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theyearsiturnedintoaghost · 3 years

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Hello, Is This Thing On?

Hi! (as mentioned above). Do people still use this thing? I have no idea. Years ago, and I do mean YEARS ago, I had one of these. I didn’t use it for much, just reposting things, following humans I’d met in online communities, a ‘celebrity’ here or there, sometimes screaming about shit I couldn’t control into the void that is the endless scrolling interweb, and being pointless in wasting my time between classes, work, and twenty-something. Regardless, my previous tumblr had minimal followers, made minimal impact, and that was okay. It was honestly just a nice place to sort of hide in plain sight. Still be part of a social world without actually having to do much. This was also pre a billion other apps and social media outlets to express yourself or scroll mindlessly at a million other pointless things that people were posting to make you giggle or even just stop for a second and think.

Clearly, the point of this, back then, felt like something I would use to help propel my writing career. Turns out, it did not. I did not write much, if at all. And most of the time I think it was because I was scared nothing was as good as any of the other stuff I was reading from people I liked, and thought were so much cooler and smarter than me; I still feel this way all of the time, but I do realize this was me being nervous, small minded about myself, and completely unconfident.

Unfortunately, I am still most of these things a lot of the time, but recently, after getting fired from a job, having my heart broken by pretty much everyone on the planet, especially a few specific people, cancelled by all of my friends (?) - this is a thing btw. (It’s not as awful as being cancelled publicly, but it does still ruin your life, mindset, confidence, and overall physical and mental wellbeing) Getting a new job, hating it and feeling like I was going no where, and missing out on living a life I felt proud of and that I was actively participating in, I decided maybe I should just try to write it all out and see what happens.

To be frank, I expect nothing of this. I can’t fathom a world where anything I have to say truly matters to people because lets be real - everyone has this own shit and everyone is going through so much all of the time. And we all think we have something new, quirky, interesting, and important to say. And in a world that constantly shoves perfection down our throats and works so hard to make each of us feel completely inadequate to every Kardashian, Beyonce, Grande, etc., it’s hard to really think that anything I have to say will matter to anyone; at all.

(I also hate that all of my ‘perfectionist’ people were female, but maybe it’s harder to compare to Golden Boys when you are a female. Either way, there are many boys/men/theys/thems that are put on a pedestal and made out to be perfect out there, as well, and they deserve that notation as well. I just have no points of reference off the top of my head, so please forgive me; I am trying to do this in a stream of consciousness type thing.)

I mean, the truth is, I’m a fucking mess. I’m 33, single, living at home, afraid of my own shadow most of the time, and spend about 98% of my time alone. I pay for a phone plan that I literally only use to send memes to my two sisters, and that’s about it. I rarely receive texts, invites out, or even calls to make plans for something. And while a lot of this is my own doing - again, I did cut off most of the world after I realized I was sort of the joke to a lot of people - it’s still kind of pathetic, and entirely uncool. I am not a socialite, or someone cool and trendy, and to be honest, I kind of never want to be.

Which is a semi-false statement, because years ago, when I had one of these previously, I sort of hoped it would work out and that I could write and be ‘cool.’ Whatever the fuck that means. But now, years later, I’m honestly beyond glad I am not cool; not in the slightest. Maybe that’s making it to your 30s? Maybe the trade for having to create a daily routine of lathering up my body with like 9 different versions of FDA-Approved-Vampire-Juice on my skin to prevent me from looking any older than I already do, you in turn get to have a brain that finally realizes... having a ‘normal’ life is honestly pretty cool? Normal is clearly subjective here as everyone is normal, famous, notoriety, or not; They’re all still humans and people with feelings, thoughts, and emotions. This is a hard thing to realize when you see stadiums full of people screaming at Harry Styles (Boom! found a male perfect in this scatterbrain) or hundreds of paparazzi lined up to take photos of every person on a red carpet wearing clothing that costs as much as my student loan debt (Which sidenote, is VERYYYYYY much). It’s hard to fully realize that maybe some of those people who became ‘icons’ never really knew what they were getting into when they signed that deal with the Devil to make them seemingly immortal; especially in a world with the internet where everything can exist forever (or until the world explodes, clearly). But maybe getting into my 30s and removing myself from most social media outlets, even listening to the news, or caring about whatever fucking popular haircut was in this season (it’s always bangs, and I’ve already made that mistake. No thanks), that I learned to realize - the truly most important people in your life are the ones that stick with you when it’s tough. When getting out of bed is so hard your limbs ache and you cry every morning on your way to work, at your desk behind your computer screen hidden in a corner, or in a bathroom stall during your lunch break. The normalcy that comes with realizing your prayers to ‘just make it to five o’clock,’ are heard and that you are just so thankful for that that you don’t even desire the innate feeling in most of our egos to stand out, be seen, ‘Make it’ in a way that lets people notice we ‘succeeded.’ Maybe this only comes with the realization of how nice it is to go to a grocery store braless and unnoticed.

Maybe this is also something I, and so many of us in this point and shoot viral world, are trying to still learn.

Sure, a lot of days I still crave being able to make a perfect Pintrest project, practice my Late Night interview with Letterman where I sound funny, charming, and likeable to all walks of life, or recreate a recipe from the New York Times website so great that The Barefoot Contessa finds out through word of mouth, and comes to my basement hide out, and offers to give me, a fellow barefoot loving bitch, her title and crown along with a glass of wine and a kiss from her husband, Jeffery. We’ll both laugh at how lovely it feels to be Barefoot ladies who understand that wanting ‘fame’ or ‘recognition’ in your twenties is only really a pathway to destruction by your 30s.

