I scoured the gram and found eight moms worthy of the title. It’s not to say that there aren’t more, but for the purposes of this not being a 15-minute article, I thought eight would be a good number. I looked for moms who know their way around hair and moms whose makeup tutorials rival some top YouTube beauty influencers.

So, if you need that “If they can do it, I can do it, too” feeling, keep reading!

Temitope Adesina @naturallytemi

With 135K followers on YouTube and 233K followers on Instagram, Temitope can be considered a guru in the beauty space. At least I would. Her Insta is all about her hair, her make up and her family. Her YouTube is filled with hairstyle tutorials as well as features on her favorite hair care products. And if you want to see some footage from her natural, unmedicated birth, she’s got that too. See … special powers.

Laura Haight @lovealwayslaura

Laura focuses on #simplebeauty: hair, makeup and skincare. So if you’re looking for makeup tips and some cute baby spam, look no further. Laura has some great hairstyle tutorials and also shares some home DIY, so you could redecorate while looking great. Win-win.

Tina Daniel @beautybyttee

Tina knows a thing or two (or three) about beauty. I mean, just look at her makeup! And if that’s not enough, she is also a wig specialist and has a wig business. I don’t know about you, but I can’t even get through blow drying my hair on a regular day. Tina does a full face and hair and has a baby to take care of! Kween!

Desi Perkins @desiperkins

Desi is kind of big in the beauty world and with 4.3 million followers, I think a lot of you might agree. Her YouTube is part makeup, part hair tutorials with a little personality mixed in. You’ll see funny videos that include her husband and videos featuring parts of their home. It’s a well-rounded YouTube channel where you really get a feel for who Desi is. And that pregnant flower statue was gifted by Kylie Jenner…so, there’s that.

Stacie Hamilton @makeupobsessedmom

We had to add a grandma on the list, and she’s awesome! Stacie has a little bit of everything on her feed. She’s got hair, nail and makeup posts. And cute pictures of her adorable granddaughter. She also does a lot of reviews for beauty products. So, if you’re thinking about a specific product, she may have some insight. Grandmas have super powers, too.

Aquina La’Shae @alashaeartistry

Aquina is just starting out, but she has major potential. Her feed features some simple and some very complicated looks with a little behind the scenes mixed in of her work as a makeup artist. She also has a lash business that she’s slowly growing. I love seeing all these women business owners. Gives me hope for our future. Get it, girl!

Andrea McCann @andreabai_

Andrea is not all beauty all the time, but when she does share beauty stuff, it’s worth it. This mama has highlights sharing all her favorite beauty products and her feed features different kinds of makeup looks. And if that’s not enough for you, she posts regularly about the adventures of her family, which is super cute and kind of makes me want to go outdoors!

Joanna Columbia @j.cobeauty

Don’t let this mama’s number of followers fool you. She’s shared some really pretty makeup looks. But I think my fave thing about her feed is the inspirational quotes. Sometimes feeds can get boring, but she adds a little extra boost. She’s also got some good tips on things like retinol and self tanners. Follow!

Conclusion

These days we need all the beauty advice we can get. Even though most of us may not be wearing any makeup at all ’cause we’re stuck at home, it’s still important to keep a skincare routine and our sanity. These mom accounts can help with both! Beauty is a difficult industry to be in, but it’s nice to know that us moms can all relate. By that I mean we are equally tired and equally need some beauty tips. Also, never underestimate the power of some new faces on your feed. Now go wash your hands … and your face.

The post Pretty Moms Who Give Great Beauty Advice appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

We’re sharing the internal chart we use to distinguish between the five influencer tiers to get to the bottom of what makes an influencer nano, micro, mid-tier, macro or mega. I’ll be giving a brief description of each one and telling you why (and when) brands would want to work with them (‘cause trust me…you do). Plus, since this is The Shelf, we’ll go over some numbers and give some examples of kick-ass influencers who are #winning at influencing right now.

BUT FIRST…A LITTLE BACK STORY ON THE AFOREMENTIONED EVER-CHANGING LANDSCAPE

When Instagram influencer marketing began, the influencers who had large followings were most likely to secure brand partnerships. And that was pretty much the main criteria. Brands were simpler then, and they equated follower count with reach.

However, as the industry’s matured and marketing technologies have gotten better at being able to measure different aspects of the influencer marketing campaign, brands realized that a large follower count isn’t always indicative of real reach, or even influence, for that matter.  

That’s not to say an influencer’s audience size isn’t important because it is. But the industry now categorizes influencers under tiers depending on the amount of followers they have. With that, a brand can easily choose which type of influencer would work best for them in terms of budget. The more followers an influencer has, the more expensive they are.

The problem? We searched the internet far and wide to get a good sense of what the standard is for the different influencer tiers. And guess what we found? Different agencies use different definitions for terms like macro-influencer or micro-influencer.

So we decided it was time to put together THE standard of influencer tiers based on the latest analysis of some 30 playas in the biz.  

The Influencer Tiers  

So here’s the good news: there are basically five tiers to choose from when it comes to influencers. Not every agency or brand will agree with this particular wheel, but based on our extensive research and our own knowledge of the influencer culture, we think this is the most logical and inclusive (you’ll see what I mean) breakdown.

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What is a Mega-Influencer?

