If you want your business to stay relevant in today’s busy digital marketplace, it is essential to know the ins and outs of key social media platforms. Instagram is a visual-first network and it is a great opportunity to stand out with your brand’s unique visual identity. Here are four ways to level up your Instagram
1. Master Photography Basics
Instagram thrives on color. Natural light produces clearer pics. Think about composition before you snap the photo. Balance and uncluttered shot resonate more. Style the items in a way that best captures the details. Practice poses that capture your best angles. Don’t over edit or go overboard with the filters.
2. Keep it Real
Your followers are smart. Authentic content performs better than something over-produced. Get creative, be yourself, and make something specifically for Instagram. Your audience probably follows you on multiple platforms. Give them something fresh on IG, a behind the scenes look or outtakes.
3. Be a Storyteller
Give the audience the stories, videos and live content they crave. When going live, make sure you have a strong wi-fi connection. Create original content. Frame a new narrative by showing a fresh perspective, details on an upcoming project or a funny story. Allow glimpses into your life and brand. Remember to provide context. Most importantly, have fun. Use the cool tools that IG has created such as boomerang, multi-photo, superzoom, stickers and animations.
Videos increase your chances of making it on the “Explore” tab. The vertical or square frame works best. In order for it count as a view, your fans need to watch at least 3 seconds of your video, so put the good stuff first.
4. Engage with your Audience
Social media allows for a two-way conversation with your audience. Post at peak times, between 10am-3pm, Tuesday through Friday. Think about how you want the audience to engage with your content. Draft captions to spark a conversation. Include a call-to-action in your posts. Ask a question or ask them to tag someone. Get active in the comments. Like a comment or response with a few words to acknowledge that you have seen them. @Mention a fan in your stories or dedicate time for a Q&A when going live.
Grow your audience by following and using hashtags and locations. You can discover a whole new community with shared interests. This will also broaden your reach. Caution: Use hashtags wisely. Research and vet them to prevent an unintended controversy. Do not use too many because it can come across as spammy and inauthentic. The optimum range is three and five. Ideally, you want to use your branded hashtags.
Additional Tactics: Captivate and connect with your Instagram audience through high-quality images. Post consistently. Curate a grid that is true to the aesthetic of your brand. Tie the strategy together with analytics. The only way your brand can improve your social media presence is to learn from your activity and the engagement with your followers. Track the performance of posts and monitor Instagram trends.