And this is not exactly something that I learned easy. In fact, I spent most of my twenties destroying my body with drugs - plenty of hard ones - and alcohol - various kinds of the same things - in order to numb my brain from the sadness that is just... being young, lonely, scared, unsure of yourself, and nervous that all of your hopes and expectations for yourself in your ‘dream life’ are too much for what you and your actual self will ever be capable of ever becoming. That I would never become the comedian I dreamed of being, or sing the perfect song in front of a crowd of admirers, or write that best selling book to tell everyone who thought I was nothing they could go fuck themselves. It’s something I still have to remind myself, and my brain and ego, that are most likely things I will never do because those are lottery dreams. And people you know don’t actually win the lottery. And at the end of the day, I am people you know. And sometimes it breaks my own heart to realize I may never feel that rush of making a crowd laugh, or creating a piece of art that makes someone feel seen, but as Pam, from The Office said, and I am paraphrasing, ‘there is beauty in ordinary things.’ And I think reminding myself of that as I sat on the beach this summer and watched a dad teach his son to surf, and how happy they both were when he got up, gave me that brief feeling of... being okay. I won’t lie, I did cry a little at this realization at that moment, and I am slightly teary now as I write it, but I think I’m not ashamed of that because being normal means I get to feel things as I do, in that moment, and that is something I think I lacked in my desiring-bigger-flashier- twenties; actually being present in the world and your place in it. Even if that is just as small as being kind to a random person on the street.

I think that is why everything I felt I wanted to write never came out correct. It never came out ‘Perfect.’ And that was my problem for most of my life, even up until today, I’m afraid that I am a perfectionist in the ways that are preventing me from becoming... me. I’m still fearful that I am too late in ever ‘accomplishing’ anything I ever dreamed. I doubt I will ever actually write a book. I’m unsure I’ll ever make a decent living. I am beyond doubtful I am ever going to be loveable to someone whom I also want to love back. And maybe I’m a little scared that I’ll never have a kid, or that if I do have a kid, I’ll never be a decent parent. And I’m still working on breaking the cycle of thinking something has to ‘sound’ or ‘be seen as important’ to be meaningful. There is beauty in the ordinary. I’ve started to make it my mantra. Spoken in my head every time I see a teenage couple holding hands walking in town, a father holding their baby close to his chest, a woman dressed in a power suit striding through an office building or city on their way to make their own careers or push equality further. I’ve started to dream of how actual normalcy makes the real changes. How every 4th grade teacher has a chance to change some kids life.

Clearly, a lot of these personal fears I have about myself not being ‘enough,’ or doing something good enough to become successful at it and build a life out of it, are monotonous fears and privileged middle-class complaints. I’m aware they may not resonate with anyone, anything, or mean much more than just being an online public diary entry to my own meandering thoughts, but, still - I finally felt like I had to try.

So here it is, the whole truth on how I let myself become a ghost for years.

I hope someone will stick around while I just... try to explain it all, figure it all out, and hopefully make sense out of even being whatever a human who is hoping to grow even means. Hopefully, something here will resonate with someone else and we can create our own little weirdo corner of the world where we’re not seeking more than just trying to be honest with ourselves and what it means to be human. Even if that means just posting a recipe for banana bread (thank you Gwen Steffani for keeping me able to spell Banana), reposting random memes about how we all want to scream for 30 seconds and feel better, or sad-girl diary entry posts about how I ruined my own life a million times over. Oh, and maybe I’ll give you tips on how to stain your wood deck, because I spent my day doing that yesterday and basically, Home Depot is calling me to be in their ADs.

But at the core of it all, lets be very real, it’s hard to be human in so many ways. And I’m just hoping this connects with anyone. Especially any of us who wished we were different - in any way.

xoxo

-K

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humanity-shortest-soldier · 6 years

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Question tag for AO3 writers~~

I found the original questions on AFF a while back, and I thought since I’ve been tagged in so many meme things lately, I’d also tag a bunch more people in this one XD Since the questions were designed for AFF, I’ve reworked some of them to fit for AO3 writers. I also removed two questions rather than trying to translate them to AO3 terms. So, I’ll fill out my answers first, and then put the blank questions again at the bottom for you to easily copy and paste!

1. How did you come up with your username and what does it mean?

SIFU_HOTMAN because Zuko is one of my favorite characters and honestly Aang calling him “Sifu Hotman” is hilarious.

2. Which fanfic of yours has the most feedback? (bookmarks/subscriptions/hits/kudos)

Exactly My Type by a long shot, lol.

3. What is your AO3 profile icon and why did you choose it?

It’s Izaya Orihara to represent the trash on my page.

4. Do you have any regular/favourite commenters?

Yes! I’m shocked when I read through my comments and see how often the same people will comment on each chapter. And there are definitely one or two that I look forward to seeing. I recognize a ton of usernames on AO3 but I don’t know many of them on here.

5. Is there a fanfic that you keep going back to read again and again?

THIS fic by the super-talented @courtingstars! I swear I’ve reread this fic like 6 dozen times at this point, as well as the sequel! (For real tho, I could probably recite this fic word for word, I love it so much. AkaFuri fans, if you haven’t checked it out, I can’t recommend it enough!)

6. How many stories are you subscribed to? How many do you have bookmarked?

I’m guilty of not subbing or bookmarking that much, because it got to the point where I had so many that it kinda made it pointless, lol. But I’m subscribed to 2 users, and 5 fics, and I have 46 bookmarks.

7. Which AU do you find yourself writing the most?

I don’t really write AU’s all that much? (I think I only have 2, the Nanny/Single Parent AU and a Red String of Fate AU). I definitly want to try doing more tho! I was super nervous about the Nanny/Single Parent one, but now it’s my hightest hitting fic! And it was from a prompt! lol

8. How many people are subscribed and bookmarked to you in total? (you can view this on the stats page)

Total bookmarks: 311 Total subs: 337

9. Is there something you’d like to write about but are afraid of people judging you for it? (Feeling brave? If so, share it!)

The only thing I can think of right now is I want to get better/ more comfortable with writing smut lmao. I’ll conquer it one day!

10. Is there anything you would like to be better at? Writing certain scenes or genres, replying to comments, updating better, etc.

Updating better, for sure. It eats me alive that it’s been almost a year since I started Exactly My Type, and I’ve only written 5 chapters! It’s so hard to find time with all the overtime at work, and with everything else. BUT that’s something I definitely plan on changing.

And maybe replying to comments? I generally don’t reply (I feel so bad about this, I’m so sorry. Comments just make me an incoherent mess and I’m never sure how to reply without rambling and making an idiot of myself)

11. Do you write rarepairs or popular ships more often?

Is AkaFuri a rarepair? I know it was more considered one a while ago, but I don’t know anymore. I guess whatever category they fall under, that’s it lol.

