A little while back, I thought it would be fun to do favourite things kind of post. Feature books and products, homewares to skincare—stuff I’ve seen on the interwebs in a roundup style post. But then, from memory, it was Afterpay Day. And the very idea of sending out a post flogging stuff, even if it was for entertainment, was a no thanks.
But, some time has passed, and I’ve found more interesting things. I added an extra book and some sunscreen, an old favourite brand has a new offering, and some new-to-me products popped up. And since I feel a little better about the scale of emails in my inbox, I thought it was time. So, here they are, the many things that caught my eye on the interwebs lately; let’s do this.
12. Mr Consistent Mixers are refreshing, delicious and just as good alone or with soda water. Yum yum.
What have you discovered this month, team? I’d love to hear more about what is landing in your cart. Big or small, silly or serious, I’m sure some retail therapy has been helping us all through these weird and wonderful times. Enjoy the post, and as always, shop responsibly.
Been a while since an outfit post, right, team? Today, let’s make up for that with not one, not even TWO, but FOUR outfits as shown on my plus size body, that even includes some new season stuff. I mean, what’s not to love about that? If you follow my Instagram (if not, gosh, why not?) then you might have noticed the outfit post start to make it’s way back into the roster.
Which is good news, I’d missed it and I think you guys had too.
So, on this path to resuming the usual order of things, I thought this composite post might come in handy. There are some links, some extra photos where I had them, and the initial Instagram post in case you missed it. Sounds like a plan, right? Let’s get started with this week’s ‘What I’m Wearing Wrap Up’ (say that three times fast?).
(Gifted) 17 Sundays Confetti Print Dress (also in black colourway) and City Chic Boots (similar style)
The end. Let me know if this is something that you’re interested in seeing (the links and stuff could be handy, right?) let me know. I’d like to get back to full outfit posts, but grabbing photo sets can be hard sometimes. Until then, let’s live that Insta-life.
This week’s video is all about how to take better food photos, at home. After my Easter Cook Off collab with Brittanie last week, I’m going through some basics for taking and editing better food photos. I might not have had much success with my cheesecake, but I can take a food photo or two.
The good new is that it’s simple enough you can do it at home using basic equipment, items around your house and natural light. Sure, I favour a camera with a prime lens, but if all you have is your phone, that will work too.
K.I.S.S.
Keeping it simple your food photos can be next level sooner rather than later. This video includes some Lightroom Classic CC “edit with me” footage. Walk through the simple steps I take to edit food photos in Lightroom using the basic panel, sharpen mask and more.
I’ve included some links below to Brittanie’s Cook Off video (such a lol), another editing video where I share my tips for editing my outfit photos, and my Unsplash profile link where you can download some of these shots for free. Which, some of you have already done and tag me in them over Easter weekend. So fun!
Welcome back, team. This mid-week bonus video is My Instagram Workflow + Q&A. It’s all about how I edit my Instagram photos, the apps I use to get to Instagram and some of my thoughts on curating a feed. Plus, while this action is happening I’ve answered some of your questions about Instagram. Thanks for joining in the conversation on Instagram and Facebook, much appreciated.
My Instagram Theme, currently. Haha. Loving it.
As a plus size fashion and lifestyle blogger, Instagram is one of those essentials platforms for defining and securing your brand. The best of the best are competing for views on Instagram, and if you want your piece, you need to consider how your feed LOOKS. For me, the Instagram workflow is what sets me up to succeed.
I always say it, and I hate to do so, but on Instagram, it is what is on the outside that counts. It’s a visual platform with a disproportionate emphasis on things being beautiful, interesting or plain old cool. When it comes to plus size fashion and lifestyle blogging, there are ways to grow your platform faster than others. Ways, that doesn’t necessarily fit into the type of stylised theme that I operate. I’ve listed a few of them below.
Tips for growing a plus size fashion and lifestyle Instagram.
Update your outfit photo daily, if it won’t fit in the grid, put it in your story
Post selfies or photos with friends regularly
Update your feed up to 3 times per day
Link you blog posts in Insta Stories to increase engagement scores
Keep your colours consistent even if you can’t have a specific theme
I hope you enjoy the video. If you’re on YouTube I’d love for you to Subscribe to my channel and like this video. I’m new there and that would really help. But mostly, I can’t wait to check out your Instagram accounts. Leave them in the comment and find me on Insta, let’s hang out!
Ladies and gentlemen welcome to my latest obsession; creating an awesome Instagram theme. I fell down the rabbit hole that was VSCO filters on Pinterest, yes there are entire boards full of filter suggestions and theme ideas, and here I am. Welcome to my brain, and sorry about that. And from those Pinterest boards and filters, it was all downhill.
