The Do's and Don't's of Instagram Stories Engagement
Beat that algorithm.
Photo: Smith House Photography
We get it—the algorithm sucks. But that shouldn't deter you from perfecting your feed, going live, or posting to stories. As the old saying goes, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. There are so many ways you can outsmart it or simply jump on their bandwagon and create content around trends and viral hashtags.
Ahead, we’re sharing the do’s and don’t of Instagram Stories engagement to help you create compelling content that will grow your audience and keep them there. Want more ways to outsmart the algorithm? Download our The Grow Your Instagram Bundle and discover everything you need to know to get your grid right from creating compelling captions to winning at Instagram stories.
DO have planned “features” that you roll out on a bi-weekly or weekly schedule with similar content your users can look forward to. DON'T post the same feature's constantly.
DO use thoughtfully designed templates and frames. DON'T rely solely on Instagram's formats.
DO experiment with IGS features such as: stickers, polls, questionnaires but DON'T Rely on them to carry your strategy.
DO post stories every day or at least three times a week.
DO post around five frames each time (more frames is too much and people are not watching until the end).
DO post content your followers like or need (“how to” tips, outfit inspirations, polls about products preferences, etc.)
DO mix up your post types! Video one post, perhaps a quiz the next, and follow it with a satirical chaser.
DO save your best stories with the highest engagement in your highlights, and use a consistent look for the cover.
DO re-share content that you’ve been tagged in. User-generated content is always a good idea. It shows your community that you are trustworthy and have a product that people love.
DO use hashtags and tag people/brands in your stories that pertain to it. Show behind-the-scenes because it usually garners a lot of attention. People want to know what it’s like at a photoshoot or at an event.
DO have fun with it. These only last for 24 hours so you don't have to be as polished. Show behind-the-scenes content. Instagram is always introducing fun new story features (questions, polls, GIFs, etc.) so use them! Ask questions and experiment.
DO show your brand/the team's personality and get personal. Maybe how the founder uses the brand's products or even a 'story takeover for a day by one of the team members to show what her day is like.
DO give them a reason to want to share your stories. Post something really helpful on Saturday, that is not sales-sy, but is in the spirit of genuinely wanting to help.
DON'T use the same template each time! Mix it up to keep it interesting. This is where you can be creative and see what works best. After all, they disappear, and you don't have to keep them in your highlights.
DON'T just use your stories for advertising. People like to be entertained by your stories, and might also mistake it for a sponsored story.
DON’T make stories too long. Stick to around 10-12 a day. Any more than that and it’s too much content to soak in and truly appreciate.
DON’T forget your audience and who you are sharing with. You want to keep your followers (or potential followers) intrigued to watch everything you’ve shared.
DON’T not use stories. It’s an amazing way to connect with your followers and bring on new ones!
DON’T just repurpose existing content. If you're filming a video for IGTV, use the BTS content on Instagram stories. Don't worry about being too buttoned up. Have more fun with story content that won't be as permanent. Don't make it too long, sometimes fewer frames is better.
DON’T post the same thing you post on your feed—people get bored.
Want to outsmart the algorithm?
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50 Ways to Practice Self-Care and Prevent Burnout While Working From Home During COVID-19
Because, let's be honest, logging off at the end of the day is harder than ever.
Photo: Smith House Photography
Did you know that two in three workers today feel burned out? That’s not a difficult stat to believe considering American workers put in the most hours when compared to other industrialized nations like the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Now that we’re all working from home and sheltering in place in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, logging off at the end of the day to maintain some semblance of work-life balance is harder than ever. But, guess what? If you keep going without stopping, your body will force you, eventually because you will burn out, which could mean that it will take you even longer to get back on track. As with everything, preventing is better than curing, so stop hustling and start healing before burnout sets in.
Here are 50 ways to practice self-care and prevent burnout while working from home during COVID-19, and be sure to scroll to the end to shop our Create & Cultivate Marketplace The Self-Care Bundle with a habits tracker, sleep log, self-care panel videos, and so much more!