12. How many stories have you posted on AO3 to this day (finished and unfinished)?

Eight! Which is eight more than I thought I would write.

13. How many stories do you have saved in/with your writing program?

I have 30 stories saved on Google Docs. (I’m shocked? lmao)

14. Do you write down story ideas, or just keep them in your head?

Everything in my head. My ten hour shifts at work mostly consist of me staring off into space and writing fan fiction in my head.

15. Have you ever co-authored a story?

Other than bouncing ideas off of a friend, no. It sounds fun tho!

16. How did you discover AO3?

Searching for ATLA fanfiction like, 4 years ago. After reading everyting FanFiction.net had to offer, I found AO3 and immediately made the switch.

17. Do you consider yourself to be a popular or famous author in your fandom(s) on AO3?

God, no lmao. I think I’m IN the AkaFuri barrel, but far from the top of it.

18. Do you have a nickname or fandom name for your readers?

Not that I know of? I get comments about how much people like my username sometimes, so I’m cool with it if people just wanna call me Sifu Hotman lmao.

19. Was there an author who inspired or encouraged you to write?

My inspiration mainly came from a desire for more AkaFuri fics, lmao. But there were a few amazing writers who reallllly made me want to try writing, and I was encouraged plenty by my best friend, so here I am lol.

20. What writing advice would you give to a beginning author?

To just write. I worried for so long (and I still do) about not being good enough, or making a mistake, or failing. But the only way to get better at writing is to write! If someone doesn’t like you’re story, odds are you’ll either get some helpful advice, or feedback on the part they did like. Even if you don’t want to post it publicly, just write it out anyway. I think I’ve improved so much since the first thing I wrote, and I hope I get even better the more I do it.

21. Do you plot out your stories, or do you just figure it out as you go?

Again, spending 10 hours a day, 5 days a week in my own head, I get most of my stories down to the tiniest details before I even get to a computer. Once I sit down, some things may change or come out different, but I rarely go to write without having any idea.

22. Have you ever gotten a bad comment on a story? If so, what did you do?

Actually... no, I don’t think I have.

23. Is there a certain type of scene that you have a hard time writing? (action, smut, etc..)

Smut, for sure lol.

24. What story(s) are you working on now?

Fucking chapter 6 of Exactly My Type! (I just broke 6K the other day, and it’s not even halfway done). After that, I’m on to Defying Fate, with a couple of prompts inbetween.

25. Do you plan your next project(s) before you finish your current ongoing story(s)?

Sorta...I guess. Exactly My Type happened because of a prompt request that got waaaay out of control, so that was poor planning on my part lmao.

26. Do you have a daily writing goal set for yourself?

Not at all. I just go for it whenever I get the chance.

27. Do you think you’ve improved as a writer since you first started?

100% yes. I want to crawl into a hole whenever I think about my first fic, lol.

28. What is your favorite story that you’ve written?

I’m gonna shove the AkaFuri away for a second and go with Absolutely Baked. Mayuzumi is my favorite character to write for, and I think I got some pretty funny dialogue in that one. It makes me laugh, and the extra chuckles my friend and I got while discussing it were totally worth it.

29. What is your least favorite story that you’ve written?

I don’t think I have a least favorite? If I had to pick probably my first fic, Emperor's Weakness.

30. Where do you see yourself (as a writer) in 5 years?

Hopefully still writing fanfiction, lol. I would like to try writing some original work, but I doubt it.

31. What is the easiest thing about writing?

Dialogue, I think. Once I get in a characters head, I find it very easy to write from their point of view.

32. What is the hardest thing about writing?

Getting a full plot to run together. I’m pretty good at getting certain scenes down, but I have trouble piecing them all together sometimes.

33. Why do you write?

Simply, because it’s fun. I know how happy it makes me when I read a super-awesome fic, and I like the feeling I get when someone tells me I gave them the same feeling.

Anyways that’s all the questions, so I’ll put them here as well without the answers to easily c+p.

1. How did you come up with your username and what does it mean? 2. Which fanfic of yours has the most feedback? (bookmarks/subscriptions/hits/kudos) 3. What is your AO3 profile icon, and why did you choose it? 4. Do you have any regular/favourite commenters? 5. Is there a fanfic that you keep going back to read again and again? 6. How many stories are you subscribed to? How many do you have bookmarked? 7. Which AU do you find yourself writing the most? 8. How many people are subscribed and bookmarked to you in total? (you can view this on the stats page) 9. Is there something you’d like to write about but are afraid of people judging you for it? (Feeling brave? If so, share it!) 10. Is there anything you would like to be better at? Writing certain scenes or genres, replying to comments, updating better, etc. 11. Do you write rarepairs or popular ships more often? 12. How many stories have you posted on AO3 to this day (finished and unfinished)? 13. How many stories do you have saved in/with your writing program? 14. Do you write down story ideas, or just keep them in your head? 15. Have you ever co-authored a story? 16. How did you discover AO3? 17. Do you consider yourself to be a popular or famous author in your fandom(s) on AO3? 18. Do you have a nickname or fandom name for your readers? 19. Was there an author who inspired or encouraged you to write? 20. What writing advice would you give to a beginning author? 21. Do you plot out your stories, or do you just figure it out as you go? 22. Have you ever gotten a bad comment on a story? If so, what did you do? 23. Is there a certain type of scene that you have a hard time writing? (action, smut, etc..) 24. What story(s) are you working on now? 25. Do you plan your next project(s) before you finish your current ongoing story(s)? 26. Do you have a daily writing goal set for yourself? 27. Do you think you’ve improved as a writer since you first started? 28. What is your favorite story that you’ve written? 29. What is your least favorite story that you’ve written? 30. Where do you see yourself (as a writer) in 5 years? 31. What is the easiest thing about writing? 32. What is the hardest thing about writing? 33. Why do you write?

I was tagged by: @herdustisverypretty <333

People I’m tagging: @anime-saved-and-destroyed-me | @kaguneko | @shootmesenpai | @cerberosthehellguard | @jubesy

#(I tried to tag as many as I could. Anyone else join in!)#by this was a long one #and very detailed #i'm into it #i wanna see everyones repiles

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lindyhunt · 6 years

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The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Hashtags for 2019

Did you know an Instagram post with at least one hashtag averages 12.6% more engagement than a post with no hashtags?

