Shannon McKinstrie | Social Media Strategist & Marketer

Back in the 1970s, my grandparents bought 2 lots on Mile Post 7 in Kill Devil Hills, NC 🌾 Back when the Outer Banks was mostly sand dunes and beach grass. In 1978, they built a little beach cottage (as my Grandma would say) on one of those lots. It became our family’s anchor. Summers with cousins, trips with friends, and later visits with my own little family 🫶 But in June 2022, everything changed. My Grandma Kitty, the matriarch of our family and the woman who made me feel safe, seen, and deeply loved, went to be with Jesus. The house went into a trust & my husband & I couldn’t afford to buy it. Especially with all the repairs it needed. On the drive home, I asked my dad, “If I could save enough for the empty lot next door could we buy it?” He said yes as long as no one else in the family wanted it, but none of us really believed it. Still, I couldn’t bear to let go of this beach. This house. This legacy. So I grieved the only way I knew how: I buried myself in work. Never in a million years did I expect what happened next. A few months later, my husband (who tracks our finances because money is not my thing) noticed something strange: my income wasn’t matching my hours and hours and hours of work. And as we discussed it on the couch I suddenly remembered a old VA of mine had set up a separate Stripe account with a separate email address for one of my offers… After searching Gmail and resetting passwords I logged in & there it was… The exact amount we needed for the down payment. So in 2024… We bought the lot. We found a builder. And now, @kittyscottageobx is here 🫶 We’ve been here a week & we’ll spend most of June in this space that means everything to me. The Outer Banks has always felt like home. And now…we have one of our own. A place to rest, host, & slow down. A piece of my grandparents’ legacy. And the beginning of a new one. And it’s all because I took a chance and started a little social media business 10 years ago today. So let this be your sign to bet on yourself. Do something that lights you up. Share your passion. And show up with a servant heart. I’m cheering you on so hard, friend 🫶

Back in the 1970s, my grandparents bought 2 lots on Mile Post 7 in Kill Devil Hills, NC 🌾 Back when the Outer Banks was mostly sand dunes and beach grass. In 1978, they built a little beach cottage (as my Grandma would say) on one of those lots. It became our family’s anchor. Summers with cousins, trips with friends, and later visits with my own little family 🫶 But in June 2022, everything changed. My Grandma Kitty, the matriarch of our family and the woman who made me feel safe, seen, and deeply loved, went to be with Jesus. The house went into a trust & my husband & I couldn’t afford to buy it. Especially with all the repairs it needed. On the drive home, I asked my dad, “If I could save enough for the empty lot next door could we buy it?” He said yes as long as no one else in the family wanted it, but none of us really believed it. Still, I couldn’t bear to let go of this beach. This house. This legacy. So I grieved the only way I knew how: I buried myself in work. Never in a million years did I expect what happened next. A few months later, my husband (who tracks our finances because money is not my thing) noticed something strange: my income wasn’t matching my hours and hours and hours of work. And as we discussed it on the couch I suddenly remembered a old VA of mine had set up a separate Stripe account with a separate email address for one of my offers… After searching Gmail and resetting passwords I logged in & there it was… The exact amount we needed for the down payment. So in 2024… We bought the lot. We found a builder. And now, @kittyscottageobx is here 🫶 We’ve been here a week & we’ll spend most of June in this space that means everything to me. The Outer Banks has always felt like home. And now…we have one of our own. A place to rest, host, & slow down. A piece of my grandparents’ legacy. And the beginning of a new one. And it’s all because I took a chance and started a little social media business 10 years ago today. So let this be your sign to bet on yourself. Do something that lights you up. Share your passion. And show up with a servant heart. I’m cheering you on so hard, friend 🫶

It’ll make your friend’s day ❤️ I can promise you that. #contentcreationtips #smallbusinessmarketing #socialmediaforsmallbusiness #instagramforsmallbusiness

It’ll make your friend’s day ❤️ I can promise you that. #contentcreationtips #smallbusinessmarketing #socialmediaforsmallbusiness #instagramforsmallbusiness

HAD TO jump on the narrator trend…this was too much fun going down memory lane 🫶 And shout out to ChatGPT for writing the script. It actually made me cry. #contentcreation #contentcreators #socialmediamarketer #instagramforbusiness #socialmediastrategists #socialmediamarketing

HAD TO jump on the narrator trend…this was too much fun going down memory lane 🫶 And shout out to ChatGPT for writing the script. It actually made me cry. #contentcreation #contentcreators #socialmediamarketer #instagramforbusiness #socialmediastrategists #socialmediamarketing

Trust me…the creators growing the fastest aren’t making a whole bunch of extra time for content. They’re simply talking while they live their life. So this is your sign to attach your content to a 5-minute ritual you already do every day and make that your filming window. Because if you’re constantly waiting for the perfect time to create content…you probably won’t. Out on your daily walk? Film. Making your morning coffee? Film. Sitting in the carpool line? Film. You don’t need a studio…you just need your phone and five minutes to yap. And remember… Content creation is not that deep…and it should be the fun part. Send this to a friend who keeps saying they “don’t have time” to post and go film your content 🙌 #contentcreationtips #contentcreatortips #contentstrategist