Some of you may be asking what IS an Instagram theme? Good question. You know when you arrive on an Instagram profile and the combination of those images just feel like they belong together? They’re colour themed, look amazing together, similar even, and all of a sudden you just can’t resist the account.
It calls to me.
That look is a theme or a feed. People call it all sorts of different things. But for me, this is the way that you brand your profile just like you brand your logo, your blog or business. The way your photos look speak for you. It really clicked for me when I saw this post over at The Lab imaging the Instagram accounts of teen movie characters from the 90’s. If ‘theme’ isn’t clear to you either, check it out.
For the general Instagram user, this may never be a thing. But if you’re using it for a blog, business or developing a platform that translates into readers is important to you, then theming matters. It matters. General users are inundated with accounts wanting their attention. Why should they pay attention to you?
Usually, there are three reasons; they entertain you, they teach you something or they’re preeeetttyyyyyy.
Theming is about the pretty side of things.
Making your images speak of a ‘brand’ experience. And while I get plenty of feedback from people who say they feel it’s too contrived or fussy, the truth is it takes something for people to follow your Instagram feed. Something more than your cute going out selfie daily.
The way I theme my account is to start by collecting a number of images. Predominately mine, but some stock images. I’m looking for a few key colours (blue, purple, khaki) in images, and avoiding others (red, orange, yellow). At the moment my feed is very dark and moody in black, purple, blue, green and occasionally white. I keep an album in my phone and in my Dropbox that I can draw from whenever I feel the need.
Once I have my album full of images I ‘run them through’ the same filter in VSCO. I use the A5 filter, scaled back to around 3 to 5 on photos with me in them and sometimes up to full strength (12) on others. It’s easy enough to do because the app has a ‘copy edits’ button, so I choose a similar looking image, copy its edits and paste them on the new photo.
But why, though?
This simple process, using the same edit (with a few tweaks) means that my photos have a consistent look about them. When I put them all together, they work because they have a similar ‘look’ to them. It’s the key element to theming your Instagram. If there is no consistency with your images, if they are different levels of light and dark, bright and dull, faded or crisp, it won’t work.
After that I, and I know, you’re already thinking REALLY, MORE STEPS? But, well, yes. Haha. After that, I drop them into a grid on an app called UMUN. If you want to see what your Instagram looks like before you post it use this free app. You can see if an image works with those around it or even plan a week or two ahead. It’s a life saver for those planning their feed.
Even if your images look similar in colour and style, some just won’t work next to each other. By planning your feed you can see how they look with the other images to the left and right, above and below. You have a better chance of being able to
There you go!
That’s how I do it. So how do YOU do it? Well, those steps will be very similar but you’ll ned to spend some time working out what you like filter-wise. Doing this you need to keep in mind the type of photos you take, the colours that reoccur in them and even the time of day you take them.
Collect six images from your phone and upload them into VSCO. From there you can play around with the filters (download the free ones, there are plenty there to play with). Get some inspiration from Pinterest by searching for VSCO themes and watch the magic happen…
Work with a filter you like the look of and see if it will crossover to your photos. Does it give the look you were going for? Play with the settings in the edit panel, even reduce the filter strength (I’ve seen them used consistently as low as +2). Copy the edits to all your photos and see what works. Don’t like it? Reset the image, and start again.
Keep in mind that a filter isn’t going to work perfectly on every single photo. I make small adjustments to the brightness, contrast and shadows to bring mine into line. You will need to too. And if you put the filter over half a dozen of your photos and it doesn’t work no matter how hard you try, move on. That filter isn’t for you.
When you find one that you love, that works with the majority of your photos. You’ve got your ‘custom’ theme! Nice work. You’re ready to hit Instagram and theme the heck out of that business. Haha.
Instagram theme inspiration!
I’ve embedded a board of Instagram theme goodness I’ve been curating. It includes a whole bunch of the VSCO filters, examples of what I was talking about above. Maybe one jumps out at you, start there and make a few additions. There are links to other Instagram articles that I like and some suggestions for content to keep you going creating images. If you’re looking for more inspiration, I have an eBook you might want to check out.
And now team, it’s time to get out there and see what you can do. I’d love to check out your Instagram and give you some feedback, especially those who are starting out with a theme (or kicking some serious butt already). Show us what you’ve got. I can’t wait to Insta-meet more of you!