Hashtags are powerful. They can help your posts reach a target audience, attract followers in your niche, increase engagement, and develop a more positive and recognizable brand image.

Here's the thing, though: with great power comes great responsibility (#spiderman).

Hashtags can skyrocket your business to new heights, but if used too frequently or without a clear strategy in mind, they become pointless and inefficient, e.g.: #happy #superhappy #ecstatic #jumpingforjoy #whatsanothersynonym.

We want your business's Instagram posts to receive optimal engagement, so we've put together an ultimate guide for using Instagram hashtags in 2018. With this guide, you won't just attract followers -- you'll attract the right followers.

Why are hashtags important?

Hashtags are essentially Instagram's sorting process. With around 95 million photos posted on Instagram every day, it's difficult for Instagram to efficiently deliver the right content to the right people. Hashtags help your post get discovered by viewers most interested in seeing it.

Krystal Gillespie, HubSpot's Social Media Community Manager, explains the importance of hashtags this way: "Hashtags are like a funnel. For instance, #marketing is incredibly broad and attracts all types of posts. We've found #digitalmarketing or #marketingmotivation gives us a more specific, targeted reach. The audience searching for these hashtags are also trying to narrow their search to what we offer related to Marketing, so we're actually reaching more of the right people."

Essentially, hashtags are a better way to categorize your posts. They help you reach a target audience, and more importantly, they help your target audience find you. These users are more likely to engage with your post because your post is exactly what they wanted.

Top Instagram Hashtags 2018

#love

#instagood

#me

#cute

#tbt

#photooftheday

#instamood

#iphonesia

#food

#motivation

Adding one of the most popular Instagram hashtags to your post doesn't necessarily mean you'll see more interaction. Since the hashtags above are so popular, they are being used by millions of people, so your post will most likely be obscured by the competition. Narrowing your hashtag topic is important, but we'll get to that next.

Here are some of the top Instagram hashtags of 2018.

1. #love

Instagram users build their photo galleries on good feelings. For this reason, the #love hashtag is ever present next to the pics of friends, family, vacations, and beautiful scenery.

2. #instagood

Occurrences of this hashtag are inspired by the @instagood Instagram account, which scours the Instagram community for excellent photos and videos that are just too #instagood not to share. Add this hashtag to your content for a chance to be reposted.

3. #me

This is the quintessential selfie hashtag, indicating to the Instagram community that the photo it's captioning is a picture of you.

4. #cute

#Cute puts your content in a pool of Instagram photos and videos that elicit "awes" from all over the Instaverse. If you think your puppy is the cutest puppy that ever lived, it deserves a photo with this esteemed hashtag.

5. #tbt

#Tbt stands for "Throwback Thursday," and encourages Instagram users to post an old photo of themselves or an event they're reminiscing over. Everyone likes content from the good old days -- here's your hashtag for enjoying the nostalgia.

6. #photooftheday

Managing a business account? This hashtag is a surefire way to attract more followers and repeat visitors. If you plan to post daily content, all around a common theme, add the #photooftheday hashtag to increase your exposure.

7. #instamood

#Instamood is all about the vibe or emotion a photo or video elicits. Pretty scenery, a day at the beach, or a night out with good people were all prominent under the #instamood hashtag in 2018. Landscapes are a popular starting point when figuring out what to post on Instagram, according to Jumper Media, and they fit into this hashtag perfectly.

8. #iphonesia

#Iphonesia is dedicated to the burgeoning community of Instagrammers in Indonesia.

9. #food

Meal pics are the bread and butter (no pun intended) of a people-oriented Instagram account -- and 2018 was no exception. Use the #food hashtag to caption your next delicious Instagram photo.

10. #motivation

On Twitter, #MondayMotivation encourages inspiring quotes and messages to help people start the week off on the right foot. On Instagram, the #motivation hashtag has come to caption anything from a photo of a user after a big gym session, to a computer screen right before he or she gets to work.

The above 10 hashtags might have helped define Instagram over the last year, but there are still plenty more that end up trending every year. The following hashtags can help inspire photos and videos that Instagram users always seem to find captivating -- and are sure to in 2019.

Top Trending Instagram Hashtags

#life

#travel

#fitness

#repost

#igers

#instadaily

#followforfollow

#likeforlike

#nofilter

#ootd

#fashion

#fun

1. #life

This one goes out to all the photos and videos that encompass the essence of your life.

2. #travel

Away for the weekend? Show your followers where you are, using this hashtag to indicate you're traveling somewhere new.

3. #fitness

Get in on a trending community of workout warriors with photos and videos from your best exercise sessions, using the #fitness hashtag to share the moment.

4. #repost

Reposting is a common function on Instagram that allows you to share content from other users, with credit back to the original user. Use the hashtag, #repost, to tell others on Instagram that you were inspired by this photo or video.

5. #igers

#Igers is short for "Instagram users." If you've got a photo or video that encompasses the Instagram community, show your solidarity with this colloquial hashtag.

6. #instadaily

This hashtag is similar to #photooftheday -- one of the most popular hashtags of 2018 above this list -- and is perfect for Instagrammers who post every day.

7. #followforfollow

Interested in building a fast list of followers on Instagram? #Followforfollow tells everyone who browses this hashtag that you'll follow users who choose to follow you. This hashtag is always trending highly.

8. #likeforlike

#Likeforlike is similar to the #followforfollow hashtag explained above. Use this hashtag if you want to increase engagement on your Instagram account, telling users that you'll like their photo or video if they like yours.

9. #nofilter

Instagram offers so many different filters to help enhance photos, it's practically assumed that any picture on Instagram has been edited. But if you're posting a pic that was beautiful all by itself, let the world know that this gem didn't need a filter to look so nice.

10. #ootd

#Ootd stands for "Outfit of the Day," a hashtag dedicated to Instagram users who love showing off new clothing and styles on a regular basis.

11. #fashion

#Fashion is a fairly self-explanatory hashtag. Fashion brands and clothing models alike are some of the most prolific users of this hashtag.

