How to promote blogs on instagram


How to Promote a Blog on Instagram

Instagram Tips & Resources


By Erica Salvalaggio

Updated on February 8, 2022

4 minute read

Drive major blog traffic with these must-know tips.

Published February 8, 2022

If you're hoping to increase blog traffic in 2022, investing in a strong Instagram strategy is a great place to start.

Instagram is packed-full of community-building features – and it has a huge audience of over 2B monthly users to tap into.

Tl;dr: Whatever your niche, there’s an engaged audience waiting for you on Instagram.

Ready to boost your blog traffic? Here are 5 ways to promote your blog on Instagram:

#1: Use a Link in Bio Tool to Create More Traffic-driving Opportunities

On Instagram, you can only have one link in your bio at a time.

But that means potentially switching your bio link every time you share new blog content — which, on top of being tedious, limits the number of clicks on previous blog posts.  

So instead, why not use a tool that gives you the power to share several links at once?

With Linkin.bio by Later, you can share multiple links from one easy-to-navigate landing page: 

Credit: @bobby

You can add a series of customizable buttons, mirror your Instagram feed with clickable images, and even feature a YouTube video.

And the best part? Linkin.bio's core features — including buttons, linked images, featured media, and analytics — are free for all users.

Easily drive traffic from Instagram back to your blog with Linkin.bio by Later – for free.

#2: Include Clear Call-to-actions in Captions, Stories, and Reels

Including your blog content on your link in bio landing page is great, but that's only part of the picture.

You have to drive your audience to it.

Including a clear call-to-action (CTA) in your feed post captions, Instagram Stories, and Reels, is one of the most simple and effective ways to boost engagement and drive traffic back to your blog.

Credit: @greatjones and @heyday

CTAs can take multiple forms - so don't be afraid to get creative and tap into those traffic-driving opportunities! Verbal call-outs, on-screen text, and enticing caption copy are all tried-and-tested tactics for your strategy.

#3: Share Your Blog Posts on Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are one of the best tools to drive traffic back to your blog — thanks to a recently rolled out link sticker that’s available to all accounts. 

We use this feature all the time at Later, since we regularly share new blog content on stories:

For the best results, make sure you're drawing as much attention as possible to your link sticker. This could be via customized stories templates (like we use at Later), or simply by adding some attention-grabbing GIFs.

NOTE: If you share a blog link on Instagram Stories, it'll disappear after 24 hours unless you save them as a highlight, which makes them accessible to users looking at your profile 24/7.  

Storyboard and schedule your Instagram Stories in just a few clicks with Later! When it's time to post, you'll get everything you need delivered straight to your mobile. Available on all paid plans.

#4: Tease Blog Content in the Captions  

When you're using Instagram to promote your blog, captions carry extra importance.

Think of your captions as a storytelling opportunity to tease your blog content – convince viewers they need to know more.

Take Our Owambe, a blog and podcast dedicated to celebrating Black love stories, for example. 

They use their captions to entice their audience with intriguing snippets, and then invite their audience to read more via their link in bio. 

TIP: Want to improve the quality of your captions? Try writing them from your desktop!

Later's Instagram scheduling tool allows you to batch plan your posts and write your captions in advance, from the comfort of a full keyboard. It's a serious game-changer!

#5: Prioritize Video and High-impact Visuals

The Instagram algorithm is prioritizing video content more than ever.

So with this in mind, it's worth planning promotional content that plays into what the algorithm wants.

So even if it's a quick Reel chatting about the content of your latest post (paired with a strong CTA) this will likely deliver better results.

Check out how we do this at Later:

Now you’re ready!

With these tips in your Instagram marketing arsenal, you’ll be able to tap into the platform to boost traffic to your blog. 

But as you try these tactic out, remember that finding your groove on any social platform, especially when trying something new, can take time.

Keep track of what works best for you — then do more of it. 

Your blog readership will be booming in no time.

Level up your Instagram blog promotion strategy by planning, previewing, and scheduling your posts in advance with Later.

About the Author

Erica Salvalaggio

Erica is a Toronto-based content writer with a love of alliteration and a background in public relations. Her dream is to climb Mount Everest. Say hi to her on Instagram — @ericasalvalaggio.

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© 2022 Later. All Rights Reserved.

How to Promote Your Blog Posts on Instagram

Bloggers, take note: Instagram is an amazing tool to grow your blog! You can artfully use the visual platform to drive targeted traffic to your blog with skillful use of posts, videos, and Instagram Stories.

