5 Lessons I Learned from Running a Wellness Instagram Account as a Full-Time Student
By Aubrey Lapp
About four years ago, as a busy high school student, I started a small clean beauty and wellness Instagram account called @thelocococonuts.
Along the way, I’ve learned how to balance school with content creation, and have had the opportunity to form brand partnerships that align with my values and amplify the message of a holistic, conscious lifestyle. Below are my key takeaways that would help anyone start a successful Instagram business:
1. Quality Photography Makes all the Difference
You don’t have to be a world-class photographer or even need a professional camera to take good pictures. I started out using a $500 Nikon and ended up switching to my iPhone camera out of convenience, yet the quality is just as good.
I’ll admit that there’s definitely a learning curve at first, but once you figure out your personal style and what works for you, it’s super simple.
Here are some tips to try out:
- Use natural lighting
- Try to use similar backgrounds for consistency
- Enhance photos by editing on an easy-to-use app (such as Snapseed)
- Plan out your posts/feed layout (I use Planoly for this)
2. Yes, Brands are Willing to Work with You!
Never in a million years did I think I would ever land a brand partnership with under 500 followers, let alone several. You may think that no large company wants to partner with someone just starting out, but I assure you they do. It ends up being mutually beneficial as both accounts result in increased exposure from each other. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with big brands such as Amika, Eva NYC, Nuun, Ritual, La Colombe Coffee, and more.
All you have to do is take the first step. I recommend having an email outline that you can personalize for each brand you come across that you’d like to reach out to.
Tips on what to include in the email:
- Your name
- Account handle
- What your account focuses on
- Why you’re a fan of the brand and how it fits your values
- Ask for a collab in your preferred form (such as a giveaway or a product in exchange for a post)
Eventually, you can start to monetize your account and earn money through things like affiliate links and sponsored posts, which sound more daunting than they are. If a brand hasn’t already offered, ask if they’d be interested in sponsoring a post or creating a custom link/discount code for you to share with your followers. Then every time someone purchases from it, you’ll receive a portion of the profits.
3. Hashtags Aren’t Cringy – They’re Helpful
If there’s one thing you take away from this post, let it be to TAG TAG TAG! Your account will gain so much more exposure if you regularly tag brands as well as include relevant hashtags in every post. Plus, they don’t even need to be visible in order for you to get that reach. You can easily hide hashtags behind content on stories to increase exposure without compromising on design/aesthetics.
I tend to tag any brands featured, as well as some general ones that have high traffic and relate to the post. Such as #veganfood, #veganrecipes, #plantbased, #cleanbeauty, #skincare, etc.
4. Stories are Your Best Friend
Making use of Instagram stories is especially beneficial as brands can easily repost them and draw attention to your account, keeping you relevant in the algorithm. Utilizing these tools together can help you interact with your audience in creative ways while still exhibiting your personal brand and increasing your discoverability and reach.
Saving stories as highlights on your profile is also a great way to increase engagement as it allows your audience to look at content outside of the standard 24-hour viewing window.
5. Finding Balance as a Full-Time Student
Although running an account does get tricky to keep up with sometimes, I found that taking intermittent breaks when needed helps me to not become overwhelmed and stay balanced. Keep in mind you’re a student, not a full-time employee.
Even though my account does not have a huge following, I still consider it a success. As a high school student, I learned first-hand valuable communication skills such as how to market myself and my brand, how to talk to PR professionals, and how to target my intended audience.
Now in college, having the experience of running and promoting a social media account is super beneficial and even helped me land my first real internship this past summer. So, if it’s something you’ve been wanting to do but you’re on the fence, go for it! Now is the perfect time to start building up content for a portfolio in time for graduation/applying to internships. Remember, anyone can do it–you just have to commit!