admin / 10-22-2021
When it comes to growing your business on Instagram, there’s no going around Quality Content. And if you are wondering how to create content for Instagram, we have got you covered.
Before we talk about how to create quality content, let’s understand how Instagram’s algorithm works in 2021 and how you can use it to your benefit.
As a platform, Instagram makes money by showing ads to users. The more active users it has, the more ads it can run and the more money it can make. Instagram uses your content to engage users and make them stay longer on the platform. If your content drives engagement, Instagram will take a note and push your content out to more people. Here’s another way to look at it: you are rewarded with exposure for creating quality content that keeps people on the app.
And here’s the first thing you should do.
Creating shareable content is one of the top ways to get exposure on Instagram. Content that is shared by users is considered high-value by Instagram and is featured in the Explore tab so that people who don’t follow you can also see your content.
In addition to that, you can also get exposure by creating saveable content. If a user saves your content, it indicates their intent to come back to your post, which is highly appreciated by Instagram.
We know that creating high-value content takes time. That’s why we are going to share some actionable tips, taking into account the latest Instagram algorithm and trends, to help you create quality content quickly.
When it comes to Instagram marketing, your content can be anything but boring. Creating engaging content goes a long way in building your following, and here’s a smart way to do that.
The best way to save time while creating Instagram posts is to use readily available templates. Do you want to promote a special offer, make an important announcement, or push your existing article or video content? Whatever may be your marketing objective, you can find a relevant template that fits your message.
Moreover, you don’t need a Photoshop subscription to personalize these templates. There are tools like Spark Post and Canva that you can use to create catchy Instagram posts without spending too much time on adjusting the text or worrying about the image placement. The best part is you don’t have to be tech-savvy in order to use these tools.
Stock photos are usually looked down upon in the world of marketing. While marketers emphasize the use of authentic images, it’s not always possible to create your own imagery due to time or budget constraints. That said, using stock images sporadically won’t hurt.
Creativity can never be at its peak at all times. For those days when you are not able to think creatively, it’s better to put together a ‘stocky’ post rather than losing your mind over nitty gritty details. Stock posts can act as fillers for your audience and a breather for you, allowing you the time to focus on your business.
You can even purchase relevant stock photos from various websites since doing so is way cheaper than hiring a professional photographer. When it comes to buying images for your Instagram post, the recommended dimensions are 1080p x 1080p.
Don’t just stick to a single content format. Not only does it restrict your reach but also makes your marketing approach seem outdated. Instagram’s relatively recent format ‘Reels’ is making rounds on the Internet. Similar to TikTok’s short videos, Reels can be a great way to increase engagement.
However, a balanced mix of everything is highly recommended. Apart from your regular in-feed pictures and videos, you can create Stories, IGTV videos and even go live at least once a week.
Every content format is designed with a purpose. For example, if you have a 6-minute tutorial or an interview to share with your audience, you can use IGTV videos instead of the standard 60-second feed. If you want to keep things authentic and non-scripted, you can go live and interact with your target audience and handle queries in real-time.
It’s no coincidence that Stories last as long as 24 hours. Stories are great for pushing out flash sales, new product lineups or celebrating an occasion or an important milestone.
Rivalry is inevitable in every industry. But paying too much attention to your rivals isn’t healthy. Being the biggest critic of your rivals isn’t going to get you more clients. Also, if you are into a rivalry, bear in mind that people are always watching.
So instead of demeaning your competition, embrace it, and even celebrate it. Appreciating your competitors openly is a healthy way to grow and build a positive public image. If your competition is creating great content, go ahead and share it with your audience. You can also repost content from top Instagram influencers in your niche.
And don’t forget to give credits to the original creator of the post.
For most businesses, discovering quality, share-worthy content is a major challenge. Here’s a brief guide that you might find helpful.
The first step is to find an authority in your niche. For example, if you are a shoe manufacturer or supplier, brands like Nike or Adidas are an authority in your niche.
The next step is to browse through their Instagram handle and make a list of posts that you think will resonate with your audience.
You can either create a carousel or publish these posts individually. It’s also a good idea to follow authority brands in your niche so that you are up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry.
Searching by hashtags is another excellent way to discover great content in your niche. You can use general hashtags or narrow your search using specific hashtags, depending on what you are looking for.
Let’s take an example of a shoe brand. A general hashtag would be #sneakers #casualshoes or #<name of the brand>, whereas a specific hashtag would be #highankle #midankle #skateboardshoes #trekkingboots, etc.
There are two ethical ways to go about content reposting. You could either save the image on your device and upload it from your account(always remember to give credits to the original creator), or use a Repost App to share the post directly with your audience.
The business model of Instagram is premised on User-Generated Content. Instagram has no content of its own, and yet it’s winning. In a similar way, you don’t have to create everything from scratch to post on Instagram. Let your users do it for you. And here are a few tips to encourage your audience to create shareable content for you.
The best way to get users to create content about you is to run a giveaway campaign. You can run a contest with a prize money of $50 or whatever you are comfortable with. As part of the contest, your users are required to create Instagram posts about your brand, which will be posted on your Instagram account. The rules are simple. The post with the most likes wins.
And it would help if you ran a sponsored post to announce your giveaway contest.
Instagram influencers can piggyback businesses to the hall of fame and help them increase their reach, brand awareness and even drive conversions.
Influencers have a sizable following, and when they promote a brand or a product, their followers pay attention. Your chosen influencer will be responsible for creating content around your brand/product. And you can repost that content on your Instagram account to multiply your reach.
Most small businesses think that influencer marketing is too expensive for them. That’s not entirely true. Small businesses can easily strike a deal with micro-influencers who are willing to do your promotion for a modest fee. Micro-influencers usually have a following between 20k and 50k, and their commission may vary depending on the engagement on their page.
However, choosing an influencer can be tricky. There are some influencers that buy ‘fake followers and likes’ to inflate their profile. When you shortlist an influencer, request a screenshot of their analytics. By analyzing the rise in number of followers in relation to time, you can tell if they have bought the followers.
The sole purpose of generating quality content for your Instagram posts is to make users stop in the scroll and engage with your content. And for you, it is important to get the basics right.
The significance of a good, clutter-free design can never be overemphasized. For example, your picture must draw attention to a single focal point where the core message of your campaign lies. On the other hand, having too many focal points may confuse your viewers. And when they don’t like what they see, they scroll.
Second opinion matters more than you may think. It’s quite difficult for a creator to find flaws in their own work, no matter how hard they try. However, asking a team member from a different department can give you unbiased, constructive feedback that you need at that moment to improve your work.
Referring to the classic photography rule which states that the focal point in a photograph should occupy no more than one-third of the space. Also, on a 9-grid overlay, the most striking features of the photograph should lie on intersections. For comparison, you can put two similar images next to each other after applying the rule of thirds to one of them. You will be surprised to see the difference it can make.
Images with white borders are aesthetically pleasing, especially if they align with the rule of thirds and have a clear focal point. Also, leaving white space around the subject in your image ensures harmony and balance. Using this simple image editing hack can put you in a league of brands that people want to follow and talk about.
All images that stand out in the Instagram feed have one thing in common – contrasting elements. There are several ways to create contrast in your imagery using different fonts, colors, shapes, white spaces, or any combination of these elements.
Instagram filters are a great place to start. Apart from that, you can adjust exposure, sharpness, tint saturation, and other components to make your pictures pop. You can also use third-party editing tools to get the desired effect in your photos.
Following the above-mentioned tips can get you off to a great start and lay the foundation for future marketing success. If you need expert assistance, you can always fall back on Radical for a comprehensive Instagram marketing strategy.
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