1. Have a mini declutter session.
2. Get eight hours of sleep
3. Meditate for 5 minutes.
4. Watch your favorite movie.
5. Take an Epsom salt bath with lavender.
6. Burn your favorite candle.
7. Turn off your phone for a few hours.
8. Go for a walk.
9. Write yourself a love letter.
10. Make a list of goals.
11. Put some music on and dance away.
12. Make your favorite meal or snack.
13. Go outside and put your bare feet on the grass.
14. Take your vitamins.
15. Make a cup of tea.
16. Write down 10 things you’re grateful for.
17. Give yourself a manicure.
18. Do yoga or some stretching.
19. Pick some flowers and put them in a vase.
20. Write a self-love list.
21. Have an intense workout session.
22. Listen to your favorite song.
23. Wear your favorite outfit.
24. Learn something new.
25. Sing in the shower.
26. Write a letter to your future self.
27. Create a vision board.
28. Call someone you love.
29. Read a book.
30. Take a nap.
31. Write your favorite quotes on post-it notes and stick them around the house and office
32. Write affirmations and put them where you can see them every day.
33. Organize your closet.
34. Host a virtual game night.
35. Bake your favorite cookies.
36. Try a new recipe from a cookbook.
37. Show a random act of kindness.
38. Create a bucket list.
39. Write a kind note to someone.
40. Start a journal.
41. Sleep in.
42. Go outside, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and soak in the sun.
43. Listen to a podcast.
44. Watch a documentary and learn something new.
45. Get crafty.
46. Listen to nature sounds.
47. Make a playlist of your favorite songs.
48. Work on a puzzle.
49. Do something you’ve avoided.
50. Take a moment to reflect on your life and the good things.
Want another 50 ways to practice self-care and prevent burnout?
Add the Create & Cultivate Marketplace The Self-Care Bundle to your cart, or get unlimited access to our entire library of downloads and videos when you join Insiders.
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Drumroll Please... Introducing the Create & Cultivate Marketplace—a Business Toolkit for Women Just Like You
We’ve been working on something special.
Photo: Smith House Photography
That business? Launch it. That blog? Start it. That side-hustle? Build it. That idea? Execute it.
We get it. Starting something is scary. But we want you to turn down the “I’m not-enough” noise, unlock your potential, ditch the fear, and do it anyway, which is why we’re proud to announce the launch of Create & Cultivate Marketplace.
Whether you’re starting a side-hustle, launching a business, figuring out the freelancer life, or cultivating the career of your dreams, our brand-new business and career bundles have the tools, resources, worksheets, and checklists to help you do it all.
We’ll teach you everything you need to know from start to finish so you can build the brand or a career you’re really proud of. We’re big believers in the phrase “progress over perfection” because in our opinion, done is always better than perfect.
So, what are you waiting for? Don't sit on the sidelines watching others chase and catch their dreams. Isn’t it time you invested in yourself? Let’s grow! Scroll on to explore our current Marketplace offerings and stay tuned for more.
The Self-Care Bundle
Are you hitting your burnout zone? Being an entrepreneur, creator, heck a lady right now is exhausting. But, don't worry because we tapped experts far and wide to have a conversation about self-care in an age of non-stop work. From a self-care check list and strategies to panel conversations, your new wellness ritual is here. So, sit back, light a candle, and dive into all things taking care of you!
$29.99
The Venture Capital Bundle
Angel? Venture? Seed? The Venture Capital landscape can be confusing but we are here to help. From a breakdown on how to read (and craft) a cap table to how to raise initial funds, panels with top VCs, and more—we've got your VC questions covered.
$24.99
The Bootstrapping & Budgeting Bundle
If you're building a small business from the ground-up, we know you're doing everything while you grow. But even if you have an accountant, every founder should know their numbers, and be across every spreadsheet. In this bundle, we show you how to bootstrap your biz with a monthly budget checklist, and more to make sure you're building a financially stable one.
$24.99
The Marketing Bundle
So you're almost ready to launch your business, but before you hit "go" it's time to get clear on your marketing strategy. Don't stress, we show you how to create a killer marketing campaign for launch along, a media kit checklist, and more. Sit back, relax, and get ready to grow.
$24.99
The PR Bundle
Congratulations you have launched your brand or business.... now what? We break down how to get your business out in the world from media-worthy pitches to creating brand collaborations that grow your audience. The time is now!
$14.99
The Branding Bundle
Dreaming of going out on your own one day and launching your own business? Before you take the leap and leave your job, start to map it out first. In this bundle, we show you how to expand on your idea including brainstorming the right brand name, writing a business plan, and crafting the perfect mission statement.
$24.99
The Launch Your Business Bundle
Ready to launch? Before you hit go we have some key information you might want to consider. Have you thought about trademarking? Copyrights? S-corp vs. LLC? Don't freak out! Our starting-your-business bundle has you covered from A to Z.
