If you’re a beginner when it comes to content marketing, you should know that Instagram can be your best friend—if you optimize your profile. And if you want to optimize your Instagram profile, there are four tips you need to follow.
I could regale you with tons of reasons why Instagram is financially worth your time. In fact, one of my favorite clients wanted to hire me when I first started my business because they found me on Instagram.
I could also tell you why it’s the perfect platform if you feel you’re not a naturally gifted writer.
And while we’re at it, it’s worth noting that Instagram surpassed 1 billion monthly users in 2018—and it just keeps growing.
But as Instagram grows, it makes it harder for you to grow an engaged following, especially when you’re just starting out. So what can you do to stand out from the crowd?
Well, first of all, you have to make sure you’re optimizing your Instagram profile. Here’s where to start:
1. Ask Yourself What’s Working and What’s Not
OK, I’m going to ask you to do a little homework right now. First, open up your Instagram app. (If you have a business profile, click “Insights” to find the answers to these questions more quickly.) With your app open, I want you to ask yourself the following:
What posts have the most comments?
Which photos or videos have the most likes?
Which ones have the most saves? (Keep in mind that saves aren’t super common, so if this number is really low, don’t sweat it.)
What posts have the most actions taken on them? (Clicks to the link in your bio, saves, etc.)
Did you find those posts? Great. Now, get out a pen and some paper and write down the answers to these questions.
What kinds of photos got the most likes?
Which kinds of captions elicited the most comments?
What kinds of calls-to-action got people to actually follow through?
Did you write them down? Awesome. Understanding what’s working for you is vital not only to increasing your momentum, but also figuring out what isn’t working for you and what you shouldn’t waste your time on.
2. Check Your Bio on Your Instagram Profile
A lot of us aren’t utilizing our bios the way we could be—or the way we should be.
This is a huge mistake because your Insta bio is the first thing people look at when they check out your page to see if they should follow you or not.
You have 150 characters to convince people to follow you.
Your bio is not the place to be cryptic or confusing. You can still infuse your personality into it, but make sure it is clear, concise and captivating.
Your bio should immediately tell people what benefit you offer them, who you are, and what step to take next.
Here’s an example of mine:
3. Look at Your Instagram Profile Feed
As you analyze your feed from an outsider’s perspective, ask yourself questions like: “If I were my ideal client, would I be attracted to my feed?” “Are my posts pleasing to look at?” “Is there variety in the kinds of posts I do?”
Now, before you go into a full-on panic attack, hear me out. Your photos don’t have to look like a model’s for you to have an effective profile.
Not all your photos have to look professionally done.
You. Do. Not. Have. To. Be. Perfect.
But you do need to have a profile that entices people to look deeper. That means:
- At least some of, and ideally most of, your photos should be high quality. You can take good-quality photos with an iPhone, so don’t freak out if you don’t have a nice camera. (I have an Android, but I steal my husband’s iPhone all the time. We’re one flesh, so it’s OK.)
- Add variety to your photos. Don’t make all your photos of your product or of you. Take photos of things that are relevant to your niche and what you offer. Give your audience a rounded-out vision of you and what you do.
- Use a variety of posts. Make sure that not all of your posts are photos. Sprinkle in some videos, some images with text, etc.
4. Take a Peek at Your Captions
Make sure the first line of your caption entices people to read more. People won’t read the rest of your caption until you’ve convinced them within the first few words that it will be worth their time.
Then, make sure your comment has some sort of call to action. It can be a call to comment below, or a call to save the post, or a call to click on the link in your bio.
Be strategic about this. If you want to create a post simply to generate more engagement with your audience, then post an eye-catching photo with a comment that stirs up conversation. End your caption with a specific call to “Comment below with … (whatever you want them to share).”
These tips are by no means comprehensive, but they are fantastic ways to get started with optimizing your Instagram profile. If you want more tips and strategies for optimizing your content marketing strategy, book a coaching session with me today!
You can also follow me on Instagram for more free tips and strategies!
Jenny Rose is a freelance copywriter and content marketer specializing in B2B marketing, real estate, and accounting. She's written for clients like AAA, Edward Jones, Flyhomes, Guild Education, and more. Her writing has also appeared in publications like Business Insider and GOBankingRates.
