xoxo...

If anyone's obsessed with Blake Lively, it's me. In her personal life, she considers herself to be pretty private. She doesn't disclose intimate details over social media, but in her professional life, she decided to take on social media marketing head on. In recent years, she launched the company 'preserve us.' This company highlights the stories and creations of artisans and with Blake's helping hand, they have received immense accreditation. She primarily markets these creators and designers through Instagram. Fortunately, her plan has been successful, the posts from preserve us receive thousands of likes and the importance of this marketing strategy is it's how genuine it is. She believes in eternal value and it's incredibly inspiring.

         

These are examples of the trendy products her company offers, all one of a kind and designed by people who have not achieved celebrity yet.

On a side note, her initial launch into stardom was Gossip Girl and if you're familiar you know that the show used a crazy amount of marketing. Always referring to different designers, stores, restaurants, artists etc. TV shows are known for driving consumers to what's "in" and it's no mystery that GG did just that. 

   

Are you doing it right?

So while I was searching for the next person to spotlight, I was determined to find something unique & different because I'm beginning to sound redundant. In doing so, I came across so many Instagram accounts who are just simply doing it wrong. So I decided to throw out a few do's and don'ts today.

First of all, when you follow a celebrity on social media platforms it's most likely because you are interested in their interests or you think their cool etc. It comes with the territory when you become famous that you should always try to please your fandom. Thus meaning, give them Instagram posts they actually want to see. 

Here goes the list(this pertains to mostly everyone, but tailored for celebs)

#1. Don't post crappy photos. For crying out loud, you've got $$$$ and a nice phone. So make sure your photos are of quality.

#2. Focus on engagement with your fans. Selfies are cool and we all talk about how great you look, but come on. We want more than that so let us know what you're up to. Jessie James Decker & Kristin Cavallari are both great example of this. Always showing us what their life looks like.

- Kim K..... people may love your face, but in my opinion the self promoting is over the top.

#3. Don't be spammy - my girl Miley is all about the spammy posts, granted she is definitely engaging with some of her followers but 20 posts in one day is WAY TOO MUCH.

#4. Do be consistent. This is your personal platform to convey who you are as a person, not just on a television screen. So hopefully your message is concise. Especially if you are marketing for other brands. For instance, if Nike uses you to promote, don't post a million pics in Under Armor gear. You'll have us all confused.

#5. Do be creative! We look to you to inspire us. If your life looks just like mine, I'm going to hit you with an unfollow real quick. Not that the lose of me loyalty matters, but the loss of millions certainly could.

Short & sweet, but definitely to the point. 

If you thought B-Davis was cool....

So you know how by the end of One Tree Hill, if you didn't already love Brooke Davis, she had become your favorite character. You got to watch her go from crazy party girl to this lovable, strong and confident woman? I'd like to think that's kind of the transformation of Sophia Bush IRL. She's seems like such a badass and her social media following is incredible. For someone who has 1.4 million followers on Instagram, she averages about 100,000 likes per post. While likes may not directly correlate to likability or reach. In her case, I think it does.

Sophia Bush isn't the typical celebrity who posts pictures like they're living lifestyles of the rich and famous(because they are rich and famous). Instead she uses her voice for real issues. She collaborates with homeless shelters, humane societies, she travels for philanthropic reasons and she even posts a #MondayMantra every Monday morning to provide inspiration to her followers and I think even herself. She communicates love through social and other celebrities are beginning to follow those same habits. 

Needless to say, I have a major girl crush on Sophia Bush. I think companies, other celebrities and even us down here low on the totem pole can use her guidance.

This is an example of her #MondayMantra. I think it's cool that she shouted out Common because recently companies have used him for celebrity endorsement because he provides emotion and sentiment, rather than just a famous face.

SHE IS AWESOME. Constantly thinking of ways to giveback and these posts are often times personal, you can see the genuineness in them. I appreciate this because it is communicated like she's being paid to promote.

And still, she's gorgeous so who wouldn't want fashion advice from her?

The Bitch Is Back!

We all know this face, but now Kristin Cavallari is known for much more than the mean girl of the Laguna Beach crowd. She is now married to football player Jay Cutler and has become wildly successful in the fashion world. She's very obviously gorgeous, but she is also a strong advocate for feminism and women feeling beautiful through healthy living. I chose to spotlight Kristin because I think she has mastered self promotion without communicating too much of an ego. She most recently has co founded a jewelry and shoe line, both of which are very trendy; however, she aimed this targeted these lines toward moms who want to portray good style. She is a mother of two and looks damn good doin' it! I hope to rock motherhood the way she does!

I pulled these photos from Kristin's Instagram in order to show off her abilities to use social media to boast her own line, but what I admire about her strategy is that she is also very candid about the pieces she's wearing rather than posting pictures from a professional photoshoot. I think a lot of celebrities choose to post pictures from moments they didn't style themselves. It's very evident that Kristin's taste is original and super trendy. I always look to her Instagram for advice from her on fashion, hair, makeup and even food, as she is an avid cook of all things healthy.