Something started happening about a month ago (for me). I saw a decline in interaction on my Instagram account and felt like I was in front of the same 15 people over and over again. It turned out; I’d been shadow-banned. Woot. Just what you need when trying to build an audience, not being able to reach people; so frustrating.
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been chipping away to get myself off that blacklist and back to business. Within this post, I’ve shared a few ideas I have around why my account was shadowbanned, some other posts that may assist you identifying if it happened to you, the things that seem to have worked to get un-banned and how I’m going to be proceeding from here to keep my nose clean.
So, Instagrammer friends, this one is for you.
What IS Instagram Shadowban?
The shadowban is your Instagram account being banned from hashtag listings (and therefore the reach that can come with them) for sketchy behaviour. Unofficially. But that is the gist of it. The Shadowban is detailed more at the “Plann That” blog. I’ve read a few articles and this one seems to cover off on the most things. Worth a read if you want to go more in-depth about Instagram’s point of view and the new hashtag algorithm. It’s interesting reading for Insta-geeks. Or that could just be me. Haha.
How did I get Shadowbanned?
From what I can figure out, there are a few key things to getting MY butt sin-binned. If it happened to you, your reasons may be different. You’re going to have to play around and find out what works. It’s not like Instagram will reply to your question asking why you have to guess using the information available to you. And when it came to my account, these are my best guesses.
Approve all the things!
The first reason I can find is that I had a ridiculous number of apps approved in my API section. Everything from apps I’ve tried to plan the layout of my feed, ‘influencers’ platforms to try to source work, scheduling programs and places to print my Instagram photos. Sheeesh. This was my reason one and it could be yours too.
Think about it; API approval happens every time you log in to an app to track your followers or (you know who you are) if are using an app to follow/unfollow, comment spam or whatever. It has something to do with your IP address and multiple location logins and how that correlates with the increased possibility that your account is spam, being shifty or whatever.
Hashtag abuse, apparently.
I used the SAME hashtags all the darn time because I found it easy and convenient. What worked for me was using the Tags for Likes app with my own ‘custom’ options in there that I could copy and paste whenever I posted. A lot of these had close the 30 hashtags (the allowed max) per list, so I was pushing the boundaries hashtags wise. But, I’m not alone in doing that.
There are also grey and blacklisted hashtags that you are probably using that with repetitive use, combined with some of the other factors, may have caused the drop on your account. The best list I’ve found (and it’s updated regularly) is this one over at The Data Pack.
The naughty corner.
Thirdly, (such a weird word) I would time myself out. Have you ever been replying to comments or leaving comments and had them stop working? You post them, but they don’t appear? You’ve been sin-binned. And when you get blocked like this, it means you’ve done too much commenting in a too short time (or liked or followed), and you are in the naughty corner. Whoops.
Getting sent to the corner is something I often did because I reply to my comments on my computer. As I whiz through them one after another, clearly I’m too efficient and BAM, momentarily blocked. It would happen to me once or twice when I am actively posting, but at least five times a week. It is TOO MANY. Instagram treats you like spam at this volume (even though I was replying to and liking comments on my account of any tagged images).
Just call me Spammy McGee. Ummah.
And finally, I participate on some hashtags that are considered ‘grey’ listed (easiest way to tell is that the hashtags don’t have a ‘top posts’ section or this list will help). So, what’s so risque that it got me banned? Curvy, is on the list. So are things like body positive and other (usually) NSFW tags. I know, I know, eye roll with me. Of course, the fat girls with their fashion are getting banned. Bloody hell Insta, you’re okay with naked, as long as it’s a ‘conforming’ naked.
But take heart, my friend was checking out the tags she uses, and beauty blogger is on the grey list; heck, I saw happy Thanksgiving and Easter too. It’s madness and to be honest; this is probably having the least impact of the four items I listed. BUT, still worth considering whether you want to incorporate those tags or not.
What I’ve been doing to get unbanned and increase engagement.
When it came to bouncing back, I took a few of the suggestions from Alex Tooby’s blog post. There are heaps of posts going around to help you out if these options don’t work for you. But, for me, I found that using a few of them and cleaning house, I was back in business. Here is a play by play of what I did.
Clean up your act.
First, I went into the settings of my Instagram and unlinked a HEAP of authorised apps. Anything I wasn’t using I removed (you can always approve them again later if you need them). Like I said in the previous section, I had YEARS worth of authorised apps in there, I would say close to 30 total. Now I have five.
Next up I removed a bunch of my ‘hashtag dumps’ from the first comment on my photos. I didn’t go all the way back to the start of my account, who has the time to go back over 6,000 images, but I did remove a few scrolls worth.