Trust me…the creators growing the fastest aren’t making a whole bunch of extra time for content. They’re simply talking while they live their life. So this is your sign to attach your content to a 5-minute ritual you already do every day and make that your filming window. Because if you’re constantly waiting for the perfect time to create content…you probably won’t. Out on your daily walk? Film. Making your morning coffee? Film. Sitting in the carpool line? Film. You don’t need a studio…you just need your phone and five minutes to yap. And remember… Content creation is not that deep…and it should be the fun part. Send this to a friend who keeps saying they “don’t have time” to post and go film your content 🙌 #contentcreationtips #contentcreatortips #contentstrategist

This is your sign to get yappin 🎬 and keep watching so you don’t miss some of my fave talk-to-camera hooks for you to take and run with! #contentcreationtips #contentcreationstrategy #instagramtipsandtricks #reelhooks

This is your sign to get yappin 🎬 and keep watching so you don’t miss some of my fave talk-to-camera hooks for you to take and run with! #contentcreationtips #contentcreationstrategy #instagramtipsandtricks #reelhooks

This video will completely change how you see Instagram so be sure to watch until the end… A lot of people are confused about what works on Instagram right now because for YEARS “experts” told you things like: • Don’t post anything personal • Only share 1 Story a day • Keep it polished And honestly? That advice sucked the human out of social media. But here’s the shift I noticed over a year ago…and even big brands caught on 👀 The accounts growing the fastest right now aren’t acting like brands anymore. Because the best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like belonging. And when people feel like they know you, they don’t just watch your content. They follow. They comment. They share. They stick around. AND more importantly…they come back for more!! If you want your content to connect more deeply, try these small shifts: ✔ Use more “I” and “me” in your hooks so it feels personal ✔ Be a little less polished and a lot more YOU ✔ Talk like you’re speaking to a friend, not a customer If you want help creating content that connects, comment METHOD and I’ll send you my free training + content idea spreadsheet that’s helped thousands of creators and business owners grow 4x faster. And if this made you rethink how you show up on Instagram, follow for tips working right NOW and send to a friend who needs the reminder. And if you need help, comment below. I got you, friend. #instagramforsmallbusiness #contentcreationtips #instagramgrowth

This video will completely change how you see Instagram so be sure to watch until the end… A lot of people are confused about what works on Instagram right now because for YEARS “experts” told you things like: • Don’t post anything personal • Only share 1 Story a day • Keep it polished And honestly? That advice sucked the human out of social media. But here’s the shift I noticed over a year ago…and even big brands caught on 👀 The accounts growing the fastest right now aren’t acting like brands anymore. Because the best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing. It feels like belonging. And when people feel like they know you, they don’t just watch your content. They follow. They comment. They share. They stick around. AND more importantly…they come back for more!! If you want your content to connect more deeply, try these small shifts: ✔ Use more “I” and “me” in your hooks so it feels personal ✔ Be a little less polished and a lot more YOU ✔ Talk like you’re speaking to a friend, not a customer If you want help creating content that connects, comment METHOD and I’ll send you my free training + content idea spreadsheet that’s helped thousands of creators and business owners grow 4x faster. And if this made you rethink how you show up on Instagram, follow for tips working right NOW and send to a friend who needs the reminder. And if you need help, comment below. I got you, friend. #instagramforsmallbusiness #contentcreationtips #instagramgrowth

Want to always have B-roll for your Reels ready to go? Prop your phone up and press record! I will use clips from this for months! (Fun fact, some of the B-roll you’ve seen me use is from a year ago). Trust me…you’ll thank yourself. And to help you out, here’s my standard shot list when I intentionally shoot B-roll: - Working on the couch - Making coffee - Creating on my phone - Walking (feet & overhead shot) - Wide shot eating, drinking, typing - Mid shot of eating, drinking typing - Detailed shot of computer/phone/food - Driving - Full body shot/fit check/mirror selfie Save this for later and share with your content creation buddy and get ready to press record! You’ve got this 💪 #instagramforbusiness #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreationtips #contentcreatorlife #contentcreatortips

Want to always have B-roll for your Reels ready to go? Prop your phone up and press record! I will use clips from this for months! (Fun fact, some of the B-roll you’ve seen me use is from a year ago). Trust me…you’ll thank yourself. And to help you out, here’s my standard shot list when I intentionally shoot B-roll: - Working on the couch - Making coffee - Creating on my phone - Walking (feet & overhead shot) - Wide shot eating, drinking, typing - Mid shot of eating, drinking typing - Detailed shot of computer/phone/food - Driving - Full body shot/fit check/mirror selfie Save this for later and share with your content creation buddy and get ready to press record! You’ve got this 💪 #instagramforbusiness #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreationtips #contentcreatorlife #contentcreatortips

