In order to get new followers and keep the ones you have, there are certain ways to do things. Here are 10 dos and don'ts to ensure you get off on the right foot with your new Instagram account!
1. Don't: Flood the feed
Don’t “flood” the feed. This means that you should not post too many images or videos at one time or too many times during a given day. It is best to stick to a schedule of posting two to three times daily, and only posting one video or image during those times. Post too much (and especially too much at one time) and you run the risk of people getting annoyed and unfollowing you. Remember, focus on quality over quantity. One or two high quality posts are much better than ten or twelve low quality ones.
2. Do: Create Photo Collages or posts with multiple shots
Do create photo collages when you have several images to share. A quick search of the app store will help you find a collage making app for Instagram.
With Instagram's latest update, you're now able to add multiple photos into one post. This could be a great way to do product photo's from multiple angles, as well as other endless posibilities. Multi-picture posts allow you to have up to 10 photos, and they look just like normal posts (except there are dots below the post that let a user scroll through the photos).
3. Do: Keep Interactions Positive
Keep all of your interactions with others positive. Keep your comments and descriptions upbeat and friendly. You don’t want any negativity spoiling your brand!
4. Don't: Overuse Instagram Hashtags
Don’t use too many hashtags or hashtags that aren’t relevant to your business. Using too many at one time can make you look desperate, so try to keep them to under ten or so at a time. Remember to do your research and only use hashtags that relate directly to your business or to a specific image or video. Check out our post on how to use Instagram Hashtags for more info on this one.
5. Do: Give credit where credit is due
Do give credit when sharing other user’s images or videos. You can do this by posting their Instagram user name in the description. How? Use the @ symbol followed by their user name (with no space in between). There are also apps that will allow you to repost other user’s content while giving them full credit. Search the app store for “repost Instagram” and you should find a few that will help you with this.
6. Do: Use high-quality images and photos
Do use high quality images and videos. They should be clear and well lit. Use Instagram filters, but don’t over-do them.
7. Don't: Only be a content-poster
Don’t just post content and do nothing else. Instagram is a social network, so be sociable! Find and follow other users, like their images and videos, and comment on them! When other users post a comment on your image or video, be sure to acknowledge them with a thank you or an answer to their question.
8. Don't: Write long-winded descriptions
Keep your descriptions short and to the point. Instagram is a social media platform for photos and videos- just because you can include text doesn't mean you have to include a lot of it! Use a description that is going to quickly convey what the photo is about. Ask questions, or tell your audience to caption the photo for you.
9. Do: Keep it fresh
Do change up your posts and make them fresh. Too many images that are the same will bore your followers. Change it up a bit with by posting images and videos of products and people. Behind-the-scenes and “how it’s made” images and videos can also be a hit with your target audience.
10: Don't: Be a spammer
If all you post are images and videos that try to do nothing but sell to people, you won’t gain (or keep) many followers. Instead of in-your-face promotion, keep it entertaining, light and engaging. Remember, the point of Instagram is to share, not sell. When done right, you will attract followers who connect with your brand, and who will later become customers because they feel that connection.
11: Make your own Business Plan
It can be tempting to just start your business on Instagram and "wing it" but this can frequently lead to poor results. If you want to make the most of out your business, then we recommend making a solid business plan so you know which direction to take. Your business plan doesn't have to be long or complicated. In fact, it can be as short as one page. If you are interested in getting started on your business plan, take a read through Millo's One-Page Business Plan Template to get some ideas on how to get started.
12: Schedule your posts
We all know that its a pain to constantly create content and make sure it is posted at the appropriate time. If you are a social media manager then using a free post scheduling tool like Postfity will be a huge help for you. They allow you to schedule posts on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and many more social media sites. Save time and money by scheduling your posts months in advance!
13: Boost Traffic to Your Website
If you own a business then you know how important it is to get consistent traffic to your website. If you don't have a background in PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising, then it can be helpful to hire a marketing company like StoreYa and they will take care of it for you. All you need to do is fill out a survey about the type of audience you want to reach for your company and they will build a PPC marketing Strategy just for you!
CONCLUSION:
Above all, be a responsible and considerate Instagram user. Don’t be a nuisance by clogging up people’s feeds with too many posts or hashtags. Be entertaining and informative, and keep your descriptions short and to the point. Keep all of these tips in mind and your Instagram account will become a great marketing tool for your business!
For more great information on expanding your Instagram be sure to download our FREE ebook"Instagram Impact", and start your FREE trial of our Instagram marketing services!