The first annual Social Media All Day Conference (SMAD-CON) was jam-packed with bloggers, vloggers, and influencers imparting words of wisdom and tricks of the trade. Here, we rounded up the top secrets to which these pros attribute their success.

Secret #1: Figure out the purpose.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, Pinterest. While all of these are “social media platforms” they all serve an individual purpose as well. Once you realize the best purpose for your social media profiles you can set a goal of your expectations from each platform to maximize your efforts. For example, Facebook is a great way to drive a customer through a post to your website which makes this a great platform if your goal is website traffic. Instagram, on the other hand, is intended to communicate a lifestyle, or a brand’s identity, but posting hyperlinks in your captions is not possible. Instagram wants you to stay on Instagram, which makes it a great tool to display your portfolio, but not a great means of driving traffic to any webpage. It’s always nice and convenient to post to multiple social platforms with one click, but don’t miss the opportunity to utilize each platform for its individual strengths by adjusting your content and posts accordingly.

Secret #2: See the whole picture.

You’ve heard the saying “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” and when it comes to Instagram truer words have not been spoken. Consider your Instagram profile as your portfolio.

Design it as a whole, rather than individual photos. When you click into your profile and examine your gallery of posts as a whole, what do you see? There should be a clear brand identity for your viewer portraying who you are and what you represent.

Secret #3: Create your signature look.

Once you’ve chosen the mood of your profile, it’s time to figure out the steps to best achieve it. Consistency is key in the world of social media. Try creating a custom filter in Photoshop that you can save as a preset so that every photo passes through before posting. You can also try a “signature” angle that the picture is taken that recurs on your feed. Another option is to choose a color theme and highlight that color in your photos to make your Instagram cohesive. Ultimately, those pictures should become identifiable even when removed from your feed as your “unique signature”.

Secret #4: Find what makes you different:

What identifies you? What differentiates you? In an age where people are being recognized for the most unique things about them, this is the perfect time to embrace all the facets that make you, YOU! Don’t try to conform to what you see on other people’s social media but rather capitalize on what makes you stand out.

Secret #5: Work for free.

You may not have the following yet to be paid by big companies to market their products but if there is a certain brand you follow and would love to work with you should get to work now. That’s right, don’t wait on them to make the offer, just start creating the content for them that you want to create. It’s a great way to stay inspired and creative while also showcasing your talent to brands you feel passionate about. Even if you’re not at a million-dollar-per-post status like Kylie Jenner, certain brands are now hiring “micro-influencers” to appeal to smaller, more targeted niche audiences.

Social Media is an ever-changing landscape, which is why team Ideability chooses to attend events such as SMAD-CON in order to stay up-to-date and educated. We realize that what works for some, may not work for all. However, one thing is indisputable: the people who find great success and returns on social media treat it as a job, because that’s what it is. If your brand is thriving and you just don’t have the time to manage your social media in such a manner, then invest in your business and hire someone who can. The investment legitimizes you, your brand and will only serve to broaden your company’s scope of reach.