Darling, if you have been dreaming of being seen on Instagram, then this guide is for you! Many women over 50 are harnessing the power of Instagram to build inspiring followings, and with the right approach, you can too! For me, Instagram is an important part of my life and a vital way that I connect with other women. I’m thrilled to welcome back Stacey Birch, a seasoned social media manager who has a knack for helping women truly stand out. You may remember Stacey from her insightful piece, My Midlife Remix: How Social Media and Dog Rescue Were Exactly What I Needed. Today, she’s sharing her expert advice on how to harness the power of Instagram to build genuine connections and get noticed. Get ready to be inspired by her wisdom and practical tips. Enjoy! 

Shining on the ‘Gram

If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could chat with a social media team to tell you exactly what to do to be seen on Instagram, then this is perfect for you. Well, to be honest I’m not exactly a team, nor will I be telling you what to do. But I am a woman who has spent an insane amount of time on the crazy app called Instagram.

Hi! I’m Stacey. Four years ago, I remixed my life and became a full-time social media manager as a woman over 50. I help brands to stand out and be SEEN on Instagram.

The Secret Sauce for being Seen on Instagram

So, this may come as a bit of a surprise… BUT the secret sauce that you’ve been looking for isn’t about hacking that ever-so-despised algorithm, or about being uber social media savvy.

The secret sauce is YOU!

Yup, YOU, your experiences, your personality, your perspective, and your energy is why strangers pick to follow YOU over everyone else!

Why Authenticity Matters When Seen on Instagram

Ok, so let’s imagine this: you’re scrolling Instagram looking for a menopause fitness gal (I need to do this 😉) and you come across an IG page filled with the most aesthetic, perfect lil squares you ever did see, but as you scroll more you realize *gasp* Where is SHE?! She’s not in her stories, nor are you seeing much of her anywhere else.

So you decide to keep scrolling and find another menopause fitness gal. This time she’s talking to the camera (aka you) about her passion for fitness in her fifties! She’s sharing her morning smoothie routine, her love of cats, plants, and trash TV, and…well, you’re hooked. She’s the one!

You see, people buy into people, not the product they’re selling.

Authenticity matters if you want to be seen on Instagram.

The Power of Personal Connection

The truth is, people like people. (Ummm… hello, reality TV craze.)

Any posts with people in them do better.

And posts with text added to the image or video do even better! 😉

There are still a few tricks, besides you just showing up unabashedly as YOU, that I can teach you to be seen on Instagram.

Optimizing to be Seen on Instagram

Let’s take it from the top. Literally.

Your name—Not your Instagram handle—but the name that’s under your profile picture. Is it searchable?!  This is some prime social media real estate as IG has become a search engine (like Google)! This is where you can use keywords that your ideal client will search for.

For example, as soon as I had my client change their name to Tulum Photographer, they started getting inquiries. Making your name searchable helps you to get SEEN on Instagram.

 

Crafting the Best Instagram Bio

Ok, now let’s head to your bio. You know that block of text you see when you click on an Instagram profile?

That’s your virtual calling card, your elevator pitch, and your first impression all rolled into one. It should provide a snapshot of who you are or what you or your brand represents, enticing visitors to hit that follow button. So, let’s try to leave your love of meatloaf, cats, and Jesus off of there (unless that’s truly what your brand is all about) and save it for your stories.

Honey’s bio does an excellent job showing who she is, and why you should follow her (..and you should 100% follow her!)

Using Instagram Stories to Connect

Ok, let’s talk STORIES! 🎉  This is where you truly make those connections, and those sales if that’s your jam!!! Taking people along on your journey and behind the scenes is one heck of a way to stand out in a sea of sameness (hello, trend after trend).

I had a lady say to me the other day that she couldn’t do this as her daughter didn’t allow her to film her grandkids and that’s a huge part of her and her life.  A good alternative for this woman would be to show up on Stories for a brief morning coffee chat about her day’s plans, or a short evening routine with a summary. Aim for authenticity, remember!?

Creating Content that Resonates

Ok, now let’s get to the meat and potatoes—CONTENT.

Short form video content is king. Instagram Reels are where it’s at for reach.  🚀

Instagram Reels are those fun, short videos that let you share your creativity, personality, and passion, all in just 90 seconds or less. Here is a great example!

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by HONEY GOOD | Empowering Women (@iamhoneygood)

 

Look, I know it can be hard to film yourself and show up on video, but trust me it gets easier over time.

The Power of Trending Audio Seen on Instagram

Ooh, and when I mention trend after trend, well Instagram still favours trending audio, so when you’re scrolling, look for the little arrow next to the sound instead of the music note. This will help you be seen on Instagram.

That lil arrow signifies a trending audio. You can click the sound and see what people are doing for the trend… and then MAKE IT YOUR OWN. Instead of just regurgitating what you’re seeing on the app, always find a way to put your own spin on it.

Embracing Vulnerability on Instagram

And lastly, anyone who gives you a hard time or thinks it’s “icky” to film yourself and create content just isn’t brave enough to try.

It’s a super vulnerable thing to put yourself out there on the internet. You’re opening yourself up to critique and judgement from not only strangers but also people in your life that just don’t understand what you’re doing.

And being able to acknowledge that, and create the videos you love to create nonetheless, is a superpower. 💪🥰

Know that what you’re doing is hard, and it’s impressive.

You’re doing what a lot of people would love to do, but just haven’t tried yet. You’ve got this! 😎

 

Stacey Birch helps midlife women with their own midlife remixes by getting them grooving on Instagram.  She has a community that helps you to be seen, supported and celebrated on IG. Join the Grown Gals Gang by signing up here website  and to find out about her upcoming Mexico retreats, give her a follow on Instagram.