However, finding the perfect mix of methods and tools to grow your blog and get those traffic numbers can get tricky if you’re just starting out! 🤔

That’s why we’ve put together a few easy tricks showing you exactly how to use Instagram to promote your blog. By putting these simple practices in place, you’ll be driving targeted traffic from your Instagram content to your website in no time at all! ⏱

Ready to clear the roadblocks from your Instagram-to-website traffic? Let’s get your blog growing! 🚗💨

Struggling with getting your Instagram followers to visit your website? Why not try a FREE link in bio tool they can’t resist?
Introducing Smart.bio by Tailwind, the most advanced linking tool now available on the market!

Skyrocket your web traffic today with your own FREE branded Smart.bio link!

How to Promote a Blog on Instagram | 5 Expert Tips

1. Share Your Blog Post to Instagram Stories

One of the best ways to get your latest blog post in front of your Instagram followers is by using Instagram Stories! 

Why? According to Vidmob’s 2018 State of Social Report, it’s where your followers are! Over 70% of Instagram users watch Instagram Stories every day, and the popularity of Stories isn’t shrinking anytime soon. Using Instagram Stories to promote your blog content is a great way to hook your existing followers. Plus, you can potentially reach all-new fan bases who will help your blog grow! Here’s how to do it:

How to Create a Clickworthy Blog Teaser in Your Instagram Stories

If you caught our FB Live with style blogger Chloe Alysse, then you heard her spill an amazing tip about using multiple frames to catch your viewer’s attention when promoting a new blog post in Instagram Stories.

(If you didn’t, we strongly suggest you take some time to watch the episode below or listen to the podcast; it’s filled with amazing tips about creating engaging Instagram Stories!)  

Chloe explained that she often spreads out important information over multiple Stories rather than piling all the details in one. The reason? Instagram users are usually tapping quickly through dozens and dozens of Stories, looking for something interesting.

If you put all the relevant information about your new blog post in just one Story frame, there’s a good chance that most of your viewers will see it for just a second or two as they get in the rhythm of tapping through.

However, if you create 3-4 slides full of engaging visuals and a story building through each Frame, you have more of an opportunity to disrupt that automatic tapping and capture their attention.

If you do snag your viewers’ attention like this, they can then tap back to take your Story in from the top! Then, if you have over 10,000 followers you can use the Link in Stories feature to promote your blog post and take your followers right to it while it’s still top of mind!

If you don’t have Link in Stories quite yet, growing your blog from Instagram is not a lost cause. There are some handy workarounds to drive your followers to your link in bio, a handy tool that also makes a huge impact on the growth of your blog!

Tag Yourself to Help Viewers Find Your Latest Blog Post in Your Link in Bio

We have a pretty handy hack for driving traffic from your Stories when you don’t have access to Link in Stories just yet, if we do say so ourselves (and we do. ) Simply direct your followers to your

Bio instead, where the latest blog post you’re promoting is eagerly waiting!

You might have to spell this one out for your viewers, since they may not understand exactly why you’re tagging yourself in your Story or what they’re meant to do next!

Don’t worry though, teaching them what to do is a snap!

Here’s how to promote your blog content with Instagram Stories when you don’t have the swipe-up feature yet:

  • Craft your blog post promotion in Instagram Stories (as many frames as you need to build interest, curiosity, and a strong desire to find out more!)
  • On your last Frame, include the @Mention sticker with your username. (This creates a clickable link from Stories!)
  • Using the Text overlay feature, type out a fun call to action (example: to find out how I XXXXed, tap the sticker to head over to my link in bio!)
  • Include an arrow pointing from your CTA right to the sticker you’ve tagged yourself in.

Your followers are now clued in that they can find your blog post in your link in bio. Plus, it saves the time-suck (and a chance to lose interest) when your followers have to navigate out of your Stories, search your username, and go through to your profile to find that link in bio! 

Presto, two steps eliminated. You’re well on your way to growing your blog with Instagram!

Don’t miss the best times to post! Schedule your Instagram Stories with Tailwind! Try a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram now – no credit card required! 🤩

How to Use Instagram Posts WITH Stories to Grow Your Blog

But Story teasers aren’t the ONLY way to get your followers excited to learn more about your blog using all of your Instagram content!

We’ll break down an easy-to-use strategy using your Instagram feed posts and your Stories to promote your blog and get your followers invested in your latest and greatest content.

Here’s how it works:

  • Share an Instagram post talking about your latest blog topic, and craft an engaging caption that draws readers in (pssst… more on that later!)
  • Include not one, but two calls to action in your caption. The first will be to go check out your Instagram Stories to learn more about one specific topic covered in your blog post. (This could be a tutorial, a demo, or more detailed information!) The second will be a call to action to go read your blog post by tapping your link in bio (in case your caption already sold them!)
  • Share your feed post to your Stories, so that your viewers can tap it to take a look!
  • Now in your Stories, create that tutorial, demo or display of more exciting information that’s different from what you already said in your caption. 
  • End your Instagram Story by including a link to your blog, or a link to your profile (if you don’t have Link in Stories yet!)

