In episode 569, Mika Kinney and Sarah Bond teach us the nitty gritty of growing an Instagram account as a way to drive traffic to our blogs and add new revenue streams instead of relying on Google. Guest Bio: Mika: Mika is a food-obsessed gal who has learned everything she knows from Food Network and cooking shows. She learned how to combine sweet and spicy from Bobby Flay and how to make a sponge cake from the Great British Baking Show. As the co-founder of Joy to the Food, her mission is simple: To prove that eating more protein is not complicated and can actually be a lot of fun! Sarah: Sarah Bond is the food blogger behind the vegetarian website, Live Eat Learn. With degrees in nutrition and food science, she started her food blog in 2015 as a creative outlet that combined her favorite things - photography, food, and writing. She now works full-time on her blog from Denver, Colorado. Along the way, she started her niche sites Brew Buch (pronounced "booch") for all things kombucha brewing, and Bone Appetreat, a dog food blog! She is currently working on her first self-published cookbook, which will be released in July of 2024. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to optimize your Instagram account, consistently create and analyze your content to increase your chances of going viral and increasing your followers quickly. Key points discussed: - Analyze viral content: Identifying what made a particular post go viral, whether it was the ingredient, method, or presentation, can help guide future content creation. - Repurpose content across platforms: Repurpose the same video content on multiple platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, to help save time and reach a wider audience. - Leverage tools like ManyChat: Using tools like ManyChat to send direct links and messages to followers can help drive traffic from Instagram to your blog. - Experiment with content styles: Try different types of content, such as recipe reels, lifestyle posts, and collages, to see what resonates best with your audience. - Engage with your community: Actively engage with other creators in your niche, by commenting on their posts and supporting their content - this can help you build relationships and increase visibility. - Optimize your Instagram profile: Ensuring your Instagram profile is set up to clearly communicate your brand and niche can help new followers understand why they should follow you. - Analyze Instagram analytics: Tracking engagement metrics and identifying patterns in your top-performing content can help guide future content creation and strategy. - Use natural lighting: Using natural lighting, even if it's not "perfect," can create a more relatable and authentic look. - Leverage your Instagram following for email list growth: Growing an engaged Instagram following can help drive newsletter signups and build a loyal audience. Connect with Mika Kinney Website | Instagram Connect with Sarah Bond Website | Instagram