Jeff Bullas

There is no single “best” place to post affiliate links on Instagram; rather, an effective strategy involves using several key locations together, as each serves a different purpose.

First, your Instagram bio link is your most important and permanent location for affiliate links. Since Instagram only allows one clickable link in your bio, it is standard practice to use a “link-in-bio” tool. Services like Linktree, Beacons, or similar platforms let you create a simple landing page where you can list multiple affiliate links. This is where you should feature your most important, “evergreen” recommendations – for example, links to your favourite tools, key products, or a link to your Amazon Storefront. You should then use your post captions to direct people here.

Second, Instagram Stories are arguably the most effective place for timely, in-the-moment promotions. You can use the interactive “Link” sticker to add a direct, clickable affiliate link to a specific Story frame. This method works best when you provide context first. For example, you might use a few Story frames to demonstrate a product or share a personal experience with it, and then share the affiliate link in the final frame with a clear call to action.

Third, Direct Messages (DMs) can be very powerful, but they must be used correctly. This approach is not about sending unsolicited, spammy links. It is best used when a follower replies to your Story or post with a specific question about a product you have featured. In that one-on-one conversation, you can provide them with helpful information and then share your affiliate link directly. This is a high-intent interaction.

It is crucial to know where you cannot place effective links. You cannot put clickable links in the captions of your regular Instagram Feed posts or Reels, nor can you put them in the comments. Any URL typed in these areas will appear only as plain text and cannot be clicked by users. This is why the common practice is to write “link in bio” in your captions.

Finally, no matter where you place your affiliate links, you must always provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure, such as #ad or #affiliatelink, to inform your audience that you may earn a commission from their purchase.

In summary, the most effective strategy combines a well-organised link-in-bio page for your top recommendations, contextual promotions in Stories using the Link sticker, and personalised sharing in DMs in response to direct inquiries.

Cheers,

Jeff

Taking proactive steps to secure your Instagram account is essential for protecting your information and content. The process involves strengthening your login credentials and regularly reviewing your account’s activity.

First, and most fundamentally, you must use a strong and unique password. This means a long combination of letters, numbers, and symbols that you do not use for any other online service. Using a reputable password manager is a good practice for creating and storing these complex passwords.

Second, the single most effective security measure you can enable is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). This should be considered non-negotiable. 2FA adds a second layer of security that requires a code in addition to your password when you log in from an unrecognised device. To set it up, go to your Instagram “Settings and Privacy,” then “Accounts Centre,” then “Password and security.” You will find the option for Two-Factor Authentication there. Using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy is generally considered more secure than receiving codes via SMS, but either is far better than having no 2FA at all.

Third, you should regularly perform a Security Checkup. Instagram provides this guided feature to help you review and secure your account. It will walk you through checking your password strength, confirming the email address and phone number on your account are correct, and ensuring 2FA is enabled.

Fourth, it is a good habit to periodically check your “Login Activity.” This setting, also found under “Password and security,” shows you all the devices that are currently logged into your account. If you see any unrecognised devices or locations, you can log them out immediately.

Fifth, you need to manage your third-party app access. Over time, you may have granted access to various apps and websites. You should review these permissions regularly in your settings and revoke access for any services you no longer use or trust, as these can become potential security vulnerabilities.

And sixth, always be cautious of phishing attempts. Be very suspicious of any direct messages or emails asking you to click a link to log in or claiming there is a problem with your account. Instagram will never ask for your password via DM.

In summary, a strong, unique password combined with two-factor authentication provides the most robust defence. Regularly reviewing your login activity and connected apps is also a vital security habit.

Cheers,

Jeff

Being able to identify red flags is the key to using Facebook Marketplace safely and avoiding common scams. There are several warning signs to look for, both when you are buying and when you are selling.