Mega-influencers have more than one million followers on a single social media platform. They’re a mix between celebrities who “made it” offline and brought their fame online with them and influencers like nine year-old Ryan Kaji who started off doing toy reviews and now have tens of millions of YouTube subscribers and toys at every major toy store (and his own TV show on Nickelodeon and is somehow still doing his YouTube show).

Mega-influencers are the big kahunas of the influencer world. They are usually global brands themselves who have parlayed their offline celebrity into online influence and can command (and get) six and seven figures for their sponsored content.

(For instance, Kylie Jenner famously asks for over $1 million for ONE Instagram post. One. Uno. Wow. She has 199 million followers.)

The challenge with mega-influencers is that they are legit celebrities, so while their posts get plenty of eyes, they typically don’t directly engage with their audiences (they have “people” for that) and therefore, lacks a certain connection with their followers that brands may actually need.  

But that’s just the higher end of the mega-influencer spectrum. Those on the lower end of the mega-influencer spectrum – around 1 to 5 million followers – often include celebrities who became famous online. Think beauty YouTubers like Manny Gutierrez and fashion influencers on Instagram. They may not be Hollywood celebrities, but they are now considered celebrities in their own right. They also won’t charge what Kylie charges, but it will still cost you a pretty penny to hire them. 

Mega-influencers usually have teams dedicated to their socials, so expect top notch photography and sponsored content. A single collaboration with one of these guys can elevate your brand to be a part of the cool kids (or not-so-cool kids. No judgment here.). This also translates into an increase in sales and metrics. So if you’ve got the cash and want lots of eyeballs to see your product (hello, brand awareness campaign) and get to know your brand while betting on that celebrity cache, this is definitely the way to go.

Related Post

The Complete Guide to Influencer Marketing

What is a Macro-Influencer?

Macro-influencers have between 300,000 and 1,000,000 single-platform followers. Most macro-influencers are well-known internet stars, most of whom earned their fame online first, gaining their following by creating enticing content on different social channels. 

If you want your product to be seen by a lot of eyes but don’t have the budget to hire Cristiano Ronaldo (look him up on IG and get ready to cry), macro-influencers are a good place to start. They have a broader audience, which means diversity, and who doesn’t love that? But, more importantly, they are considered experts in the influencing game.

Most of them are constantly working on their brands and regularly creating new content. They know how to finesse their messaging to get the most engagement, and they know what kinds of images will make people stop scrolling (so that the finessing can start). They’ve been a part of the game for a long time and know what to expect and how to deliver. And they’re also a step above the others when it comes to content creation. Macro-influencers usually have the means to hire professional photographers, which will only make your product and/or brand look better. 

 Another great thing about macro-influencers is that you can have just one campaign and one contract instead of hundreds or even thousands of smaller campaigns with the other types of influencers. It’ll be easier to keep your head on straight. They are a one-stop shop, but you’ve gotta be willing to shell out some serious cash to work with one of these guys.

What is a Mid-Tier-Influencer?

Mid-tier influencers have between 50,000 and 300,000 single-platform followers. Weirdly, they aren’t always thought of when brands are doing influencer selection, even though they have sway with tens of thousands of social media users. This is the Jan Brady of the influencer bunch. She’s stuck in the middle and doesn’t even exist to some in the biz. #PoorJan. But we love Jan, so we’ve decided to include her (remember when I mentioned inclusivity?), and here’s why: some sources jump from micro to macro, which would leave too-wide a spectrum for micro. Let me explain.

If there was no Jan, a micro-influencer would range between 10K and 500K followers, and that used to be the case a few years ago when we only talked about micro-, macro-, and mega-influencers. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that someone with 10K followers will have a slightly different life than an influencer with 500K followers. #justsayin. So we’ve decided to adopt Jan and add her to our official list since brands actually do want to partner with influencers who have, say 100,000 followers.  

Mid-tier-influencers tend to have engaged audiences and are still considered authentic. Mid-tier is the sweet spot for brands because they can get the benefits of partnering with an influencer who has a larger audience and impactful reach, while still being cost-effective. These guys have way more experience than the types below, which means better pictures and better content overall. By teaming up with a mid-tier-influencer, you can expect strong sponsored content and secure that much-desired ROI. #goJan.

Like with anything in the business world, more experience = more expensive. But if you’re looking for that middle ground of cost vs. benefits, these are the influencers for you.

What is a Micro-Influencer?

Micro-influencers have single-platform audiences that range from 5,000 to 50,000 followers. Micros are the cool, up-and-coming social media stars that everyone wants to know and be friends with. Why? ‘Cause they’re cheap dates and know all the trivia.  

Micro-influencers have the advantages that come with being more niched down such as strong engagement rates and authenticity. They are also experienced enough in creating content with the specific goal of growing their audience that brands can feel pretty confident they’ll get some great marketing assets (i.e. better photography, better captions) out of any partnerships.

They also have niche-specific audiences, which is especially helpful to niche-specific products. Micro-influencers are known to help brands increase their sales by 300%. Not bad considering they’re on the lower end of the follower tier.

While that all sounds great, micro-influencers are considered to have smallish reach, and therefore, not the go-to option for brand awareness pushes where wider reach is the enticing carrot.

And just an FYI as a friend… this is right around the time influencers are tempted to start buying their followers, which will translate into less engagement as well. 

What is a Nano-Influencer?