Using more than one stream of content on Instagram means that you offer your followers another chance to learn something new, and be intrigued by all the amazing information your blog post contains! Cool, right

2. Network With Other Bloggers to Expand Your Reach and Grow Your Blog

When you’re figuring out how to use Instagram to promote your blog, it’s easy to focus only on the things you can do, and not what others can do for you! In reality, building a strong community with others in your niche can expose your content to new audiences who might really benefit from your latest blog post! 

Make networking a part of your larger blog promotion plan with these easy tips:

  • Search for accounts, influencers, brands, and companies that naturally complement your interest, industry, and blog topics and that resonate with you
  • Interact with and support these accounts genuinely, with the same level of interaction you’d hope for – commenting, liking and even resharing!
  • Introduce yourself and feel out the opportunity for partnerships, features, and collabs if available! 

Curious where to find other bloggers in your niche? Start researching relevant industry hashtags! You can see how popular hashtags are – and how many posts they have attached to them – using Tailwind’s Hashtag Finder tool!

How Focusing On Community Over Competition Helped One Style Blogger Grow Her Blog on Instagram

Skeptical about networking? It really works! Chloe Alysse of Chlo & Clothes gave another powerful tip in the FB Live we mentioned above. She credits the strong community of loyal followers and fellow bloggers as part of her quick rise to Instagram success (over 25,000 in one year!). 

A regular part of her Instagram plan is to share the love – and reshare! – cool posts from bloggers, Instagrammers, and brands that resonate with her and she believes her followers would also appreciate it.

Those accounts are more than happy to share the love, too, giving Chloe exposure to their audiences who could then become fans!

3. Use Breathtaking Images and Videos to Promote Your Blog Posts on Instagram

Of course, getting attention from new Instagram users depends on their first impression of your posts. Since Instagram is a visual platform, the photo or video you use has a direct effect on whether you’ll grow followers, engagement, OR your blog traffic!

Think of it this way: Unless you just so happen to be at the tip-top of your followers’ Instagram feeds every time, chances are they may have to scroll through their feeds for a moment before encountering your post.  

The longer your followers scroll, the less likely they are to stop and read each caption or examine each image they see. If they did, that would be information overload, right?

That means that the image or video you choose should disrupt that mindless perusing and make them stop their thumbs mid-scroll (just like that Stories tip in #1!).

Here are some good ways to do that:

Invest Time In Your Creative Elements

In order to grab attention quickly and wow your followers, you’ll need high-quality images that stand out from the sea of content vying for attention. Source and create images, videos, and graphics that wow, especially where they relate to the content of your blog post. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to run out and buy the latest camera or phone, but make sure you’re taking your photos in clear lighting, with a decent-quality camera and paying special attention to your backdrop, colors and photo composition.

Our new tool, Tailwind Create, was created with this in mind! All you have to do is upload the images you want to feature and Tailwind will build multiple layouts to choose from. You can rely on Tailwind Create to do the legwork, and let you focus on creating perfect content with engaging captions.

Try it for free! See some examples of Tailwind-created Instagram story and post templates here.

For more, read our how-to post on taking gorgeous lifestyle photography!

Your image also plays a huge supporting role in the story you’re telling… or should be telling! 

Curious what we mean? Keep reading! 👀

4.  Tell Your Followers a Story They Can’t Resist… That’s Finished On Your Blog!

Chances are, your blog post tells a story. Whether you’ve written about a recipe, fashion, or wellness, there’s an underlying story that your reader will connect with. At heart, your life was different before and after you encountered this topic, and your blog post can help inform a reader, sway them, or in some way change their lives, too! 

To achieve that buy-in from your followers and get them to click from your Instagram to your website, you want to give them a taste of the journey, as well as a happy ending.

While your image or video should be eye-catching since it’s the first thing people notice, our image should tie into the overall story and support it. In fact, it’s the hook to your story that draws attention. It’s like the cover of a fairytale! However, the real story is told just below your post image… in your caption.

How To Write Instagram Captions That Drive Traffic To Your Blog

Why is it that the caption is crucial to connecting with your audience and driving traffic to your website, but we often leave it to the last minute? #GuiltyAsCharged When posting to Instagram, it’s all too easy to focus all your attention on the image in your post, and write your caption as an afterthought. 😅

However, flipping the order that you approach your Instagram content may just be a gamechanger for you – and spell successful promotion of your blog!

That’s because the place you should really be spending most of your time when planning Instagram content is your caption. While your image or video snags attention, it’s often the caption that your followers relate to, emotionally invest in and is ultimately what drives them to your website.

