Instagram, In Perspective

This is not your typical approach to Instagram. This is the antidote to influencer-culture and bro-marketing tactics that have sucked the connection and creativity out of using Instagram, and that ignore the needs of writers and authors.

I’ll say with my whole chest that I don’t care about your follower count: I’m more interested in making sure you’re not living in service to the algorithms, you’re not wasting your time on tactics that won’t work for you, and that you have an opportunity to enjoy an enriching, productive relationship with the platform you are using.

I’m infinitely more interested in judging Instagram’s real importance in relation to everything else you do, that is, I’m interested in keeping Instagram In Perspective.

That’s not to say your Instagram won’t grow when you follow this method. You will increase the number of readers who discover your work, but you’ll do it in a way that is heart-led, integrity-filled, and that clarifies and appraises the true (in)significance of Instagram.

This, is how we do that…

  1. YOU

We start by exploring what you want your relationship with Instagram to be like and what barriers, concerns, or areas for development you currently have when it comes to using the platform. We then move into thinking about your book, why you are writing it and why now? We think about your goals, your timeline or phase of publication, and finally we consider what your capacity is for tackling this new challenge.

2. YOUR BOOK

We explore the contents, ideas and themes of your book, and consider where it sits in the market, as well as defining how your book is going to transform* the lives of its readers.

*yes, the transformation is allowed to be fleeting, and yes, I mean fiction too - whether it moves your reader from feeling bored to being entertained, or from despondent to uplifted, or solves one of life’s great questions, every book has intrinsic value.

3. YOUR READER

We work to define who your ideal reader is: who is it you’re trying to reach through your Instagram presence? What are they interested in? How can you be of service to them, and what are they looking for that your book can provide? Finally, we think about how can you use Instagram to find, attract and nurture your relationship with these people so they become - not just your readers - but your biggest cheerleaders too.

4. YOUR CONTENT STRATEGY

This is where many online Instagram ‘gurus’ begin their work to support people with creating and nurturing your platform: all of the emphasis is on what to post. In contrast, when you follow the Instagram In Perspective method, you lay solid foundations that will make the posts you create and share more appealing to your audience, and aligned with your priorities and interests, than any bolt-on generic post ideas could ever be.

At this point, we take key themes and ideas in your books and writing and use them to create a bespoke framework which informs your content planning. This framework then holds the easeful generation of a supply of individual post ideas that you can be confident will appeal to the right people.

5. TACTICS and ROUTINES

Next, we work together - referring back to the work we’ve done on defining your goals + your ideal reader + your content strategy + individual post ideas, and also factoring in your skill level and your capacity - to determine which tactics - post formats, hooks, audio, collaborators, editing, timing, cadence, engagement, collaborations etc. - and daily/ weekly routines, are best for you.

6. TIME, TEST and REFINE

The most underestimated factor in success on Instagram is whether you give yourself the time to test different approaches. Together we will experiment with different ways to ‘package’ up your ideas, constantly monitoring and evaluating which ideas, formats, and creatives deliver the results you are looking for.

At the same time I’ll support you to develop new skills gently and iteratively, and I’ll create the safety for you to take risks and create an approach to Instagram that works for you, and keeps it firmly In Perspective.