12. #fun

If it's not fun, it's not Instagram-worthy. Make it known to millions of Instagram users that you had a blast in your latest photo or video with this popular hashtag.

How to Use Hashtags on Instagram for Business

Keep your hashtags organized.

Figure out your magic number.

Narrow your hashtags.

Research what other people are hashtagging.

Test out related hashtags.

Follow your own hashtag.

Create a brand campaign hashtag.

1. Keep your hashtags organized.

To create an efficient hashtag system, you can use Excel or an Instagram analytics tool. If you choose an excel sheet, you'll need to manually keep track of which hashtags you use, how often, and which ones correlate to your most popular posts. Over time, you'll see relationships between certain hashtags and your most popular posts, and this can help you decide which hashtags work best for your brand.

If you have a more advanced social media team, you might want to consider a tool like Iconosquare, which automatically stores top hashtags and provides reports on which hashtags reach the most people.

For smaller businesses with limited budgets, Krystal Gillespie says that, "an excel sheet is the best way to start. Once you get more advanced I would highly recommend using a tool to track the data. A manual system can get overwhelming when you're posting three times a day and using about 20 hashtags per post."

2. Figure out your magic number.

Most top brands -- 91% of them, to be exact -- use seven or fewer hashtags per post, so it's easy to assume that's the magic number for everyone … right? Krystal explains that this isn't always the case: She told me HubSpot has been more successful with hashtags ranging in the low 20s.

The point is, you can't know how many hashtags work best for you until you test it. For HubSpot, it took the team several months to find a number that worked best, and during our trial period, we ranged from seven to 30. Give yourself the same flexibility for trial and error.

3. Narrow your hashtags.

There are two big reasons more specific, smaller-volume hashtags are better for your brand: first, you can compete in a smaller pool. HubSpot, for example, doesn't typically use the hashtag #marketing because it's too broad. If you search #marketing, you'll find pictures of restaurants, inspirational quotes, before-and-after hair style pictures, and memes.

The randomness of #marketing leads me to the second reason specific hashtags are a good idea: as a user, I'm more likely to find what I need if I search for something specific, and when your business comes up for my specific search request, I'm more likely to be happy with what I found.

Krystal explains: "Keeping a hashtag close to the interests of your brand really helps. We try to use hashtags tailored for a specific topic and then narrow it down further -- for instance, we'd use #SEOTips if our marketing post was mostly about SEO."

Think of it this way: #dogs is more popular, but it has a wide demographic. If I search #goldenretrieverpuppies and I find your post, I'm more likely to engage with it because it's exactly what I wanted.

4. Research what other people are hashtagging.

An easy way to generate hashtag ideas is to make a list of your followers or competitors and research what they're hashtagging on their own photos. It can also be particularly helpful to research what influencers in your industry are hashtagging -- by definition, influencers are people with a large social media following, so they must be doing something right.

5. Test out related hashtags.

When you type a hashtag into Instagram's search bar, Instagram shows you related hashtags in the scroll-down menu. Instagram also delivers related hashtags on the next page after you click on a hashtag. This is a simple way to create a longer list of hashtags to try out.

6. Follow your own hashtag.

Another way to use Instagram hashtags for your marketing purposes is to follow your own hashtag. Krystal explains, "On Instagram I actually follow the hashtag #hubspot so I can find anyone who talks about us and connect with them. As long as your account isn't private, people will be able to find you via the hashtag."

Following your own hashtag is an effective way to engage with other people talking about your brand and develop better relationships with them.

7. Create a brand campaign hashtag.

This is the trickiest item on the list, but if done successfully, it can pay off big time. Some businesses have successfully attracted followers by creating their own campaign hashtag. A campaign hashtag needs to be funny, clever, or at least memorable in order to work.

Campaign hashtags are particularly useful for promoting a new product or upcoming event, or even just inspiring people. Red Bull, for example, encouraged followers to post Red Bull pictures with a #putacanonit hashtag (see what I mean about clever?). LuLuLemon, rather than running a more traditional ad campaign, developed a positive connotation for their brand by asking followers to post real, active pictures of themselves with a #sweatlife hashtag.

Now that we've covered the importance of using Instagram hashtags for your business, you might be wondering how to search for Instagram hashtags within the app, or how to use the search function to find related ideas. If you're unsure of the technical process for hashtag searching, here's how:

How to Search Hashtags on Instagram

To search hashtags on Instagram, tap the magnifying glass at the bottom of your screen, then tap the search bar at the top. Selecting the "Tags" option will enable you to search hashtags and related hashtags based on the popularity of each one.

1. Open Instagram and tap the search icon.

Instagram wants you to use hashtags, and has made it extremely easy to find the perfect ones for your post. To start, open the Instagram app on your mobile device and tap the magnifying glass at the bottom of your screen.

2. Tap the search bar at the top of your screen.

The search screen on your Instagram might first send you to a newsfeed-style page with suggested content based on topics you've demonstrated an interest in on social media. To switch to a hashtag search, tap the search bar at the top of this page, as shown in the screenshot above.

3. Tap "Tags."

Once you've tapped the search bar at the top of your screen, Instagram will give you four options with which to filter your search. Instagram refers to hashtags as simply "Tags," as shown in the screenshot below. Tap this "Tags" option, then tap the search bar above it, and begin searching topics for which you want to find a trending hashtag.

You don't have to include the pound sign (#) in your search -- your results will be the same with or without it -- but you will need to use this pound sign in the caption of your photo once you choose a hashtag.

4. Browse hashtags based on post count and current content.

Voila! You should see multiple options for hashtags based on your search. Browse around at each related hashtag that Instagram suggests for you -- you might find that a hashtag with slightly fewer posts includes photos or videos that are more in line with the content you're posting.

Happy hashtagging!

0 notes

anthonykrierion · 6 years

Text

How to be positive at work and make your life easier

This isn't the typical type of post you might find on Distilled’s blog. I’ve always been a glass half full person but the honest answer is that my positive attitude is a result of listening, learning, testing and being open to the world. I’m going to give you my approach to being positive at work.

It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and practice. You’ve got to want to be positive!

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.

Roy T. Bennett

I’m going to tell you the things I do, hopefully, you’ll want to try a few!