Therefore, the story you tell in your caption is the most important part of the post, and what you should focus on first.

Here’s how to write amazing captions yourself:

  1. Decide on the most relatable way to start your caption is. A shocking hook, a question or a funny story? They all work!
  2. Make yourself real to your followers by sharing relatable thoughts or experiences from your life, especially where they relate to your blog’s ultimate purpose or content
  3. Give your followers a taste of the “happy ending” in your story by zeroing in on the core desires someone interested in your content would have. Would your topic make them happier, more fulfilled, or answer a goal they have? Tell them about it!
  4. Show them where to find that happy ending. Your call to action (CTA) doesn’t have to be complex, but should instead spell out to your reader where to go next and reinforce what they’ll find there.

Most people have a fear of sounding too sales-y or pushing too hard when it comes to the last part of your CTA in particular, but keep this in mind: if you believe in your content, and that it will help someone or answer a need, then you aren’t just being a salesperson. You’re sharing experience and providing tools to help improve someone’s life in some way. Shout it from the rooftops!

Plus you can really bring your story home with caption font formatting – now available with Tailwind for Instagram! Highlight words, phrases or your entire caption with bold font, italics, cursive or serif fonts to bring your storytelling to life. ✍️ Try it with a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram.

5. Turn Your Instagram Followers Into Blog Traffic with Tailwind’s Smart.bio tool 

Okay, now you’ve promoted your latest blog on Instagram every which way and your followers are well on their way to clicking through to blog bliss. That’s great!

However, there are a few important things to keep in mind about your link in bio, and what kind of tool will help you successfully promote your blog post on Instagram.

Ready to find out how to put your personal blog in your Instagram bio, and drive traffic to it with ease?

Let’s go!

Don’t Put Your Website In Your Bio Link

You may be a little skeptical of this one, but hear us out. While you absolutely want to drive traffic to your website, you may be making this a little harder than necessary on your curious followers by just linking your homepage in your link in bio.

Why?

Unless your site is very well organized, with your new blog post immediately visible on the home page, you run the risk of your followers getting lost and losing interest navigating through your website for that specific post. 

Lost, bored or frustrated readers won’t help you grow your blog!

And here’s the thing: even if your site is the most organized website that ever was, followers who see a website homepage in your bio may give up before ever clicking, because they’ve experienced that frustration on another site before. AND, you won’t be able to track your link visits without a trackable custom link anyway!

To avoid this, and signal to your followers that you have a unique Instagram landing page with all of your relevant links available just one click away, it’s safest to opt into a link in bio tool – like Smart.bio by Tailwind!

Maximize Your Link Strategy to Get the Most Traffic to Your Blog

One of the unique things our users love the most about smart.bio is that you can choose two types of links for your content. They are:

  • Static Links, which are buttons that sit at the top of your page and are best for blog posts and pages you want to drive Instagram traffic to and grow consistently over time. Add emojis for a bit of fun!
  • Post Links, which appear on your Smart.bio landing page under those static links. In the Smart.bio dashboard, you can add a link to any of your most recent posts, and it will appear on your landing page in real-time! OR, if you schedule your linked post with Tailwind for Instagram, it will automatically update!

These two types of links allow you to strategize with your blog content. Static links are often best for evergreen pages that you’ll always want your followers to click on – things like newsletter links, featured collections, or links to other content platforms (link to Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn, for example!). 

On the other hand, post links tend to catch the eye immediately, and your followers will recognize your post image and know that it corresponds to the blog post they’re looking for. 

Wait… how will they know, exactly? 🧐

That’s where the customizable CTAs come in! You can enter a catchy, clickable prompt like “Check It Out!” or “Grab It Here!” in your landing page customization settings, and that text will appear under your link posts. 

Smart.bio is the perfect tool for Instagram bloggers and allows you to promote your blog post on Instagram and snag traffic to your website.

Are you as excited about this tool as we are? Opt in to be a beta tester and grab your FREE customizable smart.bio URL today!

Main Takeaways

Are you confused or even frustrated wondering how to effectively promote your blog posts on Instagram? Banish your worries! There are just five important strategies to remember when growing your blog with Instagram:

  1. Use Instagram Stories to promote your blog post and drive instant traffic to your website.
  2. Build a strong network with other bloggers to gain new audiences and exposure (and grow your own blog!)
  3. Carefully curate your images and video to make your followers stop in their tracks and NEED to know more.
  4. Begin telling a story in your caption with a happy ending your followers can’t live without – only found in your blog post!
  5. Choose a Link in Bio tool (like Smart.bio by Tailwind!) that offers a customizable landing page, easy link updating and in-depth analytics you need to maximize your traffic! 