Nano-influencers have between 1,000 and 5,000 followers on a single platform, with one caveat: nano-influencers are only classified as such if they actually have intentions of being one. In this day and age, anyone can rack up 1,000 followers pretty easily. If my dad used social media, he would gain 50 followers a day, no problem. This guy befriends everyone he comes into contact with. Still, he wouldn’t be cool enough to be considered a nano-influencer. (Sorry, Dad.)

Influencers have to, you know, influence, which means they actually have to try to influence. So, just keep that in mind before you start scouring the popular pages on the gram. (Yes, I still call them the popular pages. They’re now called Explore. But you’re exploring what the Instagram algorithm thinks is popular. The name should have stayed. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.)

Nano-influencers pretty consistently have higher engagement rates. According to CMS Wire, it is highly likely that they have a real-life relationship with a big chunk of their followers, which makes them a more compelling choice for word-of-mouth marketing.

(Generally, the smaller the influencer, the more trust they can build with their audience. Doesn’t get any better than that. (Actually it does. They are extremely cost-effective. Who doesn’t wanna save some money, right?))

Compared to the other influencer tiers, though, these guys have the smallest reach. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re just dipping your toes in partnerships with influencers. Gotta start somewhere.

Why You’d Want to Partner with Influencers

If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already made the decision to at least toy with the idea of working with an influencer, so you trust that influencer marketing has a seat at the table. Influencer marketing can generate 11 times the ROI of traditional advertising. Mic drop.

But that’s not all. About 42 percent of people say they have been influenced into trying a product or service after seeing an influencer’s sponsored content for the brand. Twenty-six percent report actually making a purchase. Those are some pretty decent numbers, IMO. (Double mic drop?)

So you see where I’m going with this? Influencers can definitely help your brand, and now there are five different types to choose from that can work for any budget.

How to Know Which Influencer Tier to Target  

Well, that depends on what you need as a brand and what you’re looking for in a partnership.

MEGA-INFLUENCERS

If you’re looking for reach, brand awareness and impressions, you’ll need to look into working with a mega-influencer or macro-influencer. Sure, these guys mean big bucks, but they’ve got the numbers needed to reach the most people, which raises your chances for impressions per post and awareness to your brand. Here are a few examples of mega- and macro-influencers doing their thing.

Sarah Nicole Landry just hit 1.7 million followers and has decent engagement from her audience. She’s open about her struggles with body image and also talks about difficult subjects, which in turn engages her audience to also open up. Her partnerships include women’s products, clothing and wellness items.

Jackie Aina recently scored her own makeup palette with Anatasia Beverly Hills, so you know she knows her sh*t. In the YouTube beauty world, that is a huge deal and basically means you’ve made it. With Jackie, you get excellent makeup reviews/tutorials and humor. I’m not much of a beauty buff, but her videos are worth the watch just for the humor and personality that shines through.

 MACRO-INFLUENCERS

For most brands, macro-influencers will be the go-to for campaigns that require the word about a product to spread quickly. These can be rebranding efforts, product launches, product explainers, events (like promoting sales), app downloads, and ambassadorships.

Tara Henderson is the ultimate mommy YouTuber. She has been gaining more sponsorship deals over the past few months and has grown to more than 600K. Her followers often buy items she promotes (sponsored or not) and share them on their IG stories. That’s brand awareness, impressions and conversions at its best (i.e. the whole damn funnel). 

Cristina and Robert are big in the home and fashion space. They had a baby boy a little over a year ago, so now they’re tapping into a whole new market of baby-related items. And with 442K followers on Instagram, they cast a pretty wide net.

MID-TIER-INFLUENCERS

If you’re looking for engagement, mid-tier- and nano-influencers are your best bet. As a brand, you want to know what people think of your product and have fans share the love. These types of influencers tend to get the best engagement rates of the bunch.

Courtney Halverson has 283K followers on Instagram and runs multiple brand sponsorships per month. She has a beautiful feed, if you’re into fashion and travel posts. And even if you’re not, you can appreciate the visually appealing photography and overall aesthetic. 

Courtney Halverson has 283K followers on Instagram and runs multiple brand sponsorships per month. She has a beautiful feed, if you’re into fashion and travel posts. And even if you’re not, you can appreciate the visually appealing photography and overall aesthetic. 

Steven Onoja is close to reaching 100K followers on IG. His feed is full of vivid photography and great style. His partnerships are targeted to fit his aesthetic and brand perfectly, like the Conair Man ad above. 

MICRO-INFLUENCERS 

If you’re looking for conversions, look no further than the micro-influencer. With targeted niches, brands can position their products to their specific target market who are probably already looking for those items anyway.

Ashley Ballard just hit 49K followers on IG and is still growing. She is known for her openness about mental health, which ties in well with the products she promotes. The response from her followers is overwhelming since a lot of them share that commonality with her. 

 Andrea Jarrett is on the lower end of the spectrum of the micro-influencer tier at 13K followers on IG, but she offers a very targeted feed to sustainable fashion. She has a partnership with one of the top sustainable brands in the biz – Everlane. ‘Nuff said.  

NANO-INFLUENCERS

Gabby Whiten is the girl in the city IG feed you never knew you needed. As a NYU Ph.D. student, she has a #hearteyesforever feed for any wannabe New Yorker (#me af) and scored a partnership with Madewell at just 8.7K followers!