Meditate

Meditation, gathering your thoughts, visualization - or whatever you want to call it, I’ve found giving yourself time to consider what you want out of a day, every day really helps you be productive!

Try this: every morning spend between 5 to 20 minutes visualising what you need to do, yourself doing it and completing it like a dress rehearsal in your head. Think of it as creating a game plan of what you want to achieve that day!

Meditation calms me, enabling me to focus on specific challenges. I’ve found it particularly useful when I’ve got a big challenge on or if something unexpected happens. A few minutes of considered focus breaks the tunnel vision and opens your mind to answers you may not have thought of.

Considering what you want to get out of day sounds so simple, and it is. The trick is to keep doing it!

Be positively direct!

Don’t beat about the bush, the best way to get things done is to be clear, concise and direct.

Being direct with people will help them respond to your need precisely, saving you both time.

Try this: refine how you ask for help on projects, for the information you need or, in fact, for anything at all. Be brief, to the point and make sure what you’ve requested is understood.

Be respectful of others time, understand they have things that are a priority to them, inform them what you need (even offer to send a bullet point email after you’ve had the chat) and say thank you! This isn’t easy but I’ve found that being polite and saying “I know you’re busy” shows you understand their position, opening them up to the conversation. Even if they can’t help you there and then, it starts the conversation and you’ll be surprised how often the person you asked responds without you having to chase them.

Don’t pester people either, that's just annoying!

Have Manners

This is an obvious one right. I’ve found a few good manners go a long way, and that doesn’t just apply to the workplace!

I know everyone is always in a rush and has ‘stuff’ to do but it takes 10 seconds to open a door for a stranger or compliment a barista on their nice shirt that day. Manners show you have respect for others. Being pleasant, showing you have time for others and doing that nice thing for someone all leads to one outcome, you’ll be liked!

I always go the extra mile for people I like and if people like you they’ll do the same. Getting things done becomes much easier if people see you as a nice person. Remember to be genuine and authentic, people know when you’re being nice just because you want something.

Try this: ask how people are, how their days going and listen. You’ll be remembered for the person you were long after your work is forgotten.

Side note, please do you’re best to be the best version of you, too many people don’t find the time just to say thank you!

How would you feel?

“I feel like X”, “I think Y”, “I need Z”. Notice the ‘I’.

Do you consider things from the other person's point of view?

The ability to show people you understand their viewpoint is invaluable; it helps resolve disagreements, identify quick solutions and gets things done smoothly and efficiently.

Try this: when tackling a problem together, ask the other person what they think is the best way forward and why they think that. And really listen to what they say. You’ll find you become more open to suggestions and discover solutions you may not have thought of. You’re likely to get a positive resolution more quickly.

Looking at life from the other person's point of view is a fantastic self-education tool and teaches you to build rapport. This leads to you being able to connect with people easier, in a positive way that encourages others to share with you more freely. If you’re open to others, they’ll be open to you too.!

What did I learn from that bullshit?

“I’m so glad that bullshit is done” or “I’m so happy I don’t have to work with that idiot again”. Sound familiar?

In every situation, good or bad, look for a learning. You may already do this, in which case hats off to you; the ability to look for positives helps you to reinforce a positive mindset. You can learn from your shortcomings.

Try this: ask for feedback on where you went wrong or why you didn’t win a project. If you can identify what you’re doing wrong then you can take action to correct it. You turn a negative to a positive by taking this learning on board to improve next time.

Take a break, have a coffee

Ok, you don’t have to have a coffee (although being a caffeine addict I would advise it). Have a biscuit, go for a walk, just do something to take a break.

If you can focus on a solid 8-hour working day please email me and explain to me how. Some people can focus for hours, others bursts of 30 minutes. I focus for 45 minutes to an hour before my mind wanders. By breaking my day up into periods of focus and resetting I’ve become more efficient and maintain my positive attitude.

When I meditate in the morning I break my day into sections, e.g send emails, write a proposal, call with a client and so on. In between these tasks I may walk around the office for a few minutes or make a coffee, this helps me to wind down from my last task. When I return to my computer I’m fresh and ready to go again.

Through creating clear breakpoints between tasks, you can generate a sense of achievement (task is done) and give yourself a mental refresh boost. If you have a mammoth task, break it down into smaller manageable tasks - the bonus here is that you’re less likely to procrastinate too.

Try This: The Pomodoro Technique. Break down work into intervals using a timer and take a short break between intervals. My version is through Spotify, listen to a number of tracks whilst doing work, then break time!

You need to have a long-term goal

If you’re planning a trip, you’d be a fool not to consider the route, the time, what you need and where you want to end up, so why would you start a task without know what you want to achieve?

If you’re looking at what do you want to achieve this year, you need to consider what you need to do each month or week to achieve it. Create a timeline, with the actions you need to complete and by what time to reach your goal. Setting a deadline will give you a focus and encourage you to move towards the goal.

Try this: When breaking down a goal into the task, begin with a mindmap and think about everything I need to do. Then I set tasks and deadlines. Discipline is key to success here, find the system that works for you!

Remember it’s so easy to slip into short-term priorities rather than long-term goals.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Life never runs smoothly and there is always that thing that appears out of the blue to turn your day into Ragnarok.

Breathe, consider the challenge and don’t get overwhelmed or freaked out - this happens to us all.

If you prioritise tasks (I would advise captured somewhere, even if it’s a scrap of paper) from ‘must do’ through to ‘would be nice to do’, it gives you the flexibility to adapt and add / re-priorities tasks. This means you’re able to free up time to deal with that unexpected thing you need to deal with today as you’re able to identify those task you can roll to a later date to focus on the urgent one today.

This really comes down to creating a well-thought-out system to manage your daily schedule. I would recommend the book Getting Things Done, it’s a labour of love to read but if you stick with it you’ll get a great direction on how to get a great personal management system in place.

I use Trello as my personal management system. It’s super useful for creating to-do lists and helps to organise and prioritise work (you should check it out).

Always have fun and dream

“The creative adult is the child that never grew up!”

It’s easy to fall in the professional mindset where work is work, but work forms a large chunk of your time on planet earth, so enjoy it and have fun.

