The Key to Social Media Success? Engaged Followers.
Today we’re going to focus on one tip to successfully using social media to promote your brand. I’ve observed some companies going wrong by using their social media platforms to simply advertise themselves. Social Media growth does not come from spaming your followers with buy now, call now, book now direct sales posts. In today’s world, this won’t work. Consumers are no longer buying just products, they are buying relationships. They go to a restaurant because their favorite influencer recommends it, they read a new book because their friends are raving about it, they buy the latest trend because everyone else is. We all want to join in the conversation with those around us.
With this in mind, let’s think about how we use social media. Each platform has its own little niche, but there’s some overarching rules as well.
- Get the Right Followers. Everything in social media stems from engagement.
You want engaged followers. Many people ask about buying bots for more followers and likes. This can work when done correctly. The bot has to be set up to gain real followers and for local business it needs to be local followers.
Think about your purpose for using social media – to promote yourself yes – but what else? Are you trying to increase sales? Foot traffic? Traffic to your website or blog? Gather feedback? None of these goals will be achieved from fake followers. Take the time to get the right followers. Those who will see your posts and want to reach out – whether that’s by coming in your store or restaurant, sharing it with their friends to increase your awareness, or simply adding a comment providing some feedback that not only you, but other viewers can see.
- Introduce Yourself Being all about connections, viewers love to see the face behind the product.
They want to know WHO they’re buying, your values, your beliefs. This is a great time to use those headshots you’ve gotten from our Pittsburgh business photographers. Creating a personality for your brand – that mimics your own – will gain the trust of your viewers, and they will want to follow you throughout your career, gaining yourself some loyal followers.
- Give Your Brand A Personality. Now that they know you are, keep that personality going.
Find a tone that works for you – sassy, classy, light & friendly, sophisticated – and stick to it. Use all your captions as a way to talk to the followers. Social Media is a platform for conversation – not one -way advertisement. Use copy that sparks conversation not only between you and them, but between the followers themselves. If you can do this, you’ve just began to create your own little world. THESE are followers who will bring in their friends, spread your name, and help increase your success.
- Go Live! Some platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow “live-stream” or “stories” features.
Take advantage of these! Depending on your business, use the live stream to show “behind the scenes” footage or to quickly promote something new. Using the “stories” feature also allows you to directly talk to your viewers. In your stories, it allows you to add stickers, one of which is a chat sticker. This is by far the most common and most effective sticker. You can use it to ask for opinions, to open it up for questions, or to start a dialogue.
- Use Hashtags. **Instagram Specific** The other tips were there to help you keep the followers you already have engaged.
This one is to help find new ones. Instagram uses hashtags to connect posts to each other. This is how people find new accounts and posts based on subjects they are interested in. You can use up to 30 hashtags on your post. SHOULD YOU USE THEM ALL? You can but for the best organic growth use only 9 to 10 hashtags per post. Use a mix of location hashtags (#pittsburgh, #robinson #pgh) , general industry hashtags (ex: #headshotcrew), and a few specific post related hashtags. Keep in mind if you want to grow local followers the more local hashtags you use the more local people will find you. If you use mainly industry hashtags you will grow people in your industry for all over the world. General hashtags or content related hashtags should be used less often. (ex: #Italiandinner).
6. Use great photos. You will see many online claims that your photo quality dose not matter.
However brands that really are growing on social media use high quality photos. On our Instagram we will use a mix of Professional photos from a DSLR and only few iPhone photos. Why? Because Personal Brand Photography is a mixture of photojournalism, lifestyle and portraiture. Sometimes the ease of use of the iPhone helps to regularly communicate your personal brand and make a meaningful connection with your audience.
