Instagram for business is all about building an engaged and brand-loyal audience. Doing this is often easier said than done. So, the question now remains as to how will you get your followers to engage with your brand consistently and stay loyal over the long term?
The answer is rather straightforward. You create high-quality Instagram content. The beauty of Instagram is that it’s a highly visual platform. It means that, as long as you’re in an industry that produces products that are image-friendly (and even those that are somewhat less so), Instagram is a great social platform to use.
So, with that said, what are some of the top strategies to create engaging content for Instagram?
Know Thy Audience
Like we’ve said in the beginning, using Instagram for your business is all about the audience. Well, the same thing applies to the content you post. Understanding your audience and what they’re all about is essential for any marketing campaign, not just Instagram.
One way of getting a good insight is by making use of various analytics tools that can tell you your audience’s age, gender, location, etc. You can further your understanding by using surveys and feedback loops. Once you know what your audience is all about, you can create material that’s ideally suited for them and their needs.
They key, however, is to remain consistent concerning the content you post but also regarding posting frequency, filters, colors, etc. It will make it easier for your followers to identify your brand.
Use Templates
Instagram is all about the visuals. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you have to be a master photographer or knowledgeable in Photoshop to create some good Instagram content. There are numerous free, online design tools that will help you create gorgeous visuals for Instagram and your other social media platforms.
The best part about these tools is that you can create templates for various types of material, depending on your business and needs. And with a bank of high-quality, high-resolution template photos, you will never be caught off guard.
Instagram Stories
There are plenty of ways that Instagram Stories will benefit business, including audience engagement. Nevertheless, these are great to use if you already have an established online presence. Instagram Stories are great for breaking from the routine once in a while and provide your audience with quick updates, product promotions, and other, instant, 15-second-long content.
Design Tips
If you wish to try your hand at creating your unique Instagram content, there are several cardinal rules that you need to abide. The first one is the focal point. For people to linger on an image longer, it has to provide an immediately recognizable focal point that draws the eye. A too-cluttered image will have the opposite effect, however.
The correct contrast is a good way to make that focal point stand out from the background. Getting quality contrast may require some trial and error and will involve several elements such as colors, lights, fonts, exposure, scale, etc. Nevertheless, the benefits of getting it right are well worth the effort.
Lastly, there’s the so-called rule of thirds. Imagine the photo divided into nine equal rectangles, just like in tic-tac-toe. This grid system will is useful for several things, most notably when placing your focal point. So, instead of putting the focal point in the center, you can use any of the locations where four of these rectangles meet.
Conclusion
These tips and strategies will help you create some truly engaging content for Instagram that will make sure to catch your audience’s attention. Whether you use all of them or in combination, your followers are sure to click that – like button.
