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Top 5 Instagram Best Practices

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Social media management is EXHAUSTING. We are constantly reading up on trends, adapting to the latest changes in algorithms, testing different types of content, developing and creating graphics, monitoring, reporting…and the list goes on and this is just for Instagram.

Forbes reports TikTok has emerged as the most intriguing platform for marketers in 2021, surpassing 1 billion users in September — a 45% increase since the start of the year. Instagram, on the other hand, has lost some of the glamor that it once had. While it hasn’t updated its official user numbers since 2018 — when it passed 1 billion users — it’s estimated to currently have around 1.38 billion users.

Even with TikTok taking the world by storm, Instagram will continue to be a major player for brands, as its largest demographic is millennials, at 33%. 

To take full advantage of the platform’s marketing capabilities, there are several Instagram best practices companies need to keep in mind in the coming year.

Know Your Audience

Do a deep dive into your audience demographics or as we call it – spying. Identify the basics – age, geography, gender, interests. You can learn a lot about a person by perusing their profile. Now that you’re more familiar with your audience, is your current content a fit? Take a look at your analytics and see what content is currently performing well and test out polls and quizzes. 

Influencers & Creators

We’re gonna break this done for you, cause it gets a bit confusing. Rival IQ notes that traditional influencers use their personal brand to influence their audience to purchase products. Creators, on the other hand, are solely focused on creating content. Think: Reels or TikTok videos. While a creator may naturally influence people who follow them, their primary goal is simply to create content.

Gen Z’s inclination toward authenticity demonstrates why digital creators have garnered more credibility than traditional celebrities or influencers these days: it’s all about being real. Creators seamlessly incorporate products into their content which gives them a natural and relatable vibe.

Consistency is Key

This seems kind of obvious, right? According to Rival IQ’s 2021 Social Media Benchmark Report, the average brand posts on Instagram about 4 times per week, but the top brands are posting every day of the week.

That’s right, this sh*t is everyday and constant. Keep that in mind next time you try to negotiate a lower cost for social media management – this industry is 24/7 and it ain’t easy.

It’s All About the Reels

Sigh. We love video, we love it so so much. What we don’t love is how non user-friendly reels are, but Instagram has prioritized video content in order to keep up with the competition, TikTok and YouTube. So, get with the trend and crank out those reels like it’s your job or our job…

Just Meme It

Funny wins the day. Humor is on trend and your followers want to be entertained. Share those funny tweets, yes on Instagram, and don’t be afraid to integrate sarcasm into your feed.

We could keep going, but this blog is already too long, so we’ll bullet point the rest.

  • Stay true to your brand guidelines and make sure your grid aesthetic matches it.
  • Get creative with your stories – share tips, polls, quizzes, link to content on your site and make sure you have your highlights set up. 
  • Engage with giveaways. People love free stuff.
  • Measure EVERYTHING. Dig into your Instagram metrics and set SMART goals. Aim for a higher engagement rate or focus on increasing your followers by a certain percentage.

Our best piece of advice: invest in the management of your social and hire the experts.

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Have you tuned into The Happy Hour Hustle Podcast yet? If not, a) you’re missing out and b) you need to follow immediately. Hosted by @bodespeaks, episodes drop every other week, and feature some pretty bada$$ guests if we do say so ourselves. This week, Kim sits down with @kelsey_orchard , VP of Marketing and Communications at @fifthwheelfreight to chat building a personal brand, Gen Z entering the workforce, misconceptions about logistics, spotting fake LinkedIn profiles – oh and why your GPA doesn’t matter anymore. Grab a watermelon margarita, sit back and enjoy for lots of laughs and real talk. Listen now at the link in bio.

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Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.

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National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up. We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared. Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later). Register at the link in bio.

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You asked, we delivered. Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership. Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it. Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business. You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are. Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.

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"I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself" - Leslie F*ucking Knope You are the hero in your own story. Be like Leslie and believe it. Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, @bodespeaks will show you how. It's personal branding with a shot of tequila. Register in bio.
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