$24.99
The HR Bundle
Running a small business means you're wearing a lot of hats and if your company is under 50 employees, one of them is HR. That means you have to be across everything from hiring to firing. With our HR bundle you'll be able to onboard your employees, provide performance assessment, prevent workplace bullying, and yes, let a team member go when the time comes so you can build a culture of confidence and success.
$29.99
The Grow Your Instagram Bundle
Get your grid right, girl! We at C&C know the power of a strong Instagram profile. In this bundle, we break down the bio do's and don'ts, presets you need, and our strategy for Instagram success in a pay-to-play world!
$29.99
The Growth Hacking Bundle
Ready to grow your business from a seedling into a forest? Introducing growth hacking. We've outlined some creative, low-cost strategies from SEO to digital media optimization to help small businesses acquire and retain customers, expand your audience and see it thrive.
$17.99
The Job Hunting Bundle
It's time to create and cultivate the career of your dreams, but first up, job hunting. Okay, we know how grueling it can be but it doesn't have to be. We've got everything you need to land your ultimate role from resume templates, interview questions, and the all important post-interview follow-up email—the dream is yours for the taking!
$14.99
The Career-Boost Bundle
If your ambition is getting impatient then you're in luck. We have everything you need to step it up at work from mastering the lingo to ace your next meeting to setting goals (and achieving them)—let's take your career to the next level.
$14.99
Want all of these and more?
Get unlimited access to our entire library of downloads and videos when you join Insiders.
Download Alert: This Genius App Will Change the Way You Buy a Car (It's So Easy)
Say hello to Fair.
This post is in partnership with Fair.
Photo: Courtesy of Create & Cultivate
Making big decisions isn’t easy. Especially the ones that involve long term commitments—like picking a new home, selecting a new job, and buying a new car. These decisions hold a lot of weight because of their lengthy processes and the anticipation of commitment. Even if you’re not a “commitment-phobe”, there’s always a lot to consider before spending a significant amount of your hard-earned money.
If only the "big” decision-making processes were made easier, then the stress tied to them would lessen, and the barriers to entry would also be lowered—that’s the ideal combination, right? Well, in our quest to simplify, we came across a solution for one big decision we all dread: buying a car. Skip the fluorescently-lit car dealerships with their burnt coffee and long wait times—the answer is in the palm of your hand—say hello to Fair.
Fair is the new subscription service that is changing the way we buy cars. This easy-to-use app allows you to find the used car you’ve always dreamed of in one convenient app. You can buy a car without even having to leave the comfort of your couch and it takes the commitment out of the car-buying process (you can kiss car loans and leases good-bye!).
Fair’s version of car buying really lives up to its name. Now you’ll never be stuck with a car past its expiration date. Bottom line: you can get a car when you want, for as long as you want, and turn it back in at any time—no strings attached. Sounds too good to be true, we know.
But just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we’re going to remind you that a Fair subscription includes a limited warranty, roadside assistance, and routine maintenance too. Is this deal not sweet enough for you? How about this: when you get a car to drive for Uber, you pay even less. Crazy right? Well, let’s take you through the app’s interface to show you how good life can be as a Fair user.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Download the app and pick your use preference
Step 2: Create your account and scan your driver’s license
Additional info like your social security number and proof of address may be necessary.
Step 3: Start browsing through cars
You can search through anything from price to brand and ❤️ your favorites along the way.
Step 4: Find the car of your dreams!
Once you’ve found the one, you can pick it up or even have it delivered to you!
Step 5: Drive worry-free and turn your car in whenever you’re done!
Car buying has literally never been so easy. Though it sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. Fair is a hot ticket item because of its convince as well as its trustworthiness. Try it yourself and see what all the fuss is about—you’ll thank us later.
Exclusive Survey: We Asked Working Women About the State of Teamwork
32% of women said this was the hardest part about working on a team. Any guesses?
Behind every strong woman is five other strong women who proofread her email real quick when they had a second. Teamship is at the core of women making things happen—so when we wanted to know exactly what it’s like for all of you who are out there running teams and turning your dreams into careers, we asked.
We partnered with Microsoft Teams to tap hundreds of modern working women to learn more about how they communicate, collaborate, and crush it with their team. One of the biggest takeaways was the 32.3% of women surveyed said that the hardest part of working on a team is poor communication. Here are some of our favorite stats about teamship below!
Make sure your team is reaching its full potential with Microsoft Teams - a hub for all teamwork and communication!