I also chose to show this picture because it is one of several that Kristin pays special attention to the stylist, designer or specific product she is using. I think it's very important for celebrities to use their fame to inspire their followers and let them know what their true tastes are.

Kennesaw --> Around the World

This week I decided to feature someone who is a little less common to most, but to me he was a classmate until a few years ago. Sean O'Pry is from a small town, Kennesaw, GA and graduated from North Cobb High School but he was scouted through myspace by a modeling manager. Today, he's ranked the #1 male model in the world and most recently, co stared a Taylor Swift music video! I chose to spotlight Sean because he has taken the world by storm and with Spring almost here I've been dreaming of traveling and he sure does a lot of it. Considering this blog is called people and places, I am highlighting some of the fabulous places Sean has traveled and are definitely on my list!

Obviously being a model, Sean is quite native to representing luxury brands, as he's been the face of Arami, Lacoste, Versace and several others, but its when you see his personal photos that his true tastes shine through. H&m basics are his go to's! While I don't look to Sean for fashion advice as a female, he certainly dresses how I think a man should.

Just in case you didn't know who Sean O'Pry was..... now you're drooling

While Sean is a small town guy, he calls NYC home

On the left is a picture Sean took while visiting Barcelona, I've never been and after looking through his pictures, it has definitely made the top of my list. And on the right this beautiful picture was taken while in Tigua. This is inspiring to me because I feel like it's incredible to see second hand the beauty these places hold and it allows us to draw up dream vacations.

Lastly I just had to include Sean's first seflie taken with none other than the world famous GISELLE!!! They did an H&M campaign together. Casual right?

Pretty Little Instagram

I have been looking to Ashley Benson for guidance through social platforms since the start of Pretty Little Liars, which began while I was in high school. She is an avid Instagram user and she uses it show her fans what she uses in her daily life. Her character on PLL is very girly, but very fashion forward as well. However, in reality she has much more of a trendy street style or hipster per say. She's very open about being herself through social media and by this I mean she may be paid to promote certain brand, but she actually uses them. Not only does she let her fans know what makeup preferences she has or what hair product she is using, she also jet sets all over the world regularly, posting pictures of her journey along the way. These kind of posts provide inspiration for her 5.6 million Instgram followers.

To me, because Ashley is so young she has fabulous trendy taste that isn't so far past the reality of what's possible for people like me. I can model almost any outfit after something she has worn and what's so neat about Ashley like I mentioned prior, she's not a model who has to wear something she doesn't choose to. She shops at two of my favorite stores, Free People and Urban Outfitters which I find to be extremely cool about her because like I said, she provides so much fashion guidance for me. In other industries, she loooooves her some Starbucks and what young girl doesn't??? She is so frequently pictures with a Starbucks cup in hand.

On National Daisy Day, Ashley posted this picture of Marc Jacobs 'Daisy' perfume. Several of my friends and I own this perfume/ To me, this makes Ashley look so easy to relate to and on the same level as us even though she's outrageously famous. 

Here she's got FitTea. I tried FitTea after she posted this because as many reviews as you read on what works and doesn't work. Celebrity endorsers drive me to make the most purchases.

Another huge trend these days in the Birchbox, it allows you to provide specific beauty/cosmetic preferences and they sent you samples once a month for 10 bucks. super super affordable. (RED) is also a movement to stop the effects of AIDS. Ashley Benson is cooler than you thought she was huh?

Needless to say, I have gone to Ashley's Insta on so many occasions seeking beauty advice and just to stalk her because naturally I think we are friends.... 

Guess Who

This week I decided to spotlight one of my greatest inspirations for all things fashion, hair, makeup etc. Her name is Gigi Hadid and some of you may recognize her because you love her as I do, or you may have seen her mom Yolanda on RHBH. Gigi is not only a model for Guess (and has been basically her entire life) but she also shoots with Sport Illustrated and many others. Her modeling career has taken off the past couple of years and it seems as if that trend is going to continue. Her modeling photos are obviously edited, but Gigi is one of those girls who doesn't only post photos from her career, but just her on a daily basis. That is what drives my liken toward her. 

Because she is a model, it is her job to promote each brand and she does a phenomenal job. Just recently she became the face of Maybelline and since then I have purchased several of their products just because I believe Gigi to be credible. Through her Instagram and other forms of social media, Gigi has formed a huge following and I know I can't possibly be the only one using her preferences to gain my own. 

Just in case you don't know who this gorgeous girl is,

This is Gigi's latest ad for Guess

Here she is getting ready for the Daily Front Row Fashion LA Awards, using a Maybelline mascara.

And finally, in this picture she is walking around NYC (which she now calls home) and she tagged the designer she is wearing, shamelessly promoting him and her own style.

