I’m what you call “late” to the Instagram bandwagon.

I just created my first account a few weeks ago and I’m beginning to see why so many millennials are obsessed. Not only have I been getting more engagement with Instagram than Facebook, Twitter, or other social platforms, but it’s also helping my business.

In today’s digital world, having a big Instagram following is akin to having a prestigious resume—it’s an instant credibility boost.

Just the other day my friend Virginia Salas Kastilio, the CEO of a media firm, posted to Facebook a job offering for a speaker at an all-expenses-paid event on a private island. The only criteria? A minimum social following of 100k+.

As my friend Zach Benson put it, “When you’re at a networking event and the person you exchange business cards with sees you have a following, of everyone else they meet, they’re gonna remember you.”

Benson is himself an Instagram connoisseur, the CEO and founder of the Instagram management agency Assistagram, which has served high-end clients like The Ritz Carlton and The Four Seasons. Benson has engineered viral Instagram campaigns and boasts the ability to reliably build massive accounts from scratch in a short period of time. In the past year alone, he’s stayed at over one hundred exotic hotels for free in exchange for exposure to his Instagram travel network of 12M+. Not to mention, he’s also a professional dancer and a TEDx speaker.

For the average person, building a following on Instagram might seem like a daunting task. But to Benson, it’s all a matter of simple algorithms.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Benson shares his method for building Instagram followings fast, and leveraging your following to travel the world for free. Below, learn from Benson how easy Instagram can be and how you can enjoy its travel benefits.

1. Join An Alliance. One of Instagram’s algorithms for ranking content is based on how many comments a photo or video gets soon after being posted. Benson says you can boost your photo’s visibility exponentially by combining forces with a team. Every time you or one of the members of your “alliance” posts a new photo, ensure that each person comments on the photo immediately, because a post’s first ten minutes are the most crucial for gaining traction and determining how extensively it’ll reach beyond your current following. Aim to form teams of 15+ people and it’ll help your photos perform optimally.

2. Follow The Golden Rule. According to Benson, “content is (and will always be) king.” Quality content should always be your first priority, so dedicate yourself to taking high quality, vibrant photos and pairing them with engaging captions or a call to action. For best results, coordinate your content to adhere to a complementary color scheme so that when your followers scroll through your feed, your body of photos reflects your “signature” style and is visually beautiful.

For inspiration, consider modeling your profile after top Instagrammers’ feeds. Take note of the kinds of color palettes they’re using and their content ratios between photo, text, and video

3. Hashtag Smart. Instagram allows you to see how many users have used a particular hashtag before adding it to your post. While it’s tempting to use hashtags that have been used millions of times, it’s not very effective. These hashtags are highly competitive, meaning you’re unlikely to rank among the top. Instead, use hashtags that have been used between 100k-900k times. If you’re unsure of which hashtags to use, Benson suggests digging through the posts of the top influencers in your niche and using the hashtags they’re using. Make sure to max out your hashtags—you can use up to 30.

4. Monitor The Health Of Your Account. Benson says there’s several common behaviors can damage the health of your account that you should avoid at all costs. When you do these behaviors, they trigger Instagram’s algorithms for lowering your engagement and your potential to gain new followers. These behaviors include posting inconsistently, changing your display picture or username, using an automated posting tool, and doing too many actions (like mass-liking photos or following new accounts).

5. Partner With Brands. Once you have built a sizeable Instagram following (at least 50k+ followers), you can approach hotels with offers to expose them to your audience in exchange for a free stay; Benson regularly scores VIP reservations at luxury hotels. “If you have a big Instagram account you can use that account to pretty much get anything for free, because big brands want to pay you for exposure” Benson says. 

6. Speak Their Language. According to Benson, hotels have a huge gap in their content and marketing needs, which makes it a perfect opportunity for Instagram influencers to fulfill. Offerings that will appeal to them include photos, videos, blog posts, article features, graphic design, SEO, and website design. Learn these skills and reach out to them via email to propose a trade.

7. Differentiate Yourself. Remember, big hotels get dozens of email offerings a day, so it’s crucial to differentiate yourself. “I usually say ‘VIP Reservation’ in the subject line, and then I got straight into my accomplishments. Explain why your offering is different than others and explain what you can do for them,” Benson says.

For more extensive information, consider downloading top Instagrammers’ free guides, which you can usually access in their bios when you visit their profile page. 
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This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

Searching for a job isn’t always a whole lot of fun—according to the BLS, the average person spends up to ten weeks before landing a new job, and that intervening time can be tense as savings drain and expenses pile up.

Millennials have been dubbed the “job hopping” generation, with six in ten perpetually open to new job opportunities. What this means is that competition for jobs is stiff, and if you want to secure a job with better prospects, you’ll need to really stand out.

How do you do that?

Take it from one millennial whose full-time job is amplifying others’ visibility and crafting a compelling reputation. He has an impressive track record, including rocketing one client to stardom in a matter of months.

