MANDURAH mothers are embracing Instagram, contributing to their family finances and amassing legions of followers as they document their day-to-day life.
These mums are successful entrepreneurs who have nailed social media.
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READ NOWThey are all passionate about Instagram as a medium for channelling their creative outlet, while allowing them to stay at home with their children.
While their lives might seem glamorous and their photos perfect, these working mums said a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes.
Ellyssa Standish with the.standish.tales
Ellyssa Standish lives in Erskine and has 43.4K followers.
She said her page was a creative outlet for kids fashion and sharing her life with her sons aged three and one.
“There’s a whole community on Instagram of like-minded women,” she said.
“I do get gifts and I share the things I love.
“I get sponsored and there is a little bit of money in it, but not a lot though.
“The gifts of clothes for the kids helps.”
Ellyssa said Instagram was not as easy as it looked.
“I take my photos when the kids are happy,” she said.
Halls Head mother Crystal Squires has 22.1K followers and started her page six years ago when she was a personal trainer.
Her three children are five, three and five-weeks-old.
“I love being able to be home with my kids and this allows me to contribute to my family,” she said.
Crystal has someone who manages her sponsored posts and she collaborates with photographers.
“I am paid to promote products if I choose to,” she said.
“I am in control of who and what I work with.
“While my highlight reel might look glamorous, I am often on there without makeup.
“My advise to people is to stay true to yourself.”
Crystal said social media was great for mothers because they don’t feel so alone.
Alicja Lawler with Laced with Kindness
Mandurah mother Alicja Lawler has two children (aged six and four) and 10.5K followers on her page lacedwithkindness.
She started her page three years ago when a few of her friends were going through a traumatic experience.
“I wanted to make them feel good and special.
“I sell jewellery, meaning gift cards, poetry gift cards, crystals and a travel-inspired leather range.”
Alicja’s husband works FIFO and when she moved to Mandurah she did not know many people.
“I love the networks I’ve made and the beautiful people I’ve met,” she said.
“We promote one another.”
Alicja said it was important to switch off social media for family time.
“I don’t want to be that mum who’s always on her phone,” she said.
“It’s important to set boundaries and have a work/life balance.”
Steff Holmes with Steffholmes.co
Steff Holmes, of Halls Head, has almost 7K followers and is a mother to four children aged ten, seven, four and one.
“I love connecting with like-minded people,” she said.
“It keeps me mentally well because I’ve had something to do for myself.”
Steff said the perks were great, such as free clothes, jewellery and family holidays.
She has started Project Kindness where people can nominate someone doing it rough and she will donate a package of items to them.
Steff said it has taken six years to build-up her following. She has tried to stay authentic and has never bought followers or used bots.
She said there had been some judgemental feedback, but most people were accepting and supportive.
Eloise Pickard with Epic by El
Eloise Pickard is a stay-at-home mother who uses Instagram for her fitness and wellness business Epic by Elle.
“It is an awesome platform to reach and inspire women,” she said.
“It’s incredibly clever how it works.”
Eloise said if you put your private life out there, you should expect to get some negative kickback.
However, she said the negatives to social media were small in comparison to the positives.