If you’re looking for cool style and makeup, Phoebe Moon has a great feed to follow. She’s actually rebuilding her feed FROM SCRATCH (who does that anymore), and is approaching the 500 follower mark. A few months ago, she had well over 1500 followers. Why start over? Well, from what we can tell, her new feed is more striking and visually consistent than her last one. In a few more months, she’ll be one to consider if you’re hyper-targeting and working on a tight budget. If you look closely, you can see a brand reached out to her in the post above!

CONCLUSION

So there you have it. I know that was quite a bit of information, but at The Shelf, we like giving you ALL the information so you can make the best decision possible for your brand and next campaign. Even though there are only five influencer tiers, there is a wide variety of influencers at all levels and industries. And even though working with influencers can cost you from $100+ for a nano-influencer to $1 million+ for a mega-influencer, by now you know that they are worth every penny. 

The post Influencer Tiers: Who Are the 5 Different Types of Influencers? appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

If you want more quirky stats on Father’s Day, we have an entire post on the topic.

So, if you’re looking for some cool guys to follow who also happen to be dads with the cutest families, keep reading!

Cedric “Jamie” Rutland M.D. @drjrutland

This doctor is not only passionate about his patients, he’s also a girl dad! His feed is filled with doctor-y stuff, sure, but you also get a glimpse into his life and his two beautiful daughters. Dr. Rutland is really into lungs and specializes in asthma, COPD, and other lung issues. He’s also really in to ranting about medicine/life, and it’s #relatable af. Follow him for the realities of parenting that’ll make you nod your head in agreement and laugh simultaneously.

Arturo Albarran @arturoalbarran_

Arturo is the ultimate health and fitness dad. His feed is all family, fitness, and fun. Sure, Arturo’s fitness posts are motivating, but what really gets you is the family cuteness. Arturo has one little girl and a baby boy on the way, and you can tell he loves family life as much as the fitness life. 

Nick Fletcher @hellonickfletcher

Nick is a music marketer. How cool is that?! He’s also a dad to 8-year-old Calvin, who seems to be taking after his dad as far as coolness goes. Nick’s feed is all family all the time (with some music marketing stuff mixed in), and it’s precious. It’s nice to see the BTS of mover-shaker dads like Nick. 

Charles Beloved Kuykendoll @beloved1906

Charles is an RnB lover. So much so that he founded RnB House Party with his wife as a way to host events reminiscent of college parties that non-college people would enjoy. I don’t know about you, but after three kids that sounds delightful. Charles has the most darling boy, so if you’re looking for some adorable toddler spam, look no further. 

Emmanuel Jones @ejay_diamond1

Emmanuel is not only a London male fashion blogger, but he’s also a financial advisor and insurance expert. His coolest job, though, is definitely being a dad. He’s got two beautiful babies that show up all over his feed, much to our delight. You can also find some really great outfits with motivational captions. And if that’s not enough, he also has a financial advisor business to help families and businesses stay protected. Talk about superdad!

Joe Gatto @chefjoegatto

Here’s a chef we actually found by searching the hashtag #chefdad.  Chef Joe Gatto hosts the non-traditional cooking show From Scratch, which airs on PlutoTV (FoodTV) Fridays at 10PM EST (not to be confused with our other favorite Joe Gatto Jr. from the show Impractical Jokers – different guy). The “non-traditional” part of that description is what actually compelled us to add Joe to the list here.

Joe Gatto’s angle is all about making things from scratch, and he means everything. Have you ever watched a TV chef milk a cow just to make the cheese? Yeah, he’s *that* dude. The chef has a feed that is dripping with delicious-looking foods… and pics of his favorite little sous chefs, his kids Benjamin and Cassidy. #yeschef #thankyouchef

Benny Harlem @bennyharlem

In one word: this dad and his family are mesmerizing (who’s a girl gotta pay to get cheekbones like this?). Meet Benny Harlem. This is the feed you want to check out if you’re into gorgeous hair, striking faces, family photos, and beautiful, vibrant photography.

Benny’s page does not disappoint. He shares lots of pics of his gorgeous wife and adorable daughter and the powerful relationship he has with them. I scrolled through his entire feed and loved every bit of it. Benny also runs an online store for hair care products, and they are currently sold out of everything and currently have begun waitlisting customers. ‘Nuff said. 

Jean Carlos Feliz @jeancarlosfeliz_official

Jean Carlos Feliz is a men’s fashion influencer who is about to be a dad, and he looks pretty stoked about it. But for right now, this Dominican creator living in Italy is all about fashion and personal style. His feed gives me hipster vibes, but make it Italian. You can definitely get some ideas for some very well put together lewks. Can’t wait to see that BABYYYYY!!!!

Luke @dadsonit

I love love love all the smiles in Luke’s feed. His son is adorable, and their family seems to laugh a lot together, which is so lovely to see. His bio is on point: Dads don’t babysit, they parent. And while the majority of women still do most of the childcare, dads who actually share the load get lumped in with those who don’t.

So, kudos to Luke for pointing that out.

And his wife concurs. He links her blog on his IG (which is cute in and of itself), and she definitely agrees they split parenting down 50/50. That’s inspiring and rare!

Burton Buffaloe (@bbbuffaloe) & Dustin P. Smith (@dustin_patrick_smith)

Peas in a pod parenting peas in a pod. Dustin Smith and Burton Buffaloe are popular Instagram creators who just launched a YouTube channel two weeks ago called Dustin & Burton Raising Buffaloes, and that they are – with twins, Holland and Stone.

