How to strengthen your Instagram branding?, In numerous ways, Instagram appears to have been designed for the brand. It is a visual platform that rewards style, encourages interaction, is suitable for a variety of industries, and makes it accessible to any type of business. Most importantly, users love it. It has more than one billion unique users; therefore, your Instagram advertising campaigns will begin with huge viewers.
But what makes Instagram in terms of branding is how responsive the users of Instagram are towards business. If your content is useful, Instagram users will be more than happy to follow your business and show support for your business. Take a look at the following internal Instagram stats:
- Ninety per cent of Instagram users have an account for business.
- 2/3 of users believe that Instagram allows them to communicate with brands.
- 50 per cent of users are more intrigued by the brand when they see them in an Instagram advertisement
However, things might not appear easy if you’re brand new to Instagram. There’s a learning curve, and the most appropriate choices aren’t always clear. To aid you in getting your brand name noticed, here’s the Instagram branding guide, which includes eleven tips on using Instagram to promote your business.
First, however, If you’re committed to Instagram branding, you must establish a company account…
Table of Contents
How do you create a business account on Instagram?
A basic account is sufficient for personal use. However, if you’re using Instagram for business purposes, moving to a business account is advised.
Aside from that, having a business account makes it much easier to purchase advertising without Facebook; however, there are additional benefits. In particular, a company account allows users to contact you directly using the contact button. If you’re looking to market products with your brand with a business account, a business account allows you to sell products directly through the platform using Instagram Shop. You also have access to Instagram Insights, an important analytical tool within the platform that can reveal the content that is working and which isn’t.
It’s good news that creating an Instagram company account is effortless and completely free. In case you have an account for your Account for yourself, you can create a personal Instagram account; you can take these steps to get started:
- Tap the menu icon and then choose Settings.
- Tap on Account.
- Tap on Switch to Professional Account.
- If you are deciding between Creator and Business, go with business. (Creator accounts are reserved for influential professionals.)
- Select the most appropriate category for your company’s image.
- Review your details, then Tap Done.
That’s it! You can switch between your personal and business accounts at any time by clicking Settings> Account.
11 top Instagram branding strategies
| No | Strategy | Description |
| 1 | Improve your profile | Enhance your Instagram profile by updating your profile picture, bio and contact information to reflect your brand identity. Use consistent brand language and aesthetics to make your profile visually appealing and memorable. |
| 2 | Select a theme that is compatible with your brand’s goals | Choose a theme for your Instagram feed that aligns with your brand’s goals and values. This could include using certain colors, filters or visual elements that represent your brand identity. |
| 3 | Set realistic KPIs | Define key performance indicators (KPIs) that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound (SMART). This could include metrics such as follower growth, engagement rate, website traffic from Instagram or sales conversions. |
| 4 | Make use of popular styles of content | Experiment with different types of content that will resonate with your audience, such as carousel posts, videos, IGTV or Instagram Live. Use engaging imagery and captions to grab attention and encourage interaction. |
| 5 | Pay close attention to hashtags and captions | Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts and reach a wider audience. Craft compelling captions that tell a story, ask questions or include calls to action to encourage engagement. |
| 6 | Integrate videos into Stories and Reels | Incorporate videos into your Instagram stories and reels to add variety and engage your audience. Use video content to showcase products, give behind-the-scenes insights or provide your followers with valuable information. |
| 7 | Engage with your fans | Build a close relationship with your audience by responding to comments, messages and mentions. Show your appreciation for your followers and create a sense of community by actively engaging with their content too. |
| 8 | Engage with influencers in your industry | Work with influencers who align with your brand values and have a similar target audience. This way you can reach a wider audience and build credibility by connecting with trustworthy personalities. |
| 9 | Post at the appropriate time | Determine the best times for your posts based on the activity and interaction behaviour of your target group. Use Instagram Insights to track when your followers are most active and schedule your posts accordingly. |
| 10 | Sell your products via the Instagram Shop | Use the Instagram Shop feature to showcase your products and make them shoppable directly from your Instagram posts. This can help you boost sales and increase the conversion rate of your Instagram audience. |
| 11 | Consider Instagram ads | Explore Instagram advertising options to reach a wider audience and effectively promote your brand or products. Use targeted ads to reach specific demographics or retarget users who have already interacted with your content. |
1- Improve your profile
Your profile is your primary foundation for Instagram branding. The majority of the people who are interested in your business will go through it. The primary components include your handle, username, and profile photo. However, your address, link, and bio are vital, too.