Companies/Brands within the beauty industry have been using different celebrities as the face of their brand for years, but it wasn't until the advances in technology that you could see these women using brands in their everyday life, instead you watched a TV commercial and didn't actually believe that they liked the brand, but it was for business purposes. Social media has shed a new light on the relationships we have with the celebrities we look to for guidance, especially in relation to beauty. 

#ChangeofPace

You may notice a difference in my platform here, but I was exactly feeling inspired by my topics before, so I decided to switch it up. Rather than using hashtags to inform you of what's happening right now. I am going to share some of people & places that inspire me. Most of my celebrity "friends" are avid social media users and are passionate about communicating with their fans. I gain a lot of advice, fashion sense, travel ideas, etc. from people like Blake Lively, Sophia Bush, Sean O'Pry, Taylor Swift and many many more.  

Like most 21 year-old young adults with a smart phone, I utilize what's at my finger tips. By that I mean I stalk search for what I'm looking for until it's found. For instance, if I want to figure out how to change my hair, I'm going to look back on Sophia Bush's Instagram and find out what hair product she uses. 

So to start off my new platform, I am going to highlight how much I love to look at what Alex Chung is doing. This British fashionista has a freaking awesome Instagram life. Not only is a former model, but she's written a great book and she constantly uses platforms such as tumblr and Instagram to express herself. It's easy to look for new inspiration and to gain insight from people who have the ability to travel to new places and see new things prior to you. For instance, Alexa was just in Tokyo and posted this picture. 

And just a couple weeks before this, she was in the Maldives.

In other situations, people like Alexa Chung push fashion standards to new levels by trying new looks and then provide girls like me with new ideas. I can't express how many times I have modeled an outfit after something she's worn before me.

She used the hashtag #toddlerforlife to caption this picture and instead of saying "yeah she looks like a totally baby", you go out and buy yourself a pair of overalls.

#DontWasteCharacters

While jotting down some of the trending topics from the past few days, I was trying to come up with a 'punny' hashtag. Some of them were #MissHawksSnow #MaHawksGeddonMeCold #SnowUniverse and that's when I realized that none of them were catchy enough. Therefore, Lesson #1 - Don't use a hashtag unless it's catchy or cool. Otherwise it's a waste of characters.

So what do massive amounts of snow, The Atlanta Hawks & Miss Universe(formerly known as Miss Columbia) have in common? While it may seem like nothing on the surface... maybe we should dig deeper. The reality of all of these things and what makes them each relevant to the other is that they were all shared over social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., they are pretty much our lifelines. I personally haven't watched a Hawks game and I didn't even tune into Miss Universe, but when I want to know what happened.. it's literally at my finger tips. 

Who knew that us southern folks would be ridiculously understand of the Northeastern region's suffering through this impending blizzard. Well, since Snowpocalypse 2014, we're basically pros. Amirite? Speaking of the South, if someone told you literally any other time that the Hawks would be the best team in the NBA with a 16 game winning streak  this season you would have most likely laughed in their face. WELL IT'S HAPPENING. Opposing fans are dropping like the snow in the Northeast. And in regards to Miss Universe, I mean... she's in charge of the universe now.... How could she not be totally relevent ;)

Topics such as these receive loads of extra attention because our voices are being heard. Our generation and generations to come have completely changed the game as far as marketing goes. Prior to this NBA season it was rare to see people wearing Hawks apparel and I live in Atlanta!! Now sales for tickets and gear are BOOMING! Not just because they are winning, but because we are talking about it and they hear us. Miss Universe most likely gained about a million new followers on every social media platform just because she won. And we will continue to see pictures of mile long lines at the Trader Joes in Manhattan. 

When you take a step back and realize the changes that are occurring this very second, it's crazy. 

Most popular trends:

#Snowmageddon2015

#SAGAwards

#Hawks

#MissUniverse

#UniversityofFashion

In today's age there is a very good chance your mediums of information come from a social outlet. Mine definitely do. So what's been trending in not just my world, but most likely filling your timeline as well? The Annual Golden Globes and The National Championship football game(that didn't include an SEC team!) That's news in itself. However, I've noticed & posted things along the lines of #GoldenGlobes #GoldenGlobeNoms #BestDressed #GoBucks #GoDucks #NationalChampionship. So here derives... #UniversityofFashion

Admittedly or not, these topics effect our consumer behavior. After the Golden Globes, I want to get my hair done, lose a couple lbs and probably throw on my Valentino(in my dreams). For others, this week meant purchasing new Ohio State apparel and possibly ditching every Oregon shirt you own. So wouldn't it be nice if following these trends more companies targeted our needs? Sports stores! This is your time! Guys need a bandwagon to belong to. & Pure Barre! This is your time! I want to look like Kate Hudson and so do all of my friends. With all of that being said, basically I'm here to keep you updated. If you had a test week and miraculously kept your phone off. I'll have this weeks trends listed. If I'm lucky, I'll inform companies of the things we want and need.