Instagram has never been such a popular social media platform. With its active users and the many ways in which they can interact with your content, it’s fair to say that the platform has become a favorite for bloggers and visual creatives alike. Smartphone users have established a great audience base, and they are quick to react to the content they see online. A like, a comment, a share, a new follower gained, whatever you need, Instagram offers the potential to reach simultaneously and in real time millions of users who can then discover your work, your portfolio, your website, etc. The main problem with this approach is that Instagram is a busy platform buzzing with activities and new content. Of course, you can select the most relevant #hashtags for your content, but it’s fair to say it won’t be enough to gain a competitive edge and get noticed. You need to build your Inta-love story with your follower base.
Boost your Insta presence
#1. Positivity and self-confidence
It’s there’s one lesson you need to learn about Instagram is that it’s a positive platform. Content that is designed to share confident and self-esteem boosting visuals is most likely to perform well – while negative content can disappear at the bottom of the feeds. In short, your posts should ooze with self-confidence, whether it’s your photo work or your makeup style, you need to stand behind what you choose to share. Users can tell if you don’t feel good about your content.
#2. Have something to say and show
When you use the platform with a close group of friends, it’s easy to overshare and post visuals that don’t have any message to convey. But when you decide to use Instagram as a platform to launch your brand, you need to keep your posts engaging and purposeful. With more than 80 million images shared every day; it’s fair to say that nobody dwindles on pointless content. Instead of showing another picture of your cat sleeping in bed – even though it is very cute–, opt for bringing the user at the heart of the experience. Indeed, modern marketing is all about the experience more than the actual offering. As a creative individual, you can take users through your creative process, for example.
Share engaging content
#3. Beautiful photos with enhancements but no lies
It’s fair to say that nobody wants to see pictures that have been modified to boost your self-esteem. You know the kind, pictures that show people slimmer or fitter than they are in real life, as these can generate a massive backlash on social media. When celebrities such as Beyonce get told off by their fans for tweaking photos, it’s not a risk you want to take. But as a creative, you, of course, want to share the best possible image, so it can be worth to familiarise yourself with Photoshop lessons and learning resources to understand better how to use this tool in a subtle and positive way. Body enhancements are never okay, but most followers will forgive you for correcting the shadow in a landscape picture.
#4. Find the trends
Like every online platform, Instagram follows specific marketing trends that are designed to meet the requirements of both clients and audience base. For instance, if you want to use paid marketing strategies to gain more visibility, you’ll be pleased to know that boosting your Instagram posts through an ad campaign can encourage users to interact with your brand. If you sell online creation, you can even include a link to get users directly to your shopping site, which increases results. As a creative, you can also ensure that you stick to your style and your color palette as your profile aesthetic can become just as important as your website to reach out to a new audience.
#5. Love stories go in both ways
Last, but not least, Instagram is a social media platform. While not everyone can create exciting and popular content, everyone can interact and comment. If you want to establish your brand online, you need to get used to managing your Instagram comments. If you receive too many comments, your followers will forgive you for the lack of response. However, when your posts don’t attract a high volume of comments, users will be more likely to expect a reply. If you don’t interact with your follower base, you might soon experience a backlash from users who feel snubbed out or taken for granted. Ultimately when people try to talk to you, it’s only polite to answer.
Hopefully, with these little tips, you’ve got all you need to build a compelling and powerful Insta love story with your followers. Growing your brand online is hard work, but you’ll find that Instagram provides you with a high-quality platform to do so!
