Build an Instagram account
If you try to build an Instagram profile with only a bare basics you will soon realize that it will not land you any popularity at all.
Even the people who decide to make a profile based on the most popular topics basically fall flat right in a beginning.
Basic profile setup¶
The basics include a username, visibility set to public and profile photo that can be either a brand logo or your headshot.
Your bio has to be shown inside of 150 characters describing who you are and what is your profile about, plus your location and link to your website or blog as well.
Using a hashtag or two in your profile can add additional visibility in searches.
If you run a service, you may want to leverage a professional Instagram instead.
Think about your audience¶
If you are serious about your Instagram account, avoid emoticons by far. If you are building something less percussive, you may add a few well-chosen emoticons that will resonate with your audience.
HQ photography and graphics¶
You can't get followers on the Instagram if you have shitty photos. Unless the damaged photography is your artistic edge. Then it is ok.
Make sure your photos are fun to look at, high quality and in case that you are making photography you may edit them for the better impression.
Hashtags¶
Hashtags are the way to get a huge traction and followings.
Hashtags on Instagram are keywords or phrases, written without spaces and preceded by the # symbol, that allow Instagram users to categorize and search for content on the platform. When a user adds a hashtag to their post or story, it becomes searchable and discoverable by other users who are interested in that topic.
Hashtags can be used to describe the content of a post or to join a larger conversation around a specific topic. For example, a user posting a photo of a sunset might use the hashtag # sunset to join the wider conversation around sunset photos on Instagram.
Hashtags can also be used to increase the visibility of a post or to reach a larger audience. By using popular or trending hashtags, users can potentially reach new followers who are interested in the same topics. However, it's important to use hashtags strategically and avoid overusing them or using irrelevant hashtags, as this can be seen as spammy and may hurt the credibility of a user's account.
Instagram allows users to add up to 30 hashtags per post, but it's generally recommended to use a smaller number of highly relevant hashtags. Users can also follow specific hashtags on Instagram to see content related to their interests, and Instagram may also suggest related hashtags to users based on their activity and interests.
You can use up to 30 per post to reach the audience. This is much more than Tumblr where you can utilize only first 5.
For reaching the higher number of followers you better chose some condense and focused topic like travel, artwork or food.
The most popular hashtags on Instagram are constantly changing and can vary depending on current events, trends, and user behavior. However, here are some of the most popular hashtags on Instagram as of February 2023:
# love - used for posts related to love and relationships # instagood - used for high-quality and visually appealing posts # photooftheday - used for the best photo of the day # fashion - used for posts related to fashion and style # beautiful - used for posts related to beauty and aesthetics # happy - used for posts related to happiness and positive emotions # cute - used for posts related to cuteness, pets, and children # tbt - used for "Throwback Thursday" posts, where users share older photos # followme - used to ask other users to follow their account # nature - used for posts related to nature and the outdoors
It's worth noting that while these are some of the most popular hashtags on Instagram, using them doesn't guarantee success. It's important to use hashtags that are relevant to your content and target audience to increase the chances of reaching your desired audience.
Best way to post¶
It is the best not to over-post, so keep your posts down to maximum 4 per day.
The optimal frequency for posting on Instagram can vary depending on factors such as your audience, your content, and your goals. However, according to recent research, posting once a day is generally considered a good starting point for most businesses and individuals.
Posting consistently is more important than posting frequently. It's better to post consistently at a lower frequency rather than sporadically at a higher frequency. In other words, it's better to post once a day than post 5 times one day and then not post again for a week.
That being said, it's important to also monitor your engagement rates and adjust your posting frequency based on what works best for your audience. Some audiences may engage more with more frequent posts, while others may prefer less frequent posts.
Ultimately, it's important to focus on posting high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your audience, rather than simply trying to hit a certain number of posts per day.
Social media manager¶
Social media manager - agent¶
A social media manager for Instagram is a person or team responsible for managing a brand's Instagram presence. They create and curate content, engage with followers, and develop strategies to increase the brand's visibility, reach, and engagement on the platform.
Benefits of having a social media manager¶
Consistency¶
A social media manager can ensure that the brand's Instagram account is active and consistent in its messaging, tone, and branding. This helps to establish a strong and recognizable brand identity on the platform.
Engagement¶
A social media manager can monitor and respond to comments and direct messages on the brand's Instagram account, which can help to build a strong relationship with followers and customers.
Analytics¶
A social media manager can track and analyze the brand's performance on Instagram, including metrics such as follower growth, engagement rates, and reach. This data can be used to refine the brand's strategy and content to better reach and engage with its target audience.
Creativity¶
A social media manager can bring new and creative ideas to the brand's Instagram account, helping to keep the content fresh and engaging for followers.
Tasks and benefits of a social media manager¶
Content creation¶
A social media manager may be responsible for creating and curating high-quality visual content, such as photos and videos, that align with the brand's messaging and tone.
Hashtag research¶
A social media manager may research and identify relevant hashtags to use in posts to increase the brand's visibility and reach on the platform.