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Free Download: Discover Your Purpose In 4 Steps
Not all who wander are lost.
“Not all those who wander are lost”... the ones that aren’t lost trust themselves to find their way!
Every now and then, we can feel like we aren't achieving our potential our have gotten off the path from our initial life goals, but once we take notice that's we're off track, that's where we can take action and make a change for the better.
Take it from our good friend Maxie McCoy who's established her purpose in her career, and is all about helping others discover it as well. This week, she's helping you find yourself with a free workbook download that will help you plan out dreams and aspirations and help you act on them in 4 steps.
Enter your name and email below to get access to download it now!
Free Download: Start Hacking Your Business' Growth
No, we're not talking Angelina Jolie circa 1995.
Have you heard about hacking your way to a successful business?
What if we told you that it's possible to grow your business with little to no money? All you have to do is become a hacker. Not Angelina Jolie circa 1995 cyberpunk thriller. There's no hacking into databases or leaking sensitive information.
And no, you don't need to start taking IT classes. We’re talking hacking your own marketing techniques and taking smart and strategic shortcuts that will successfully bring attention to your brand. It’s taking marketing to the next level and thinking out-of-the-box when creating campaigns.
Want to know more? Download the Growth Hacking Checklist from Above the Glass, the online platform giving women business tools and resources, below.
Free Download: The Ultimate Social Media Checklist for Your Brand
Time to apply some Spring cleaning to your social media.
When was the last time you did a social media review and made sure that your social media was in tip top shape? Spring is here, and just like it’s time to clean up and organize your home and office spaces, you should also do the same with your social media. If you can’t remember the last time you did it, or perhaps haven’t done it at all, your time is now.
When it comes to executing a seamless social media marketing strategy, you have to make sure you have all your ducks in a row and have covered all your bases. From checking to see if you know who has access to your accounts, to making sure that you have set your goals in a KPI sheet, we’ve got you covered in our free social media review checklist.
Get started on your social media review and download the checklist below now.
Download Now: A Hiring Resource That Answers All Your Questions
Build your dream team from scratch.
Whether you are looking for that first awesome employee or you need to replace a member of your team, every. single. stage of hiring is hard work. And building the dream team from the ground-up?
To get good workers, you need to put in work.
Which is why we teamed up with Career Contessa to create the most comprehensive hiring resource. From figuring out how to find applicants, to sorting through resumes, to figuring out what questions to ask to sort through candidates, this download is over ten pages of pure gold.
Just because you're building your team, yes, your team doesn't mean you have to go at it solo.
Exclusive Report: We Polled 400 Working Women & This Is What We Found Out
You'll never guess their #1 priority.
We spend our days around hard-working, motivated women. But we wanted to know how they really felt about their careers, their futures, the state of the world-- all of it.
So with the help of Buzz MG, we surveyed over 400 working women. We talked social, savings, and the every day hustle. One of the biggest takeaways was the 83% of the women surveyed said that they want to own their own business. Entrepreneurship is ON THE RISE (and hey ladies, the highest wave floats all boats).
If this sounds like you, check out our new video series for branding and building your own side hustle.
Here our some of our favorite takeaways. You can download the full report below!
graphic credit: Chloe White
Knowing your audience is key. Deep dive into the full report featuring 5 full pages of stats and info including: work habits, career status, media preferences, wants and goals, saving abilities, and political leanings.
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Playing Cupid: Boss Galentines for Your Business BFF
We're cheers'ing to heart-to-hearts and pep talks from your business bestie.
We know, we know. Valentine's Day is tomorrow. Today, however, is Galentines Day. Show your love for your Business BFF by sending them one of our Boss Galentines.
C&C Classifieds Nº25: Be Our Next Social Media Manager!
The month is flying by. Don't let opportunities fly by too.
Photo by Sarah Natasha Photography
Can you believe we're half way through January? Time is flying right past us, and while we don't mind that so much, we have to make sure that we're not letting opportunities fly right past us too.
This week, we have a fresh new batch of classifieds to continue help you make 2017 the best year ever, including an opportunity to join the Create & Cultivate team! If you're not much of a Social Media Manager to join our team, then maybe the other options will catch your attention. Check out this week's listings below, and sign up for our newsletter for full access!
CREATE & CULTIVATE
LOS ANGELES, CA
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº24: Camron PR, FabKids, Amazon, and more!
Don't start slacking on your new year's resolution just yet.
photo credit: Bloguettes
You've made it through the first week of January 2017! We hope that it's been smooth sailing thus far, and while we're at it, how are those New Year's resolutions coming along?