Smart.bio helped Instagram influencer Chloe Alysse grow her web traffic and newsletter signups without even trying! Read all about how she grew her personal brand with Tailwind tools in our latest interview, “Confessions of An Instagram Influencer: How to Grow Your Personal Brand!“

Busy Growing Your Blog? Pin It For Later 📌:

40 tips on how to promote your Instagram

1. Do not forget to put hashtags that will help increase the number of subscribers: #instafollow, #l4l (Like for like), #tagforlikes and #followback.

2. Like as much as possible. For every 100 likes you give to random photos, you will get an average of 6 new followers.

3. Run contest . The easiest way to do this is to post a themed picture and ask people to like it so they can participate. nine0005

4. Start promoting profile on your pages in other social networks. Write what your blog is about and why people should read it and invite them to join.

5. Be generous with likes and comments - this is the easiest way to attract new subscribers.

6. Use common hashtags to make your photos visible in the global search. Among the most popular are #love, #instagood, #fashion and #photooftheday.

@westwingde

7. Time matters. Research has shown that the best time to fast is between 2 pm and 5 pm.

8. Follow people who use popular hashtags (#followme, #likeforlike) because many of them will follow you back.

9. Remember, quality is important , not quantity. Monitor your profile and leave only beautiful and high-quality photos. Believe me, no one is interested in flipping through hundreds of photos of salads. nine0005

10. Love the Mayfair filter. Track Maven listed this filter on The Fortune 500 Instagram as the best choice for marketers.

11. Check that you have completed the biography section . Complete it with suitable words and hashtags, and also provide a link to your website. But remember: no spam! Otherwise, subscribers will lose interest in the profile.

12. Ask questions to subscribers. This is a great way to connect with your target audience. nine0005

13. Post on Sundays . It is on this day that people post photos a little, so your post will be seen by the maximum number of people.

@nastiapoberezhna

14. Be consistent with . Think about who and why you are doing this. The more clearly you answer these questions, the faster you will attract the right audience.

15. Call people to action. For example, ask them to write their opinion about your photo in the comments. nine0005

16. Don't be afraid to post often. It may seem that the more often the photos flash, the more indifferent the subscribers behave. But according to the Union Metrics program, there is no relationship between posting frequency and audience activity. At least negative.

17. Follow suggested users. Go to settings and select "Find and invite friends" and then "Recommended users".

18. Set geolocation . This will be especially useful if you run an Instagram company. So you will have the opportunity to attract new subscribers-neighbors.

19. Schedule publications with the Later program. Consistency never hurt anyone.

20. Agree with popular blogger to advertise your profile or product. So information about you will quickly scatter over the network.

21. Research has shown that blue images get 24% more likes than orange or red images. Post something blue and see for yourself! nine0005

22. Let fast on Wednesdays become your obligatory ritual. This is because posts get more attention and likes in the middle of the week.

23. Write the word "comment" more often in posts. This encourages your followers to share their opinions and be more willing to join the discussion.

24. Post photos showing 's face. According to research, such publications are 35% more popular than others.

25. Tag in photos of people. Your post will also be seen by friends of friends. nine0005

26. Remember the rule: the more light the better.

27. If you have a business account, create a branded hashtag . So users can specify it when purchasing a product. And it will increase your visibility on Instagram several times over.

28. Share live photos. Show that behind the beautiful picture there are living people .

29. Business trick: share photos of your followers mentioning your brand or product. This pleasant step shows that you value each client. In return, they will definitely share your photos in their feed. nine0005

30. Brand yourself : Use your nickname for more than just your profile. A notebook, a case or a branded sticker on a car will surely attract the attention of potential subscribers.

@romantimo3

31. Invite friends from Facebook to follow you. To do this, in the profile settings, select "Find friends on Facebook."

32. People love stories. Share your experiences and thoughts, so you will gain their trust and establish contact. Just remember that the post should be emotional and bright, not snot in sugar. nine0005

33. Tag people , even in stories, don't be lazy.

34. Do not be shy in your posts to ask for likes . As practice has shown, such publications receive 89% more likes.

35. In advance plan not only time, but also content. Prepare your materials and only then start filling out your feed. For example, write posts for a few days in advance, and then publish them gradually. The Instagram filling schedule will help you stay focused on the main topic of the blog. nine0005

36. Post a motivational or inspirational quote .

37. Synchronize phone book with your account. Go to settings and select "Contacts" in the "For Subscriptions" section.

38. Be active on profiles with similar topics. Especially if you run a business profile. Chat in the comments , ask questions and let influencers know about you.