First, let us look at red flags when you are buying an item. A major one is a price that seems too good to be true. Scammers often lure people in with unusually low prices on high-demand items like gaming consoles, phones, or vehicles. Be very skeptical of deep discounts on popular products. Another is a seller who refuses to meet in person for a local transaction or will not allow you to inspect the item before you pay. They might insist on shipping only and demand payment upfront.

You should also be very wary of sellers who pressure you to pay using methods that offer little to no buyer protection, such as direct bank transfers, wire transfers, Zelle, or gift cards. They will often invent an excuse for why they cannot use a more secure method like PayPal Goods & Services or Facebook’s own checkout system. Be suspicious of sellers who ask for a deposit to “hold” an item for you, or those who try to move the conversation off of Facebook Messenger immediately. Finally, take a moment to check the seller’s profile. A brand new profile with few friends or photos can be a sign of a scammer.

Next, there are red flags when you are selling. First, be cautious of buyers who offer to overpay for your item. This is often part of a fake payment scam where they send a fraudulent cheque or digital payment for too much and then ask you to refund the difference before their initial payment bounces. Second, always verify payment directly in your bank or PayPal account before shipping an item; do not trust payment confirmation emails, as these can be faked. Third, be wary of buyers who use complicated stories involving shipping agents, couriers, or third parties picking up the item.

As a general rule for safety, you should always try to meet in a well-lit, public place for any in-person transactions, and let someone know where you are going. Always inspect an item thoroughly before handing over money. For in-person sales, cash is often the safest method. For shipped items, use a secure payment platform that offers protection for both parties.

The key to avoiding scams is to be skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true, insist on secure and verifiable payment methods, and trust your instincts. If a situation feels strange or a user is being unusually pushy about payment or shipping methods, it is always best to walk away from the deal.

Cheers,

Jeff

A re-engagement campaign is a targeted effort to reconnect with inactive subscribers before you consider removing them from your list. The approach needs to be direct and value-driven to cut through the noise and provoke a response.

There are several effective strategies to include in your campaign. First, you must craft a compelling and direct subject line. This is critical, as these are people who have been habitually ignoring your emails. Subject lines that are direct questions or statements often work best. Examples include “Is this goodbye?”, “We miss you, [First Name]”, or “A special offer to welcome you back”.

Second, in the body of the email, you should remind them of the value they are missing. Briefly restate why they signed up in the first place and the kind of exclusive content or benefits your emails provide. It can also be effective to highlight some of your most popular content that they may have missed.

Third, a powerful tactic is to make an exclusive offer. Providing a special discount, a unique piece of high-value content, a free gift with a purchase, or early access to a new product can be a strong incentive for someone to re-engage with your brand. This offer should ideally be exclusive to this “at-risk” segment.

Fourth, you can ask for their feedback or for them to update their preferences. An email that asks, “What content would you like to see from us?” or links to a preference centre where they can choose the topics they are interested in can prompt a click. This not only encourages re-engagement but can also provide you with valuable data.

Fifth, in the final email of your re-engagement series, you should be clear about the outcome. Let them know politely that to respect their inbox, you will be removing them from your list if they do not express interest in staying. Often, the best way to do this is to include a single, clear call-to-action button or link that says something like, “Yes, Keep Me on the List!”. This requires a definitive click, which is a much stronger engagement signal than an open.

A re-engagement campaign should be kept short; a series of two to three emails sent over a week or two is usually sufficient. The goal is not just to get them to open one last email, but to get them to take a specific action, like a click, that confirms their interest. This is your best effort to win back their attention before cleaning your list to maintain its overall health and deliverability.

Cheers,

Jeff

There is no single “correct” number of emails that will work for every welcome series, as the optimal length can depend on your industry, your audience, and the goals of your email program. However, a sequence of between three and five emails is a very common, effective, and well-regarded structure for most businesses and creators.

This multi-email approach allows you to build a relationship and provide value without overwhelming the new subscriber all at once. A common and effective structure could be organised like this.

