Users are contributing to a well-knit Instagram community by posting visuals (images or videos) that represent a moment in their lives. Their window to a sunny morning, an opportune encounter with old friends, their hobbies, an item that bettered their lifestyles – all pictures and videos that tell a story work as Instagram posts.
However, there are not only users that populate the most engaging social platform of them all. Brands and famous content creators (a.k.a. influencers) have pioneered a new type of social content.
This is the very reason why we are here. Read on as we unfold the multi-layers of a perfect Instagram post, track down all the ways to make use of them, and identify recipes for guaranteed Instagram success!
Simply put, Instagram posts represent the images or videos users publish on their Instagram accounts. However, the bigger picture shows an entire ecosystem that has come to differentiate content on this channel from those on others. Let’s take a closer look at the elements that make them unique:
Remember? Instagram owes its high rating thanks to images and videos. Nobody can publish plain text. On the contrary, each post has to get its energy from a visual story.
First of all, let’s understand the platform mechanics. Users scroll down their feeds on their mobile screens in search of amazing content. Everything happens at a fast pace. The only hook that makes users stop is an appealing image.
Therefore, a high percentage of the success of a post sits on the shoulders of visuals. Before hitting the Publish button, tick this checklist:
First of all, captions are not necessary as long as visuals speak volumes. Nonetheless, brands usually take advantage of this option to offer context. These are the widest-spread caption components:
Comments are also an integral part of Instagram posts. The way people look at and interact with a post adds to its personality and gets them closer to a business culture. Therefore, it is advisable for brands to respond to comments promptly, be them negative or encouraging.
Reply with brand loyalty in mind. Show them you care about them by finding solutions to their issues or sharing their excitement. Whenever time is not on your side, at least make your presence known with a click on the ‘heart’ button for comments.
Originally from Twitter, hashtags are extremely popular on Instagram. They help users discover content while brands can keep track of their campaigns.
Instagram allows a maximum of 30 hashtags per post, but the sweet spot begins at 11. Usually, brands insert popular hashtags for lead generation. On the other hand, niche hashtags get them access to an ideal audience.
Knowing what Instagram posts are is not enough. Publishers need to devise an efficient content plan as a framework of an entrancing social media presence. Let’s see how you can bring posts to life!
The right number of posts per day varies from one account to another. Some publishers get satisfying results by fueling as many interactions as possible in 24 hours. Others cause a stir with one catchy post per week.
To start with, aim to publish one to three posts per day and experiment from there. On average, international companies create 1.5 posts per day and it can work for you as well.
However, getting an audience accustomed to a publishing schedule is far more important than proving a point. It creates consistency giving users something to look forward to. As such, it is better to adjust the number of posts to one that you can stick to indefinitely every day.
Making sense of the best hours calls for some learning time about your followers’ habits. Instagram helps out greatly at this point by revealing backend results.
If you made the switch to a business account, you’ll find Instagram Insights extremely helpful. This location holds reports on the number of user interactions for each hour of the last 7 days. Use the peak moments of your followers’ activity to publish your most engaging posts.
In case you don’t have access to such metrics, follow the study results from millions of Instagram entries. Monday to Friday, be active in the morning, during lunch, towards the end of nine to five routine, and just before bedtime. On weekends, the best hours for posting move to either 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Brands can easily get the virality they want. However, if these posts don’t generate results for the company, it was all for nothing.
Link each piece of content to a goal, and results will ensue. These are the targets Instagram posts can meet:
Create meaningful content by stirring each post to a clear objective.
Instagram posts can’t influence much alone. They draw their power from consistency hence the need for a solid content calendar.
Once you decide on the number of posts and publishing hours, it’s time to start working on a monthly content plan. This practice not only gives you clarity, long-term results, coherence, and vision, but it also puts you in control of your social media presence.
First, be generous with format diversity: videos, tutorials, stats, quotes, inspirational views, etc. Secondly, decide on a promotional-non promotional ratio. In the beginning, it’s best to test the rule of 80% of creative posts and 20% of product promotions.
As to what types of posts can generate conversions, that’s another story. This is where the part on how to create the best Instagram posts comes into play.
Above all, Instagram is about having fun and sharing your happiness with the world one picture at a time. Too stiff, and followers can lose their interest. Too excited, and brands may be stripped of credibility.
This is why a compendium of post ideas is the very asset brands need to shake content monotony off. Take a look at the best posts that can generate big waves on Instagram!
By now, you should be extremely familiar with the essence of Instagram posts, their organization into a content plan, and the best ideas for them. The secret is to make use of all post components to maximize engagement rates and be consistent in your social media planning. Above all, a heterogeneous mix of visuals and videos can set any business account in motion.
Next time Influencer Marketing makes a move, you'll be the first to know!
