If you’re new to Instagram or if you don’t get the results that others seem to get from it, it’s possible you’re under-utilizing the website. You need to make the right choices on Instagram to improve your chances of audience engagement, as well as deliver interesting content regularly. If you want to find out more about using Instagram more effectively, then read on.
Pick a Username
Your username on Instagram is an important feature of your profile and your success on the platform. Since your username is your identity on Instagram you want to be interesting and relevant to your content and niche.
If you have a username on a different platform or from a blog, it’s a good idea to use that. Keeping your username consistent across platforms is friendly to search engines and helps build your online reputation.
Select a Niche
Selecting a niche is also an important part of Instagram. You want people to be able to identify what you stand for immediately when they encounter your page. This helps people decide if they want to follow or not, it also focuses your interest.
For some people choosing a niche will be easy. It will be whatever topic they are passionate about in other internet spaces. However, many people like to choose a different niche on Instagram to add variation to their Fans Accounts. This also helps to segment blogs online.
Tell a Story
One thing that sets Instagram apart from other social media sites is the ‘story’. Instagram has a tradition of users creating stories for followers and supports this trend with various features. Photos are essential on Instagram but so is the story they tell.
When you upload your images to Instagram think about what story you’re talking and what value that will bring to your audience. Use the caption area to introduce the place you are visiting and add in any odd things you found or facts about the area.
Use Hashtags
Instead of keywords like with search engines, Instagram uses hashtags. Hashtags can be used as quick search terms for what you’re looking for on the site or can be useful for suggesting new content for you to view.
Always use hashtags when you post something on Instagram. The site allows you to use 30 hashtags per post and while you do have to use them all it’s well known that 11 or more helps with audience engagement. Use a combination of general hashtags and more specific ones to cover all bases.
Use a Slideshow
As previously mentioned Instagram supports storytelling with several innovative features. One of those easily the sideshow that allows you to string together a series of images that tell a story about an event. The event could be a travel story or the story of a meal.
When you use this slideshow feature remember to create effective hashtags for the images and to credit images for places that helped you create the images, restaurants etc. A sideshow is an excellent way to engage your audience for longer and generate more interest in your profile.
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