In 2021, Instagram has 1.074 billion monthly users across the globe, according to eMarketer. And of these users, 71% are under 35, making this platform crucial in helping your business target that coveted young adult/Gen Z/Millennial demographic. What began as a simple way to share photos with friends has become an essential platform for businesses to expand their reach, create brand awareness, preview product launches, and much more. So, how exactly do you make your brand “Instagrammable”?
Visual Content Is The Real Instagram Star
Photos and video content are the main event on Instagram, and they should always be the star of the show. Your goal should be to weave an intriguing brand story with consistent posts of creative, personalized content, while striking the right balance between valuable content and filler.
When you’re creating a brand marketing strategy on Instagram, it’s always important to think about your overall long-term goals. What style and tone do you want to communicate to your followers? What color scheme do you want customers to associate with your brand? It helps to have a cohesive strategy in place to make for instantly recognizable posts through complementary color schemes, consistent filter use, and overall content tone, whether that is playful, tongue-in-cheek, or more serious.
Take a look at the photos below. What do you notice immediately?
Take a look at the photos below. What do you notice immediately?
The photos all have the same color scheme and overall tone, giving the brand consistency in style, tone, and visual appeal.
Filtering your photos with apps, such as VSCO, Canva, or FaceTune, is another essential strategy in creating brand visibility and awareness. The use of filters not only enhances image quality, but also allows you to control the images as you want your audience to experience them.
Check out the difference in the two photos below, posted by Jessica Hirsch of CheatDayEats. The before (left) and after (right) show how an Instagram filter can take a photo from drab to fab. Makes you want to eat at this restaurant, right?
Once your brand content is on point, you can further expand your social media reach with a well-executed influencer marketing strategy.
The Rise Of The Hashtag
Since it first began appearing on Twitter in 2007, the hashtag has become inextricably intertwined with social media content, and is a key ingredient in a successful Instagram post. The name of the game is creativity when it comes to hashtagging, and your goal as a company is to build an instantly recognizable, unique hashtag that will remain in the minds of your followers for the long-term.
Have fun with your Instagram hashtags! Use a play on words, tie a hashtag in with current events or pop culture trends – the sky is the limit. When your hashtags grab the attention of your followers, it will encourage them to share related content by using your hashtag, which is a great way to passively expand your brand awareness.
Personal Vibes For Days
Above all, make your content personal! Utilize both photos and videos in your posts, and even experiment with live streaming.
Use Instagram Stories to post behind-the-scenes content, whether that is your restaurant chefs making a pizza, your company participation in a local charity event, or even something fun like a video with the unofficial company pet. These types of posts are especially helpful for small businesses who are looking for a way to connect with their local audience.
Follow these Instagram strategies, and soon your business will be . . . #winning!
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