Hashstagram build like Tips

Full disclosure: I am pretty much the worst at using social media to promote myself. That's a problem, though, because whether I like it or not, personal branding for your career matters. How many followers you have on Twitter could impact your chances for getting a book deal, and a sweet Instagram could make you stand out from other applicants for media, advertising, or communications jobs. Those of us who don't naturally love social media don't have much of a choice: if you want to build your personal brand, you need to master social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

In an effort to learn how to increase my followers and generally get more social media savvy, I consulted some of the best ladies at Bustle I could think of: Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor Olivia Muenter and Associate Fashion & Beauty Editor Marie Southard Ospina, who are both masters of their personal brands on Twitter and Instagram. I also consulted our Senior Social Media Editor Hayley Saltzman (who built and runs Bustle's massive social media following) and Associate Branded Content Editor Jenna Wexler (who runs Bustle Studio's Instagram) for even more suggestions.

What follows is a list of what I hope will be useful suggestions for anyone trying to build a following and personal brand. Many of these rules still apply to other platforms like Snapchat and Tumblr, but I'll be focusing here on Twitter and Instagram, since they seem to have the most influence right now.