Meet Julian Petroulas, the 25-year-old founder of Over Agency, a boutique management and marketing agency focused on the development of unique artists on a worldwide scale. Before Over Agency, the serial entrepreneur founded and sold a successful festival promotions company and a subscription tech company. Petroulas has worked with top talent, including Timmy Trumpet, a multi-platinum EDM artist, and William Singe, a singer who boasts a social media following of 6M+ as well as 1B+ video views.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Petroulas shares tactful strategies that enabled him to expand his visibility and create a powerful online presence. Below, learn how you can apply Petroulas’ advice to convey your strengths and increase your visibility to prospective employers and secure your next great job.

1. Leverage Your Local Community.

Never underestimate the power of your local community. Petroulas said he was able to get the ball rolling on his way to building a personal reputation with the help of his hometown in Australia. You can be proactive about making connections and expanding your influence by attending local events that interest you. Check out Facebook and Meetup events to see who’s going and network with similar others. You never know who might have connections with the employer you’re intending to reach, or conversely, who might be able to link you up with a job opportunity you never knew you really wanted.

When Petroulas was first starting out, he says all of his connections in his hometown were completely grassroots. As a 15-year-old (over a decade ago), he didn’t have access to the networking apps or social technology that we do today. His strategy was printing and passing out homemade flyers—and yet, it was tremendously effective in getting his name out and what he credits to selling out his events. Face-to-face connections can be powerful, so start being proactive today.

2. Represent Yourself On Social Media.

Petroulas says talent can go to waste if you don’t represent yourself to your potential. Case in point—William Singe had just 5k followers on social media when Petroulas began working with him. “He was already so talented, he just needed to be marketed properly” reflects Petroula. “I think that’s what it comes down to most of the time.” If talent is half the battle, the other half is taking advantage of social platforms to maximize your reach.

93% of prospective employers view your social media profiles before making a hiring decision (not to mention 55% of them reconsider hiring, usually to a candidate’s detriment, based on what they find) so take care to represent yourself online in a professional light, showcasing your strengths and talents.

3. Enlist A Support Team.

What was the secret behind Singe’s posting strategy that amplified his following to 5M? Petroulas says he hired a professional photographer to take photos of Singe and—get this—even an entourage of professional writers to caption his social media posts. “People started to remember the posts because they had that something that grabbed your attention straight away. Captions are a big thing; just one little one-liner can change the engagement so much “ says Petroula. Consider enlisting a team to help you uplevel your online content.

I remember the first time I told my Dad I had co-founded a publishing company with my boyfriend. It was five years ago. I was twenty-three and fresh out of college. He sat me down and told me I was making a big mistake and that it was foolish to mix my personal life with my professional life.

Flash forward several years later, and my personal life is nearly indistinguishable from my work life. My boyfriend constantly jokes, “all you do is talk to your friends on Facebook all day and somehow you make money doing it.”

That’s because many of my friends are contributing to my business. The speakers, attendees, and team behind my international accelerator events are all those who I’ve met over the years, or who i’ve been connected to online, or who’ve been connected to me through another friend.

For my Dad’s generation, personal and professional were two distinct categories that didn’t mix.

But it doesn’t look this way anymore for millennials—we’re preferring to integrate all areas of our life, resulting in successful business collaborations with trusted friends and more time spent with those we love.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect business partners, they could be already among you.

Three millennial co-founders who have been best friends since elementary school are illustrating this concept perfectly.

Meet Russell Howard, David Lasman and Adam Malka, the co-founders of Signature Tracks, a music production company focused on bringing current sounds to TV series. Signature Tracks has served major TV networks like MTV, ABC, and CNBC, shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians and The Bachelorette, as well as celebrity artists like Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Miley Cyrus.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Howard, Lasman, and Malka share why running a business with your friends can be extremely rewarding both professionally and personally.

Below, discover why friends make the best business partners.

You’re Highly Compatible

The benefit to working with your closest friends rather than a strictly “work-specific” team is that you and your friends have already established a high degree of compatibility. 67% of American workers say having tight-knit relationships at work makes their job more fun and enjoyable, which can also increase productivity.

The key to a successful collaboration is combining your greatest strengths. A team comprised of your closest friends can perform highly by identifying where you each excel, and localizing your tasks to that specific area. “Russell is the head creative of our group, responsible for branding our sound” Malka says. “Each of us have our own function. Our synergy is based on friendship..”

You Know How To Navigate Conflict

According to a survey by the HBR, half of all employees surveyed said they didn’t feel safe to speak up at their place of work. Within traditional companies, it’s not uncommon for there to be a “fear culture” around voicing unpopular opinions, especially among lower levels of the ladder.

When it comes to the innovation and expansion of any business, open dialogue is essential. With your closest friends by your side, you can trust that you’ll be able to speak your mind without fear of reprehension or losing your job. Chances are, you’ve already navigated conflicts in your friendship, and your bond has the fortitude to withstand any challenges that arise within the work environment in a way that honors all parties and promotes business development.

