Let's face it we've all made at least some of these mistakes in the past. But we're here to help so that you don't keep making them. If you're looking for ways to get the most out of Instagram, connect with new people, grow your audience and attract new customers then listen up. We're going to run through five easy ways that you can do TODAY that will help you actually grow on Instagram. So let's get to it.
Number 1: Put down your Smartphone and pick up a real camera
Smartphones have come so far in the last 10 years and what they are capable of doing is truly amazing. But when you are trying to portray your business online in a professional manner, quality counts, and there is no denying that the photos produced by a smartphone don't come close to a dedicated DSLR or Mirrorless camera coupled with great lenses. The difference is striking and can be what helps your posts stand out among the rest. Side note; take the time to edit your photos. The end result is almost always much better than what comes straight out of the camera. It's worth the time invested and before anything else is the first hurdle you're going to want to tackle.
Number 2: Plan out what you are going to post ahead of time
All to often, people will rush out a post just for the sake of posting. Or neglect to consider if their post is consistent with their theme or style. Scrambling to make a post usually means picking up your phone, snapping a quick photo, slapping a filter on it, throwing together a caption and tapping SHARE. This method almost always leads to low quality posts that fail to resonate with your audience or customers and ends up reflecting negatively on your business. So take the time to plan out what you want to accomplish with the post, take a high quality photo, and ensure that the end product is going to flow with your THEME (more on that in Tip Number 3).
Number 3: Pick a theme and stick to it
As people use Instagram more and more and the has platform began to mature a few patterns have emerged. One of which is that people tend to remain engaged and interested in accounts that tailor to a specific niche. It seems counterintuitive, but users subconsciously crave predictability. For example, if your company is a restaurant and you consistently post great photos of delicious looking food, your followers will come to know what to expect the next time you make a post and will continue to remain engaged with your account. After all they probably followed you because they liked all your photos of food. If all of a sudden, you post something completely unrelated like a photo of your cat, its going to take people by surprise, and not in a good way. So pick your theme or niche and stick to it.
Number 4: Leverage the instagram Stories Feature
Instagram Stories have become the best place to connect with your core group of followers, be they customers, clients or simply friends. This is due to a variety of factors namely it is due to way the Instagram algorithm consistently shows your latest Story to the people who engage with your content the most. The Stories section of the platform is also a great place to connect with your audience in a more casual setting which can help reinforce that bond.
Number 5: Prioritize fostering genuine Interactions with other people on the platform
In your pursuit of creating an awesome page that shows off your business in the best light don't forget the Social side of this social media platform. The true value inherent to this platform is its ability to make it simple and easy to connect with people in both your local community and around the world. Use this to your advantage and start engaging with people in an honest and real way. Ditch those fake sounding "Great pic!" comments and aim to truly connect with your audience and the community at large. You'll notice that you'll end up attracting much more genuine interaction in return and is one of the keys to getting the most out of the platform.