Toxic Social Media and the Instagram Problem

Instagram is a fun platform to use. However, I have been noticing how toxic it is becoming to use. Why is this important? It comes down to brands and businesses placing importance on influencer marketing. The goals for most Influencers are sponsorships. In order to obtain those sponsorship deals they require:

• Substantial Following
• Content Creation Skills

Above all of these, I think having a massive following is ranks highest in what a brand is looking for. Because having a big following means you have social proof and an audience.Outside of influencers, Instagram is huge for small businesses. In addition, to many users spending time on the platform, Instagram has an enormous ad product that contributes to a lot of Facebook's revenue.

Addictive Nature

When I label Instagram as toxic I'm more referring to the platform's addictive qualities. Twitter is toxic for reasons related to negativity. With Instagram, there seems to be a system in place that wants to keep you locked into the app and constantly spend all your time there. There's constant messaging that entices you to turn on notifications. Almost all apps have the typical red notification dot that catches your attention.

Mass Story Viewing

Youtube creator Sam Sheffer recently did a video on a large number of random accounts viewing his Instagram stories. This has become a trend in the last couple of months where users who don't follow your account suddenly are now viewing your stories. These accounts were using mass story viewing automation app. Hacks like these are methods used to get your Instagram account discovered and in the hopes of obtaining more followers.

False Statistics

The problem with Facebook/Instagram is that the platform at times seems very untrustworthy. There was an article published by the hollywoodreporter.com that reported of a settlement paid to advertisers. The settlement described that Facebook had overblown the metrics on for video content.

Summary: Toxic Social Media and the Instagram Problem

In conclusion, I am in no way done with Social Media. However, with all the false metrics on the platform and algorithm issues, I definitely feel like it's time to take a break. I think if you're building a business social media is an effective strategy to have your business be a part of. At the least, I would like to see social media platforms validate their systems more thoroughly. I personally think it's time for a new platform that embraces creativity and supports creators.

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What Makes a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo

With how much business is conducted online, having photos that match your professional identity have not mattered more. For freelancers or small businesses, I think having a great LinkedIn Photo can be a great investment. Below are a few tips on what makes a great LinkedIn Profile Photo.

Background

Office environments tend to make great backgrounds. Also, shooting a photo outdoors can work as well. I had my LinkedIn photo taken in a picturesque waterfront of a nearby town. In addition to these, another a great tip is to bokeh (blur out) the background to make it less of a distraction.

Clothes

As a LinkedIn photo has a professional atmosphere, the mood you're going for is business-related.Here are a few ideas on wardrobe choices.

• Business Casual (Or Clothes That are a Notch Higher than your Normal Office Wear)
• Solid Colors

A majority of LinkedIn photos are headshots there you normally just have to focus on top clothing.[tg_lightbox type="image" align="left" src="https://www.moderrn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/C61A2365_thumbnail.jpg" href="https://www.moderrn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/C61A2365.jpg" vimeo_id="" youtube_id=""]

Expression

Photofeeler did a study on what types of traits work well for a LinkedIn photo. I looked at the section regarding expressions and agreed that when I saw photos that have these traits I believed them to be generally likable.

• Eye Contact
• Smiling (Laughing)
• Smiling (Teeth)
• Squinching

Summary: What Makes a Great LinkedIn Profile Photo

To wrap up, I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect LinkedIn photo. As technology has evolved so has the tech used on most of the cameras in your phones. Most of the images from the portrait mode look really good so you could conceivably use it as your profile photo.

Should you Hire a Photographer to Take Your LinkedIn Photo

A photographer can be helpful in composing your photo, making sure the light is correct, and picking out your best angles. In addition, many photographers are great at portrait retouching such as removing skin blemishes.

Sources:

New Research Study Breaks Down “The Perfect Profile Photo” - Photofeeler

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How to Use YouTube for your Business

From major companies like Nike to small businesses like Peak Design, most brands have a presence on Youtube. In addition to these businesses, you will also find freelancers on this platform as well. The benefits of being on this platform provide another medium to explain your product and services to clients and consumers. Below is a guide on How to Use Youtube for your Business.

BEST PRACTICES:

Here are a few best practices that I use when creating Youtube videos.

• Piroritize Audio over Video Quality
• ‘Document don’t create’ Method
• Add relevant keywords in your videos’ titles, tags, descriptions, video files, and thumbnail files

From what I've noticed on Youtube is that people will forgive you for poor or average video quality. However, if you're audio quality is poor they are less likely to pay attention to your video.If you run out of ideas you can follow the Gary Vaynerchuk method and 'document don't create' method.

Youtube Content

The following are types of content that work well on Youtube:

• How To Guides and Tutorials
• Product Reviews
• Vlogs
• Shopping Sprees / Hauls
• Unboxing Videos
• Educational Videos
• Parodies

Youtube rewards creators for making longer video content by helping to monetize those videos with adds. Tutorials are among the popular types of videos on the Youtube platform. The problem with making a 10-minute long video tutorial is that people tend to tune out. I would recommend keeping tutorials short and straight to the point. Longer videos can be saved for content such as podcasts, interviews, reviews, or discussions.

Summary: How to Use Youtube for Your Business

In conclusion, the benefits of using a video platform such as Youtube is that it presents another way to digest content. When I search for ways on how to do a specific task I normally search for video content versus reading an article. If you're in the business of creating content, having video content in addition to written content will allow you to support all types of users.You can view my own channel here on Youtube

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How to use Instagram for your Business

While Instagram started as a photo app, it has evolved into a much bigger platform. Instagram is not just for photographers or videographers. Compared to other Social Media Apps, Instagram is restrictive on its content. However, because of its simplicity, it's also the most popular of all Social Media apps. Below is a quick guide on how to use Instagram for your business.

Best Practices:

Here are some guidelines that I typically follow when using Instagram:

• Use best content for your feed
• Post Often (You can always archive a post if you're not feeling it)
• Use Relevant Hashtags for Your Posts
• Use Stories to Experiement and Test New Content

I also think it's best to avoid automated bot programs that like, follow, unfollow for your Instagram account. These programs come off very spamming and might risk offending your followers.

Disadvantages of Using Instagram

Instagram is currently built on a system that incentives you to have followers. Once a user reaches ten thousand followers, they are granted additional features on the platform. One of these features is being able to use a URL on Instagram stories. This allows you to publish a URL from a website or another URL like a Youtube video.Because of this, many users go through a lot of problematic ways to increase their following. Some of these include using methods such as automated bot programs that follow and unfollow other accounts in hopes of increasing their following. This has caused a lot of spam and fake accounts on Instagram.

Using Ads on Instagram

Advertisements on Instagram is a way around having a massive following to link out to a blog or Youtube post. I have noticed a major difference in the amount of audience I reach when using an Instagram ad. This is because Instagram is using an algorithm that is now giving preference to sponsored content.

Summary: How to use Instagram for your Business

In conclusion, I think Instagram can be one of the most enjoyable of Social Media sites to use for your business. However, as with most Social Media sites, Instagram was designed to be addictive and keep you on the platform. If you're new to Instagram I hope this guide was helpful.

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