Influencer outreach¶
A social media manager may collaborate with influencers and other accounts to reach new audiences and increase the brand's visibility and credibility on Instagram.
Advertising¶
A social media manager may create and manage paid advertising campaigns on Instagram to increase reach and engagement with the brand's target audience.
Analytics and reporting¶
A social media manager may track and analyze the brand's performance on Instagram, and provide regular reports to the brand's leadership team to help inform future strategy and decision-making.
Social media manager - application¶
You can also find an adequate auto-post application to publish posts on your behalf so that you don't need to worry if you skipped a day.
A social media manager application for Instagram is a software tool designed to help individuals and businesses manage their Instagram presence more effectively. These applications typically provide a range of features and tools that can help automate and streamline the process of creating, scheduling, and analyzing Instagram content, as well as engaging with followers and monitoring performance.
Benefits of using a social media manager application¶
Time-saving¶
Social media manager applications can help save time by automating the process of scheduling posts, responding to comments, and analyzing performance.
Improved efficiency¶
Social media manager applications can help improve efficiency by providing a centralized dashboard for managing multiple Instagram accounts and collaborating with team members.
Increased engagement¶
Social media manager applications can help increase engagement with followers by providing tools for monitoring and responding to comments, direct messages, and other forms of engagement.
Advanced analytics¶
Social media manager applications can provide advanced analytics and insights into Instagram performance, such as follower growth, engagement rates, and reach.
Examples of popular social media manager applications¶
Hootsuite¶
Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows users to manage multiple social media accounts, including Instagram, from a single dashboard. Hootsuite provides features such as scheduling, content curation, and analytics.
Later¶
Later is a scheduling and planning tool designed specifically for Instagram. Later provides features such as drag-and-drop scheduling, content management, and analytics.
Buffer¶
Buffer is a social media management platform that allows users to schedule and publish content across multiple social media platforms, including Instagram. Buffer provides features such as content creation, scheduling, and analytics.
Sprout Social¶
Sprout Social is a social media management platform that provides features such as scheduling, content creation, and analytics. Sprout Social also provides tools for monitoring and responding to social media engagement, including comments and direct messages.
Agorapulse¶
Agorapulse is a social media management platform that provides features such as scheduling, content creation, and analytics. Agorapulse also provides tools for social media monitoring and engagement, including comment moderation and hashtag tracking.
Communicate with your audience¶
Communication is the key... if you are not an A-lister be sure to follow back, like and comment on your followers and people who enjoy your Instagram.
Communication tools on Instagram¶
There are several communication tools available for Instagram that can help users and businesses connect and engage with their followers on the platform.
There are several communication tools available for Instagram that can help users and businesses connect and engage with their followers on the platform.
Direct Messages (DMs)¶
Instagram's DM feature allows users to send private messages to other users or groups of users. This is a great way to have more personalized conversations with followers or to manage customer support inquiries.
Comments¶
Instagram's comment feature allows users to leave public comments on posts. This can be a great way to engage with followers and start conversations around your content.
Stories¶
Instagram's Stories feature allows users to post short-lived content that disappears after 24 hours. This can be a great way to share behind-the-scenes content or to engage with followers through interactive features like polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions.
Live video¶
Instagram's Live feature allows users to broadcast live video to their followers. This can be a great way to connect with followers in real-time and to answer questions or address comments in real-time.
IGTV¶
Instagram's IGTV feature allows users to post longer-form video content to their profiles. This can be a great way to share more in-depth content and to engage with followers through storytelling and more detailed content.
Hashtags¶
As mentioned earlier, hashtags can be a great way to start conversations and connect with followers on Instagram. By using relevant hashtags, users can increase the visibility of their content and potentially reach a larger audience.
Overall, Instagram offers a wide range of communication tools that can help users and businesses connect with their followers and build a strong, engaged community on the platform.
How to post on Instagram from a computer¶
Bluestacks¶
One is to install the android emulator like Bluestacks and then use Instagram application within that emulator. Not very handy, but it can be the easiest way to do it. Especially because when it comes to the emulators, they sometimes cause a trouble on the PC. It is not so often, but when they do it is usually a knocked down driver so if you don't swim very well with those sort of the things, don't mess with them.
Buffer or Hootsuite¶
The third option is probably the best and I was using it all the time. For some reason I can concentrate and follow up much better on PC than on my smartphone.
You can use either Buffer or Hootsuite but you must have an Instagram and either of each application already installed on your smartphone.
In this way, you can check twice what you have done plus you can schedule your posts in the best possible way there is.
Post from your browser¶
The easiest way to post is from a browser, which is a new feature of the Instagram. While previously we could only use a mobile app to upload videos and pictures, now we can do the same with the browser.
I find this to be a huge improvement.
Zapier¶
We can integrate Zapier with the Google spreadsheets and schedule all the posts in that way. It requires some work and knowledge on how to use Google scripts.
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