If you’re a new startup owner, staring at a blank Instagram profile and wondering what to do next, don’t worry. You’re not so different than every other startup owner! While it can feel confusing to build your account, a few initial strategies will help you get results on Instagram.
But first, let’s bust a myth
Let’s ease up any pressure from the get-go and address the truth:
Getting started on Instagram shouldn’t feel like you’re solving a Rubik’s Cube.
The fact is, even though you feel like the process is time-consuming and confusing, like you’re leaving the results to the algorithms that be, there’s really no mystery to getting started.
Use these 5 building blocks, and you’ll set the foundation to get results on Instagram.
5 Essential Strategies to Get Results on Instagram
Let’s focus on 5 key strategies, why they’re important, and how to do them.
🍋 Create a Clear Profile Name
Why it’s important:
Does this seem like a no-brainer? Perhaps, but then again there are so many companies on Instagram with unclear names (think $ in place of an S) or a personal name in place of the business name. A clear profile name reduces the amount of guesswork that visitors have to do, and it helps you maintain credibility.
How to do it:
Keep it simple. Use your Business Name.
If another account already uses your business name, it’s okay to add relevant notations after the business name. For example, maybe your customer service company is called Great CS, and your service is powered by cutting edge AI. If @GreatCS is already taken, it’s logical and clear to take @GreatCS_AI instead.
🔥 Optimize Your Bio
Why it’s important:
It clearly identifies who you are and how you help consumers. Your startup’s bio is the first (and only) bit of text that appears under your profile name. Generally two-three lines long, your bio is limited to 150 characters. This limit makes your bio prime real estate to make your case to users.
How to do it:
Follow this formula for a great Instagram Bio:
- First line: Explain what you do
- Second line: Describe the benefits of your service or product
- Third line: Compel your audience to take action with a great CTA
You can add emojis to give it some character, but use them sparingly. Avoid all caps or other over-emphasized words and phrases, as you’ll look spammy. Finally, contrary to popular belief, there’s not really a need to use hashtags in your bio. Save those for your posts later.
🔗 Add a Link in Bio
Why it’s important:
It’s the one and only hyperlink that you can include in your Instagram Profile, and serves as a collection of important links and CTAs.
How to do it:
Create a Link in Bio using a free service, like LinkTree or Linkpop. Or, if you use WordPress, you can build a single page for your Link in Bio, too, but make sure it’s mobile-friendly, like everything else.
Add curated links to put important landing pages in the spotlight. For example, on your Link in Bio, you might have “Subscribe to our Newsletter,” and “Shop our Bestsellers,” or “My Company in the News.”
Each one of these links will take consumers to a specific page, where they can learn more or take action to engage with you.
Use the opportunity to put time-sensitive links, for things like sales or registration windows. Just be careful not to overload it. Clean and clear Links in Bio should be easy for users to navigate.
🟨 Plan a Diverse but On-Brand Grid
Why it’s important:
Your Instagram’s grid is more than just a series of posts. It’s also a comprehensive representation of your brand and your offering. That means that your approach to your Instagram account should consider how each piece fits into the larger whole.
When you do this, you’ll keep your audience engaged with valuable and diverse content. And, you’ll clearly tie your brand to your value.
How to do it:
First, always stay true to your brand guidelines, implementing the proper colors, fonts, logos and icons. And, be sure to convey the branded “vibe.” This helps your audience understand who you are and what you stand for.
Consider sticking to a rotating series of templated designs. Simple topics or themes to help you do this are:
- 5 Tips for ____
- 10 Ideas for ____
- Inspirational Quotes
- Before and After
- Did You Know?
When you stick to your templates, you’ll help cultivate a clean, attractive grid.
Then, create a mixture of formats. Images, Photos, Videos, and Carousels will diversify your content and keep your audience interested. They’ll be more inclined to engage when you’re great at keeping things interesting.
🗓️ Automate Posts
Why it’s important:
Automating your posts will save you time and keep you consistent. No more scrambling to post something every day. No more panicking when it’s 3pm on a Friday and your account has been radio-silent all day.
Just strategic, well planned, consistent content.
How to do it:
Before each month begins, decide on a theme and a plan of attack. This means that you’ll identify how all of your posts will create a cohesive and valuable strategy for the month, and you’ll decide what time and day to post.
After you create your content, use a free scheduling tool, such as Meta’s Business Suite, to schedule the time and day that each post will run.
Then, you can rest assured that your valuable content is reaching your audience, without draining what’s left of your proverbial tanks in the process.
🚀 Get Started!
So, set aside any doubts you have about launching and growing your Instagram account. Ignore that pesky little fella in your brain that’s telling you you’ll never figure this out.
Build from the ground-up, and you’ll start seeing results quickly.
With just 5 simple strategies, you can create a clear, compelling Instagram Account for your startup. And, you’ll keep it going with consistent (and automated) effort!