If you're still on the hunt for the one gig that is going to be a home run for 2017, we've got you covered. From FabKids to Camron PR, and including internship positions here at C&C, enter your name and email below to get full access to this week's classifieds!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº22: Ogilvy & Mather, Anthropologie, Simon Malls, & more!
The time for new opportunities is right around the corner.
As the clock is about to strike 12 this Saturday night, we are welcoming all new opportunities in the new year. 2017 is set to be an amazing fresh start for a lot of us, and that includes those that are on the hunt for a new career opportunity.
Below are some of our featured jobs this week, but for full access to all of the listings, enter your name and email below!
May 2017 bring you all the opportunities you deserve! Good luck!
VIEW THE FULL LISTINGS BELOW:
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº21: Ban.do, Digital Brand Architects, Univision & more!
Get in that last job application before you check out for the holiday.
We bet that you're packing your bags right now getting ready to put your OOO auto-reply on and check out for the holiday weekend.
Or, you could still be hunting for that next opportunity to lock in for 2017. Whatever the case is, we've got you covered to continue your job search.
This week, we've got fresh new listings from our good friends at Ban.do, Digital Brand Architects, Univision Communications Inc., and so many more! To get access to the full listings, enter your info below!
Happy Holidays!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº20: Be Social, Fringe Studio, Trendera, & more!
The hustle don't stop, even if you're in holiday mode.
HOLIDAY BREAK IS SO CLOSE. SOOOOO CLOSE.
If you're counting down the days till you can kick your feet up and relax, hang in there. Just because you're already in holiday mode, it doesn't mean the hustle has to stop, especially if you're looking to kick off 2017 with a new gig.
Sign up below to get full access to our C&C Classifieds this week featuring Be Social, Trendera, Fringe Studio, Squarespace, and more!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº18: Pressed Juicery, Hypebeast, WeWork, and more!
Get a head start on your new year's career resolutions.
As we wrap up November, and look towards the end of 2016, some of us are starting to write in out our New Year's resolutions. If finding the next step in your career has made it onto your list, we're here to help.
Don't wait 'til January 1st to start applying to new jobs - step into 2017 with good vibes and a new job under your belt. Sign up below to see this week's selects from Google, Hypebeast, TBWA\Chiat\Day, We Work, Pressed Juicery, and more!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº13: Start The New Season With A New Career Move
Fall in love with your new gig.
Fall is finally here, and the change of seasons might make you want to make a change in your career and start off fresh. Either that, or you just haven't had the right opportunity fall in your lap, and you're still searching. No matter what it is, you know we always have your back.
This month, we have fresh new listings that you can call dibs on first from AZIONE PR, Sakura Bloom, Stylehaul, Kopari, Small Girls PR, FashionABLE, our very own #CreateCultivateATL speaker Kelly Mindell's Studio DIY, Tuft & Needle, and plenty others.
To get full access to this month's classifieds, enter your info below. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!
If you have signed up for access to the C&C Classifieds before, click here.
C&C Classifieds Nº12: 50+ New Job Listings Delivered Your Way
Fall in love with your new job.
It’s about that time that we wave goodbye to summer as Labor Day makes its way around the corner, and say hello to fall. With the change of seasons upon us, you might also feel inclined to make some moves and find the next significant leap in your career. For those of you who are looking - we’ve got you.
Just before the month ends, we’ve got a brand new batch of listings for you from Shabby Chic, The Huffington Post, Patagonia, Revolve, Fitbit, Refinery29, and many others.
Also, did we mention that we’re hiring as well? Go ahead and enter your info below and see what positions we’ve got for you so you can join our team! Good luck!
Free Download: Map Out Your Business Budget with Above The Glass
Get your business' financial success in line.
Photo by Maria Sosa
When becoming a business owner, a lot of things can seem intimidating when you’re getting started. Do you start your business from your home, or do you start looking for an office space? How many employees should you hire? What supplies should you get for your office? What do you write off for tax season?
There are a million questions that will come up when you get in motions of becoming a business owner, but when you set out a financial map, you’ll be more prepared of what to factor in into your budget. Not only that, it will allow you to have enough cushion for when your business begins to grow or anything unexpected happens.
To get started on the right foot, use Above The Glass’ free download this week for their Budget Checklist template which will help you outline everything that you need and help you prepare properly for the financial future of your business.
To get access to the free download, enter your name and email below.