Instagram Round-up: Building a community

Hello, and welcome to another Instagram round-up! Can you believe it’s February already? I hope lots of you have had a busy month Instagramming away, I’ve noticed lots of bloggers from the BritMums network really up their Instagram game this month, which is amazing. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about ways to really integrate yourself over on Instagram and how you can build a community to help improve your gallery and presence. There are literally thousands of hashtags on Instagram. They are an amazing way of getting to know other Instagramers, finding new accounts to follow, liking pictures and gaining reciprocal likes and follows thus growing your account.

As we are a network of parenting bloggers the best way to find like-minded people is to use hashtags within our niche. When you join in, there is often a chance your image will be featured on the organiser’s gallery or even on their blogs, bringing you exposure to their followers. There are quite a few organised hashtags within the BritMums community, I’ve rounded up a few of my favourites for you. 

Aby from You Baby Me Mummy and I started #LittleFierceOnes. We took inspiration from the Shakespeare quote ‘And though she be but little, she is fierce’ (substitute she for he depending on if you have boys or girls!) any pictures of your little ones are welcome, show us how they are little but totally fierce! Find out more on Aby’s blog or mine.

 

Four of my favourite shots from the Instagram community I created with @mrandmrstplus3 (pic top left). We have loved seeing so many people use #LittleFierceOnes on their posts! …………………………………………………………………………….. Thanks so much. …………………………………………………………………………….. Blog post live today featuring these amazing shots, go check them out and give them a follow as they are all awesome bloggers and amazing photographers. ……………………………………………………………………………… @thejoyoffive (top right) @dayjam (bottom left) @2littlegentlemennus (bottom right) …………………………………………………… Don’t forget to tag your pictures with #LittleFierceOnes you don’t have to be a blogger to join in, just willing to be part of a lovely community

A photo posted by @youbabymemummy on Jan 13, 2016 at 12:21am PST

Capture by Lucy runs a wonderful hashtag called #CapturingColour it is pretty self-explanatory: this one is less parenting related and more about capturing colourful moments in whichever form. It’s nice and easy to join in, plus really beautiful to look through too! 

 

 

Making my own sunshine ?❤️? #capturingcolour

A photo posted by Capture by Lucy (@capturebylucy) on Jan 30, 2016 at 1:28am PST

Everyone likes to photograph things that make them happy right? What Katy Said and Quite Frankly She Said have teamed up to create #MyHappyCapture In Katy’s own words ”a hashtag to celebrate your happy moments, those that make you smile” so any snap that fills you with joy, just use this hashtag. 

Speaking of things that make you smile, there’s nothing better than a holiday or an escape from day to day life is there? Ickle Pickle’s Life and Zena’s Suitcase have recently started #InspiringTravelPics you can tag any travel related pic with the hashtag. It can be any destination in the UK or abroad. A quick look through the lovely gallery has left me wishing I am on a beach somewhere!

 It’s lovely to take the children outdoors and blow the cobwebs away. Life Unexpected runs #CuriousLittleExplorers to take part, simply use the hashtag at the end of any family outdoor Instagram picture, and every Friday Chloe will post a round up featuring the four best photos from the week. 

 

This is the second week of the new #curiouslittleexplorers Instagram community. I am really excited to share this weeks four featured photos! They are all so stunning.

Top left: @jellibeanpoems Top right: @2littlegentlemennus Bottom left: @theordinarymum Bottom right: @naturemumblog 

A photo posted by Chloe (@lifeunexpectedblog) on Jan 29, 2016 at 12:38am PST

If you are a fan of detail then #LifeCloseUp is for you. Run by Let’s Talk Mommy it is a hashtag for all those zoomed in moments captured on Instagram. It can be of the food you are eating, the little corner in your house you styled, a necklace you are wearing, something beautiful in nature, or of your little ones. A really lovely one to join in with and some excellent captures in the feed. Check it out!

And last but by no means least is BritMums #SnapHappyBritMums this one is really great to join in with because you are given a prompt each day; anything from  ‘smile’ to ‘naughty’ and can be interpreted in any way you wish. Fantastic for those of us that need a little nudge and are up for taking on a photo-a-day challenge. BritMums have just released a brand new set of prompts for Feb so head on over to this post that explains everything you need to know. 

I totally failed on January photo prompts.Maybe February #snaphappybritmums will be better? #epig #photoprompt #photoaday

A photo posted by Aly Hodge ? ? ? (@bugbirdbee2) on Jan 31, 2016 at 12:00am PST

That’s just a small selection of the brilliant organised hashtags within the BritMums community. Which one will you join in with? 

As always I am ending this round-up with 5 of my favourite Instagrammers, here are my top picks for January:

@laura_babykicks Laura’s recent holiday cruise snaps have made me want to book our summer break pronto!

@anniebobsblog I adore the images of Alison’s children they always look like they’re having so many adventures.

@florafairweather such pretty images with pom poms and bobble hats galore. You can buy the gorgeous things she makes; I was seduced by the gallery and bought matching hats for me and my littlest! #twinning

@mudpiefridays is a really good account full of lovely crafts and learning activities for under 5s. Makes me want to get the paints out!

@abeautifulmess an absolute must-follow account for your daily dose of photo inspiration.