember, there’s no fool-proof way to master social media, but putting these tips to practice will help you get started and figure out what works for your brand.