Why could perfecting your Instagram grid be key to consumer marketing? First impressions matter, especially when it comes to social media. The average attention span is only eight seconds[i], giving brands only a flash to capture a potential follower’s interest. This is especially true when it comes to Instagram, one of the most visual social media platforms out there and the most popular for staying up to date with users favourite brands.[ii]
In a competitive marketplace, how can you instantly grab attention, standout from the crowd, and influence consumers to click ‘follow’? How can you even go one step further and secure click-throughs to your website? Here’s a point to ponder: visual appeal matters in 93% of cases when people go to make a purchase.[iii] This means your Instagram profile needs to have a clear aesthetic style and say a lot without saying anything at all.
Do you see how your Insta grid style might matter more than you think? Don’t forget, this could be somebody’s first impression of your brand. Whether that means considering the colour scheme of your grid or alternating between graphics and images, it needs to be visually appealing to your target audience.
Some great examples of independent brands that are smashing Insta include Chambord (@chambord_uk), which doesn’t just perfectly showcase its delicious products, but also maintains a clear colour scheme which reflects the companies branding, as well as teaming different types of media to keep users engaged. Other brands making waves in the world of Instagram are Aldi (@aldiuk), Shake Shack (@shakeshackuk), Airbnb (@airbnb), and Manchester’s Feel Good Club (@wearefeelgoodclub), all of which are very vibrant and consistent, whilst staying very much on-brand. Some other great examples include our very own clients @Potyque and @mercuredunkenhalghhotel. All of these brands have carefully considered what their brand image is and the best ways to show their core values visually and consistently.
To start getting your Instagram feeds back on track, here are our top five hacks for optimising your grid for more followers and higher engagement.
1. REPOST APP
Sharing posts can be a great way of boosting engagement, allowing you to interact with customers and other brands. The Repost App is a lifesaver for reposting, making it easier to reshare posts, whilst giving credit to the original publisher, either on the image with their @ or in the caption copy.
2. ARCHIVE POSTS
Did you post something in the past that now doesn’t sit quite right with your feed? Perhaps it no longer suits your colour palette or you’re just no longer sure about it. Rather than have to delete it completely, did you know you can actually archive posts on Instagram? This is perfect for removing a post that you might want to use or share again in the future.
3. LATER’S GRID FEATURE
We LOVE Later! Not only do they share some pretty great social media posts on their blog, but they also have a really handy feature for creating a visually-planned grid. For the perfectionists amongst you, you’ll understand how annoying it is when a post goes out of sync with your posting pattern. Later is great for allowing you to see how your grid will look BEFORE it goes out, so you can try different orders until your heart is content.
4. INSHOT APP
Instagram isn’t just for images. With the growing popularity of Insta Reels, it can help to be on top of your editing skills to make a killer video. InShot allows you to create videos, edit pictures, create collages and more.
5. CREATE COLLECTIONS
In need of some inspiration and motivation? If you see a post that you particularly like on Instagram, just hit the ‘save’ icon and create collections to organise your saved faves. You could organise them by brand, theme, colour scheme, whatever your heart desires!
Did we miss any? Let us know your tips for creating the perfect Instagram grid!
If you’d like to find out how we could help to improve your social media presence to increase engagement, get in touch today.
In serious need of some social media inspiration? Have a read of our Top Ten Tips for Creating Content for Social Media blog.
[i] https://www.transformationmarketing.com/capture-audiences-attention/
[ii] https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-stats/ / https://www.marketingcharts.com/digital/social-media-115153
[iii] https://oursocialtimes.com/16-statistics-to-show-why-marketers-need-instagram/#:~:text=Studies%20show%20that%20the%20visual,should%20be%20considered%20highly%20important.
