Being on Instagram today
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I am on Instagram since its debuts, so for 8 years. I directly liked the concept of this social network. I would share moments of my life, selfies, pictures taken spontaneously with my phone and retouched with vivid and over saturated filters. But whatever : I loved sharing instants of my life, moments of me, and meet other people that would do beautiful photos.
I went on the blogger mode 4 years ago. I took care of my feed, of my photos, I subscribed to more accounts. Quickly, Instagram became a part of my daily life. I downloaded UNUM, VSCOCAM, ABeautifulMess and more on my phone.
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It’s been 2 years to those efforts have paid, with a light raise of my followers and mostly my engagement rate. With the change of algorithm, I had the impression to gain in visibility but not followers. Whatever. Instagram remained being a space where I liked to express my creativity, where I liked to share my photos and challenge myself. After all, that’s what this whole new algorithm is about, right ?
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Well, it may not seem that evident. The other day, I sponsored a post to see what it was like. BIG MISTAKE. Since then, I have half of the likes and reach on my photos. It has been almost instantaneous. Even the sponsored post didn’t reach as much as the other “organic” posts. I admit I don’t get it, and that I am upset : once you pay, you always have to bill to gain reach ?
Meanwhile, I have been on the account of another blogger I follow and truly admire for years. She has 5000 followers and around 30 likes on her pictures, that are yet super pretty and you can see she worked on them. What’s the point to work hard on your photos if you get nothing in exchange ?
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This incident gave me this blog post idea, with a homemade list about the reality of being on Instagram today with its new algorithm…
Being on Instagram today is :
- Having to answer to weird old guys that send you hearts and “you’e pretty” in PM everyday so that you show you have “interaction with your followers”
- Buying the Adobe suite, Lightroom, Indesign and a professional photographe to make “qualitative content” and prouve to the entire world you do good photoshoped photos
- Spending 2-3h per days on the app to like other posts, comment, make your mark so that the algorithm gives you a chance to appear on the feed of others
- At least uploading a picture of you naked, on the Bali swinging chair or with a puppy to create engagement
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Dear Instagram, you disappointed me. No, I don’t do the followers and like race (my 1390 followers after 4 years of professional Instagraming can testify). But yes, I like to share my photos, by “rewarded” by all the efforts I put in (buying a new lens for my camera, buying a Vscocam subscription, translating my posts…) I like that my followers see my photos, because, if they followed me after all, it’s because they liked what I post, right ? Instagram brought me so much friendships and discoveries in 8 years. It pushed me to challenge myself, perfection in photography and community management. I used to love Instagram. I don’t know if I love you anymore.
Hey, I am Estelle, 29 years old, frenchie in Barcelona, half spanish et 100% international. Welcome to my blog, where I share with you my fashion tips, travels, and more!
