Social media champion (and pink-enthusiast) Peyton Baxter (@peyton.baxter) gets down and dirty with ARTRPRNR this week, giving away all of her best secrets to a successful Insta-page. We’re letting you in on those trade secrets — so take notes!

What pages do you follow on IG for inspiration and what about them inspires you?

@hellofashionblog @weworewhat @somethingnavy are serious boss babes in the blogging/fashion industry that really inspire me. They’ve created their own kick-butt brands, all while balancing a full personal and family life. They’re killing it & they keep it real!

What message do you want to convey to your followers?

I want my followers to remember that you can wear anything you want, dress however you want, and do whatever you want, regardless of where you are in the world. You don’t have to be on the streets of Manhattan to look like you just stepped off the runway. Do what makes you happy 100% of the time. Whatever makes you the best version of yourself, do it regardless of what’s considered ‘cool.’  Just be the wonderful, beautiful YOU. Keep it real; make a difference where you can & always let God lead!

Do you feel that content creators on social media are misrepresented or misunderstood?

Occasionally, yes. But not misunderstood by everyone. I think this industry can be confusing to people who don’t understand exactly what the influencer world is yet, because it’s so new. Although, this won’t be true for long. More and more companies are seeing the importance and power of digital marketing, and the industry is growing at a really fast pace! It’s inevitable that content creators will continue to rise and be the go-to source for marketing efforts in the coming years, because they are the drivers of the industry.

So far, what is the best experience you’ve had working with a brand?

Wow – there are so many! Of course, I’ve had my fair share of negative experiences collaborating with brands; but I’ve had even more positive ones, and I’m so thankful for that.  There are so many brands I’ve partnered with that have been such a pleasure to work alongside — Tula, Marc Fisher, Hammitt LA, Southern Shirt, Vici Collection, DIFF Eyewear (just to name a few).

But, if I had to narrow it down, I would say that the Vici team has been my favorite so far (you forced my hand, here!). I genuinely LOVE their clothes and everything the company stands for, and my audience has been so receptive to the partnership, it’s been great for both of us. I’ve worked with Vici for over a year now, and I’m most appreciative of the way that they’re able to grow with my brand. Not only that, they allow me to reward my audience, which is just another perk! Vici is super responsive when I need some guidance, and I can tell they’re a solid company (just like lots of the brands I’ve worked with). I’ve been extremely fortunate in my partnerships, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

How do you think social media can elevate humanity?

I think a lot of people look at social media as a negative thing (and it certainly has the potential to be one), but I try to use my platform as a place where people can come for some positive energy, inspiration, and encouragement. My goal is to keep it real 100% of the time and be someone who is relatable to all women, not just the glamourous ones (because, let’s face it, no one’s life is perfect, and that’s what makes it fun).

Social media will elevate humanity if we focus on the positives that are within it (i.e. connecting with strangers-turned-friends from across the country that share our struggles, and having that source of support)! We gotta stop entertaining the negative aspects of it, though, in order for the best parts to shine through. No more comparing our real, behind-the-filter lives to someone else’s IG feed, because let’s be honest: it’s not real!

As social media continues to grow, what do you think are the biggest challenges content creators will face?

Two things: For one, content creators will face a challenge continuing to set themselves apart from the other creators on the Internet. The platform is expanding so much, there’s bound to be over-saturation at some point.

And two: Authenticity. Unfortunately, I’ve seen so many content creators wrongly base the size of their influence on the number of followers on their account, so they end up falling into the terrible trap of buying followers and engagements. This day and time, everyone wants instant growth or success (in all aspects of life) and unfortunately, growth on social media just doesn’t work that way. It takes a lot of patience and a lot of work to grow a REAL, authentic following, and it frustrates me when I see other creators taking the “easy” way out. Rome wasn’t built in a day — and your Instagram following won’t be either. Nothing worth having comes easy. When content creators buy their following/engagements, it’s only damaging the industry as a whole. People who do this are essentially lying to potential brand collaborations, because they claim to have a certain amount of REAL followers, and that isn’t the case. It’s sad and frustrating.

On and off social media, how do you manage your life? Any app suggestions?

• Google Drive – To keep up with deadlines
• Unum – To plan out my IG grid
• Lightroom – Perfect for editing content
• Quickbooks – For the business side of things
• Instagram – Duh
• Reward Style/Liketoknow.it – Essential for my work
• Dropbox – For keeping everything organized
• Jesus Calling App
• Google Maps – I’m extremely directionally challenged
• Headspace – For meditation
• Sweat – Which is amazing for daily workouts

Tell us something about you that your followers might find interesting!

Fun facts: I know how to extract & bottle honey straight from the beehive (thanks to my Papaw)! Oh, and I used to be afraid of dogs as a little girl, after a minor accident when I was 3 years old. No worries though, now I love any and all dogs!!