I’m lucky to work with people that are great, embrace individuality and want to create a work environment which is fun to work in.

Have a way to wind down or switch off from the world. I watch cartoons or go on a funny meme browse. I’ve even got a ‘go to video’ I watch to make me smile (you’ll find it here - it’s Kanye West or Ye related, just to give you a heads up).

Remember work is important but so is your mindset, have a dream.

Everything in life comes down to how much you want it. I’ve made the above activities into habits. The more you practice, the more they will become second nature to you.

Let me know if you already do any or all of the above, if you do anything different and if you found these suggestions worked for you, all feedback is welcome!

Have an amazing day and thank you for reading,

Christopher.

How to be positive at work and make your life easier was originally posted by Video And Blog Marketing

#Video And Blog Marketing

0 notes

davidrsmithlove · 6 years

Text

How to be positive at work and make your life easier

It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and practice. You’ve got to want to be positive!

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.

Roy T. Bennett

I’m going to tell you the things I do, hopefully, you’ll want to try a few!

Meditate

Considering what you want to get out of day sounds so simple, and it is. The trick is to keep doing it!

Be positively direct!

Don’t beat about the bush, the best way to get things done is to be clear, concise and direct.

Being direct with people will help them respond to your need precisely, saving you both time.

Try this: refine how you ask for help on projects, for the information you need or, in fact, for anything at all. Be brief, to the point and make sure what you’ve requested is understood.

Don’t pester people either, that's just annoying!

Have Manners

This is an obvious one right. I’ve found a few good manners go a long way, and that doesn��t just apply to the workplace!

Try this: ask how people are, how their days going and listen. You’ll be remembered for the person you were long after your work is forgotten.

Side note, please do you’re best to be the best version of you, too many people don’t find the time just to say thank you!

How would you feel?

“I feel like X”, “I think Y”, “I need Z”. Notice the ‘I’.

Do you consider things from the other person's point of view?

The ability to show people you understand their viewpoint is invaluable; it helps resolve disagreements, identify quick solutions and gets things done smoothly and efficiently.

What did I learn from that bullshit?

“I’m so glad that bullshit is done” or “I’m so happy I don’t have to work with that idiot again”. Sound familiar?

Take a break, have a coffee

Ok, you don’t have to have a coffee (although being a caffeine addict I would advise it). Have a biscuit, go for a walk, just do something to take a break.

You need to have a long-term goal

If you’re planning a trip, you’d be a fool not to consider the route, the time, what you need and where you want to end up, so why would you start a task without know what you want to achieve?

Remember it’s so easy to slip into short-term priorities rather than long-term goals.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Life never runs smoothly and there is always that thing that appears out of the blue to turn your day into Ragnarok.

Breathe, consider the challenge and don’t get overwhelmed or freaked out - this happens to us all.

I use Trello as my personal management system. It’s super useful for creating to-do lists and helps to organise and prioritise work (you should check it out).

Always have fun and dream

“The creative adult is the child that never grew up!”

It’s easy to fall in the professional mindset where work is work, but work forms a large chunk of your time on planet earth, so enjoy it and have fun.

I’m lucky to work with people that are great, embrace individuality and want to create a work environment which is fun to work in.

Remember work is important but so is your mindset, have a dream.

Everything in life comes down to how much you want it. I’ve made the above activities into habits. The more you practice, the more they will become second nature to you.

Let me know if you already do any or all of the above, if you do anything different and if you found these suggestions worked for you, all feedback is welcome!

Have an amazing day and thank you for reading,

Christopher.

0 notes

ronijashworth · 6 years

Text

How to be positive at work and make your life easier

It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and practice. You’ve got to want to be positive!

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.

Roy T. Bennett

I’m going to tell you the things I do, hopefully, you’ll want to try a few!

Meditate

Considering what you want to get out of day sounds so simple, and it is. The trick is to keep doing it!

Be positively direct!

Don’t beat about the bush, the best way to get things done is to be clear, concise and direct.

Being direct with people will help them respond to your need precisely, saving you both time.

Try this: refine how you ask for help on projects, for the information you need or, in fact, for anything at all. Be brief, to the point and make sure what you’ve requested is understood.

Don’t pester people either, that's just annoying!

Have Manners

This is an obvious one right. I’ve found a few good manners go a long way, and that doesn’t just apply to the workplace!

Try this: ask how people are, how their days going and listen. You’ll be remembered for the person you were long after your work is forgotten.

Side note, please do you’re best to be the best version of you, too many people don’t find the time just to say thank you!

How would you feel?

“I feel like X”, “I think Y”, “I need Z”. Notice the ‘I’.

Do you consider things from the other person's point of view?

The ability to show people you understand their viewpoint is invaluable; it helps resolve disagreements, identify quick solutions and gets things done smoothly and efficiently.

What did I learn from that bullshit?

“I’m so glad that bullshit is done” or “I’m so happy I don’t have to work with that idiot again”. Sound familiar?

Take a break, have a coffee

Ok, you don’t have to have a coffee (although being a caffeine addict I would advise it). Have a biscuit, go for a walk, just do something to take a break.

You need to have a long-term goal

If you’re planning a trip, you’d be a fool not to consider the route, the time, what you need and where you want to end up, so why would you start a task without know what you want to achieve?

Remember it’s so easy to slip into short-term priorities rather than long-term goals.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Life never runs smoothly and there is always that thing that appears out of the blue to turn your day into Ragnarok.

Breathe, consider the challenge and don’t get overwhelmed or freaked out - this happens to us all.

I use Trello as my personal management system. It’s super useful for creating to-do lists and helps to organise and prioritise work (you should check it out).

Always have fun and dream

“The creative adult is the child that never grew up!”

It’s easy to fall in the professional mindset where work is work, but work forms a large chunk of your time on planet earth, so enjoy it and have fun.

I’m lucky to work with people that are great, embrace individuality and want to create a work environment which is fun to work in.

Remember work is important but so is your mindset, have a dream.

Everything in life comes down to how much you want it. I’ve made the above activities into habits. The more you practice, the more they will become second nature to you.

Let me know if you already do any or all of the above, if you do anything different and if you found these suggestions worked for you, all feedback is welcome!

