Do you feel like you’re grinding your gears, putting hours into your Instagram feed, but not seeing the results, followers, and growth that you were hoping to see? I’ve totally been there. When I first started my Instagram, I saw really slow growth. Like r-e-a-l-l-y slow. Like that feeling when you’re walking behind a group of slow walkers who are holding hands in a shopping mall and all you desperately want to do is get around them. I really wanted to connect with people who thought the same about empowerment and entrepreneurship as me, but I had no idea if these people existed and where I could find them. I started my Instagram account off with no consistency, no strategy, and inevitably, no results. When I took a step back, I realized I was putting in too much time and not getting anything out of it. I decided I had to do research and find out how to create an Instagram strategy.
Now that I’ve put my Instagram strategy in place, I’ve seen phenomenal results. I’ve been able to grow my Instagram following to over 7,000 followers in less than a year, and that’s after putting much less time into the platform than I did before. Even better, the members of my tribe are the smart, intelligent, empowered women who I wanted to meet. They believe in me, love my brand, and want to join the movement!
If you feel like you’re grinding your gears and not seeing the results you want, it’s time to audit your Instagram strategy to help you get maximum results. Here’s how to create an Instagram strategy that gets results.
Create a Strategy:
If you’re aimlessly posting to Instagram with no goals in mind, it will be hard to grow your following. When you know your Instagram strategy it will be easier to measure your results and see if you’re meeting your goals. Know why you are on Instagram. Are you selling a product? Building a mailing list? Raising awareness for a cause? Use your bio and the link in your bio to introduce people to what you do and show them how they can get involved.
Choose an Aesthetic and Tone of Voice:
Having a consistent aesthetic — for example, a color theme — will tell a consistent story, help you define your brand, and make people likely to follow along. Also consider the warmness or coolness of your images, the amount of fade or clarity, the amount of white space, and more. Some people use the same Instagram filter for every image to ensure consistency. Before I post a photo, I always look through the rest of my feed to ensure that the next picture I post is inspiring, gorgeous, and fits in with the story I’m telling. You also want to have a consistent voice in all of your captions. Experiment with your tone and research how other brands in your industry write on Instagram.
Use the Right Hashtags:
Use the right Instagram hashtags to connect with your target audience. Use the hashtags that are relevant to the people you are trying to attract.
Set a Balance:
It’s no surprise that many companies and brands are using Instagram to boost their bottom line. But no one wants to follow a company or brand that is consistently trying to sell to them, without offering value in return. For every post selling or promoting a product, post at least four posts that are entertaining or educational so you are offering value to your tribe. Post images and captions that inspire people, make people laugh, or educate people about the lifestyle your product or brand is promoting. When you offer value people will build a relationship with your brand and continue to follow along!
Be Social:
Instagram isn’t just about posting a picture. Imagine Instagram as a cocktail party. You want to interact. Ask yourself: Who do you want to talk to at the party? Who will share your interests? Who will you have the most fun talking to? Who will be interested in what you do? These are the people that you want to find and build a relationship with.
By Reese Evans, the founder of Yes Supply Co. Reese helps female creatives, and future girl bosses, create a blog, business, and life they love.
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