1. Quality | 2. Focus | 3. Strategy | 4. Post Text | 5. Timing |
6. Hashtags | 7. Promotion | 8. (Bonus Tip) Community | 9. Quick Tips | 10. Conclusion
Currently, 2.5 million Swiss men and women regularly use Instagram (see Instagram Statistics Switzerland).
Along with the user numbers, businesses' interest is also growing, as Instagram offers an attractive way to build a community with an Instagram business profile and reach customers effectively.
In addition to an optimal Instagram strategy and targeted Instagram marketing, an attractive Instagram feed is also essential. This allows you to build a sustainable Instagram community.
Here, we have compiled an Instagram checklist with the 7 most important tips and tricks to ensure your Instagram business profile is attractive and successful.
1. High-Quality Photos and Videos
☑ Good lighting for high image and video quality
☑ Unique subjects
☑ Express emotions
☑ Photos and videos should maintain a consistent style (e.g., always use the same filter)
Tip: Pay attention to a clean and suitable background when taking photos and videos.
You can use various applications to edit your photos. Avoid overly artificial filters, as the community is drawn to authenticity and simplicity.
Ask yourself: What suits my company? Which style should I choose, and does it align with my other posts? What do I want to show and evoke?
The most successful posts are those that are easy to understand. Don't overthink your images – Instagram posts from companies should also bring joy!
(Retouching Apps: Afterlight, InstaSize)
Good example @baselswizz:
2. Focus on 1 (or 2) Topics
☑ Choose a theme/unity for your account and image motifs
☑ Create photos that easily reflect the theme
☑ Consistently maintain the uniform theme and image style
By focusing on a specific theme, your Instagram business profile automatically gains a consistent profile and feed. The community will clearly understand what you stand for and, ideally, find common ground with you.
Ask yourself: Why should someone follow your company? Answer this question strategically to ensure Instagram success for your business.
For example, this is how we do it at @rhylax.
3. Instagram Strategy for Your Target Audience
☑ Consider a sustainable strategy
☑ Always align your efforts with your target audience
☑ A Social Media plan for a month in advance can help you maintain a consistent rhythm and stay relevant to your topic
Ask yourself: What does my target audience want to see? How and why do they want to interact? Why should they follow my account? At what time is my target audience most active?
Tip: Be clear about what you want to achieve with your account. A structured Instagram Marketing Strategy will make consistent posting easier for you.
4. Post Text
☑ Sentences should be short and concise
☑ The message should be fresh, clear, and easy to understand.
☑ Use Emojis
☑ Start with the most important information, as only the first 125 characters are displayed directly. In total, you have up to 2,200 characters available.
By using question sentences in your post text, you encourage your community to comment. Networking is crucial to keep your users engaged with your account consistently and long-term. We would be happy to support you as your Social Media Manager.
5. Stay Consistent and Post at the Time with the Highest Engagement Rate
☑ Post regularly and at a consistent rhythm
☑ Do not post too many posts in a single day; instead, distribute them throughout the week (the number of posts per day/week depends on your account's topic)
☑ Stay true to your style and avoid random posting
☑ Pay attention to the perfect time to post (you can find this information in your account's Insights)
Studies show that most users are active on Instagram in the mornings between 6 AM - 8 AM and again in the evenings between 5 PM - 8 PM. Many are also busy with their smartphones during lunch breaks, primarily browsing through Stories. Take advantage of this.
Tip: With Stories, you can stand out from the crowd and draw attention to your account. However, don't forget that the attention span per post is approximately 3 seconds. Adjust your Story accordingly.
We would be happy to assist you with your online Marketing Strategy for a perfect Instagram Feed.
6. Use the Hashtags that Perform Best
✓ Image-relevant hashtags (so your image is found by people specifically searching for your topic)
✓ Create specific hashtags for your product – e.g., product names
✓ Place your hashtags as the first comment, as this appears cleaner and more professional
✓ Avoid using spam hashtags that suggest you are only chasing likes (such as #tagforlikes...)
You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags. However, using as many hashtags as possible is not always the most effective approach, as it can quickly give the impression of being overly promotional. Instead, use 5 precise and relevant hashtags.
Here you will find a list of hashtags that Instagram censors and blocks.
Here are the currently most popular hashtags worldwide for Instagram.
7. Skillfully Promote Your Brand/Product
✓ Target your target audience precisely. Always define your target audience yourself, as you know them best.
✓ Learn from the Insights. Which promotions are effective?
✓ Engage influencers. Nothing is more effective than credible and engaging influencer marketing.
By promoting your posts with a strong target audience focus, you can significantly boost your reach and engagement. No one understands your target audience better than you do. Therefore, it's crucial to always define your targeting yourself when promoting, rather than leaving it to Instagram.
Another effective way to strengthen your online presence is through Influencer Marketing. Instagram is the most relevant social media channel for this. To effectively reach your target audience, it's crucial to find an influencer who can connect with them authentically. Credibility is paramount here. The number of followers an influencer has is less important. A carefully chosen micro-influencer can be just as good a fit for your brand as an influencer with over 50,000 followers, if not even better.
8. (Bonus Tip) Interact with Your Community
✓ Look for like-minded individuals
✓ Acknowledge and follow other channels
✓ Don't hold back on likes and positive comments on other posts (Praise and appreciation are the goal!)
✓ Your response time to replies, likes, etc., plays an important role – The faster, the better
✓ Highlight User Generated Content (UGC) with a repost or a comment.
Create your social network! Build a community to positively influence Instagram's algorithm regarding your account's engagement.
Tip: If you want to gain more Instagram followers and likes, you should spend at least 1 hour being active online each day to grow quickly and consistently. Share, like, and comment on Instagram posts. We are happy to support you with your community management on social media.
9. Additional Tips
Attractive & clear profile description
Post images in the correct format (ideally 1080 pixels wide & 1350 pixels high)
Analyze what worked well and what was less effective
Utilize Instagram Story Highlights
Utilize Instagram Reels
Utilize IGTV
Use Instagram Live
Add location and tag relevant accounts (but only when appropriate)
Apply for Verification
Implement targeted Calls to Action (CTA)
For professional support, we recommend onlineKarma :)
Conclusion
For businesses on Insta, rule number one also applies: Show emotions, personality, and lightheartedness. Always work with 'good vibes' – they pay off. And remember, Sharing is Caring – even on Insta.☺
With creativity, authenticity, agility, speed, and a deep understanding of your target audience, we can develop a perfect social media marketing strategy for you. We are happy to support you with the strategy, conception, and implementation of your successful Instagram marketing. Contact us now.
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Questions and more tips & tricks?
Write your questions, tips, and tricks in the comments, and we will be happy to answer them.