Jen Barker Worley Photography
555 Grant Street, Suite 337 Offices at the William Penn Pittsburgh, PA 15219
https://jenworley.com
412-370-4520
Great having back in the studio @laurenlevenson an Attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. She represents various local businesses in the Pittsburgh area with a primary focus on businesses owned by female entrepreneurs. #attorneysforwomen
Nov 30
Great having back in the studio @laurenlevenson an Attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, specializing in commercial litigation. She represents various local businesses in the Pittsburgh area with a primary focus on businesses owned by female entrepreneurs. #attorneysforwomen
This gave me an art-deco-80s feel. Using 3 different color gels. Hard sharp light. You can see the orange gel rim lights, the cool blue gel fill light, and the magenta-gel through a gobo in the background.Lots of color, with face spot-lit.Retoucher: none Creative Direction: Lindsay Adler @lindsayadler_photo Hair Day 1: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: Mark Williamson @markwilliamson Styling: The Cannon Media Group @thecannonmediagroup Models: Migle @miglute_gro
Nov 30
This gave me an art-deco-80s feel. Using 3 different color gels. Hard sharp light. You can see the orange gel rim lights, the cool blue gel fill light, and the magenta-gel through a gobo in the background. Lots of color, with face spot-lit. Retoucher: none Creative Direction: Lindsay Adler @lindsayadler_photo Hair Day 1: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: Mark Williamson @markwilliamson Styling: The Cannon Media Group @thecannonmediagroup Models: Migle @miglute_gro
This shoot was to capture the natural beauty of skin. The “no makeup” look, artfully done by Mark. Five photos: retouched first, then straight-from-camera.My goal in retouching was to keep the natural look, with bringing down some of the high-gloss and having the face luminosity and body more seamless. Slight dodging, cloning, & deglossing. The biggest edit was removing a finger, since I didn’t like how it jutted out, but loved the shot otherwise.Retoucher: myself Model: @adelina.tereshchenkova Creative Direction: @lindsayadler_photo Hair: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: @markwilliamson Styling: @thecannonmediagroup
Nov 20
This shoot was to capture the natural beauty of skin. The “no makeup” look, artfully done by Mark. Five photos: retouched first, then straight-from-camera. My goal in retouching was to keep the natural look, with bringing down some of the high-gloss and having the face luminosity and body more seamless. Slight dodging, cloning, & deglossing. The biggest edit was removing a finger, since I didn’t like how it jutted out, but loved the shot otherwise. Retoucher: myself Model: @adelina.tereshchenkova Creative Direction: @lindsayadler_photo Hair: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: @markwilliamson Styling: @thecannonmediagroup
I grew up loving vintage movies… From the 30s to the 60s. This shoot reminded me of that beautiful Hollywood glamour, and of how the style changed as color came into film (which you’ll see in my color interpretations.Migle was the perfect model replica of the photos of Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall, who were some of the epitomes of the beauty of the silver screen.Retoucher: nah, decided not to do on any of these photos. Model: @miglute_gro Creative Direction: @lindsayadler_photo Hair: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: @markwilliamson Styling: @thecannonmediagroup
Nov 15
I grew up loving vintage movies… From the 30s to the 60s. This shoot reminded me of that beautiful Hollywood glamour, and of how the style changed as color came into film (which you’ll see in my color interpretations. Migle was the perfect model replica of the photos of Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall, who were some of the epitomes of the beauty of the silver screen. Retoucher: nah, decided not to do on any of these photos. Model: @miglute_gro Creative Direction: @lindsayadler_photo Hair: @Jacquidavishair Makeup: @markwilliamson Styling: @thecannonmediagroup
Dominika Demantova is a licensed brokerage Senior Associate within CBRE’s Advisory and Transaction Services group. As the lead Team Transaction Coordinator for her team’s 15M (+) square foot portfolio of over 70 office buildings, Dominika provides transaction support over the entire agency leasing team. She has a direct focus on leasing office space in and around Pittsburgh’s Central Business District, including specifically handing renewals of existing leases within portions of the portfolio, and management of all databases.
Nov 6
Dominika Demantova is a licensed brokerage Senior Associate within CBRE’s Advisory and Transaction Services group. As the lead Team Transaction Coordinator for her team’s 15M (+) square foot portfolio of over 70 office buildings, Dominika provides transaction support over the entire agency leasing team. She has a direct focus on leasing office space in and around Pittsburgh’s Central Business District, including specifically handing renewals of existing leases within portions of the portfolio, and management of all databases.
