The 10 Best Hashtags and Accounts to Follow on Instagram for Christian Women

Social media can be a positive place that fosters growth in our faith if we choose to follow accounts and hashtags that point us towards God. Not sure how to make that happen? Find my pick for the 10 best hashtags and Instagram accounts for Christian women to follow on Instagram today!

Why You Should Fall Back in Love with Instagram (A Virtual Assistant's Perspective)

Instagram has always been a really fun platform for both bloggers and non-bloggers alike. We all love seeing beautiful photos with fun or inspiring captions. We like keeping up with our friends and with the newest from our favorite influencers. And for years now, bloggers and influencers have enjoyed perfecting their feeds and inspiring others to the best of their ability. They've worked hard to understand the best tactics for using the platform, and have done their best to keep up with policy changes and stay up-to-date with the way in which everything works.

As a blogger and a virtual assistant (VA), I fall into this category too. It is my job to improve daily, learn the do's and don'ts, and work on my photography- and if I don't do a good job, my blog credibility and my paycheck will suffer.

But if we are honest, we know that social media platforms can make changes any time they want to. That's why so many business gurus make such a fuss over focusing on our email list and blog content more than we do our social media, because we all know that we have zero control over what changes are made to any given social media platform.

Instagram has been living proof of this lately. They changed the algorithm, everyone adjusted, and then they changed it again. They always say they are "improving user experience", but to the influencers who have already poured blood, sweat, and tears into their accounts, it just feels like a slap in the face.

It's frustrating, to say the least, and many influencers are beyond irritated- some even saying they are done with the platform.

It seems that Instagram would value their users more than that, ya know? I mean, influencers, entertainers, and bloggers are the ones that really make Instagram popular. We are the ones who bring people in for Instagram, and yet they keep making it harder and harder to get noticed.

However, most of us started using IG to build community, grow awareness of our brand, and to look at beautiful pictures. And while yes, it is tougher to get seen now, it's still a great way to foster community and enjoy beauty. And that's what I think we should focus on for a while.

Enjoy Beauty

Beauty is everywhere if we take the time to look around. But the cool thing about IG is that I can hop on for a few minutes and see parts of the world that I've never been to before, or find bright, fun pictures that make my heart happy after a single glance.

We are such visual people that, I think, the platform naturally resonates with most of us.

At the end of the day, the algorithms tweaks and shadowbans do not change how this beauty affects us. It's there for us to enjoy and that's exactly what we should do.

Brand Awareness

So, I get that this becomes harder when IG changes things up on us, but one of the reasons a lot of us use the platform is to create awareness around our brand. This is an extremely important aspect of being an entrepreneur.

But despite the fact that it is harder to get seen right now, Instagram is still there for this purpose. We may have to adjust our strategy, and our growth may be slower, but in the end, we are still perfectly capable of growing our brand.

We have got to stop freaking out when something like this changes. Part of growing a brand is being consistent, unmovable, and simply ourselves. We can do that whether IG changes things up or not. We can do that whether our growth is slow or fast. We can do that whether we get seen as easily or not.

Don't get me wrong- when your numbers on IG affect your paycheck, things matter more. I know that. And as a virtual assistant, obviously my job depends on making sure that I am helping other's grow their social media numbers. But I also know that consistency, authenticity, and true engagement is what really counts. When we already have followers who know and love us, they count on us to keep on keeping on. They look to us for a beautiful feed, a pick-me-up, or some inspiration after a bad day. If we quit a platform, give up, or get sloppy with it, they will notice.

Don't get sloppy with your current followers just because a social media platform has got you down. Keep giving to the one's who have been faithful and more will come.

Community

And that brings me to the absolute most important reason we should fall in love with Instagram again: the community.
Being a part of Instagram and creating a community around a brand is the best feature in my eyes. No matter how many ways IG makes it harder to get seen and grow in numbers, it is still a great place to foster relationships, build connections, and lift each other up.

When we focus on the community we already have, and when we keep giving back to them, they will notice. When we engage with the people who are already on our radar, we are building relationships and making a difference. More than likely, in turn, we will continue to grow because our followers will tell others about us. However, even if that never happens, having a solid community is a blessing in itself. Focusing on fostering that instead of looking at our growth is sure to help us love Instagram again.

So as a blogger and a virtual assistant, here's my advice: Stop staring at the numbers for a while. Stop stressing quite so much. I really do get the income stresses, and I completely understand the frustration. But if we could all just calm down, get back to community, authenticity, and the enjoyment of beauty, I think IG could be a great place again.

4 Things Every Female Blogger is Required to Do

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Have you ever noticed that there are certain trends on blogs and on social media that seem like they are so prevalent that they are almost like an unspoken rule? Things that feel like they might be some secret right of passage into the "cool" side of life?