The first email in the series should be sent immediately after a person subscribes. Its primary purpose is to confirm the subscription and deliver the promised value, such as the download link for a lead magnet. It should also include a warm welcome and briefly reinforce why they made a good decision to join.

The second email, which might be sent a day or two later, is an opportunity to build a deeper connection. This is an excellent place to tell your personal or brand story, share your mission or values, and help the new subscriber get to know the person or company behind the emails.

The third email should aim to provide more value and manage expectations. Here, you could point them to some of your best or most popular existing content, like top blog posts, videos, or podcast episodes. You can also use this email to explain what kind of content they can expect to receive from you in the future and how often you will be in touch.

If you choose to extend the series to a fourth email, this can be a good point to encourage engagement. You might ask them a direct question and invite them to reply, encourage them to follow you on a social media platform, or ask them to fill out a short survey about their interests so you can better personalise their future content.

A fifth email, should you include one, can then be used to introduce a soft-sell or a low-friction offer. After you have spent several emails building trust and providing value, this is an appropriate time to gently introduce them to one of your entry-level products, a service, a special introductory discount, or another relevant offer.

The goal of a welcome series is to guide a new subscriber from being a relative stranger to becoming an engaged and trusting member of your community. Each email should have a single, clear purpose. The key is to focus on delivering value and building rapport before you begin to sell. A three-to-five-email framework provides a solid foundation to achieve this.

Cheers,

Jeff

Creating and managing a content calendar is a fundamental practice for any serious blogger. It transforms your blogging from a reactive hobby into a strategic operation, helping you to be consistent, organised, and focused on your goals.

The process can be broken down into a few key steps. First, you need to define your content pillars or main categories. These are the core 3 to 5 topics that your blog will consistently cover. This ensures your content remains focused on your niche and builds authority in those specific areas.

Second, you should brainstorm a list of potential blog post ideas that fall under each of your content pillars. Think about the common questions your audience asks, the problems they face, and the keywords they might be using in search engines. Keep this as a running “idea bank” that you can pull from at any time.

Third, you need to choose a tool for your calendar. This does not need to be complex or expensive. A simple spreadsheet using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel is perfectly adequate for many bloggers. Alternatively, a visual project management tool like Trello or Asana, both of which have excellent free plans, can be very effective for tracking the status of each post. The best tool is simply the one you find easiest to use consistently.

Fourth, you can begin to schedule your ideas onto the calendar. Decide on a realistic posting frequency for your blog, for instance, once or twice per week. Start populating the calendar with your post topics, aiming to plan at least one month in advance if possible. When scheduling, consider any relevant seasons, holidays, or industry events.

For each entry in your calendar, you should include at least the planned publication date, the working title of the blog post, its current status (such as ‘Idea’, ‘Drafting’, ‘Editing’, or ‘Scheduled’), and which main content pillar it belongs to. You can also add other useful details like the primary target keyword for SEO, notes for the call-to-action, and ideas for social media promotion for that post.

To manage the calendar effectively, treat it as a living document. It is not meant to be rigid, so be flexible enough to move posts around if a more timely or relevant topic arises. Review it regularly, perhaps once a week, to track your progress and plan your upcoming tasks. Using the calendar to “batch” your work, for example by dedicating time to outlining several posts at once, is also a very efficient way to work.

A content calendar is a simple but powerful tool. By defining your topics, brainstorming ideas, choosing a simple tool, and scheduling your posts, you create the structure needed for long-term blogging success.

Cheers,

Jeff

Becoming a better podcast interviewer is a skill that develops with preparation and practice. The goal is to shift your mindset from simply asking a list of questions to actively facilitating an interesting and valuable conversation for your listener.

There are several key techniques that will help you improve. First, thorough preparation is absolutely essential. You must research your guest extensively before the interview. This goes beyond just reading their professional bio. Listen to other interviews they have done, read articles they have written, or familiarise yourself with their work. This deep preparation allows you to ask more insightful questions and avoid the same basic questions they have likely answered many times before.

