Increasing your engagement on Instagram isn’t just about posting any photo. You need to share images that people want to engage with! Here are some top tips to create Instagram posts that work.
1. EXCITE YOUR AUDIENCE
If you sell a product, you know that quality product images against a white background are standard. While these are key for showing off your products in an online shop, it’s not the most dynamic way to feature something. Social media gives you the opportunity to let your products shine, and demonstration how people can use your product.
Instagram is a great place to post photos that are exciting and inspiring. You don’t need to have a full professional photo shoot to do this. All you need is a smart phone and a friend or co-worker who is comfortable in front of the camera. This way, you can show your products they way you want people to see them! Find some accounts for brands that are similar to yours or have the same audience, and see how you can imitate and elevate their photography style.
Posting the same types of images over and over again can get boring for your audience, so mix it up every once and a while to keep things interesting. However, if you’ve found a format that does really well on your account, stick with it!
2. FEATURE USER-GENERATED PHOTOS
One of the best ways you can show off your product is with user-generated photos. This will show your product in use by someone who is not a model, rather just an everyday person who loves your company!
To get these images, try the following strategies:
- Ask your customers to tag you in their own Instagram posts that feature your business
- Ask customers to use a specific hashtag when they post images with your products
- Ask customers to email you photos they approve of you sharing.
Using a free app like Regram will let you share the image while giving credit to the photographer. This is important so you don’t look like you’re sharing images, and it may also incentivize customers to share their photos with you.
Sharing user photos will greatly increase your customer loyalty, and will help you join the conversation among your customers.
3. SHOW OFF THE FEATURES
A picture of your product shows what it looks like, but why not show what it can do? If you have a service, show people enjoy it! If you have a camera company, show off the quality of your pictures. Showing the product in-use will help people imagine using your product in their own lives.
Posting videos is a great way to do this. You can show people how to use your product, tips, and feature the benefits in motion. Like your Instagram photos, these videos don’t need to be of cinematic quality. A smartphone and a well-lit room are all you need!
The best way to find success on Instagram is to get started! Consistent posting will pay off eventually. Huge growth typically won’t happen overnight, but if you keep working at it, you’ll be rewarded with likes, follows, and comments.