Have an amazing day and thank you for reading,

Christopher.

from Digital Marketing https://www.distilled.net/resources/how-to-be-positive-at-work-and-make-your-life-easier/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

#digital marketing

0 notes

heavenwheel · 6 years

Text

How to be positive at work and make your life easier

It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and practice. You’ve got to want to be positive!

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.

Roy T. Bennett

I’m going to tell you the things I do, hopefully, you’ll want to try a few!

Meditate

Meditation calms me, enabling me to focus on specific challenges. I’ve found it particularly useful when I’ve got a big challenge on or if something unexpected happens. A few minutes of considered focus break the tunnel vision and opens your mind to answers you may not have thought of.

Considering what you want to get out of day sounds so simple, and it is. The trick is to keep doing it!

Be positively direct!

Don’t beat about the bush, the best way to get things done is to be clear, concise and direct.

Being direct with people will help them respond to your need precisely, saving you both time.

Try this: refine how you ask for help on projects, for the information you need or, in fact, for anything at all. Be as brief, to the point and make sure what you’ve requested is understood.

Don’t pester people either, that's just annoying!

Have Manners

This is an obvious one right. I’ve found a few good manners go a long way, and that doesn’t just apply to the workplace!

Try this: ask how people are, how their days going and listen. You’ll be remembered for the person you were long after your work is forgotten.

Side note, please do you’re best to be the best version of you, too many people don’t find the time just to say thank you!

How would you feel?

“I feel like X”, “I think Y”, “I need Z”. Notice the ‘I’.

Do you consider things from the other person's point of view?

The ability to show people you understand their viewpoint is invaluable; it helps resolve disagreements, identify quick solutions and gets things done smoothly and efficiently.

What did I learn from that bullshit?

“I’m so glad that bullshit is done” or “I’m so happy I don’t have to work with that idiot again”. Sound familiar?

Take a break, have a coffee

Ok, you don’t have to have a coffee (although being a caffeine addict I would advise it). Have a biscuit, go for a walk, just do something to take a break.

You need to have a long-term goal

If you’re planning a trip, you’d be a fool not to consider the route, the time, what you need and where you want to end up, so why would you start a task without know what you want to achieve?

Remember it’s so easy to slip into short-term priorities rather than long-term goals.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Life never runs smoothly and there is always that thing that appears out of the blue to turn your day into Ragnarok.

Breathe, consider the challenge and don’t get overwhelmed or freaked out - this happens to us all.

I use Trello as my personal management system. It’s super useful for creating to-do lists and helps to organise and prioritise work (you should check it out).

Always have fun and dream

“The creative adult is the child that never grew up!”

It’s easy to fall in the professional mindset where work is work, but work forms a large chunk of your time on planet earth, so enjoy it and have fun.

I’m lucky to work with people that are great, embrace individuality and want to create a work environment which is fun to work in.

Remember work is important but so is your mindset, have a dream.

Everything in life comes down to how much you want it. I’ve made the above activities into habits. The more you practice, the more they will become second nature to you.

Let me know if you already do any or all of the above, if you do anything different and if you found these suggestions worked for you, all feedback is welcome!

Have an amazing day and thank you for reading,

Christopher.

from Digital https://www.distilled.net/resources/how-to-be-positive-at-work-and-make-your-life-easier/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

0 notes

donnafmae · 6 years

Text

How to be positive at work and make your life easier

It didn’t happen overnight; it took time and practice. You’ve got to want to be positive!

The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.

Roy T. Bennett

I’m going to tell you the things I do, hopefully, you’ll want to try a few!

Meditate

Considering what you want to get out of day sounds so simple, and it is. The trick is to keep doing it!

Be positively direct!

Don’t beat about the bush, the best way to get things done is to be clear, concise and direct.

Being direct with people will help them respond to your need precisely, saving you both time.

Try this: refine how you ask for help on projects, for the information you need or, in fact, for anything at all. Be brief, to the point and make sure what you’ve requested is understood.

Don’t pester people either, that's just annoying!

Have Manners

This is an obvious one right. I’ve found a few good manners go a long way, and that doesn’t just apply to the workplace!

Try this: ask how people are, how their days going and listen. You’ll be remembered for the person you were long after your work is forgotten.

Side note, please do you’re best to be the best version of you, too many people don’t find the time just to say thank you!

How would you feel?

“I feel like X”, “I think Y”, “I need Z”. Notice the ‘I’.

Do you consider things from the other person's point of view?

The ability to show people you understand their viewpoint is invaluable; it helps resolve disagreements, identify quick solutions and gets things done smoothly and efficiently.

What did I learn from that bullshit?

“I’m so glad that bullshit is done” or “I’m so happy I don’t have to work with that idiot again”. Sound familiar?

Take a break, have a coffee

Ok, you don’t have to have a coffee (although being a caffeine addict I would advise it). Have a biscuit, go for a walk, just do something to take a break.

You need to have a long-term goal

If you’re planning a trip, you’d be a fool not to consider the route, the time, what you need and where you want to end up, so why would you start a task without know what you want to achieve?

Remember it’s so easy to slip into short-term priorities rather than long-term goals.

Be prepared for the unexpected

Life never runs smoothly and there is always that thing that appears out of the blue to turn your day into Ragnarok.

Breathe, consider the challenge and don’t get overwhelmed or freaked out - this happens to us all.

I use Trello as my personal management system. It’s super useful for creating to-do lists and helps to organise and prioritise work (you should check it out).

Always have fun and dream

“The creative adult is the child that never grew up!”

It’s easy to fall in the professional mindset where work is work, but work forms a large chunk of your time on planet earth, so enjoy it and have fun.

I’m lucky to work with people that are great, embrace individuality and want to create a work environment which is fun to work in.

Remember work is important but so is your mindset, have a dream.

Everything in life comes down to how much you want it. I’ve made the above activities into habits. The more you practice, the more they will become second nature to you.

Let me know if you already do any or all of the above, if you do anything different and if you found these suggestions worked for you, all feedback is welcome!

Have an amazing day and thank you for reading,

Christopher.

from Marketing https://www.distilled.net/resources/how-to-be-positive-at-work-and-make-your-life-easier/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

#Digital Marketing

0 notes