Creatives Unhooked Me & Orla: Instagram, social media, careers event

On 25^th April 2018, Unhooked Communications hosted Creatives Unhooked with Sara Tasker. Sara is the writer, photographer, influencer, creative coach and entrepreneur behind Me & Orla.

During the evening we talked about how individuals and businesses can use Instagram, as well as podcasts, content marketing, women in business and creative careers.

PR and business event, Manchester: Instagram, content marketing and creative careers

We held the PR and marketing event at the Portico Library. This venue is is a hidden gem in Manchester city centre boasting stunning architecture and a rich history. If you’re from Manchester and not visited – you’ve no doubt walked past the unassuming doorway many a times without realising.

Over 60 marketers, creatives and business owners attended to hear Unhooked Communications MD Claire Gamble interview Sara Tasker about her career.

Sara Tasker, Me & Orla – a business inspiration for creative entrepreneurs

Sara’s story is certainly inspiring. What started as a simple ‘photo a day’ project on Instagram when she went on maternity has now developed into a successful business, with multiple revenue streams.

With over 197k followers on Instagram, 13.5k followers on Twitter, more than 35k podcast listeners, and influencer marketing brand partnerships with leading businesses such as Land Rover, Canon and Dior – Sara has well and truly established herself as a successful creative entrepreneur.

At Creatives Unhooked, Sara offered insights and advice around:

how to use Instagram to build an engaged audience,
ways to use content marketing to grow your business,
and how to build a successful and diverse creative career.

Instagram competition: PR event and social media engagement

As we were in such a beautiful building with an audience of creative types, we encouraged people to engage with the space and the discussion with an Instagram and Twitter competition.

‘Making the everyday magical’ ✨ Sara from @meandorla imparting her wise words regarding all things Instagram last night @ThePortico and surrounded by lots of Northern creatives too at the @WeAreUnhooked event. Loved it. ?
?#creativesunhooked #properfilms pic.twitter.com/rTmcDahJm4

— Katie Conoby (@twinsplusonemum) April 26, 2018

Attendees were invited to share their photos, videos and insights from the night using our dedicated event hashtag #CreativesUnhooked. The content shared captured the spirit and inspiration of the night, with over 100 posts reaching more than 165,000 people over the course of the competition.

The other night I went to an absolutely wonderful talk by the ever lovely @meandorla ✨Go have a read about what I thought on my Instagram! #CreativesUnhooked https://t.co/1aj9ef6uHr pic.twitter.com/Xk00dou0i2

— Steph Coathupe ?? (@StephCoathupe) April 27, 2018

Isn’t it incredible that historic buildings such as the @porticolibrary are tucked away in the heart of our cities like little gems, just waiting to be discovered? Such a beautiful building with a stunning Dome, housing a stunning collection of 19th century literature. I had no idea that it existed before this evening but I feel privileged to have visited and look forward to doing so again! I bet the light in here is incredible during the day. #CreativesUnhooked #historicbuildings #creativetourist #manchester #heritage #architecture #nationaltreasures #literature #visitmanchester #hiddengems

A post shared by Ali Parsons (@ali_claire_parsons) on Apr 25, 2018 at 2:02pm PDT

Congratulations to runner up Christina Lynn (@ABlondeFlame) and winner Sarah Jane Thomas @sarahjanethoms – and thank you everyone who took the time and thought to create such beautiful content and sharing the posts online.

“If Instagram was deleted tomorrow, it shouldn’t matter how many followers you had, but about the relationships you made.” Thank you for such an interesting evening @meandorla. My head is bursting with ideas. #CreativesUnhooked pic.twitter.com/X8D6636Xph

— Sarah Jane Thoms (@sarahjanethoms) April 25, 2018

And since the event we’ve heard from marketers, creatives and business owners starting their own creative challenges – such as Georgie Glass’ photo a day project.

1/365 – Today, the 27th of April 2018 I am embarking on a new journey, and you can come with me, if you like. As photographers we are consumed with what are clients want, our audience wants to see, and what will make us money. I don’t think I have stopped once in the past five years to ask what I want out of my photography. What do I want to see? What do I want to create? What will make me happy? Instead I have focussed on what will carry me further along in my career, what will get me noticed by my clients and what I think my fellow Instagrammers want to see me create. But no more, as of today, I will no longer be focusing on my numbers. This is me, starting my first ever 365 photo project, just for me. No theme, no constraints. The only rules are that everything you see on my grid for the next year will be lovingly thought up, shot and edited by yours truly. I will be sharing what keeps me motivated to be a better and more creative photographer, everyday. I am so excited to start my new photographic journey, and re-discover my creativity. Thank you to @me_and_orla and the #CreativesUnhooked event for inspiring me to put my photographic work first.

A post shared by Georgie Glass (@georgieglass_) on Apr 27, 2018 at 12:02am PDT

Thank you

Marketing and creative events like Creatives Unhooked aren’t possible without the help and support from talented and generous people, so lots of thanks to everyone who helped make this possible:

Sara for sharing her thoughts and insights, as well as providing places on her Insta Retreat and Bloom & Grow Instagram courses for our #CreativesUnhooked social media winners.
Photographer Alexander Ward and videographer Daniel Kenyon from Slant Media for capturing the evening.
Brands and businesses Ritter Sport, Grill on the Alley, Fred Aldous and FreeAgent for providing the generous gifts and prizes for the event.
The team at Portico Library for all their help leading up to the event and on the night, as well as Becci for her help on the night.
All of our attendees who came, engaged, networked and shared.