Image via Complex Original
Social media is the wave these days, at least that's what the kids say, and sneaker peeps are loving it more than ever. Twitter and Instagram are chock-full of those who put up images and thoughts about what's on their feet. Their goal, besides interacting about shoes, is to get Insta-famous or gain more followers.
But there's a certain way to go about cultivating a following or just having a social media account that doesn't suck. It's easier said than done, but here are some tips that will help. This is The Sneakerhead's Guide to Being Better at Social Media.
Have your own personality.
The reason that certain people have larger followings than others happens for several reasons. It could be because of what they do for a living, the quality of their photos, or because they’re interesting. When all things are considered, followers don't happen by accident. And people want to peer into the lives of those that give a view of their personality and what they're doing on a regular basis. With that said, be yourself. Don't be afraid to show and post the things you like, because, realistically, that's what your followers want to see. Wear the sneakers you like, and post the jokes you find funny to yourself. Your "personal" brand is supposed to be, well, personal anyway.
Go easy on the hashtags.
Hashtags were created to make content more searchable on social media. The people who are talking about similar topics could find each other's thoughts, tweets, and photos. But instead of assigning one or two hashtags to what their photo was really about, some people decided that they'd use any hashtag that's remotely — or not at all — related to the content they're posting. It's OK to pick a select few hashtags, such as #complexkicks or #womft, and use them. But nobody wants an Instagram post that reads, "#sneakers #airjordans #whatsonmyfeet #sneakerheat #sneakerheads #finishline #teamflyknit #foodporn #whyamiusingallthesehashtags," all at once. Remember, it's easier to tag someone in the photo then just use all of the hashtags.
Don't post everything.
There's something to be said about being selective in life, and it transcends way beyond the content you're posting on social. But that's what we're talking about right now, so this is how it goes: You don't need to post an image of every sneaker that you wear on your feet, tweet every thought about sneakers that you have, or — for all of you #influencers out there — post everything that a brand gives you for free.
Wore your beaters for the third day this week? Don't post them. Wonder why you prefer a green runner over a blue one? Don't tweet it. A brand sent you a crap pair of '90s basketball sneakers that will be on sale for $20 next month? Don't 'gram them.
Once you learn the simple rule that less is more, the quality of your content will increase, too.
Don't steal content.
Nobody likes a thief, especially on social media. Too many accounts are parading around the Internet and pretending to be the source of images that they've taken from other accounts. Some people even have the gall to put a watermark on pictures they jack. And this just doesn't go for small-time Instagrammers, either. Sneaker blogs do the same thing, too! (Surprise.)
When it's all said and done, you should be posting things that belong to you, or are so obviously stolen that there's no attempt to claim ownership over them. The same goes for all of the leakers out there who want to gain fame off of showing early looks at the latest sneaker that's coming out. Don't spread photos and pass them off as your own.
Switch up your photos.
There are a few people online who have become famous for taking the same angle over and over — Ronnie Fieg comes to mind — but it's good to add a variety to your repertoire. Shoot the sneakers from different angles. Take a #coffeenclothes shot. Get photos that are both on- and off-foot. Keep the followers guessing and be creative. Don't go overboard, but switching things up from time to time never hurt anyone.
Everything doesn't need to be about sneakers
No one's life, no matter how dedicated they are, solely revolves around sneakers. They still need to eat, go out once in a while, and do regular people things. It's OK to capture these moments on Instagram or tweet about them. They say a personal brand should be consistent, and it's the slight variations amongst our daily routines that make us who we are. Show these things on social media and they might give people more incentive to follow you. "Oh, he likes burritos and European beer, too? I'll totally follow him." Don't get us wrong — it's mostly about the sneakers, but there's more to life than that.
Take clear photos, please.
It should go without saying, but the quality of photos have a large effect on the Instagram accounts that sneakerheads follow. There's a whole subset of collectors who only share hi-res images that were shot with — surprise — real cameras. But it's also possible to snap a clean pic with a regular iPhone.
Instagram was built off of making cell phone pictures look better. It's easy to play with a photo's brightness or contrast and make things pop off the screen. You can even pass the phone or camera off to a friend and let them take the picture. If they're a real friend, they'll get down on the ground and sacrifice their body for the 'gram. Or maybe not. Either way, better pictures equals more followers, and excelling at the game that's social media.
Don't go overboard.
It's easy to get a creative idea and blow it out of proportion. Sneakerheads are found guilty of this too many times. Just because a sneaker has a nickname — Oreos, Grapes, the list goes on — doesn't mean that it needs to be taken so literally.
No one wants to see you fill your sneakers up with milk and dip cookies in them, unless they just want someone to laugh at. The same goes for people who stomp in puddles with pristine Air Jordans just to get a rise out of those leaving comments. If it feels corny or forced, here's a hint: It probably is.
Share your collection.
Seeing someone's collection is a special experience. For many, it's their life's pride and joy. Their crown jewel. And while we can only see people wear one pair of sneakers at a time, Instagram is the perfect platform to show the depth of how many pairs someone has.
There's also the go-to shot that displays the stacks of sneaker boxes, but there are also sneaker wheels that people do to show off their Air Max 90s, Air Jordan 1s, or ASICS. Put some thought into these photos, and they're sure to catch on. The same goes for weekly rotation photos, which are a snapshot of a bigger pie.
Don't do it just for the 'gram.
We've said it once and we'll say it again: Wear your sneakers. Too often do people go onto Instagram and Twitter just to flex something that they have no intentions of wearing outside of the one picture. If you're going to not wear the sneakers that day, be honest about it. There's no shame in getting a great picture of a pair of shoes that are off-foot. Those who follow you will appreciate it the same.