After that, I cleared my search history (someone said it works like a clear cache on your account, not sure if this is true). To do that yourself, the button is at the bottom of the “Options” listing (where you land when you hit the cog on the app). Click on it, and it does the rest. Easy peasy.
I tightened the App ranks.
Next up, to kick that Instagram shadowban butt, I stopped using all the non-essential apps on my phone. I didn’t check the “Followers” app to see who unfollowed me for a week. Before that, I had been doing it daily. What can I say, I like to keep an eye on who is ditching me? Haha. As part of the no additional apps thing, I made sure I posted manually. I operated in a low-key way for a couple of days.
During this time, I switched up my Instagram theme; I’ll blog about in a couple of weeks once my feed is settled in and is something I love. Because heck theming your Instagram is TOTES fun. Yup, deliberate use of totes for ironic lols. I played around with it in Unum (a planning app) and started planning images, how they could work together and collecting more for my stash.
But I wasn’t done yet, what about switching from a business profile?
Some consideration went into the suggestion to change my account back to personal as a sort of ban reset. I decided against it, in the end, I like the analytics. The stats, snapshots, follower information analytics, are not available on a personal account. That’s a decision for you, but if there is no need for you to have a business account, why even deal with all this anyway? Personal accounts apparently get more rope than business ones, just look at Facebook Pages vs. Profiles.
EDIT/UPDATE: My research shows that reverting your account from business to personal WILL NOT improve your reach or impressions, and will actually make you look a little more suspect to Instagram who KNOWS you’re a business and what you’re up to. However, if you’ve never switched to business, there appears to be some truth to the better reach/impressions thing. Per above.
Finally, after being ‘normal’ for a few days, I logged out of all my accounts and logged back in. Not essential, but I did it anyway.
Getting back in the game.
From there it was about winning back Instagram by being engaging and entertaining to the beautiful (wink wink, follow me, haha) people who came across my account. Being ‘engaging’ in the sense of Instagram means eliciting likes and comments, saves and shares. To me, it just meant that I just had to make sure my Instagram had the same conversations as my blog and my Facebook page.
Engagement is the secret to Instagram in general since the shift from the chronological timeline. If the people who followed don’t interact with it, they won’t see it (al la Facebook). So, every post needs to be a good one. Every single one needs to have a reason for being there otherwise it’s just one more opportunity for you to go to the bottom of the heap.
All algorithms bless their heart. Aren’t they just grand? Haha.
And since we are talking about such things. If you wanted more information about the changes to Instagram, I have a workbook, obvs. I created this from the content I cover in my workshops so you can tackle it online. Click the image to check out the sales page for the book. Suger News readers, your code from a while back will still work, you’re welcome.
There you go team, an Instagram tale as old as time. Sort of. More of a shit (Instagram shadowban) happens kind of tale, but you get the idea. In the end, what Instagram is trying to do is create an environment where we all don’t have to deal with bots and spam all the time. I’m on board with that.
if it takes a little bit of wiggling on my behalf to make that work, I’ll do it. After all, it’s my favourite place to be on the internet at the moment, and I’m in their house. Happy ‘gramming!
Want to take part in a Team Suger Instagram challenge? With the launch of my new Suger’s Find Your Personal Style bundle (pre-sales happening here), I was hoping we could all get together and Instagram challenge! It’s something I plan to do in 2016, more than a few times a year, so we can tackle something in life that is bugging us. My next one might be smoothie related, what can I say, I have a lot of those recipes I could share. Haha.
So what is a Team Suger Instagram Challenge? Well, it’s as simple as grabbing the challenge list (it’s in jpg or pdf below) and on December 1st sharing your challenge photos to Instagram (or on my Facebook page if you don’t hang out on Instagram) showing the other ladies how YOU interpret the challenge. Easy peasy.
The challenge will run for a very doable 14 days! I know, it’;s perfect right. Not to short and not too long. The hashtags are #TeamSuger and #TeamSugerStyle because it’s the easiest to keep track of (and there’s no naked ladies on there… Yet). If you have a personal account and still want to share with me, you’re welcome to send me a DM. And I don’t just say that to anyone, BELIEVE ME. Haha. (cannot unsee..) Let’s hang out. Talk style, develop what we call our own personal style, and be inspired by the other ladies.
Join the challenge email list:
Join the Team Suger challenge email list and receive, for FREE, the Workbook I shared with participants of my Instagram Workshop earlier this year. How to win customer, not creep them out. You’re going to love this. It will give you a clear idea of where to go on your Instagram if you’re keen on developing either a personal or business brand.