When selecting your usernames and images, Be sure to stick to being smart. The best default image is your business’s logo; however, you are free to alter it by incorporating special backgrounds for occasions such as Pride Month or holidays.
Using your logo as an avatar image strengthens the connection between your clients and your company, so it’s best to use an expertly designed logo.
You will receive one link outgoing on your Instagram account’s profile; therefore, make use of it carefully. Your bio’s description is ideal for introducing yourself. However, the disadvantage is that it’s just 150 characters. You should add your main and secondary hashtags to your bio.
Wix is all they’re required to include in their bios, including the hashtag they’re currently promoting, learn more : How to create a Twitter marketing X strategy for your brand.
2- Select a theme that is compatible with your brand’s goals.
Instagram is a large platform; therefore, trying to appeal to everyone isn’t a good idea. Instead, you should identify your target audience and post content only for them.
Starface utilizes the same yellow colour for all of its content, and it just coincides with the colour used in its logo and other branding materials.
This method is most effective when you select a topic and stick with the theme. For instance, if your company is a fashion-focused label, your subject might include candid images of people wearing clothing in normal settings and glamour photos of accessories. What brands should not do is mix themes, like a fashion company posting clothing images or cat videos. Keep it in the same lane!
Themes, filters, colour schemes, and compositions also apply to your visual style. If your target audience is drawn to dark, gritty photos, show them lots of black-and-white images that look gritty and smoky. Use an analytics tool to discover what themes and styles are getting the most attention and likes, and then adjust your strategy to suit.
Ensure that your Instagram branding is in line with your brand on other channels. Use the same colour schemes and designs across all platforms to ensure the most effective connections and avoid confusing messages. In this regard, you should include Instagram in your other marketing efforts, including contests or video ads.
3- Set realistic KPIs
It’s tough to quantify social media’s success. However, it’s tempting to utilize followers and likes as a sort of “scoreboard.” Like other ways to conduct business, it’s best to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge progress and highlight problems.
For Instagram branding, KPIs are usually geared towards the number of likes a post receives, its comments, page followers, and the use of hashtags. However, in order for them to be effective, they have to be attainable.
You’ll find businesses active on Instagram with millions of fans. However, this does not mean that gaining 1,000 or one hundred followers isn’t an achievement. Your success in numbers is contingent on your company, industry, and target audience. So, try basing your goals around the numbers of similar brands to yours.
Take a look at brands that are similar to yours and in your field. Appeal to your specific type of client for this since they don’t necessarily need to be rivals, particularly when they have a larger marketing budget.
Pay attention to the growth rate. Gaining 100 followers in one day might not be considered successful; however, it could indicate that one of your posts or campaigns was extremely successful.
4- Make use of popular styles of content.
Lush Cosmetics plays with simple photography techniques such as contrast and colour to create striking images.
A frequently asked query regarding Instagram marketing and branding concerns “What do I post?” As I said, various brands can find successful content based on their design and objectives.
However, there are common categories of content that appear to be successful regardless of the genre or field they’re employed in.
Pictures that show artistic talent
Photos pleasing to the eye are the main reason Instagram was invented and continues to generate a lot of interaction and likes. Artistic pictures are not an isolated concept; they are a more aesthetic design style that can be utilized in any field and in content strategies.
Comic strips
Comics that poke fun at any topic you’ve picked can be an excellent way to demonstrate your sense of humour. They can also work as multi-image blog posts for more engagement.
Never a Joker Wendy’s employs its trademark humour, including offbeat comics that appeal to younger consumers, when it comes to branding on Instagram.
You can also use comics created by your followers to knock the two birds in one fell swoop.
Textual and quote quotes
One-line quotes, regardless of whether they are either uplifting or sarcastic, perform very well when people can agree with the message.
Motivational quotes are a great fit for a fitness-related brand, particularly when paired with photos of athletes.
Make sure that they align with your overall Instagram branding style. Funny one-liners won’t be effective if your company seeks a romantic or sentimental tone.
Content that users create
The posts of your fans (with credit, obviously) are an excellent way to create relationships with your followers and also encourage your followers to blog more about your company.
If you’re struggling to get your name noticed, You can organize competitions that award those with the most interesting material about your company. Be sure to make use of an exclusive hashtag for the contest.
In keeping with their travel theme, Expedia reposted a user video that follows a follower’s adventures along with their pet.
