Happy Wednesday, y’all! Today we’re keeping our business post short and sweet with lots of helpful content for taking full advantage of the awesome free tool that is Instagram. Whether you’re an early adopter who jumped on the Insta bandwagon when it first debuted in the App Store or you’re just getting your feet wet, this powerful tool not only provides a space to show off your products or services, but also gives you a chance to connect on a more personal level with your customer base. But I’m not here to talk you into using this platform. Instead, I want to offer a few tips on making the most of your Instagram profile.

photo by Caroline Joy Photography

Your Bio

This lovely little space is the first point of contact you have with followers or anyone who views your profile. With only 150 characters to use, it’s important to keep things concise. Consider what you want people to know most about you or your business, as well as what sort of voice you’re trying to convey. If you want people to identify you as the CEO or creative director of a specific company, include your title and the Instagram handle of your business. Ex. “I’m so-and-so, boss lady at @mycompanynamehere.”

Content

Since my professional brand is so closely tied in with who I am as a creative individual, I have one Instagram account that incorporates my professional work and my personal life. However, I understand that most of my followers aren’t there to see photos of my dog or what I’m eating for breakfast. As a rule of thumb, I try to post photos of my paper goods or branding work 40% of the time, leaving 20% to share behind-the-scenes posts to give people a peek into my studio life, and using the remaining 40% for personal posts. I’m almost positive I heard this game-changing tip in an interview with Susan of Freshly Picked. That lady knows what she’s doing, y’all.

Photos

Even if you’re sharing some incredible content with followers, a poorly lit or framed photo has the power to ruin that opportunity for you. In general, it’s best to use soft, natural light for photos and stick with the Rule of Thirds. Every person and brand has a different photo aesthetic that really works for them. For example, my brand is feminine and clean with an emphasis on authentic design and it only makes sense in my mind that my photos should convey that aesthetic, too. On my Instagram account, you’ll find lots of bright photos that are minimally edited. I tend to use solid white backdrops or the unfinished wood surface of my kitchen table for most photos. It took me a while to play around with different filters, settings and lighting sources before I found what works best for me. Take some time to snap a few photos in different light sources, edit them in the app of your choosing and see what best represents your individual style. It’s important to have fun with all this so don’t let things like white balance or styling stress you out!

Networking

Instagram is a social tool so be social, y’all! Be sure to answer questions people ask as often as you can and always remember to be kind. This isn’t the place for snide remarks or overly sarcastic responses. Remember that even in such an informal setting you are affecting the way people view you and your brand, so be mindful of how you act! Take advantage of all the amazing people who are on Instagram and connect with some of your favorite creatives, fellow colleagues and friends. This is a great way to cheer one another one, ask questions or simply let someone know their work inspires you.

Remember that just like any social media platform, it’s easy to get sucked in and spend way too much time in that one small portion of marketing yourself and your business. If you find yourself spending all of your time on Instagram when you should be answering emails, limit your Insta time to quick bursts of five minutes or less throughout the day. It’s easy to forget that there’s a great big world outside of that pretty little app!

There you have it, friends. Those are my go-to tips and tricks for making the most of this fun app. What do you do to optimize your Instagram presence? I’d love to hear it!

Let’s be social! Follow along with me at @bonniejoymarie.