What’s cool about their feeds is that Burton’s feed pretty much starts with the birth of their kids while Dustin’s feed visually chronicles their backstory. Together, their two feeds have essentially chronicles the lives of their life as a young family. Very cool feed.

So, What Did We Learn …

Dads are the coolest. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

P.S. Keep washing those hands ’cause Father’s Day or no Father’s Day, COVID is still ruining our lives and holidays. 

The post We’re Honoring Fathers! And Here Are 10 Binge-Worthy Dads To Follow On Instagram appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

While some of us may have had dreams of homeschooling someday, we never thought someday would have to be TODAY, and that it would all be sudden and rushed and forced. Many parents have taken it in stride. But three months in, I would guess most of us are still struggling (see Chris Hemsworth’s whole deal (at 1m 25s)) to balance full-time work with homeschooling 4 or 5 hours a day. And this includes the teachers who have been forced to switch to online learning at record speed. 

Since this is affecting all parents one way or another, we thought it would be helpful to round up some moms who have been killing it at homeschooling for some time.

   You can follow them on their homeschooling journeys for inspiration, ideas, and overall sense that if they can do it, so can you!

(Because you know what? I know some of you will keep teaching your kids over some vacay so they don’t forget everything and make all your hard work totally meaningless. )

April Stevenson @the.five.girl.schoolhouse

If you’re looking for some homeschooling tips and some inspiration on a minimalist home, April’s got the feed for you. She’s got five adorable girls and a designated room specifically for homeschooling. 

You can check out her highlights for mom hacks, homeschooling tips, and if you’re serious about pursuing homeschooling past the quarantine period (I know I’ve considered it), you can check out her Amazon storefront that has all the tools she uses!

Bianca @itssincerelybianca

Bianca has the cutest homeschool setup. If you don’t believe me, take a look at her feed. You’ll find photos of her adorable family and their homeschooling adventures. 

I don’t know about you, but I’ll take all the inspiration I can get. And, honestly, after writing this, I may just homeschool post-quarantine. Who doesn’t want a cute area in their home that looks like a classroom?!

Nicci Lynn @afarmhousefull

Nicci is married to her high school sweetheart. They had eight kids together, and now live happily ever after in their gorgeous home. Oh yeah, and she homeschools the eight kids. That’s basically half the students in some classrooms. My daughter’s third grade class has 19 kids only. So I think it’s safe to say that Nicci is an expert homeschooler. 

Her feed is full of family photos and homeschool activities. And if you’re looking for a breakdown of homeschool curriculum and options, check out her YouTube.

Andrea Scalzo Yi @raisingdragons4

Andrea is the queen of educational activities. She literally wrote a book on them! If you’ve run out of ways to entertain your kids, take a look at her feed. She’s posted a bunch of COVID-friendly homeschool activities for toddlers to school-age children. She has everything from experiments to crafts and different activities that are STEM-oriented. And if that doesn’t convince you, her blog has a whole history of homeschool activities that you can try with your kids. No more excuses for you!

Marketa @schoolathomeandbeyond

Ok, seriously, can Marketa homeschool my kids? She’s got the dream classroom. Her feed and highlights are a great resource for anyone actually considering homeschooling post quarantine. Her highlights are broken down by classwork that her kids are currently doing as well as by subjects like geography and reading.

Virginia Duan | @themandarinmama

Virginia is adamant about her kids learning Mandarin. So she homeschools … her 4 kids … in Mandarin. I mean, how cool is that? She’s so passionate about this that she wrote a book about it. Once my daughter turned five and went to a real school where her teachers spoke English instead of Spanish, it was over for her. She now only understands Spanish, which is heartbreaking to me. So, kudos to Virginia!

She also has kickass hair and is a BTS stan, which she talks about regularly on her feed. She’s a pretty cool mom in our book. 

Taina Licciardo Toivola @tainalicciardotoivola

Taina has 10 kids. 10 kids. And she homeschools ALL of them. Let that sink in. I can barely homeschool one kid. I would definitely label Taina as an expert homeschooler, and she’s got the YouTube to prove it. Hell, she’s an expert mom, and if you ever need tips on how to create schedules for multiple children, she’s got plenty of advice and how to’s on that, too.

Patricia @patriciax2_

Don’t let Patricia’s amount of followers fool you. She’s got great tips and tricks for homeschooling young children. On her feed, you’ll find some selfies, but mostly pictures of her homeschooling books and projects. So if you need some homeschooling inspo, check out her feed!

Hannah A. Carpenter @Hannahacarpenter

Hannah is the all-American mom. What made her stand out to me for this round up is that she has high school-aged kids and let them choose whether to be homeschooled or go to public school. So she’s homeschooling two and two are in public school. I find that fascinating, and honestly, a very good idea. 

Which brings me to a very important point. Going to a public school doesn’t necessarily work for every kid, and that’s ok. As moms, we have options, and moms like Hannah help us figure it out and make it work. 

And if you’re into Anthropologie, you’ll love her feed. You’re welcome!

Sabrina @thesimplehappylife

Sabrina has got that grid aesthetic down. I never thought I would enjoy looking at a homeschooling feed. Take a look if you don’t believe me. She’s got everything from educational games to books to family selfies. Super cute!

Ready to Dig Into This Thing?

