Instagram has over a billion monthly active users, and around 500 million daily active users. Advertising on Instagram is big business, with total ad revenue at about 14 billion!

Its demographic is generally very young, with 72% of American teens on the platform.

Unlike many other platforms, Instagram allows for a brand interaction that stresses spontaneity and authenticity, allowing for your potential customers to see a side of your business they might not otherwise.

In short… if your business isn’t on Instagram, you’re missing out! But don’t worry—with these tips, you can start growing your presence on social media in Michigan and beyond!

Read more about getting your business up-and-running on Instagram:

Picking the Right Tempo

First of all: Your feed has to be up to date! Instagram is about what’s current and happening right now—your feed can’t look empty and sad!

Decide on a tempo! You should post twice a week at a minimum. Three or more is ideal. But once you decide, stick to it!

If you find it hard to stick to your tempo, try creating a whole month of content at once. You’ll have a whole stock of photos to use, so no scrambling for last-minute inspiration! If your company is having an event, take as many pictures as you can! Otherwise, check out some brands you admire for inspiration. Jot down things you like about their posts, and tailor posts to match your voice!

Kinds of Instagram Posts

So, you just post a picture with some text, right? How hard can it be?

Posts can achieve different things, and you should keep in mind the effect you’d like to have:

Motivational: Take the time to brighten your followers’ day! Show them that you’re not all business, and that your brand has positive values.

Educational: You don’t always have to be selling to your customer! Maybe you’re a small brewery—post some facts about how beer is made! Or maybe you’re a café—people love knowing about where their coffee comes from. You get the idea!

Employee Engagement: Congratulate an employee on a job well done! Maybe someone in the workplace is having a major life event—use this as an opportunity to celebrate and show a human side to your followers!

Behind the scenes: People love to see how things are made! Giving followers a peak behind the curtain drives engagement and gets people excited about your brand.

Holidays and Events: There’s a day for everything! Take advantage of funny, off-the-wall holidays like National Cupcake Day or National Love Your Pet Day to reach out to your customers!

The Instagram Aesthetic:

Remember that your post has to look good! There’s a reason why “instagrammable” is entering the dictionary. Instagram posts have a certain look that we can all identify. But what really goes into “the Instagram aesthetic?”

You don’t have to be a professional photographer, just keep these tips in mind:

Use contrast! Contrasting colors create a strong impression.

Use negative space. Remember that the space around the subject of your photo is often as important as the subject itself! Using negative space properly can make an otherwise simple image pop!

Keep it clean and focus on one object. Keep in mind how people view Instagram: on mobile devices. The screen is tiny, and your post shouldn’t be cluttered with detail.

Follow the rule of thirds. Imagine your picture is a 3 x 3 grid. Try to place objects of interest at the intersections of that grid. It might be unintuitive, but placing something right in the middle doesn’t quite catch the eye like these “power points” do.

Captioning Your Post:

Instagram allows for posts much longer than twitter, but remember that only first 3 or 4 lines are displayed! Your post should be concise and impactful. And don’t forgot the hashtag!

Social Media: Michigan SEO Group’s Expertise

Finally, our last tip is to have fun! Instagram is a place to show another side of your brand that your customers don’t always see. Having a healthy presence on Instagram can change your brand from just another company into a lifestyle!

Instagram can be a key part of your presence on social media, and Michigan SEO Group has the tips you need to succeed. Call us today for a free consultation about your online presence!