39. Collaborate with other users. Find accounts with the same number of followers and invite their owners to arrange a joint promotion. This will help you and your partners to win an audience and attract the attention of new people. nine0005

40. Create a unique hashtag, by which you can organize a challenge for your subscribers.

Based on cosmo.com.ua


Tags: Instagram, blog, how to become famous, tips, social networks

A complete guide from A to Z

but don't know how? Or maybe you already have a blog, but are not satisfied with it? What about earnings? Is your profile bringing in enough customers or would you like more? nine0005

You are reading a complete guide on how to start blogging on Instagram. In this article I talk about what points to pay close attention to in maintaining an account. Consider everything:

  • niche selection,
  • target audience,
  • competitor analysis,
  • account registration,
  • useful apps in profile management,
  • writing posts and publishing stories,
  • 9018 promotion methods forbidden topics. nine0189

In almost every block you will find links to more detailed articles. I recommend reading each, in them I tried to answer all possible questions.

In this article you will learn:

What do I need to do before starting an Instagram account?

Look, there are hundreds of happy wives, needlewomen, fitonies and knitters, knitters, photographers, trainers on Instagram. If you write about the same things they write about, then you will simply drown in a mass of similar blogs.

You need your own chip, and instagram doesn't need another blog .

Get your account started right with Lecture "The Content Engine" .

As a result of the lecture, you will receive a scheme that will help you sell more on Instagram without constantly posting stories.

Bonus - ready-made content plan for an expert for a month!

Read more

Start with market analysis

Before you learn how to manage Instagram, you need to start with market analysis . I'm not talking about serious marketing analysis, you just don't have the resources and experience to do it. I encourage you to see what people are searching for in your niche with:

  • Yandex Wordstat,
  • Google Trends,
  • Comments on forums and competitor accounts.

Before the advent of the iPad, there were PDAs (personal pocket computers) on the market. However, they were not popular with people: it was expensive, incomprehensible, ugly. And in 2010, Apple presents its first iPad, which combines the functions of a laptop and a smartphone. nine0005

saw the potential of the niche, responded to 's expectations and people's requests, and released the product.

To properly start from scratch — answer the question “ What do people need? »

For example:

Beginner confectioner Masha saw in Yandex.Wordstat a demand for birthday cakes for boys and girls. Based on this, Masha decided to make two main products: a birthday cake in the form of superheroes for boys and a birthday cake in the form of princesses for girls. nine0005

Use Yandex.Wordstat and Google Trends to find your niche.

Make an analysis of the target audience

It has already been said and retold about the target audience, but still I meet a bunch of comments in the style: "I don't know who my target audience is."

Target audience is a group of people united by some sign. This includes not only existing customers, but also potential ones.

Through the analysis of the target audience, you know:

  • What a potential buyer is watching, reading and listening to . When developing texts and advertising, you take into account their slang, traditions, religious or political beliefs, ways of obtaining information, etc. All this increases the effect of advertising.
  • Audience Needs : What does your client need? what problems he faced and what he can offer her. This will allow you to make the most targeted offer. As one cliché says: An offer you can't refuse .
  • What the audience breathes . You also know the people they listen to. This is especially true when buying ads from bloggers.
4 steps to define your target audience

A little reminder for those who don't know or have forgotten how to define their target audience. To do this:

  1. Draw a general portrait of TA . Here, describe gender, age, geography, income level, possible professions, marital status (if it is important). nine0189
  2. Divide the overall portrait into segments . If you develop a profile on Instagram, then we reduce the age of our target audience. According to official data, the average age of Instagram visitors is 18-34 years old . Agree, at 18 and at 34 there may be different needs, and this is important - this is point number 3.
  3. Explore the needs of CA . To do this, go to Google, rummage through forums, VK groups, competitor profiles and write out your assumptions in a mind map.
  4. Refine product or positioning . Remember, you cannot change the habits and pains of your target audience. But you can change your product to solve the pains of the target audience.

It's like in the story about Vasya and Petya:

Vasya first made a product, and then he didn't know who to sell 1000 units of his product to.

Petya found out what people need, made a product that solves their pain and sold everything without a trace.

Be like Petya.

Get to know your competitors for a successful start

For some reason, many people associate working with competitors with struggle, conflicts or even war. Let's agree, from now on, to consider our competitors as colleagues from whom you can learn something or build up against their background. It seems to me that this point of view is more suitable for constructive affairs.

Why analyze competitors:

  • in order to understand the differences between your own assortment and that of a competitor,
  • to see its strengths and weaknesses ,
  • understand how they sell and where customers come from,
  • adjust their own development strategy .

Competitor analysis is also a great way to find out the pains of a client . Go to the comments under a useful post and see what questions people are asking.

Competitors are:

Key companies whose actions can significantly affect sales (both upward and downward). nine0005

Direct – companies that sell a similar product in a similar market and work with your target audience.