This is not the only homeschool inspo out there, but I think it’s a good start if you’ve been so strapped for time that you haven’t had time to study up on everything that’s available. All these moms are seasoned homeschoolers who can teach us newbies a thing or two about it.

So if you need some homeschool inspiration and motivation during quarantine (and possibly beyond), take a look at these mom’s feeds and give them a follow!      

Hey, have you joined our campaign, Influencing the Curve?

We’ve created Influencing the Curve (on Instagram @influencingthecurve), a campaign committed to sharing facts, stats, and real stories from the global community about the impact COVID-19 is having on families & businesses. Dozens of influencers are already creating content for the campaign.

The post Expert Homeschooling Moms We’re Low-Key Stalking Right Now appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

This month, in lieu of our regular Mother’s Day marketing strategies, we decided to honor mothers, who are wearing even more hats than usual right now. For most of us, we’re wearing a couple of different hats at the same time. We’ve mapped out a few ways to recognize some of our favorite social media moms, starting with 10 moms who’re easy to kind of get obsessed with.

We searched every corner of the IG-sphere to round up the coolest, funniest, most down-to-earth moms that make you feel part of an awesome community. So, in the spirit of honoring moms this year, I’ve rounded up 10 awesome mommy accounts that’ll lift your spirits up, give you some major home decor inspiration, make you laugh, make you feel less alone, give you some tutorials to pass the time, mix it up in the kitchen, and help you get fit, among other things!

Have your Instagrams open and get ready to follow, follow, follow!

Ashley @mommyweek

Ashley is our go-to for modest fashion, a colorful, uplifting feed and all the superhero mommy feels. She runs an award-winning blog while homeschooling her three kids. Talk about being amazing.

She also raises awareness for childhood epilepsy as one of her sons suffers from the condition. She’s an all-around inspiring WOC and a pro homeschooler, to boot. So, if you’re looking for an inspiring mom to follow, Ashley will not disappoint. 

Alyssa Goldwater @alyssagoldwater

I didn’t know about Alyssa until I started writing this post, and let me tell you, I am now a fan. She’s not your typical IG mom, and you get that unique personality right away when looking at her feed. She’s part goof, part badass. And she’s got the mommy thing down. 

And if you’re looking for someone to help you with your social media strategies, she can do that too. Win-win.

Eva Chen @evachen212

Eva is the ultimate fashion mom. As the previous editor-in-chief of Lucky Magazine and now as head of fashion partnerships at Instagram, she’s the mom to follow if you’re into fashion. She’s also the children’s book author of the Juno Valentine series and will be coming out with another book series called Roxy Rex.

She’s the realest of the real. She shows the messes, the tears and the laughs. Her two adorable kids, Ren and Tao, are regulars on her feed and stories as well as her husband, Tom, and his adventures into granola making. 

Eva has been a great advocate during this crazy time and regularly posts donation options to food banks to help those struggling to get enough food. She went as far as rapping Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” on her Instagram Stories to raise money for charity. What started off as a joke became one of the funniest, most endearing things I’ve seen in a while. Eva and her family are super fun and make us laugh on a daily basis.

Bri Heiligenthal @burtsbrisplease

If you’re trying to figure out how to make neutral tones with pops of color work in your home, Bri’s feed will give you all the inspiration you need. You’ll see every corner of her beautiful house mixed in with pictures of her three kids. 

I don’t about you, but I’ve been on Pinterest an awful lot lately pinning my home redesign. So if you’re looking for DIYs and recipes that fit her aesthetic, she’s got those in her highlights. You’re welcome.

Sia Cooper @diaryofafitmommyofficial

I have a confession. I am not into fitness (like, at all). Never have been and probably never will be. BUT Sia kinda makes me want to work out. You know how? She breaks down problem areas into separate posts and tells you what to do to work those areas out. Genius. 

As a fellow mom, I know most of my problem areas came post childbirth, and I know I’m not the only one. So now I know what to do about my armpit fat, my hip dips, my arm flab…I could go on forever. If you’re into fitness, she’s a great account to follow.

Let’s be honest, I probably won’t do anything about my problem areas, but for those of you who want to work on specific areas, Sia is your girl. Don’t believe me? She’s got 1.1 million followers, sooo yeah. And if that doesn’t convince you, just look at her! 

Jenna Tarj @jennatarj

I’ve never been to Finland, but it’s now on my bucket list thanks to Jenna. If this quarantine has you even more wanderlust than before, you can take a trip through her feed to give you something to look forward to after all of this is over. 

And she’s got separate highlights for other places like Ireland, Scotland and Berlin. Already planning my trip in my head.

LaTonya Yvette @latonyayvette

LaTonya Yvette literally wrote the book on WOC, which she describes as part memoir and part lifestyle guide. Suffice to say it’s in my Amazon cart. 

Her feed is an inspiring mix of family, home, and fashion. If you’re looking for an uplifting account during these difficult times, LaTonya knows exactly how you’re feeling and is relatable af.

Rachel Quenzer @rachelquenzer

Rosie @thehustlingmama

Just taking a quick look at Rosie’s feed will surely bring a smile to your face. Her feed is full of lively shots that portray how much fun they have as a family. And if you are looking for a kid-friendly YouTube, The Hustling Mama’s is filled with DIY family activities, recipes you can cook with your kids, and cute videos your kids will enjoy watching.

Laura @itsme_laura

This Aussie mommy is all about her boys. Her feed is filled with pictures of her family and their day to day life in Australia. If you need an extra dose of cuteness on your feed, Laura and her boys are just the thing. 

