Why you need to use these perfect hashtags for your local Ottawa business

Ottawa Fashion blogger Using hashtags on instagram

I notice a pattern that occurs every time I meet a new business owner in Ottawa, or when I visit their store. It’s sad to say: but their Instagram accounts are usually weak, underdeveloped and more of an embarrassment than something they can be proud of. It’s lacking followers, lacking professional or high-quality images, there is usually not enough content, there is no sign of engagement and worse, they are not using a single strategic hashtag to save their life. The reality is that very few businesses in Ottawa do Instagram well, which is why Ottawa Influencers have carved themselves a nice digital home in this city.

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Bloggers & Businesses: Instagram and Photography Workshop

Instagram Workshop Ottawa Marketing Digital Strategies Photography

If you follow me, you know that I am obsessed with my Instagram account. It’s truly the ideal medium for the person who loves photography and social media. I have been on it for a while now, almost 4 years, but it’s only since I started this blog that I realized the power of Instagram and the benefit it had for my blog, my business.

Many of the fancy events that I have attended are because PR companies have found me on Instagram. The modelling gig I got for Smithery’s Spring look book was all thanks to Instagram stalking. They found me, so I must be doing something right!

When I started out, I had about 300 followers, most of which were my Facebook friends. It’s only when I started using it more strategically, using better images, adding hashtags and engaging with people that I noticed the numbers climbing up, way up. At this very moment I am at 3670… but that can change over the course of minutes! It’s a numbers game, after all.

As an entrepreneur, I get inspired all the time and try to figure out ways that I can help small business in my city, thrive and grow. I knew I would have to educate small business owners first, on what they don’t know and what they are missing out on.

In my post Bloggers & Businesses: Ways we can work together I helped define the advantage of working with bloggers and the many different ways bloggers can collaborate with small businesses. In my subsequent post Why we love brands who engage I introduced the concept of engagement, the bread and butter of social media.

And today, I am excited to finally launch my first Instagram workshop in Ottawa, with my colleague and professional photographer, Debra Cowie. This workshop is targeted to small business owners, creatives and makers who want to learn how to use Instagram and learn how to maximize opportunities online.

Ottawa Instagram Photography Workshop Chantal Sarkisian

Introducing 9 Ways to tell your brand story: Photography and Digital Strategies for Instagram (May 14 2016, Ottawa)

We know that the secret to Instagram success is of combination of beautiful images and strategically planned content that will help to generate positive engagement and build a loyal following… and we want to show you how it’s done!

Whether on the fly, or perfectly planned, this intensive workshop will help you get the most out of your smartphone and teach you how to create beautiful images intend for Instagram. You will:

  • Learn how to use natural light and shadow
  • Learn to use composition and colour to create a compelling image
  • Learn secrets from a professional stylist on how to use props and creat backdrops to optimally display products
  • Learn how to edit your photos, create a signature style and make the most out of editing tools like the VSCOCam app

Once you have mastered your photography skills, you will learn how to tell your brand story using your new photos on Instagram. This social media planning component will help you:

  • Optimize your account
  • Plan your content
  • Build your following
  • Leverage hashtags
  • Engage with your followers
  • Grow your business

In the practical component of the workshop, you will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with your coaches: photographer, Debra Cowie and digital strategist, Chantal Sarkisian.You’ll have plenty of time to put all that you’ve learned into practice, so bring some of your own products to photograph. We will play with backdrops and props to help you create that perfect image paired with the right content for optimal Instagram sharing.

We are offering this first full-day intensive workshop at an introductory rate of only $168. That’a a crazy cheap investment considering you will learn about photography and digital marketing for your business. It will be worth every penny, I promise!

You can join our Facebook event page if you’re on the fence, or if I have managed to convince you, you can register on eventbrite.

I am really looking forward to sharing my knowledge and genuinely hope to help small businesses recognize that if they want to harness the power of social media and make it work for their business, there are a few tricks of the trade that will help them get there!

 

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Instagram Makeover Contest

Do you run a small business and are you looking to get your Instagram game on? I love supporting local businesses and get really bummed when I see their sad social media channels that could be working so much better for them. So, I decided to devote a little of my time to coach a small business on social media and give a 2 hour specific training on Instagram (or channel of your choice)!

This contest combines my love (and skills) for a few things: supporting local business, social media, marketing, and photography!

Instagram giveaway

Contest Instructions

  1. Follow Mode XLusive on Facebook
  2. Follow me on Instagram
  3. Subscribe to this blog with your email
  4. Write your business name and Instagram account in the comments below and tell me what you need help with
  5. Or, you can visit my Giveaway page on Facebook to register all your entries.

The lucky winner should be located in the Ottawa, Gatineau area. Contestants who sell products for their business, who own a brick and mortar and who have loads of visual opportunity will be excellent candidates for this giveaway.

One lucky business owner will be selected on October 9, 2015! Good luck!

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Roundup: Curvy Canadian Bloggers

I have been doing my fair share of “research” if you will, to connect with fellow Canadian plus-size fashion bloggers. Not just because I want to know their fashion secrets, but because I feel like fashion advice is more realistic when you live in the same climate! I want winter inspiration, just like the rest of us! It’s also nice to know that the world is really a smaller place than we image.

So here goes, my Curvy Canadian Blogger Roundup!

  1. Alice Deer- Les Carnets D’Alice (Montreal)
  2. Ninaah Bulles (Montreal)
  3. Courtney Mina- The Glitter Tread (Ottawa)
  4. Karyn Johnson- Killer Curves (Toronto)
  5. Jessica IP- Clothes and Shit (Toronto)

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one more from yesterdays post! clothesandshit.com ?

A post shared by Jessica Ip (@theinbetweenie) on

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