Working with the Bishop Wealth Management Group earlier this year. #teamphotos #professionalteams
Oct 5
Working with the Bishop Wealth Management Group earlier this year. #teamphotos #professionalteams
Sarah is a civil litigator in Dinsmore and Shohl LLP’s Pittsburgh Office. Her practice focuses on commercial, banking, and consumer finance litigation. Sarah is currently on 6-month secondment with a Pittsburgh-based national bank where she has the unique opportunity to learn the client perspective and gain further experience in banking-related litigation and enforcement.When Sarah is not at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing with their rambunctious Boston Terrier, Leo, and exploring new restaurants and activities in her hometown of Pittsburgh. #pittsburghattorney
Sep 18
Sarah is a civil litigator in Dinsmore and Shohl LLP’s Pittsburgh Office. Her practice focuses on commercial, banking, and consumer finance litigation. Sarah is currently on 6-month secondment with a Pittsburgh-based national bank where she has the unique opportunity to learn the client perspective and gain further experience in banking-related litigation and enforcement. When Sarah is not at work, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing with their rambunctious Boston Terrier, Leo, and exploring new restaurants and activities in her hometown of Pittsburgh. #pittsburghattorney
Pittsburgh native, Grace Fowler, recently graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the @pittofficial Univiersity of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, along with a certificate in Gender Studies. As a student, she served as the Volunteerism & Corporate Giving Intern at Duquesne Light Company for nearly two years where she managed employee volunteerism and charitable grant programs. She has over six years of experience in corporate and foundation grantmaking.Grace began her career path in the Youth Philanthropy Internship Program at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and has worked at the United Way, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, and Catholic Charities. She is currently an Assistant Manager/Store Lead at @athleta - a certified B Corp that prioritizes people and planet. Grace is excited about opportunities to use her experience and help nonprofits thrive in the city she loves.
Aug 16
Pittsburgh native, Grace Fowler, recently graduated with a Master of Public Administration from the @pittofficial Univiersity of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, along with a certificate in Gender Studies. As a student, she served as the Volunteerism & Corporate Giving Intern at Duquesne Light Company for nearly two years where she managed employee volunteerism and charitable grant programs. She has over six years of experience in corporate and foundation grantmaking. Grace began her career path in the Youth Philanthropy Internship Program at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and has worked at the United Way, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, and Catholic Charities. She is currently an Assistant Manager/Store Lead at @athleta - a certified B Corp that prioritizes people and planet. Grace is excited about opportunities to use her experience and help nonprofits thrive in the city she loves.
We all have certain friends we’d do anything for. Unasked. Even if it’s a “job” that normally no one could pay us enough to do.I‘ve told everyone for years how I hate weddings (nothing against marriage), and that’s why that’s not my branch of photography.But I loved every minute of it on Saturday, despite 100+ degree heat in Daytona. doing my best to capture their day, and being a close part of it as the friend-photographer.Thanks guys (even though neither of you are on the socials) for having fun with me.But to everyone else…. It’s still a no. 😂Music is “Caliente Flow” by White_Records. pixabay.com
Aug 14
We all have certain friends we’d do anything for. Unasked. Even if it’s a “job” that normally no one could pay us enough to do. I‘ve told everyone for years how I hate weddings (nothing against marriage), and that’s why that’s not my branch of photography. But I loved every minute of it on Saturday, despite 100+ degree heat in Daytona. doing my best to capture their day, and being a close part of it as the friend-photographer. Thanks guys (even though neither of you are on the socials) for having fun with me. But to everyone else…. It’s still a no. 😂 Music is “Caliente Flow” by White_Records. pixabay.com
As the Talent Acquisition Manager for Sisterson & Co. LLP, Courtney Baum, MA enjoys building meaningful relationships, while recruiting quality professionals to join the talented team at Sisterson.In addition to her current role, Courtney held previous leadership positions at Baker Tilly, Saint Vincent College, and Carnegie Mellon University. For over 20 years, Courtney has enjoyed encouraging others to share their story and find their passion. She has served in additional roles as an adjunct faculty and as a dedicated member of her community through several executive boards focused on wellness, education, and career and professional development. Courtney holds a MA from Indiana University of PA and a BS from the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. #pittsburghaccounting #recruiting
Aug 9
As the Talent Acquisition Manager for Sisterson & Co. LLP, Courtney Baum, MA enjoys building meaningful relationships, while recruiting quality professionals to join the talented team at Sisterson. In addition to her current role, Courtney held previous leadership positions at Baker Tilly, Saint Vincent College, and Carnegie Mellon University. For over 20 years, Courtney has enjoyed encouraging others to share their story and find their passion. She has served in additional roles as an adjunct faculty and as a dedicated member of her community through several executive boards focused on wellness, education, and career and professional development. Courtney holds a MA from Indiana University of PA and a BS from the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg. #pittsburghaccounting #recruiting
My friend Jay Glunt is running a personal project on social media, which he calls "Meeting a Stranger." Follow him @jay_glunt_365. The stories he collects from complete strangers are inspiring, and his approach is creative. Definitely check it out.