Videos
Instagram Stories and Reels allow videos on the platform. This could open up a wide range of new possibilities, which we’ll explore further in the next section. Videography and editing skills are always welcome, but don’t feel limited by your inexperience—Instagram users aren’t expecting Citizen Kane.
Test a few of them to determine what resonates with your ideal customers. The Insights Analytics will prove particularly useful when determining who wins and who loses.
5- Pay close attention to hashtags and captions.
Captions are a great way to add context to your images. While Instagram allows captions up to 2,200 characters, only two of the lines will be visible without clicking ” more.” This is why it is recommended to put the most important words in the first two or three sentences and save the remainder of the caption for hashtags and details.
Selecting the appropriate hashtags is among the most important aspects of branding for Instagram as they determine the audience that sees your posts. Most people scroll through their feeds based on hashtags, so choosing the correct hashtags will ensure that your posts will be seen by people interested in your content. They’re an excellent method to gain new, similar-minded followers who might not have heard of your company.
What are the best ways to determine what hashtags work best for you? Make a few test-and-error searches on Instagram and see which hashtags appear for the various hashtags. Do not just focus on the popularity of each hashtag; look at the frequency of posts to it and what types of content are posted using it.
6- Integrate videos into Stories and Reels.
If your intended audience enjoys videos, the best Instagram options are Stories or Reels. Similar to the other types of content you have, it is recommended that you play around with both options to see what you can do.
Teva uses Instagram Stories to pose a direct question to its followers, which is an effective method for increasing engagement.
Instagram Stories are similar to videos, where the user usually films themselves performing a task or discussing things briefly. Instagram Stories go away within 24 hours, meaning it’s more of a continuous commitment that people make daily.
Instagram Reels: On the other hand, they have more production options, filters, audio effects, text, stickers, and editing tools. The idea was born out of TikTok; Reels are more than just a series of short videos that have been linked.
In both cases, keep in line with your existing branding, particularly the tone you use to communicate. Instagram Stories or Reels provide the perfect opportunity to give your brand name a live-action look, so make sure it’s a good representation of your company’s image.
7- Engage with your fans
Away replies to each feedback they receive, which inspires their fans to continue asking questions.
Every social media platform is a two-way channel, which is one reason it benefits companies. Branding on Instagram isn’t just about people viewing your posts; it’s about interacting with your brand’s requirements and engaging in conversations.
This includes responding to any comments. Most often, people compliment your business or express an interest in it; sometimes, they ask questions about your company, which provides you with an opportunity to address the question in public.
Responding to criticisms and insults is also crucial to Instagram branding. Your followers will also be watching closely the manner in which you deal with Trolls, so make sure to manage them with care and in line with the brand’s image—in other words, respond with respect rather than reacting with something more off-putting.
8- Engage with influencers in your industry
Particularly when you’re just beginning your journey, you can gain many new followers through “piggybacking” on other more successful accounts. Influencer marketing offers access to many new users who share interests similar to yours and the assurance of an established source. Ultimately, one of the main reasons people choose to follow influencers is their advice and expertise.
It can be daunting to reach influencers, especially when you’re not a well-known business, but remember that they’re businesspeople similar to you. In most cases, you’ll provide them with a complimentary product or sample, and should they like it, they’ll share the product on their Instagram feed. Be aware that influencers always seek out new and undiscovered items to discuss, and you might be helping them.
If you’re looking for the big whale influencers you’re after, they might have fixed prices for public mentions and promotions. If you’re not looking to invest too much in influencer marketing, consider going after lesser-known, mid-tier influencers. They’ll be more receptive to the free samples, and you’ll still be able to gain access to new followers, even in smaller amounts.
learn more: Instagram Algorithm Explained.
9- Post at the appropriate time
Like every social media platform, Instagram has its peak and low times. However, the ideal times to post on Instagram aren’t always consistent. It depends on the time of day the user of your type prefers to connect and other factors such as time zones and the start and end of shifts.
You can always test posting at different times to determine which is best for you, but trying it each and every minute of the day is a hassle. Instead, you could take the universal guidelines to establish a base and start your experimentation by following the guidelines.
Although Hootsuite says that the most effective general time to publish on Instagram is 11 am on Wednesdays, Hubspot has more in-depth research divided by industry and illustrated by heat maps.
10- Sell your products via the Instagram Shop.