Second, you should prepare a flexible outline, not a rigid script. It is good to have a list of key topics and potential questions to guide the conversation and ensure you cover the important points. However, you must be prepared to deviate from it. Often, the best moments in an interview come from following an interesting tangent that your guest brings up. Your outline should be a safety net, not a cage.

Third, you need to master asking open-ended questions. This is a fundamental skill of interviewing. Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no,” you should start your questions with words like “How,” “Why,” “What,” or with phrases such as “Tell me about the time when…” or “Can you describe the process of…” This prompts your guest to provide detailed, thoughtful answers and to share stories.

Fourth, you must practise active listening. This is arguably the most important skill of all. Pay close attention to what your guest is saying in the moment, instead of just focusing on what your next scripted question will be. This enables you to ask relevant follow-up questions that can dig deeper into their response. A simple follow-up like, “What was the most challenging part of that?” can often lead to the most insightful part of the entire conversation.

Fifth, become comfortable with silence. Do not feel the need to immediately jump in the moment your guest finishes speaking. A brief, natural pause can give them space to gather their thoughts and elaborate on their answer, often revealing something they might have otherwise omitted.

And sixth, focus on making your guest feel comfortable. Begin with some light, off-the-record conversation before you start recording to build rapport. During the interview, maintain a sense of genuine curiosity and empathy. A guest who feels relaxed and engaged will always provide a better interview.

Your role as the host is not just to ask questions, but to be the surrogate for your audience, guiding the conversation in a way that uncovers the most value and insight. It is about fostering a great conversation, not conducting an interrogation.

Cheers,

Jeff

Using Instagram Shopping tags effectively in 2025 is about seamlessly integrating your products into your content in a way that feels authentic and valuable to your audience, rather than just serving as a direct advertisement.

There are several key best practices to follow. First, you should integrate your product tags into high-quality, lifestyle content. Instead of relying solely on plain product shots against a white background, showcase your products being used in real-life situations. This helps potential customers visualise the product in their own lives and makes for more engaging and shareable content. User-generated content that you have permission to reshare and then tag is particularly effective for this.

Second, do not over-tag a single post. While you have the ability to tag multiple items, cramming too many product tags into one image or video can make it look cluttered and can feel overwhelming or overly commercial to a user. A good general practice is to focus on tagging only the one to three key products that are clearly featured in the content.

Third, utilise product tags across all available formats. This means consistently tagging products not just in your standard Feed posts, but also in your Reels and Stories. For Reels, you can pin a product tag to appear at a relevant moment in the video. For Stories, you can use the dedicated “Product” sticker to make a specific item shoppable directly from that Story frame.

Fourth, your captions should support the shoppable content without being an overt sales pitch. Tell a story, provide a useful tip, or ask an engaging question related to the image or video, and then subtly guide people to the tagged products for more information or to “shop the look.”

Fifth, ensure your product catalogue on Facebook Commerce Manager is fully optimised. This is crucial. Use high-resolution product images, write clear and descriptive product names, ensure your pricing is accurate, and have detailed product descriptions filled out. When a user taps on your product tag, the information they see needs to be complete and compelling enough to encourage them to proceed.

Sixth, you can create dedicated shoppable content carousels. For instance, the first slide could be an engaging lifestyle image, with subsequent slides offering closer looks at the tagged products or different angles, providing more detail all within a single, interactive post.

And seventh, periodically guide your audience on how to shop. You can create a simple Story or Reel that explicitly shows your followers how to tap a post to see product tags and proceed to your shop. Do not assume everyone is familiar with how the feature works.

Finally, it is also good practice to organise products into “Collections” on your Instagram Shop tab, such as “New Arrivals” or “Best Sellers,” to make it easier for users to browse when they visit your profile with the intent to shop.

Cheers,

Jeff