Instagram Best Practices: 4 Cs and a Q

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s the case, my Instagram account is about two-thirds the size of the entire Harry Potter series.  Everyone loves a good story, and photo-sharing application Instagram is a way for users to share the story of their lives.

Rewind to October 2010, when the brand new social media platform was first launched.  Two months after its launch, the social platform already had 1 million users.  Fast forward four and a half years to the present, and it now boasts a whopping 150 million users.  That’s a lot of people in the world sharing their stories! With so many people on the platform, businesses are now realizing that it has great potential when it comes to creating relationships with followers.

In order to successfully reach Instagram users and build those relationships, you should follow these Instagram best practices, or what we like to call 4 Cs & a Q:

Content

The first and most obvious “C” is content; Instagram is a picture-sharing platform on which users are able to interact with each other because of some draw to said content. As a business, it is especially important to make sure that your content is reflective of your company’s values and products in order to gain followers. Part of this includes posting original content on your feed rather than reposting from other accounts. However, if users are posting positive photos about your brand it can also be beneficial to feature their content on your feed.

Creativity

While maintaining your company’s content is important, the second “C,” creativity, is almost as important as the first. No person, organization or business entity wants to be perceived as boring, and it’s important to exercise your creative muscles when posting a picture on Instagram. Depending on your brand, you may want to photograph your product in a unique location. Depending on your post, you can leave your followers laughing or gasping in awe!

Consistency

The third “C” is consistency, and it’s a practice that has two applications.  The first is remaining a consistent Instagram poker. As a business, you want to be visible enough on the platform that you remain top of mind with your followers, but you also want to ensure that they enjoy seeing your posts.  Oftentimes, companies post an excess of pictures that, regardless of the photo, leave me annoyed that they posted at all. Find a happy medium and stick with it.  The second portion of this practice is aesthetic consistency.  Choose the visual feel you want your images to have.  For example, do you want to post your pictures in a square form, or in a certain ratio?  Will they be in color or black and white?  These aesthetic decisions will be an important aspect of your social branding, and it is best to stick with your decision once you have made one.

Connectivity

Obviously, Instagram is a social platform, and connecting with users is the ultimate goal of having a business account.  It’s crucial to remember that Instagram allows for two-way communication between user and followers.  Therefore, followers will see companies as more personal if they respond to comments on pictures, as well as show interest in their followers’ lives. This could mean responding to comments or liking someone else’s pictures, which in turn, will get more people looking at your page.

Quality

The odd ball out of this set is Q—quality! But don’t ignore this “Q” just because it’s different; it’s arguably just as important as all the others, if not more. The best way to gain more followers and a good reputation is through high quality photos. Using a DSLR camera often leads to the best Instagram photos, while iPhones can be inconsistent. Don’t have a fancy camera? Don’t worry – with the right editing tools and good lighting, an iPhone has the ability to compete with camera-quality photos. Low-quality photos will impact how your followers view the quality of your product or service.

These five practices are simple ways for companies to break into the Instagram world when they may be struggling with how to start.  Each business is different, with a unique customer base, but with the help of the “4 Cs & a Q” you will have a much better chance of reaching Instagram users and telling the best story for your business.

If you’re interested in learning more about using social media as a marketing tool, let us know – we’d be happy to help!

Updated: Apr 13, 2022