Indirect - companies that sell a product with different characteristics or a completely different product, but work with your target audience.

“But how is it, Zarina. Does that mean you have to keep an eye on everyone? And when to work?

Of course, you don't have to keep track of everyone, you won't physically have time to do it. Therefore, remember the algorithm of actions:

  1. Make a list of possible competitors on Instagram.
  2. Divide this list into direct, key and indirect.
  3. Analyze the profiles of direct competitors: profile header, avatar, content, what they offer, how much it costs, the number of subscribers, profile activity.
  4. Think about where you can offer the best conditions, how you can distinguish yourself, and what ideas you can borrow.

How to start Instagram

After you have figured out the niche, target audience and competitors, you can move on to the account itself. In order for readers to notice your profile, it is important to format it correctly. This means that you need to make a header, think over the visual, write a content plan and start promoting your profile. nine0005

Decide on the type and theme of your blog

Decide on the type of blog to start blogging. On Instagram, it is customary to divide any accounts into 3 large groups: a business account, a personal blog, and an expert blog.

Business account

You will get a business account if you want to create a shop, studio or salon page. Such profiles are monetized by selling their services and products.

In terms of content, everything is simple: selling and informational posts (for example, about the benefits of your product) + rare entertaining posts or videos for engagement. There can be no personal content in the feed of a business account. nine0005 An example of running a business account (shop, salon, studio)

Personal blog

A personal blog is any profile whose author maintains Instagram and does not provide any services. The authors of such blogs often shoot funny and not so funny videos, comment on world events, express their opinion on topical issues in posts and stories. They also broadcast their life, relationships, sports results, nutrition, hobbies. They earn, as a rule, by selling advertising integrations.

Personal blog example (humor, travel, food, fashion)
Expert Blog

Expert blogs are ideal for promoting your services. For example, if you are a makeup artist, copywriter or photographer. It is important for the authors of such blogs to work with the loyalty of the audience, increase their expertise, and engage them with interesting and useful content.

Expert blogs are monetized by selling services and training (courses, marathons, master classes).

An example of an expert's blog

Absolutely any field can be a topic for a blog. If you don't know what blog to start, here are two tips for choosing an account theme:

  1. Blog about topics that are close to you and that you understand. If you have no idea what to write about skiing, don't write about skiing.
  2. Niche and find your audience.

Let me explain the second advice. Let's say you're a psychologist. Yes, you can write about everything and a little, this area is limitless in terms of ideas for posts. But it would be much better to choose a narrower direction and better reveal each topic. This will increase your expertise and average check. For example, you can write about problems with children, relationships, or emotional burnout (the latter is a direct scourge of the 21st century, which I also faced). nine0005

Think about visual design

An example of a good profile visual: high-quality photos with different angles. On the left ribbon is my profile in warm colors, on the right - a profile in cold colors. If text is used, then it is readable, and the font is the same everywhere.

Instagram is a social network where the main content will always be photos and videos. Your useful publications will remain unread if the profile or post does not attract attention.

An example of what not to do: stock images, different font on the photo, it is unreadable on some photos, there is no single direction in color design. In the left tape on none of the 9there is no photo of the author, but this is an expert blog.

Visual design includes a profile header, an avatar and a photo of posts in the feed. Trends are constantly changing and what was relevant in 2020 has already gone out of fashion in 2023. Therefore, I will not tell you about visual trends, but I will suggest general principles that you can follow.

  1. Look at the description of the target audience . Your visual should be close to those we want to attract. For example, if you sell an expensive service and are looking for solvent people, then you will never attract them if you publish a photo against the backdrop of a Soviet carpet. nine0189
  2. Post quality photos . And now I’m not only talking about professional photo shoots, although they are also needed for the blog. Choose clothes, accessories and surroundings to take good photos.
  3. Watch the balance of light and darkness . The photo should not have highlights or, conversely, too dark fragments.
  4. Choose different angles . Do not post only selfies or only portrait photos. Make sure that different angles alternate in your feed: details, medium, long-range and ultra-long shot. nine0189
  5. Edit photos . You can use presets for Lightroom or edit images in other photo apps.

YouTube is full of video guides on mobile photography and editing. Look at them, it will make it easier for you to create photo content.

Design features

Each type of blog has its own design features.

Which image answers the question "What does the profile sell" faster?

The best solution for avatar business account will be the product photo. You can put a store logo on the avatar only if you are Nike, Adidas or the logo contains an image of what you are selling. In other cases, with a 99% chance, your logo will be almost impossible to make out, and you will lose your avatar as an advantage.

