5 Tips for Growing on Instagram

Essential steps to get you started on the popular brand building platform

Despite other successful social media platforms, Instagram remains a powerful platform for brand promotion and product sales online. The ‘gram hosts over a billion monthly active users and with some of the highest conversion rates from social media to websites, we’d advise that most brands leverage #instagram to build their online brand presence.

Here are our 5 tips for growing on Instagram:

1. Know who you are

It goes without saying, before you dive into Instagram, you need to have a clear understanding of your brand identity. What does your brand stand for? What are your values, mission, and vision? Your Instagram presence should reflect your brand's personality and voice and so it’s really important that you know who you are before you introduce yourself to others. Consistency is key. Create a style guide that includes your brand colours, fonts, and tone of voice. From there, ensure that every post, caption, and story aligns with your brand identity.

2. Build your branding from high quality, well-designed imagery

Instagram is a visual platform, so the quality of your content matters greatly. Invest in high-resolution images and visually appealing graphics. Have your logo well designed and your style guide developed and thoroughly understood by anyone who is managing your brand’s social media. Use a consistent theme or aesthetic to make your profile visually cohesive. Your content should not only showcase your products or services but also tell a story so planning and scheduling your posts is vital. RubyOnyx can help you in this area to develop, and begin to establish, a great brand presence on the Gram. Connect with us here and we’ll help get you started!

3. Start a conversation

Engagement is the heart of social media. Interact with your followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. Ask questions in your captions to encourage conversation. Research and use hashtags relevant to your industry and audience to increase connection. If relevant, collaborate with influencers or partners to extend your reach. Hosting giveaways, contests, or polls and using the story feature, can also boost engagement.

4. Post consistently

A regular posting schedule is crucial for maintaining your brand development and keeping your brand in front of your audience. Consistency not only keeps your brand top of mind but also appeases Instagram's algorithm, which favours active accounts. Use Instagram Insights to determine the best times to post for your specific audience. Consider using scheduling tools to plan your content in advance and maintain a steady posting frequency.

5. Work out what works

Regularly review your Instagram analytics to understand what's working and what's not. Metrics such as likes, comments, shares, and follower growth can provide valuable insights. Pay attention to which types of content resonate with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly. Don't be afraid to experiment with new ideas, but always track the results to see if they align with your brand's goals. It’s a slippery slope to take your brand down the rabbit-hole of what’s currently trending and you can easily lose all your hard-work and credibility by just following the status quo. Make sure your content remains true to who you are. Always.

Remember that building a strong Instagram brand presence takes time and effort. Be patient and persistent. As you consistently apply these five steps, you'll not only increase your brand's visibility but also create a genuine connection with your audience, ultimately leading to brand loyalty and growth.