The post 10 OF THE MOST BINGE-WORTHY MOMS ON INSTAGRAM appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.

As we do our best to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by self-isolating and working from home, I think a growing number of us are finding out that it takes some legitimate planning and forethought to work from home and STILL get stuff done. (Whoda thunk it, right?)

Well, we’re pretty much experts on this subject. At The Shelf, about 80 percent of our team members work remotely, and even the staff members who typically work from our Brooklyn office work from home twice a week.

So, we thought who better than our team of remote working veterans to create a game plan for the people who are working from home for the first time?

The Most Common (and Fixable) Challenges of Working From Home

Just a couple of weeks ago, working from home used to be this elusive, magical perk few were able to get their employers to agree to. Yeah, working remotely is more common than it used to be, but working from home is still kind of fraught with challenges, like:

• Employer oversight – Many employers prefer to keep an eye on employees during regular business hours.
• Productivity – Newly-remote team members can find it hard to get “in the zone” in their new, non-Starbucks environments.
• Tools – Work tech is different from home tech.
• Routines and mindset – An interruption to your regular morning routine can make it tough to jump into your workday.
• Work space – If remote workers don’t have space allocated at home specifically for work, it could be tough to make that recliner, bed, or cafeteria-style dining room set work for 8 hours.
• Work hours – Employers worry about team members not working long enough, but the reality is a lot of remote workers struggle to effectively make the shift from their workdays to their home life, even after 5PM.
• Distractions – There are going to be a TON of distractions in the house. Remote workers watch up to 3 hours more television per week than those who work outside the home (Nielsen).

AND…

If you happen to have kids, your workday is likely to be a little more challenging (let’s just agree to disagree on whether that’s an understatement).

So if you’re newly working from home or looking to make it a full time thing, here are a few tips on how to minimize stress as much as possible. I’ll be including a separate option for moms whose kids will be joining them 24/7 for the next few weeks. (Or months maybe? Eeesh.)

Here’s How to Work Remotely and Still Get Things Done

Get Up Early

Trust me on this one. You’ll be tempted to get every last bit of sleep you can, but don’t. Just… don’t. Now is not the time to mess up your routine. Get up at the same time you usually do, make some coffee, and have a nice breakfast. This simple act will keep you energized throughout the day. You no longer have the excuse that you don’t have time to make yourself some eggs. Also, maybe you don’t want to mess with your circadian rhythm. #justsayin

If you’re a mom: I know you get up early enough as it is, but make sure to squeeze in at least 15 minutes to have your coffee hot and in one sitting. Then you can make everyone breakfast.

Shower and Groom

You have no idea how easy it’ll be for you to drift into showering once every three days when working from home. Don’t do that. Keep showering. And ladies, if you wear makeup to work, keep putting makeup on. There’s nothing like not showering, staying bare-faced, and staying in your pjs all day to send you into a depressive state quick af. Don’t believe me? Ask a mom. Just pretend you were going to work outside your home.

If you’re a mom: You already know what I’m talking about. Maternity leave, am I right? This may be great for a week, maybe two, but after that, you know how horrible it feels. This is a friendly reminder: shower and groom

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Repurpose That Commute Time for Something More Productive

That’s right. You know how you always complain about having to drive an hour to and from work, and how that’s two hours of your day, which is kind of like working 11 hours but only getting paid for nine? Well, you still won’t get paid for it, but at least you’ll be able to do something more productive than listen to podcasts.

Podcasts may entertain you on the road, but it’s not like you’re able to take notes or anything. I don’t know about you, but if I want something to stick, I gotta take notes, so listening to podcasts on my commute that contain information I actually want to retain is a waste. (Although, now you’ll have the time for taking notes, so…listen to podcasts.)

You now got yourself 30 minutes to an hour (unless you live a block away from your job, in which case, lucky you) to do whatever you want! Can you imagine? Here are a few ideas:

1. Work out. Ugh, I know. The dreaded workout. But honestly, so, so important. Even if it’s just a brisk walk. Get up, get moving and get the blood flowing. This doesn’t have to be CrossFit or whatever the cool kids are doing these days. It could be stretching, yoga, cardio, whatever floats your boat. (Tickles your pickle? Ok, I’m out.) 
2. Journal. I know not everyone likes to do this, and it’s becoming the equivalent of reading horoscopes with how much people claim it has magical powers, but journaling has been proven to reduce anxiety and set the tone for the day. I personally wish I would remember to journal, especially with a deadly virus going around. There’s nothing like a good virus to send anyone’s anxiety into overdrive. And maybe all we need is a good brain dump to make it through the day.
3. Read a book. Yeah, you know, that book you bought months ago and it has yet to be cracked open? Most people’s excuse for not reading more is not having the time. Well, now you do! And try to stick to something you enjoy reading for the sake of reading. Stay away from work-related reading. Reading relaxes you and can take you to other worlds, so pick something mind-blowing, not Karen’s umpteenth email about HR policies.
4. Just pick anything that makes you happy!

If you’re a mom: Take this time to explain to everyone in the house how the day’s going to go. And then go do one of the four things listed above. You may be interrupted 100 times, but hey, at least you tried. You can take a walk outside with the kids, especially since we’ll all be quarantined pretty soon (probably). Also, you may be surprised how willing kids are to do yoga with you. There’s a great YouTuber who does yoga for kids, and they love it. You can also make this art time for kids, while you journal or read. You can do it!