“With three best friends, there’s little things you’re fighting over in the beginning, but it’s also amazing. We each own 33% of the business, so there’s no boss. Defining roles has been good for us,” says Lasman.

You’re Able To Strike A Healthy Work-Life Balance

The average worker falls disappointingly short of work-life balance—with 80% failing to get the recommended amount of weekly exercise, and 38% missing important life events. But for Howard, Lasman, and Malka, work-life balance is an everyday reality.

Working with friends can help create a built-in structure around balance, whether it’s holding one another accountable to setting aside time for self care or time to relax and unwind. “I start every day with putting me first,” Howard says. Some call it the “power hour.” I have to get in some meditation, some reading, some exercise. That self care—kind of like a chiropractor—aligns me so I can focus on what I want to do, rather than what I have to do.”

Malka adds, “We make sure we spend time the three of us together, really doing stuff that’s fun, and also taking our team out and having that break where we can all hang out and have a little bit of fun, sometimes a work trip back east.”

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This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

In the last week I have been blown away by the leadership of women, especially millennial women. From the #MeToo campaign that went viral on social media last week, to the increasing amount of female entrepreneurs creating impact-driven businesses, it is clear that a new wave of female leadership is here.

As of 2016, it is estimated that there are now 11.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States, employing nearly 9 million people and generating over $1.6 trillion in revenues.

Women have evolved from homemakers, to women as corporate success stories, to women now being the CEO of their own lives and businesses.

A good friend of mine, Nadav Wilf, calls these new women the “shero”, defined as a female innovator who embodies gentle power and intuition while demonstrating dynamic execution.  

Modern examples of the shero include Jessica Alba, whose company Honest is raising the bar in brand transparency with simple products that perform, and Iskra Lawrence, a plus-sized model who is empowering young women and girls around the world to embrace themselves at any size.

The “shero” is not to be confused with the archetypal “alpha businesswoman who is career obsessed and makes little time for family or herself.” On the contrary—the shero embraces both the feminine and masculine aspects of herself in balance, attaining greater success in career without sacrificing her personal life.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, I interviewed one woman who is a true shero. Meet Molly Montgomery, the auditor-turned-entrepreneur who founded a consulting business called Ascension, which helps high-performing entrepreneurs and visionary leaders grow their companies with confidence. Montgomery is also a world traveler and fitness enthusiast who is working on launching her next big project, Founders Haven.

Below, discover 5 lessons in leadership that will enable you to embody the shero and experience greater success in your professional and personal lives.

1. Know The Difference Between Yes And No. The shero is a woman who is deeply attuned to herself. Jackie Knechtel, co-founder of the Flow Mastery Program says, “Be aware of how a ‘yes’ and a ‘no’ each register to you within your body. A yes will register as feeling light, free, open and expansive where a no will feel dark, heavy, closed and contracted.”

If you are uncertain, wait for further clarity be patient with yourself and give yourself the space you need to discern how you truly feel. While society’s social imperatives for women have been to be “nice” and “polite,” the modern millennial women is not willing to mask her authentic opinion. Recognize that you have a voice and don’t be afraid to use it. Speak up on your own behalf, even when what you need to say may not be well-received.

2.Prioritize Your Self Care. The shero prioritizes her self care, knows her limits, and sets aside time for herself to recharge. Montgomery says, “taking care of yourself is the most critical part of the process, because that self care is what allows creativity to flow through you.”

I myself don’t start work until around 12pm each day. I make space in the mornings for a workout, to read, have a nourishing breakfast, and do creative activities. I find that by following this self care routine I am most productive in the 4-6 hours that I work each day, which studies have confirmed can optimize productivity.

3.Be Ambitious. According to recent research, two-thirds of women between the age of 18 and 34 rank having a successful career high on their list of priorities, compared to just 59% of men.

While the HBR reports that men in 2017 still prefer a partner who is less professionally ambitious than them, the shero does not let this hold her back. The shero is a go-getter in her career who acts upon her own volition, and does not need others’ permission or approval.

4. Be Secure In Your Value. Messages for women have suggested that they need to fix themselves in order to be valuable. But the shero knows her self-worth is intrinsic. As Eleanor Roosevelt so eloquently put it, “no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Do not internalize externally-imposed insecurities. Regard yourself highly and embraces yourself in all of your strengths and weaknesses. Remember that you deserve to take up space and do not shrink yourself to accommodate others.

5.Lead With Your Heart. The shero does not harbor resentment within her; she knows she must release toxicity or else it it harms her, too. The #MeToo campaign reveals that forgiveness and transformation are made possible through open dialogue and compassionate listening. Shero Jennifer Lawrence demonstrates that this approach can be effective in raising awareness about shifting cultural norms towards equality.

Montgomery says, “It can be so hard when something happens where somebody did something, whether it was intentionally or not, they messed up royally. People think that forgiveness means allowing or being ok with what happened, but it’s actually a matter of letting to and being ok with the fact that you cannot change what happened. It’s just letting go.”

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This article originally appeared on Forbes.com.