Aug 2
My friend Jay Glunt is running a personal project on social media, which he calls "Meeting a Stranger." Follow him @jay_glunt_365. The stories he collects from complete strangers are inspiring, and his approach is creative. Definitely check it out.
Teagan Osborne, CPA was just promoted to Manager at Schneider Downs, after joining the company in June 2023. Graduated from Geneva College in 2019 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance; graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Aug 1
Teagan Osborne, CPA was just promoted to Manager at Schneider Downs, after joining the company in June 2023. Graduated from Geneva College in 2019 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Minor in Finance; graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Alexis Pollins was a Pittsburgh native of the South Hills (South Fayette Alumni). She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and an Event Planning Minor in 2018, where she fell in love with the hospitality industry. There she planned events for the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce.Alexis also assisted in the opening of Topgolf Pittsburgh with their Event Sales Department and is currently the Executive Meetings Manager at VisitPITTSBURGH on the Business Events Team. In her free time, she is an avid runner (she ran her first full marathon in Pittsburgh in May 2023). She has also been a dance teacher at Center Stage since 2018 and loves spending time with her family the most, especially her twin sister, Taylor.
Jul 26
Alexis Pollins was a Pittsburgh native of the South Hills (South Fayette Alumni). She graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and an Event Planning Minor in 2018, where she fell in love with the hospitality industry. There she planned events for the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. Alexis also assisted in the opening of Topgolf Pittsburgh with their Event Sales Department and is currently the Executive Meetings Manager at VisitPITTSBURGH on the Business Events Team. In her free time, she is an avid runner (she ran her first full marathon in Pittsburgh in May 2023). She has also been a dance teacher at Center Stage since 2018 and loves spending time with her family the most, especially her twin sister, Taylor.
Casey Kennedy is an attorney and a Section Specialist in Buchanan’s Financial Institutions, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate section. Prior to joining [Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney] last year, Casey represented clients in South Carolina and West Virginia in an array of real estate and oil and gas transactions and operated a title abstracting and land services company. Casey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Nutritional Science from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 2010. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2017, where she graduated cum laude with a concentration in Energy and Environmental Law. Before law school, Casey spent four years in the energy industry performing title research and analysis and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, leasing, and title curative matters for E&P and Midstream companies throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.#pittsburghattorney
Jul 13
Casey Kennedy is an attorney and a Section Specialist in Buchanan’s Financial Institutions, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate section. Prior to joining [Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney] last year, Casey represented clients in South Carolina and West Virginia in an array of real estate and oil and gas transactions and operated a title abstracting and land services company. Casey received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Nutritional Science from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia in 2010. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 2017, where she graduated cum laude with a concentration in Energy and Environmental Law. Before law school, Casey spent four years in the energy industry performing title research and analysis and assisting with mergers and acquisitions, leasing, and title curative matters for E&P and Midstream companies throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.#pittsburghattorney
Shawn Graham recently founded Rise Structural Group, a structural engineering firm offering innovative and cost-effective structural engineering solutions for buildings of any size. He is a Penn State Architectural Engineering Alum and has over 20 years of expertise in structural engineering and project management. Discover more at www.RiseStructuralGroup.com. #pittsburghengineers
Jul 10
Shawn Graham recently founded Rise Structural Group, a structural engineering firm offering innovative and cost-effective structural engineering solutions for buildings of any size. He is a Penn State Architectural Engineering Alum and has over 20 years of expertise in structural engineering and project management. Discover more at www.RiseStructuralGroup.com. #pittsburghengineers
Alexis Satterfield has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since graduating from Saint Vincent College in 2016. She provides tax services to various industries, specifically specializing in high net worth individuals and trusts. #pittsburghtaxprofessional
Jul 10
Alexis Satterfield has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since graduating from Saint Vincent College in 2016. She provides tax services to various industries, specifically specializing in high net worth individuals and trusts. #pittsburghtaxprofessional
Family photo! Of course I brought a strobe and modifier on vacation. When your VRBO has a view like that, you need to use it. But I’m not a “make everyone where the same clothes” for it. Just real.Oh, and I caught my brother up on the new AI Generative Fill in Photoshop… he and my nephew had fun with it in the second photo. (We are not a cat family. 😆)And then just fun at Biltmore.