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Have An Office, Even if You Don’t!

I know not everyone has the luxury of having a whole room to use as an office, especially if you have no need for one. But since you’ll be home for some time or indefinitely (if that’s your chosen route), having a designated space with everything you need can make all the difference. Look, it’s totally fine to work from your bed for a day or two (good to get it out of your system), but doing this everyday, will not only give you back pains that will never go away, it’ll also make you lazy af. Here’s what you should do:

1. Have a desk and chair. Duh. But, seriously, I don’t care if it’s one of those food tables used to eat while watching TV. Have something you can sit in front of comfortably. And definitely get the best chair in the house. ‘Cause having the wrong one will also give you back pains that’ll never go away (ahh, the joys of getting older).  
2. Find a good spot. If you’re into natural light like me, find the spot in your space that has the most. You also want to take into account any video calls you’ll have to take. So good lighting is not only for your mental health, but also so Karen doesn’t talk shit about your video quality (aka apartment). 
3. Get your essentials. Again, pretend you’re at work. What do you usually keep on your desk or in the drawers? Airpods? Glossier Balm Dot Com? Almonds? Whatever items you use on a daily basis at work, make sure to have in stock at home, too. This will reduce the stress of having to get up and see the pile of laundry sitting in the corner of the room.

If you’re a mom: This is where shit gets real. Your kids (depending on their ages) will most likely not leave you alone for very long (mine sure don’t), so try to schedule any meetings during their usual nap times. Otherwise, you can put your “office” anywhere. Also, you probably already have back pains that will never go away (I know I do), so sorry I can’t help you with that one.

Have a Set Time to Work (and to Quit Working)

Do you work 9-5 in an office? Then work 9-5 at home, too. It’s tempting to wipe your drool in the morning and open your laptop or stay hooked into the wee hours of the night, and you may be able to sustain that for a couple of days, but trust me, by day three, you’ll be throwing in the towel. Timing is everything. So keeping your work hours the same will reduce some serious stress. I know this can be difficult to do, so willpower is a must with this one. Also, you want to make sure Karen doesn’t overstep by expecting a response at 9 p.m.

If you’re a mom: If you’re working from home temporarily due to the coronavirus, your kid’s school has probably closed by now, and they are with you all day. This is stressful af. So, guess what? They also need a tight schedule. It’s best to try and stick to the routine they have at school or daycare, that way, when they go back, they’re not all wacky. This will relieve some stress for you and them. 

How About That Lunch Break?

Being able to make whatever you want at home for lunch and having all the ingredients is the best thing ever. I don’t know how many times I’ve forgotten one item for my salad, which totally kills it for me. And there’s nothing I can do ‘cause I’m an hour away from home. #FirstWorldProblems, I know, but seriously, take advantage of this. And if you finish eating in 30 minutes, you still have 30 minutes to take a walk, phone a friend, or, oh yeah, take a walk. Since you’re probably not getting enough vitamin D, getting some sun is one of the best things you can do during your workday. And I’m sure Cujo won’t mind a walk either now that you’re home all day.

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If you’re a mom: You will have to make lunch for your kids, so make sure you eat something other than their leftover bread crusts. Plus, it will give you a much needed boost to make it until dinner. If you finish lunch early, spend some time having dessert with the kids. They’ll get their dose of mom, and you’ll take a mental break from work. 

Drink Water

Speaking of healthy stuff, whatever cool tumbler you bought ‘cause you were influenced by your favorite influencer…keep that around. You need to hydrate. Water helps with literally everything in your body, so try to drink at least 8-10 (8 ounce) glasses of water or four (16.9 ounce) bottles of water. 

If you’re a mom: Drink water yourself, but make sure your kids drink enough, too. Between the chocolate milks and juices, water can be forgotten. Make sure to always offer them water throughout the day, and purposefully offer them only water as their drink for at least one meal a day.

Disconnect at 5 PM

That means it’s time to disconnect. And I don’t just mean from the computer. Put your phone to charge and walk away. I know I already talked about work hours, but this is more about work/life balance. Since there’s no commute home, it’ll be hard to disconnect, but Cujo (or your kid) needs you. Take your would-be commute time home to prepare a nice family meal. If it’s just you, taking the time to actually cook something can reduce stress, too, and you’ll feel better for doing it. A healthy meal = a healthy body. You can follow it with a bath and some time to read a book or watch some mindless TV. 

If you’re a mom: I know all about throwing something together quickly for dinner ‘cause the kids are hungry, and I’m tired. But now you have time to do something a little more elaborate than chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. You can eat together as a family and then maybe play a board game before it’s time for baths and bedtime. 

Let’s Put It All Together Now

A stress-free workday from home! Okay, maybe not totally stress-free but stress-lite. Working from home isn’t for everyone, but given the situation at hand with the current pandemic, it’s important to keep your sanity and make the best of the situation. If you follow the steps above, it could seriously reduce the stress you may feel of being home all day, especially if you got children running amok. Sticking to a routine and taking time for yourself can make all the difference. So much so that you may never want to go back to the office (at least once the kids are back in school). 

Now go wash ALL the hands in your house and call your mom!

The post Working from Home? Here’s Our Stress-Free Guide to Working Remotely appeared first on The Shelf Full-Service Influencer Marketing.