Even luxury stores such as Tiffany and Co. use Instagram Shop to sell their jewellery.
Some brands have nothing to offer; however, when you do, you can sell it directly through Instagram via Instagram Shop. Users can purchase through your posts. You can tag specific products on your Instagram stories for more subtle marketing.
Instagram Shop makes it easy to market branded items even if you’re not ready for a complete e-commerce outfit. You can purchase and sell many white-label items under your own brand, ranging from T-shirts and hats to more targeted items such as enamel pins or stuffed animals.
It is always best to select the product that most aptly expresses your brand’s image and the merchandise your followers will likely purchase.
11- Consider Instagram ads
If you have the funds to spare from your advertising budget, then Instagram advertisements can help increase your brand’s visibility and draw more followers.
You can purchase Instagram ads in various forms, including video ads, image ads, carousel ads, ads on Instagram Stories, and more. Additionally, your ads could be used to achieve different purposes, like general brand awareness, redirecting traffic to a different page, or installing your software or app.
Like Facebook advertising, One of the most effective advantages of Instagram advertising is the ability to pinpoint the people you want to reach. Instagram ads let you control the people who view your ads based on their locations, interests, and general demographics. When you combine all these diverse options, you can create intricate and precise marketing campaigns that make each cent of your advertising budget make a difference.
The benefits of Instagram branding
Still not convinced about Instagram branding? No worries. Let’s look at some of its most important advantages and the reasons you should create an impressive and seamless online presence.
Create trust
If you can create professionally designed and carefully curated Instagram feeds that are within your brand’s aesthetic and design principles, You gain confidence from your followers.
Your followers can see the difference if you have thought about the content you post and how it looks and feels and if it matches your site and other social media accounts. They appreciate the uniformity, which is a sign that people can recognize your brand’s image by the content you share.
Build brand recognition
If your Instagram branding is consistent with your brand’s overall image, the audience will be capable of recognizing your content across a variety of platforms.
A uniform color scheme and font within your brand’s logo is an excellent way to help your readers instantly discern if the posting is from your company.
Let’s take Panera Bread as an illustration. Their brown and green color scheme and sans serif font are immediately recognizable in images like the image below.
Create traffic
Although Instagram is known for its ability to link traffic to one URL on profiles, this isn’t a reason not to use it.
You must regularly change the URL that leads your visitors regardless of whether it’s a brand-fresh blog article or landing page you wish to highlight.
You can even design branded hyperlinks using programs like Bitly or Rebrandly.
How do you make your Instagram more memorable?
If you’ve figured out how this could be an effective tool for growing your Instagram profile, we’ll explore some strategies.
How can you improve your Instagram brand? The key is the appearance and the feeling of your feed. The voice of your brand, as well as the types of content and concepts that define an Instagram brand.
The basics of Instagram Profile branding
There are several things you should be thinking about regarding branding on social media. The first is the logo, and your cover image (if appropriate) must be identical across all channels to help establish brand recognition immediately.
If you’re looking at your Instagram profile, it might appear that you don’t have many options to personalize it apart from the content that you post to your feed and stories.
However, certain things must be brand, such as your profile picture, username, bio, and Instagram story highlights.
Check out how well Paddywax Candles syncs with their branding and visual identities. Their story is highlighted in the illustration below.
The pastel hues create an overall look and feel that reflects their logo.
You could do the same to your company’s colors or employ icons, graphic illustrations, and many more.
The best way to develop your Instagram brand strategy is to examine the content you’re creating. Find the most effective way to ensure your content is consistent in style and appearance across all platforms.
There are many methods to accomplish this; however, let’s first look at an example from a small portion of StoriesEdit’s Instagram feed.
Their feed employs a technique known as color blocking, in which they concentrate on one color for nine images before moving on to the next. Above is an area of their pink color block.
Other suggestions are:
- Utilize a rainbow or ombre look through Instagram. Instagram feed.
- Use a single focal color for all your media.
- Find an image edit effect or filter you like. Apply it to all your photos.
- Create patterns with images and images throughout your feed.
- Make a grid where your photos are arranged so they overlap.
Find the type of content most appropriate for your company and begin developing content around it to determine if it resonates with your target audience.
Determine your brand’s tone of voice and your voice.
What’s the personality of your brand? What are you trying to convey with your images? And, more importantly, how do you reply to your readers when they post comments or leave messages?
Frank Body is a great example of a brand with a voice we should be talking about. Check out the 7th anniversary Instagram video below.
