Post high-quality images
First, post high-quality images. High-quality photos are a must-have on Instagram, where users are accustomed to seeing beautiful and unique photos every day. Posting poor or uninspired images will make you blend into the crowd and detract from your brand’s professionalism. (If you have any doubt about whether an image is good enough for Instagram, try posting it on Facebook or Twitter first—these sites tend to emphasize beauty more than functionality.)
In addition to making sure that your picture quality is high, make sure your photo has a story behind it. Even if the subject of the photo isn’t related directly to your business in some way (for example: “My dog” instead of “Our dog grooming service”), it should be clear why this particular photo was chosen. Viewers can lose interest quickly when they don’t see any real connection between what they’re seeing and who they’re watching.
Finally, remember that relevance matters when posting images on any social media platforms.
Post often
Posting more often will increase your engagement, which is one of the most important metrics to watch when it comes to Instagram. If you’re posting a lot, people will see more of your content and start following you in hopes that they’ll get a chance to see more good stuff from you. Plus, the more content you have on Instagram, the better! It gives people a real reason to follow you—to get in on all those posts instead of just seeing one or two occasionally.
Use hashtags wisely
Understanding the way hashtags work on Instagram is critical to your success. Hashtags are a way of grouping content together and can be used in many ways by businesses. You can use hashtags as a search tool to find others who are posting about similar things, or even related topics that you may not have thought of yet. For example, if you’ve just opened an Etsy shop selling cute handmade cat sweaters then tagging #cute and #kittycat would be relevant because people searching for those words will see your posts in their feed. If you’re really committed to using hashtags, then try using them creatively by layering them over each other so that they form new meanings or create puns (e.g., “#Iwantthiswebsite”).
- Tag other businesses in your photos: When posting images from events hosted by other companies, tag them at the end of your post with @[insert business name here] or #[insert business name here].
- Add hashtags purposefully. When choosing hashtags, consider those that will be relevant to your posts. Using random hashtags can confuse readers and you won’t get the “following” you are working for.
Hashtags are searchable terms that help people find photos related to a specific topic or theme. For example, if you’re at a conference and want to share photos with other attendees, use the hashtag #conferencename. This way, people looking for pictures from that event can find you. If you’re posting a photo of your product or service, add relevant hashtags related to it as well.
Focus on visual storytelling in your posts
Instagram is meant to be visual! Share photos of your business instead of simply describing why it is great.
- Use a combination of photos and videos to tell the story.
- Make sure your content is relevant and useful to your audience.
- Make sure your content is engaging, whether you’re using text or images—or both! You can use hashtags or add captions to make it easier for people to find you online, but if your posts aren’t engaging enough, hashtags won’t help much either way.
With some careful planning, you can organically grow your business with Instagram
Instagram is a dynamic and ever-changing social media platform, which means it’s important to approach it with a plan. As Instagram continues to evolve and change, you’ll want to keep up with the trends and update your strategy accordingly.
One of the most effective strategies for Instagram is being consistent with your posting schedule. Your followers know what they can expect from you, so if you post regularly, then they will be more likely to engage with your content and follow along as well.
