Instagram is arguably one of the most visual social media platforms. Those of us who signed up when the app first launched have seen our fair share of trends.
From retro cameras to beauty filters to pictures that broke the internet - Instagram has cemented a strong place in popular culture (at least for the foreseeable future).
It's an app used by individuals, businesses, celebrities, influencers, charities, pets, and everything and everyone in between. So, when it comes to what your grid looks like, the limit doesn't exist.
Pandas at work
We preach how social media accounts increase engagement and help start conversations B2C - but how do we stay on top of this with the chopping and changing of algorithms? Not to mention the ever-changing design trends?!
Well, at Yellowpanda we love testing trends and staying ahead of the game.
If you follow us you might have noticed that we changed up our Instagram feed (and we apologise for momentarily clogging up your feed) to a static grid.
We decided that our Instagram needed a bit of makeover to represent our key service offerings and our new brand style - exciting new things happening internally in 2022.
Our goal was to create a grid that would have a "WOW" first impression. That and because typically, organic engagement on business accounts is quite low, so we wanted to do something that would shake up the game, engage customers and clients, and allow us to stand out from the rest.
Transparency with customers/ followers
I ask you to take 5 minutes to brainstorm the brands you follow on Instagram. They don't have to be brands that you purchase from, any kind will do.
What do these accounts offer you?
We thought about this too.
For us, transparency (and the ability to easily access information) is important. So, we took our crowded grid and upgraded it...
All the key information you need is now easy to find and our account is super user-friendly - at least that's the feedback we've received so far!
On the note of being transparent, the fact that we, like many other business accounts, were putting maximum effort into creating content that had low organic engagement was an issue - hence the creation of our static feed.
See the before and after below.
.png)
The Brand Style Guide
Of course, you can hire a professional photographer and purchase the best camera equipment, but that doesn't necessarily mean that your Instagram is going to be on-brand or aesthetically pleasing.
It's important that your Instagram follows your company's unique brand style guide so that you present a uniform front to your customers (across social media and owned media channels).
They should see the same colours, typography and logo whether they visit your Instagram, website, or if they receive an email from you.
In creating your unique brand identity, you want it to be memorable and unique!
Research the algorithm
Instagram likes to keep us on our toes. It's a lot more complicated than Facebook or Twitter in its algorithmic capabilities.
Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, recently stated the obvious, that Instagram is no longer "a square photo-sharing app".
The increase in business features means that more and more brands are utilising the app to grow their reach. And it works! According to the social media management platform Hootsuite - in an article published this year - 1 in 2 people use Instagram to discover new brands.
Reaching viewers through stories is a vital part of the current algorithm. Typically, when you engage with accounts regularly, they appear at the start of your feed.
This means that you have a better chance of reaching viewers if you post more on your stories.
In fact, according to the same article on Hootsuite, 58% of users reported being more interested in a brand after seeing it in their Instagram stories.
PSA: Keep an eye on the algorithm as Instagram likes to change it up more than we do!
Tips to create an Instagram feed that will represent your brand:
- Map it out
- Put your pen to paper, and try and map out your ideas. Look to other brands to find inspiration and find what you like and what you don't.
- Be consistent
- A plan and a theme are important in order for your grid to look uniform. Ps. Avoid posting sporadically!
- Make sure it's on-brand
- This is where your brand style guide comes in handy
- Take advantage of image editing tools
- The content you post should also capture audiences' attention because it's worthy of it. Using editing tools can help turn a good photo into a great one.
- Schedule your posts in advance
- This will help you make sure to cover important dates and create the perfect grid. Apps like Plann or Preview can help you get a feel for what they will look like!
Ultimately, these above tips are ones that with enough time and an appropriate understanding of how to use content to boost engagement, can be implemented internally.
However, if the realm of social media management is new to you, you're too time-poor to manage it yourself or you're looking for someone to take the hard work out of it for you, feel free to reach out to the team at Yellowpanda today.