So someone called me a social media snob the other day, and I’m not arguing. I like an aesthetically-pleasing feed.
Honestly though, I’m tired of the DMs from people asking me how they can get their feed looking good. This is very valuable top-secret information that I’m sharing with you (no it’s really not you can find it on the internet but i’m tired of the DMs guys…)
So you can get an Instagram husband to take pictures of you with a DSLR but most people use an iPhone and it works perfectly fine. If you don’t have someone to take pictures of you, you can get a tripod to set up your camera.
If you don’t have a lot of time to take pictures (like I do), you can try the following:
Free Stock images: UnSplash, Pixabay,Pexels. So although I am a content creator, some of the images on my feed aren’t mine. Yes, some of the images I get from free stock sites that match my aesthetic. You don’t have to credit the photographers based on the license but they always appreciate it when you do. These images are copyright free. If you do decide to use someone else’s images, please get permission and credit them.
So once, you have your photos, you can mix them with quotes. I use a free tool called Canva . This is a great because there are templates you can use. There really isn’t any excuse as to why your feed can’t be off-the-chain.
Preview: Now die-hard social media people will know this app but for those of you are new and want to step up your game, it allows you to load your images and curate your feed. They also have a stock of free photos to choose from. This allows you pre-plan what your feed is going to look like.
So the idea is to seek balance and symmetry through colour. Choose images that are the same tone and match each other (but it ultimately depends what you’re looking for)
And you can use HootSuite to schedule and it’s free! I post in threes to keep my grid perfect. I’m also OCD, so I will delete something if I feel it doesn’t match my aesthetic.
We don’t really have seasons here but I like when its really hot and you have to turn the big fan on. If you know me well, you know I hate cold and snow.
4. Where does one go on a perfect road trip?
I hardly go anywhere tbh, I’m always working but I do love a good trip to the mountains on a Sunday.
5. What is the best activity when home on a rainy day?
I love to curl up in my bed and watch YouTube videos. I only watch the news.
6. If you could switch lives with someone for a day who would it be?
Honestly, I’d love to switch lives with one of the richest female billionaires in the world and I don’t mean Kylie Jenner.
7. What is the best thing that happened this year?
Being nominated as Digital Influencer by Digital Jamaican was the best thing that happened to me so far but the year isn’t over year. See the post about it here.
8. What’s your New Year’s resolution?
I promised myself I’d go harder than ever this year, so there are a lot of sleepless nights.
9. What’s your favorite exercise?
Exercise? Honestly, don’t have the time but if i had to choose, it would be swimming. I was on the swim team in high school.
10. Best way to decompress?
Honestly, write.
11. What’s your favorite country to visit?
Omg, that’s hard. I love New York but then I practically grew up there. It does give me all the feels.
12. Last country you visited?
Miami. I lived there for two months.
13. Country you wish to visit?
I’ve always wanted to go to Santorini. I believe I will live out my last days looking at that blue ocean.
Getting DMs from people saying that you’re awesome and they love your content.
17. What is the cutest thing in the world?
Babies?
18. How do you know if you’re in love?
Don’t know her. Don’t want to be her.
19. If you could go to any concert past or present, what would it be?
I would absolutely die to see Prince in concert. Hands down. I mourned for three days when he died.
20. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
A Tiffany’s bracelet. All the Jersey girls were wearing them when I was in college.
21. Favorite fashion trend of all time?
I would not call myself the most fashion forward although I used to be but I did love 90’s supermodel fashion back in the day.
22. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Eat Pray Love. I read the book first and then saw the movie. I could watch it over and over.
23. What was the movie that made you cry?
Omg. 101 Dalmations?
24. If you could make a documentary, what would it be about?
I would love to talk about the amazing content creators in Jamaica doing some amazing things. And when I say content I mean film, movies and music videos too. Not just photography.
25. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
I would love to be able to read people’s mind.
26. What is the skill still unmastered?
I still don’t know how to ride a bicycle. Long story.
27. What is the best thing that happened to you today?
The check cleared.
28. Do you like surprises?
Yes, actually my former boss gave me a birthday party in December (my birthday is in August)
29. If you could do a flash mob where would it be?
Coronation Market.
30. Do you like cupcakes?
Yes, but i prefer cheesecake.
31. Do you usually bake cupcakes?
I baked cupcakes for my daughter’s class for Valentine’s Day one year.
32. What’s your favorite desert?
Cheesecake.
33. Is there a desert you don’t like?
Vanilla cake. It’s so vanilla.
34. What’s your favorite bakery?
Anywhere that sells croissaints. There’s actually French pâtisserie downstairs from where I used to live in Park Slope in Brooklyn.
35. What’s your favorite food?
It’s a toss up between Italian and sushi.
36. It’s brunch, what do you eat?
Is there mackerel rundown? Not really a fan of ackee and saltfish.
37. You are stuck on an island, you can pick one food to eat forever without getting tired of it, what would you eat?
Otaheite apples.
