How Businesses Can Win on Instagram

Instagram is more than just a place for food and beauty pictures. It is a powerful marketing tool for businesses. With more than 2 billion users and 200 million businesses, Instagram has become a go-to platform where people discover products, interact with brands, and shop. But how can businesses use Instagram effectively?

First, every business should have an Instagram Business Account. This allows features such as analytics and advertising tools, which help brands track performance and sell products on the platform. Once the account is set up, businesses should focus on posting good photos and videos that show their products. These posts should have captions with emojis and relevant hashtags to improve visibility and reach the right audience. Since links are not allowed in captions, adding a “link in bio” is a great way to drive traffic to a website.

The book also highlights different ways to increase engagement, such as using Instagram Stories, Reels and Live Videos. These allow businesses to connect with their audience in real time and keep content interactive. If the budget allows, Instagram ads can help target specific audiences and reach potential customers.

Overall, Instagram is one of the best platforms for businesses looking to grow their audience and boost sales. As the platform continues to grow, now is the perfect time to create an Instagram account for your brand.

Love on the Line: A Review of Hook, Line, and Sinker

Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey is a sweet conclusion to the Bellinger Sisters series. While it may not have quite lived up to It Happened One Summer, this sequel is still a heartwarming romance filled with growth and humor.

This book follows Hannah Bellinger, the younger and more understated of the two sisters. Unlike her sister, Piper, who thrives in the spotlight, Hannah has always seen herself as the supporting character in other people’s stories. Working as a music production assistant, she returns to the charming fishing town of Westport for a film project, determined to prove herself in her industry. With no place to stay, she ends up crashing at the home of her close friend, Fox Thornton.

Fox is Westport’s resident ladies’ man, though he puts on a carefree facade. Fox struggles with insecurities and believes he’s only worth a good time. However, what Hannah doesn’t realize is that Fox has secretly harbored feelings for her all along. Unlike his usual flings, his connection with Hannah feels different and he’s terrified of ruining what they have and disappointing someone who deserves better. As they spend more time together, their friendship begins to blur into something more, forcing Fox to confront his fears of unworthiness and Hannah to recognize that she doesn’t have to settle for a background role in her own life.

Though it may not have had the same spark as the first book, Hook, Line, and Sinker is still an enjoyable, easy read for romance lovers. The town of Westport continues to be a charming town for love stories. If you enjoy contemporary romance with lovable characters and a touch of small-town magic, the entire Bellinger Sisters series is definitely worth the read!

Stars: 3

Spice: 2

Mastering Facebook: Essential Strategies for Growth and Engagement

As someone who doesn't use Facebook as my main platform, Chapter 4 of Essentials of Social Media Marketing was very interesting to read. Facebook is a large company in digital marketing, with over 3 billion active users. Whether you're a small business or a large brand, using Facebook effectively can boost engagement, increase sales, and strengthen your online presence. 

What stood out most in this chapter were the key strategies for successfully managing a Facebook presence. From setting up a business page to creating engaging content and navigating Facebook’s challenges, here are the major takeaways:

1. Setting Up a Facebook Business Page

• Provide an informative description, contact details, and business hours
• Integrate other services like X and Instagram for connectivity

2. Building an Audience

• Inviting friends, family, and existing customers to like your page
• Following industry leaders and engaging with their content
• Sharing valuable, engaging, and appropriate posts

3. Creating Engaging Facebook Content

• 140 characters or fewer
• Visual content like photos, videos and GIFs
• Use 1-3 relevant hashtags

4. Overcoming Facebook Challenges

• Post high-value, engaging content
• Use video to drive interactions
• Diversify content across different platforms

This chapter reinforced that while Facebook may not be my go-to platform, it remains a powerful tool for digital marketing. With the right strategies, businesses can effectively build an audience, create engaging content, and navigate challenges to achieve success.

Siege and Storm: A Step Up, But Still Falling Short

The second book in the Grishaverse was definitely a step up from the first, but it was still a very underwhelming read. While the stakes were higher, I found that much of the story felt drawn out, and certain sections could have been removed entirely without impacting the plot. The book had moments of excitement but overall, it struggled to keep me fully engaged.

The story continues to follow Alina Starkov, a Sun Summoner, as she flees from the Darkling with Mal, seeking refuge away from Ravka. However, the Darkling has grown more powerful, wielding terrifying new shadow creatures. He captures Alina and forces her to help him track the legendary sea whip, Rusalye, to amplify her powers.

With the help of the charismatic privateer Sturmhond, who has secrets of his own, Alina and Mal escape and return to Ravka, where she reluctantly steps into a leadership role among the Grisha to prepare for an inevitable battle against the Darkling. But as Alina’s power grows, so does her hunger for it, threatening her relationship with Mal and her own humanity. As the Darkling haunts her, she needs to face valuable choices not only for herself but for the future of the Grisha.

There is one final book left, and while I haven’t been completely won over by the storytelling so far, I am intrigued enough by the characters and their relationships to continue. I hope the finale delivers a more satisfying and engaging conclusion to Alina’s journey.

Stars: 3

Spice: 1

10 Steps to Effectively Manage a Blog Using Social Media Marketing

When running a blog, there is much to consider when writing for others to read. Today, I will explain and analyze my blog by following the 10 steps outlined in Chapter 3 of Essentials of Social Media Marketing.

Step 1: Identify a Target Market
My target market for this blog is primarily females between the ages of 18 and 25, given the nature of the books I read and review.