Jul 6
Family photo! Of course I brought a strobe and modifier on vacation. When your VRBO has a view like that, you need to use it. But I’m not a “make everyone where the same clothes” for it. Just real. Oh, and I caught my brother up on the new AI Generative Fill in Photoshop… he and my nephew had fun with it in the second photo. (We are not a cat family. 😆) And then just fun at Biltmore.
Stephanie Zur has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since she graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2013. She provides tax preparation and consulting services to a variety of industries including start-ups and technology companies. Her areas of expertise include closely-held, multi-state businesses, U.S. based multinationals and individuals. #pittsburghtaxes
Jun 21
Stephanie Zur has been promoted to tax manager at Sisterson & Co. LLP. She has been with the company since she graduated from Washington & Jefferson College in 2013. She provides tax preparation and consulting services to a variety of industries including start-ups and technology companies. Her areas of expertise include closely-held, multi-state businesses, U.S. based multinationals and individuals. #pittsburghtaxes
I love doing team shots on locations. Especially in unique locations.I wanted to capture the uniqueness of their office location, on the Monongahela. But the best location was on the barge mooring across a narrow grated catwalk. We had to keep it simple with our lighting, doing our best to over-power the bright sun as much as possible, using just one light source because it was windy! (No equipment was damaged, which is much better than the last time I shot on the river.)Assistant: @dan_jenworleyphotography#pittsburgh team photos
Jun 8
I love doing team shots on locations. Especially in unique locations. I wanted to capture the uniqueness of their office location, on the Monongahela. But the best location was on the barge mooring across a narrow grated catwalk. We had to keep it simple with our lighting, doing our best to over-power the bright sun as much as possible, using just one light source because it was windy! (No equipment was damaged, which is much better than the last time I shot on the river.) Assistant: @dan_jenworleyphotography #pittsburgh team photos
Nandita Mahesh is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Marketing, a minor in Theatre Arts and is now working at Colliers as a Marketing Coordinator. In her free time, she employs herself as a freelance musician, actress, and script supervisor, producing music both recreationally and professionally and playing in gigs, performing in professional theatre productions, and working on films.
Jun 7
Nandita Mahesh is a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a major in Marketing, a minor in Theatre Arts and is now working at Colliers as a Marketing Coordinator. In her free time, she employs herself as a freelance musician, actress, and script supervisor, producing music both recreationally and professionally and playing in gigs, performing in professional theatre productions, and working on films.
Portrait to half-length to headshot. Great outfit Sabrina, and love those shoes!!! #pittsburghphotographer
May 26
Portrait to half-length to headshot. Great outfit Sabrina, and love those shoes!!! #pittsburghphotographer
Rochelle Qin joined Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP's Pittsburgh office as a summer associate in 2023. Juris Doctor Candidate at William & Mary Law School. She is interested in corporate and transactional law. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer @rochelle.qin
May 23
Rochelle Qin joined Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP's Pittsburgh office as a summer associate in 2023. Juris Doctor Candidate at William & Mary Law School. She is interested in corporate and transactional law. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer @rochelle.qin
Tara Hopper Rice joined the business litigation group Frost Brown Todd after being a shareholder at a regional law firm. She specializes in energy and real estate litigation and transactions, as well as bankruptcy workouts and family law disputes. Licensed in PA, WV and WY. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer
May 19
Tara Hopper Rice joined the business litigation group Frost Brown Todd after being a shareholder at a regional law firm. She specializes in energy and real estate litigation and transactions, as well as bankruptcy workouts and family law disputes. Licensed in PA, WV and WY. #pittsburghattorney #pittsburghphotographer
Ever use a confetti canon before? Well, we quickly discovered they are a little risky to shoot off in a small studio, when you have sprinkler heads above you. And yikes, are they loud!So we changed the idea- let’s shoot everyone individually. And instead of everyone shooting the canon, have people throw the confetti (which came out of our first canon) instead. Or pretend someone’s shooting it, and another person throws it off camera toward them.So here’s the composited photo, with the individual shots. #pittsburghphotographer
May 19
Ever use a confetti canon before? Well, we quickly discovered they are a little risky to shoot off in a small studio, when you have sprinkler heads above you. And yikes, are they loud! So we changed the idea- let’s shoot everyone individually. And instead of everyone shooting the canon, have people throw the confetti (which came out of our first canon) instead. Or pretend someone’s shooting it, and another person throws it off camera toward them. So here’s the composited photo, with the individual shots. #pittsburghphotographer