Frank Body is well known for its unique brand voice. The product speaks for itself and has earned an image for its unique marketing and branding method.
While your brand’s tone might not be as powerful, you need to figure out the degree of humor, personality, use of slang, and other traits you are willing to allow.
For your business, a more professional tone, such as “friendly and helpful,” is the best way to connect with your target audience. In either case, you should be certain to write your brand’s sound on paper so that those who oversee your company’s online presence can use it.
learn more: Instagram Notes Explained: Why They Matter in Your Feed.
Post often and frequently
You shouldn’t overdo it and overload your Instagram feed’s followers with fresh posts throughout the day. However, you should keep your posts consistent so that you frequently appear on your followers’ feeds and they are engaged with them.
It’s best to publish to your Instagram account at least once every day. An application such as Sprout Social can help you determine the best times to post your content. You can also enhance your feed’s content by utilizing Instagram Stories that match the branding style and look you’ve developed to keep your brand at the forefront of your mind and drive attention to your feed.
Make Instagram company guidelines on branding for the team.
The most important thing you can do to ensure that your Instagram remains consistent with the same brand is to create a style guide for social media for your business and your marketing team.
This is where you can design your colors, fonts and guidelines, your brand’s voice, graphics, and much more.
The guidelines for brand branding are vital when working as a team and maintaining your online presence as uniform and brand-name.
Begin to build your Instagram branding today.
Use these suggestions and strategies to increase the visibility of your Instagram image now. Start building an even bigger audience, increasing traffic, and generating revenue with advertisements on Instagram.
Instagram is about images and Reel
If you’ve followed this Instagram branding guideline exactly to the letter, there’s one aspect we’re not prepared to help you with: What makes a great image? The success of Instagram is contingent on the calibre of your content, whatever genre or theme you’re utilizing. The most important thing is creating content that is popular with people, so keep your eyes open for ideas or content that you can republish.
FAQ Instagram Branding
What is Instagram branding, and why is it important?
Instagram branding encompasses a brand’s visual identity, messaging, and overall presence on the platform.
It’s crucial because it helps increase brand recognition, build trust, and foster loyalty among followers, ultimately leading to engagement and conversions.
How can I create a cohesive brand aesthetic on Instagram?
Look for consistent visual elements such as colors, fonts, filters, and images that align with your brand’s identity and values.
Develop a style guide to ensure consistency across all content.
What are the best practices for writing compelling captions on Instagram?
Write captions that speak to your target audience and reflect authenticity and relevance.
Use storytelling techniques, ask questions, or include calls to action to encourage interaction and engagement.
How often should I post on Instagram to maintain interaction with my followers?
Aim for a consistent posting schedule, e.g., 3 to 5 times a week, to keep your audience engaged.
Monitor engagement metrics to determine the optimal posting frequency for your audience.
How can I organically increase my followers on Instagram?
Interact with your audience by replying to comments, liking and commenting on other user’s posts, and engaging with influencers or brands in your niche.
Use relevant hashtags and geotags to increase your reach and gain new followers.
Should I use Instagram Stories as my branding strategy?
You definitely should! Instagram Stories provides a dynamic platform to showcase behind-the-scenes content, promotions, and product launches and interact with your audience in real-time.
Stories can help humanize your brand and create a stronger connection with your followers.
How can I measure the success of my Instagram branding efforts?
Track key metrics such as follower growth rate, engagement rate (likes/comments/shares), Instagram website clicks, and conversions (sales or sign-ups).
Use the analytics tools provided by Instagram or third-party apps to gain insights into the performance of your branding efforts.
Are there any tools or apps that can help me improve my Instagram branding efforts?
Several tools and apps can simplify your branding efforts on Instagram.
Canva is great for creating graphics and templates, Later for scheduling posts, and Unfold for designing visually appealing Story templates.
Plus, analytics tools like Iconosquare and Hootsuite can help track and analyze your Instagram performance.
Effective branding on Instagram is crucial for businesses looking to build a solid online presence and connect with their target audience. Companies can build brand loyalty and increase sales by focusing on consistent aesthetics, engaging content, and meaningful interactions with followers. Features like Instagram Stories and IGTV can further improve brand visibility and engagement. It’s important to regularly analyze metrics and adjust strategies to stay relevant in the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing. Start implementing these tips today to elevate your brand on Instagram and make a lasting impression in the digital world.