Trends fluctuate and change, but when a trend does come, you can bet it will be done and overdone on social media and the like. Most of the time though, that's not really too big of a deal because trends come and go in phases and one phase will eventually bid us farewell as it passes the baton off to the next trend on the scene.

But while these trends are occurring, it is critical that all of us lady-bloggers (and anyone who wants to be noticed on social media) pick up on these. Why? Because we have to be cool! We have to stick together and show the world that we can be awesome by doing the same things that everyone else is doing. Duh!

Thankfully, I have gathered this sacred list of trends so that every blogger and social media influencer will know exactly what they need to be doing in order to achieve awesomeness. You may not have known before that you were required to do these things, but now you do- and you're welcome!

Drink Coffee...Or At Least Drink Something from a Mug

If a blogger drinks coffee and forgets to post it on Instagram, did it actually happen?! I'm not entirely sure, and I suppose it will forever be a mystery.
It seems like if you are a lifestyle blogger, you HAVE to drink coffee (or at least tea, or wine from a mug, or at the very least, hot chocolate). I mean, come on- you can't seriously be inspired to create without that sweet nectar of life, right? 😅
That's why I make sure to post lots of coffee pictures on Instagram... how else will my readers know that my posts are gonna rock, unless they see that I have been inspired by my hot beverage?!

Use the Term "Bad-Ass"

Apparently, real lady bloggers call themselves "bad-asses". A term that used to be reserved for tattoo sleeves, bungee jumping, skydiving, and leather-jacket-wearing motorcycle-riders is now associated with sitting at a desk, typing out our hearts, and taking styled photos of us in pale pink sweaters and the perfect suede booties...Yes, that makes sense...😏

Photograph the Golden Trio

Have you ever noticed that us bloggers are constantly taking pictures of flatlays that include succulents, fancy paperclips, or a Macbook? And bonus points if it has all three, am I right?! I love taking pictures of succulents, and if I had any fancy paperclips, they'd probably make it in a few shots too. But that's just because I am a real blogger 😋

Everything Needs to Have Pineapples CACTI 

Scroll through Instagram for a few minutes and you are bound to see a cactus somewhere. For a few years it was pineapples- they were everywhere. And they aren't completely out, either. They still pop up from time-to-time on a coffee mug, a tee-shirt, or a fun pair of socks. But the pineapple isn't center-stage anymore (poor little guy). He has been pushed over for the all-important cactus. 

Cacti are now on everything: Mugs (so cute), lamps, cookie cutters, necklaces, rubber stamps...you get the picture. 

I think, if information serves me right, that you have to like cacti now, if you want to be taken seriously as a blogger. However, if you don't like cactus stuff, there's still hope! I believe that dinosaurs are inching their way back into the cool scene, so you could always get a dino mug instead! 

I'm glad we talked about this important issue today, friends. I mean, I didn't want to leave you in the dark. I wanted you to know that I do, in fact, qualify as a real blogger. And I also wanted to help my other blogger friends, just in case they were not aware of the rules. The rules are important, and should not be broken. And don't worry. If you aren't a blogger but still want to be cool on social media, you can still use all of these tips. Once you start doing these things, you are sure to be noticed and praise.

* You guys rock! Thanks for reading this silly post. I do love my coffee and succulents 😋

Using Social Media for Good (Guest Post)

Happy Monday, all you wonderfuls out there!

Today I am a guest over at Life With Kristie, where I will be discussing how we can use social media for good and positive purposes.

So if you've ever found yourself thinking, "why is everything in my feed sooooooo negative?" (and let's be real, everyone has thought that), then this is the post for you!

I want to give you guys ideas for being the positivity that you wish you were already seeing on social media! You don't need to wait for someone else to post something uplifting. You can do that on your own.

So head on over to Life with Kristie and read my newest post, "Using Social Media For Good".

And speaking of positivity, don't forget about the #thebeautifultreasures movement which is all about recognizing the beauty we have regardless of any flaws or imperfections. Check it out on Instagram and join the movement!

What We Say On Facebook Matters

People often get very brave on social media. Since they aren't standing toe-to-toe with those with whom they are speaking, they feel much more compelled to share the bolder portions of their minds. And who am I kidding? That includes me too!

As a lover of words, I enjoy typing out how I feel and what I think. I love the idea that I can make a difference and speak boldly for the truth. And that is the beautiful thing about blogs and social media: I can make a positive difference.

But there is also such a thing as our words mattering in a very bad way. We always think of "what we say matters" in a way that makes us feel significant, but what about when what we say is hurtful to others, selfish or prideful? What happens when our words misconstrue someone's thoughts or ideas and or belittle them?