38. Favorite color?
Cobalt blue.
39. Favorite superhero?
Storm
40. What do you usually order in your coffee?
I used to drink only lattes but, sometimes you just need that caffeine so regular coffee with condensed milk.
41. Who is the last person you texted?
My former student Tashi
42. What’s your favorite activity to do in Kingston?
I love going to the National Gallery, I used to volunteer there on Saturdays.
I know you’ve got a little life in you left I know you’ve got a lot of strength left I know you’ve got a little life in you yet I know you’ve got a lot of strength left
50. If your life was a song what would the title be?
Luxurious
51. If you could master one instrument what would it be?
The camera.
52. Do you have a tattoo ?
A swallow on my left ankle.
53. To be or not to be?
That is the question.
54. Dolphins or koalas?
Koalas.
55. How do you like your coffee?
With condensed milk.
56. What’s your favorite curse word?
I don’t curse. lol.
57. What color of dress did you wear to prom?
Red velvet.
58. Diamonds or pearls?
Definitely diamonds.
59. Cheap shampoo or expensive?
As long as it works.
60. Blow dry or air dry?
Air dry. No heat on these curls.
61. Heels or flats?
Omg. Flats most definitely.
62. Pilates or yoga?
Yoga.
63. Jogging or swimming?
Swimming. Hate to sweat.
64. One thing you can’t live without?
My laptop.
65. What’s one cause that’s dear to your heart?
Women’s Rights.
66. Who would you want to shoot a love scene with?
Brad Pitt.
67. What’s your favorite sport?
Football.
68. Do you have a morning beauty ritual?
I use a face mask once a week. That’s it.
69. What’s your favorite thing to wear?
The colour black.
70. What’s the priciest thing you’ve ever splurged on?
I bought a pair of Prada sunglasses once. Purely overrated.
Yes, I think we still have a long way to go in terms of drone photography, especially since Jamaica’s landscape although mountainous is not that diverse in colour scheme. Here are a few Jamaican drone photographers that have really caught my eye. Who’s your fave? Drop the link below.
Starting the year off (Yes I know it’s March) with some Instagram accounts you MUST follow in 2019. Tired of the same boring content? Why not step out of your comfort zone and check out some content creators that are doing some interesting things.
We predicted micro-influencers becoming more popular this year and so I picked a few I think have the potential to grow their following. It’s a modge podge but we’re here for the aesthetic.
The buzz was alive this year for International Women’s Day as people were eager to share their thoughts on this year’s theme #BalanceForBetter. Some people acknowledged the true meaning of gender balance but others had their own agenda. Here are my top picks for IG posts for International Women’s Day:
Daryl Vaz couldn’t wait to share his support for his wife Ann-Marie Vaz for International Women’s Day by wearing a shirt that said “I am the proud husband of Ann-Marie Vaz”
There are a few social media trends I’m predicting for 2019. Here goes:
Micro-Influencers
Using influencers is nothing new to the game, yet marketing companies tend to go for the same 5-6 influencers thinking that will reap rewards because of their large following. What is happening in the market is because these influencers are spitting out product driven messages, sometimes daily, followers are not responding as well because it’s just too much. Here’s where the idea of micro-influencers comes in, by using influential people who are aligned with your niche market, you can have a deeper connection with your target audience. These micro-influencers may have 10,000 followers or less but the people who follow them are much more interested in what they have to say.
Real-time communication
I don’t know if it’s because social media is taking over our lives but the expectation from consumers has become so high that if they message a company on social media, they expect a response in real-time. It’s just the world we live in – no one has the time to wait. People want their problems solved and their needs met, now. Companies will now have to pay someone to cover their customer service queries 24hours a day. It is no longer an option.
Dynamic Storytelling
We saw how IG stories prompted Facebook to incorporate stories into its platform. The use of stories has allowed brands to connect in a meaningful way with polls and actual stories related to their products. These stories will now have to be more interesting and thought-provoking to encourage a response from viewers. It will also have to be interesting enough for them to go to the page and like and interact with your latest post.
Personal branding aligned with the business
Particularly with smaller businesses, you will see the benefit of humanizing the head of the company to help elevate the brand. This isn’t new in the world of PR but it certainly helps to create a personal brand online for a CEO. (I’ve been saying this for years) It has worked wonders for the likes of Josh Altman, Steve Bartlett, Grant Cardone and Gary Vaynerchuk. This tactic has taken the form of webinars, podcasts and even YouTube channels. By humanizing the face of the brand, it brings people closer. People buy from who they like and trust.
Video is still paramount
According to research by Wyzowl, 97% of marketers say that video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service, and 76% indicated that it has helped increase web traffic and sales. Video isn’t going away anytime soon but brands who haven’t been paying attention to it before will now hop on board as they see the value and importance of it.
I have outlined the Must haves for Instagram going into 2019 here