Step 2: Conduct a Social Media Audit
For this step, I will break down my SWOT analysis. The strengths of my blog include the timeliness and frequency of my posts. One weakness is that my grammatical structure may not be the best. Opportunities include being a small blogger on a relatively small platform, with the ability to use Blogger to expand my reach. Threats include other book-based blogs and TikTok book reviewers.

Step 3: Establish Goals, Objectives, and Metrics
My goal is to maintain a consistent posting schedule and increase my blog’s followers. An objective is to boost engagement by 10%. A specific metric I aim to achieve is at least two comments per blog post moving forward.

Step 4: Determine Resources, Roles, and Responsibilities
Since my blog is small and independently run, there is no need to delegate roles or responsibilities. I can manage it effectively on my own, provided I have my laptop or another device.

Step 5: Establish a Tone of Voice
I strive for a friendly and approachable tone in my posts. I want my readers to feel comfortable expressing their opinions while engaging with mine, without feeling judged.

Step 6: Select a Platform
My primary platform is Blogger. Additionally, I include the blog link in my Instagram bio to drive traffic to my site.

Step 7: Create and Optimize Social Media Networks
As a new user on this platform, I ensure that my account is fully completed. I also use relevant tags in my posts to attract more readers to my reviews.

Step 8: Create a Distribution and Content Strategy
My content consists of book review blog posts and chapter recaps for my social media class. Currently, I post twice a week, but I aim to establish a more consistent posting schedule.

Step 9: Create a Social Media Content Calendar and Schedule Posts
I plan to post on Mondays and Wednesdays so my audience knows when to expect new content.

Step 10: Track, Analyze, and Tune
Consistency in tracking and analyzing my posts is crucial. By monitoring analytics, I can identify patterns and determine what resonates most with my audience.

Following these 10 steps can lead to positive results when launching a professional social media account in any form.

It Happened One Summer: The Perfect Book for Your Next Vacation

If you're searching for the perfect summer read, It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey is a must-read. This Schitt’s Creek-inspired, Hollywood-to-small-town novel is an enemies-to-lovers story. This book is perfect for small-town vacations or just sitting on the beach!

Piper Bellinger, a glamorous and carefree LA aristocrat, is living her best life until one night of reckless partying lands her in trouble. Her stepfather decides it’s time for a wake-up call, cutting her off financially and sending her to a small, working-class fishing town in Washington to prove she can be responsible. Piper finds herself in a world where no one is impressed by her status, especially Brendan Taggart. Brendan is the town’s no-nonsense sea captain who has little patience for Piper’s flashy lifestyle. He doubts she’ll last more than a few days in a place so far removed from her glamorous comfort zone. 

At first, I found Piper a bit difficult to love as she felt like the stereotypical spoiled rich girl. But as the story progressed, I couldn’t help but fall for her character development. As someone familiar with small dockside towns, this book does a wonderful job of putting you right into the setting.

I already can’t wait to continue with the Bellinger Sisters series as I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet! Whether you’re a typical romance reader or just dipping your toes into it, It Happened One Summer is a fantastic pick for your next beach read.

Stars: 4

Spice: 2

The Dedication and Strategy of Managing a Swim Club’s Social Media

Podcasting is a major part of social media and an effective way to share information. Recently, Reese Miller and I recorded a podcast with Susan Gibney, a swim trainer and the social media coordinator at St. James Swim Club in Toledo, Ohio.  

I had an incredible time talking to Gibney and gaining insight into the dedication she brings to her role each day. She shared that she works between 20 and 30 hours per week teaching swim classes and lessons. In addition, she devotes more than 10 hours each week to managing the club’s social media presence. Despite this significant effort, she is only compensated for five hours of social media work. However, she consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the club’s online presence remains strong and engaging.  

Gibney also emphasized the role analytics play in managing social media platforms effectively. She explained that on Facebook, frequent activity and engagement—such as posting content regularly and responding to audience interactions—help maintain a high "health" score for the account. By staying active and responsive, she has achieved an "excellent" rating, which boosts visibility and interaction on the platform.  

Through this experience, I gained a greater appreciation for the effort required to run a successful social media platform for an organization. It takes not only time and creativity but also a strategic approach to keep audiences engaged and informed. Social media is more than just posting content—it is about fostering connections and ensuring people stay informed about what matters.  

If you’re interested in hearing our full conversation with Gibney and learning more about her experiences, you can listen to the podcast episode that Miller and I created by clicking here!

Did Shadow and Bone Deserve the Hype?

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo might have been the most underwhelming "BookTok" book I have read. I had heard so many good things about it but I found it very hard to continue to read. It was very boring to me and seemed to have a slow and repetitive plot. 

Despite this, I plan to read the entire trilogy. I once disliked the first book of a series but ended up loving the second and that series, A Court of Thorns and Roses.

This fantasy book follows Alina Starkov who lives a normal commoner life that is until her division is attacked on the Fold. She finds out that she has magical powers that she has no idea how to control. Now that witnesses have seen her power, she is taken to the king's court where she will be trained to be a Grisha, the magical army led by the Darkling. But as she misses her commoner friends and plans unfold, Alina realizes just how many secrets are being kept from her and the kingdom.

I am going to say that I do not recommend this book, but my roommate loved it, so it does not hurt to try it. The trilogy was turned into a Netflix series in 2021 but has since been canceled after season 2. It's assumed that it was discontinued due to low viewership rates related to the price it took to film. Once I am finished reading the series, I want to watch the Netflix adaptation to see the differences and if I prefer it more than the novels.

If you have read or watched Shadow and Bone, please let me know! I would love to know why others did or did not enjoy it to see different perspectives.

Stars: 2

Spice: 1