Want the Instagram challenge list in PDF instead?
No problem at all, click right here and a new page will pop open. Let’s face it. Everyone love pdfs. And it’s A4 printable size, so hit print and put it somewhere you can see.
Want to pre-order the Style Bundle & receive my Instagram challenge notes?
As part of the Style Bundle I have incorporated some notes on how to navigate the challenges with ideas and suggestions for each of the prompts. You will receive this printable guide along with the rest of the Style Bundle documents on December 1st. Interested? Check out the bundle here, it’s a commit now, pay later sort of thing, so it won’t bite. Haha.
Ahh Instagram, how I love thee. I could spend hours and hours just flicking through the bright, bold, beautiful images there. Sure I love to see your dinner and your holiday snaps, but it’s the wow images I stay around for. The top Instagram accounts that inspire me. The sort of photos that you have to double tap immediately because they leap off the screen. The insane beauty of it.
Now this isn’t your usual list. This isn’t a compilation of my blog besties (though I can do that too if you’re interested?) and why you should follow them. These accounts are chosen specifically for their photography and the way their entire profile seamlessly comes together. I aspire to have an account like these filled with personality and punch. What can I say, I’m still learning. I’m more likely to post ALL the things! This sort of account takes restraint, skill, attention to detail.
Here is my round-up of the top Instagram accounts that inspire me to create better photos! Interested? Let’s take a look.
A brand page with a difference. The photos always remind me of home. Of summer days and ankle boots when things warm up. Light, bright and a beautiful addition to your Instagram feed. There’s something about images of sandals at the beach or poolside that calls to me. The wash of pastel and beautiful azure blues will refresh and revive your eyes every time.
How Two Live
Packed with awesome styling and adventures, How Two Live is a homage to the things that make these sisters tick. To be honest sometimes I feel like the older sister trying to hang out with the young cool kids, but that’s the joy of Instagram. They, and their audience, are non-the-wiser. I can old lady fan-girl all I like following their adventures and no one cares. Live vicariously via this account folks, it’s a goodie.
Fully Raw Kristina
Even if you have no plans to now, or ever, be fully raw (as in food) this is still an account that will entice and inspire you to get those fruit and vegetable count up. With highly saturated images, her glowing smile and face, Kristina will make you smile with her images and cheerful message every time she pops up. Her YouTube channel is just as fun if you’ve got some time.
I first stumbled onto this account when I ordered some of their amazing prints on Etsy. I have 3 with loads more on my wish list (get the three for the price of two deal, it’s the best). It’s fun to see their awesome products in my daily feed to inspire and motivate me. They always seem to pop up with something fun when I need it. Well worth the follow.
PeggySass
Ok, so when I said that this didn’t include my blog besties, I might have made an exception for the always lovely PeggySass. Though to say bestie might be a bit stalker, she’s lovely and that’s about where our association ends. Haha. That’s not the point here though, is it? This account is jam packed with images of her food photography, cafe adventures and photography business. Perth lifestyle represented at its best. A sunny, joyful follow with photos that will always inspire you to do better.
Gabi! Woot woo. If you’re a plus-blogger friend and you’re not following Gabi’s account then you are nuts. Take it from me, all fashionistas have a lot to gain from this personal, yet polished Instagram account. Recently the images from Palm Springs with their neon highlights and bright whites have been my favourites on all of Instagram. Interested in fashion, especially the street style variety with a dash of glam, then this is the account for you.
Bloom Box Co
What’s not to love about an account filled to bursting with blooms. I’ve always loved fresh flowers. It’s probably one of those indulgences that would make its way onto a ‘dream life’ wish list. This is the Instagram version of such things. Get your bouquet delivered daily without the expense. All we are missing is smell-o-vision.
This account always takes my breath away. Pale, shimmering light and delicious food, coffee and design elements… What’s not to love!? I like to think my account could be like this one when I grow up. But with a little more fashion thrown in. I love the detail, the beauty in each and every photo and the way they all seamlessly work together on a the full view. Gorgeous.
The Maven Post
This account inspires me because I have visions of my own monochrome account focused on delivering black, white and grey images filled with emotive lighting and drama. It turns out, I’m not actually willing to give up the colour of the ocean, the sparkle in my niece’s eye, the glitter of freshly poured champagne. So instead I follow this account and dream of such artsy perfection. Don’t worry, it’s personal too. Not distant and cold.
Oh and did I mention mine? It’s a little down on the content at the moment, especially on the light and bright side of things. Moving is hard. Back to work is hard. But this weekend I’m going to kick back and return to my summer. So be there or be square.
