45. How to Be Yourself on Instagram

I’m learning that a lot of people struggle with how to be themselves on Instagram. How to be their authentic-selves and how to attract clients.

You  may be feeling like you’re not interesting enough, not bubbly enough or that your page isn’t funny enough. Because so and so’s page is so interesting and attracting tons of new followers but you’re just “boring.” When you compare yourself to others, that pressures you into acting like someone that is just not you. And that strategy won’t ever attract the people you truly want to attract.

We want to be who our target audience wants us to be, but at the same time being 100% authentically yourself is the best marketing strategy. Clients will fall in love with you for YOU, not a fake or made up personality. The clients you truly want will love you for you and will love the things you love.

 

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, whoever you are will attract people. And not just any kind of people, but the people you want surrounding you. When you jump on Instagram Live or post to your stories or write your captions, and just focus on being you, you will attract people who love your personality or whatever you offer. You don’t have to make up a separate or fake personality just to get new clients!

WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING FROM YOU?

A way to stop the comparison game is to ask yourself “Why are people coming to my page?” Put some good thought into it!

• Are they coming to your page for inspiration, for a good laugh, for advice or because you’re the most bubbly person ever?
• What makes you stand apart from others in your circle?
• What are you offering to others?
• When people leave your page, what piece of education are they taking with them?
• What is it that people are wanting from you?
• Are they wanting to see your photos, your advice,  your stories or inspiration?

Realize that not every page needs to be super funny, bubbly or super inspirational. You don’t have to be what everyone else is. I know that people don’t come to my page to laugh or to get parenting advice, so I don’t need to be that kind of page.

We start with our topic, our niche or our focus, but then we add our personality. We bring it to life by showing our real life, how it looks, how it feels and what we’re doing to balance all of that.

So instead of making my page about what I do, I make it about who I am. So that as I move through my life and as my business is changing from weddings to families to brands to coaching, people stay with me.

The people that stay may not all be clients but they are all supporting me and that’s more important. They know me as a person, not just my photography or my coaching. They’re able to have a personal relationship with me and not my business. They repost my stories, send me encouraging messages and refer clients to me.

 

IF PEOPLE AREN’T GOING TO SUPPORT THE THINGS YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT, THEY’RE NOT YOUR PEOPLE

I want to attract people that care about me, care about my family and my struggles (share Washington trip). If people aren’t going to support the things that I am passionate about, they’re not my people. I want the people surrounding me to care about the things that I care about.

You may totally lose some followers as you’re putting your authentic-self out there. Every time I share things that I’m really passionate about, I lose followers. But that’s not a bad thing, it just helps you realize who you really want to be attracting.

HOW TO BE YOURSELF ON INSTAGRAM

1. Just be you

You don’t need to make up a second personality or have an alter ego or only post things you think your followers will care about. If they care about you, they will care about what you care about. Don’t think about what will get more engagement, just post it because you know that you like it. Show the things that you’re passionate about and if they’re so unpassionate to unfollow you, you don’t want those people to be your clients.

Show the behind the scenes in your life. Show your routines and what work looks like. Share what’s going on in your life and that is enough. They want to see what you’re love and passionate about. You don’t have to make up fun stories or crazy stories.

2. Practice

It’s hard and vulnerable to show your face. We don’t wear make-up most days, feel exhausted and the last thing we want to do is get ready every time we get on Instagram. That’s normal and other people will find that relatable.

So just turn the camera to you and practice talking to the camera. Marco polo or facetime your friends. Get in uncomfortable situations until it feels a little more comfortable. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll feel and more natural you’ll be. I promise you that it does get easier and being yourself just becomes really natural. Stories aren’t about the planned things, they’re about letting people see into your life.