I get this question ALL the time, so let’s fix it real quick 🎶 If you don’t have access to certain songs on Instagram it’s usually because of your business category. I showed this at a retreat this weekend and watched a room full of people’s minds explode 🤯 so I figured I should share it here too. Here’s how to fix it ⤵️ 1️⃣ Go to your profile and tap Edit Profile 2️⃣ Change your category to Entrepreneur or Personal Blog 3️⃣ Under “Display on Profile” toggle it OFF if you don’t want it shown in your bio And just like that you’ll get alllll the music back. 🎶 SIDE NOTE: Yes, this is allowed and OBVIOUSLY there’s always exceptions like you run an Instagram for a large brand or company who’s legal team says no 🤷🏻‍♀️ But for most of us small business owners, this is the hack that brings more life to our content. So here’s the short, simple version of Instagram’s official rules when using copyrighted music: 📄 Keep clips short (don’t make a 90-second Reel with music…aim for about 10–20 seconds) 📄 The video should be the focus, not the music. The music is background, not the main character. 📄 You can’t run ads or boost a Reel that uses copyrighted music. That’s it. So if you want access to all the good songs for your Reels and Stories, now you know what to do 😉 Save this so you don’t forget, send it to a friend who’s missing their music library, and follow @shannonmckinstrie for IG tips based on what’s working right now. #instagramtips #reelstips #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreatortips

I get this question ALL the time, so let’s fix it real quick 🎶 If you don’t have access to certain songs on Instagram it’s usually because of your business category. I showed this at a retreat this weekend and watched a room full of people’s minds explode 🤯 so I figured I should share it here too. Here’s how to fix it ⤵️ 1️⃣ Go to your profile and tap Edit Profile 2️⃣ Change your category to Entrepreneur or Personal Blog 3️⃣ Under “Display on Profile” toggle it OFF if you don’t want it shown in your bio And just like that you’ll get alllll the music back. 🎶 SIDE NOTE: Yes, this is allowed and OBVIOUSLY there’s always exceptions like you run an Instagram for a large brand or company who’s legal team says no 🤷🏻‍♀️ But for most of us small business owners, this is the hack that brings more life to our content. So here’s the short, simple version of Instagram’s official rules when using copyrighted music: 📄 Keep clips short (don’t make a 90-second Reel with music…aim for about 10–20 seconds) 📄 The video should be the focus, not the music. The music is background, not the main character. 📄 You can’t run ads or boost a Reel that uses copyrighted music. That’s it. So if you want access to all the good songs for your Reels and Stories, now you know what to do 😉 Save this so you don’t forget, send it to a friend who’s missing their music library, and follow @shannonmckinstrie for IG tips based on what’s working right now. #instagramtips #reelstips #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreatortips

Just doing life together and cheering each other on in the process.

Just doing life together and cheering each other on in the process.

Want to always have B-roll for your Reels ready to go? Here’s how I batch a bunch of clips in one chill afternoon. And I will use these clips for months! (Fun fact, some of the B-roll you’ve seen me use is from a year ago). Trust me…you’ll thank yourself. BONUS TIP: Grab a friend to do this with and make a shot list that makes sense for your business and scenarios you find yourself in so your B-roll aligns with what you do and you’re in your element. And to help you out, here’s my standard shot list: - Working on the couch - Making coffee - Creating on my phone - Walking (feet & overhead shot) - Wide shot eating, drinking, typing - Mid shot of eating, drinking typing - Detailed shot of computer/phone/food - Driving - Full body shot/fit check/mirror selfie Save this for later and share with your content creation buddy and get ready to press record! You’ve got this 💪 #instagramforbusiness #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreationtips #contentcreatorlife #contentcreatortips #contentstrategytips #contentstrategist #reelideas

Want to always have B-roll for your Reels ready to go? Here’s how I batch a bunch of clips in one chill afternoon. And I will use these clips for months! (Fun fact, some of the B-roll you’ve seen me use is from a year ago). Trust me…you’ll thank yourself. BONUS TIP: Grab a friend to do this with and make a shot list that makes sense for your business and scenarios you find yourself in so your B-roll aligns with what you do and you’re in your element. And to help you out, here’s my standard shot list: - Working on the couch - Making coffee - Creating on my phone - Walking (feet & overhead shot) - Wide shot eating, drinking, typing - Mid shot of eating, drinking typing - Detailed shot of computer/phone/food - Driving - Full body shot/fit check/mirror selfie Save this for later and share with your content creation buddy and get ready to press record! You’ve got this 💪 #instagramforbusiness #instagramtipsandtricks #contentcreationtips #contentcreatorlife #contentcreatortips #contentstrategytips #contentstrategist #reelideas