  • Write the addresses of your shops/studios, current discounts, calls to action and a link to the site/taplink in the header.
  • Alternate product photos from different angles and plans. nine0189
  • Avoid foreign objects in the photo, unless they "enhance" your product.

The author of personal blog must be recognized, so we put 100% of our face on the ava in close-up, maximum to the waist.

  • In the profile header, write what you can interest the audience, why it is worth subscribing to you.
  • Keep the design of the ribbon natural. Fill it with bright "live" images. Avoid the same type and fuzzy photos. Photos should convey emotions and attract to the reading of the post. nine0189

For the blog of the expert, it is appropriate to use both a personal photo and a photo of the result of your service. A copywriter, for example, cannot show a photo of his service, just like a psychologist. Therefore, for such experts, a personal photo is the best option. Again, close-up or to the waist. A photographer can post a personal photo with a camera, a confectioner can post mouth-watering buns or cakes.

  • The header should hook a person from the first words, so place the most important things in it: the key phrase in the name, USP and call to action. nine0189
  • The visual should be combined with each other both in color and in content.
  • To make it easier to navigate your blog, you can place post titles on photos. This will allow the person to immediately understand what the post is about, or find the right one in your feed.

Install applications

This item may seem strange, they say, why install applications when there is an insta. The built-in tools are not enough to schedule the tape, do the necessary processing, and even more so glue the video. I have compiled key Instagram apps that make it easy for me to work with content. nine0005

The Preview application

Preview allows you to schedule a tape and get the same profile "in the same style. " For basic tasks, the free version will be enough for you.

The app has a clean interface, photo editing tools and a font pack that you can use in your posts or bio. With Preview, you can create a grid layout, rearrange photos, and get the best version of your feed.

The app also has a post planner and analytics tools, but I don't use them. Internal analytics from Instagram is enough for me, and if necessary, I schedule posts for free through delayed posting on the Facebook website. nine0005

Photo editors

I'll tell you how to process photos easily and easily, what editors to use to get beautiful photos and likes:

Lightroom is a cool visual photo editor. You can find many presets that make works of art from ordinary photos. Here you can change the saturation, brightness and hue separately for each color. It is convenient to crop the photo and change the contrast. The free version is enough to work.

Snapseed - basic editor. It differs, perhaps, in speed. Very fast loading, exporting images. Suitable for removing unwanted objects in the photo, quick color correction and cropping. The application is also free, with an intuitive interface.

Available tools in Snapseed

PS Express - where without it. Photoshop is the father of all photo editors. Also free. In it I use only the “Restore” tool to delete objects. Photoshop does it best, I recommend it. nine0005 My favorite tool in PS Express

Video editors

Some blogs consist entirely of video posts. And now that Instagram has rolled out Reels, you absolutely need a video editor to keep up. I use it myself:

InShot is an excellent mobile editor, many people know it by its watermark. In it, you can glue a clip from several videos, trim where necessary, add music, text, change the speed of the video. All basic tools are free to use, but your videos will be watermarked. You can get rid of it by purchasing a subscription for 349₽/month, 1150 ₽/year or for 3290 ₽ forever. I take an annual subscription, because. videos are not the main content type in my account.

Pay attention to the same watermark in the right corner of the preview. You can remove it for free once a day.

Videoleap is also a video editor, but I keep it only because of one useful difference. Here you can work with several tracks, as in a full-fledged editor. InShot loses in this regard, there is only one track and you cannot overlay one layer on another. nine0005 You can overlay both images and audio tracks.

iOS Basic Video Editor - 360-degree video rotation is now available after the latest update. It helps a lot if you suddenly took something at the wrong angle. Free, available by clicking the "Edit" button in the upper right corner.

Start writing posts

You figured out the type of blog and theme, installed everything you need, filled out the header, what's next? Tell the audience who you are and how you can be useful, write a post-acquaintance. nine0005

Maximum post length 2200 characters , but Instagrammers have long learned to bypass this limitation. There are two ways to publish something that does not fit in the post:

1. Text on the photo in the carousel . In addition to the first photo, you have 9 more slides in the carousel, where you can write what did not fit in the post. Do not forget to write in the post that the continuation can be read in the carousel.

Make an entry in a text or photo editor, save it, add it to the carousel to the post. nine0002 2. Comment under post . Fewer people use this method, but it is still alive, so I will write about it. Each comment can contain up to 1000 characters, and if not less than this figure, write a comment. Don't forget to pin it so it's right below the post so people don't have to look for a sequel. To pin a comment, you'll have to post it as a different account.

For each type of publication, you can come up with and find a lot of topics for posts. Depending on the content and purpose, posts are distinguished:

Sellers . The purpose of such posts is to sell a product, product, service. These are posts where you directly encourage readers to buy something from you.

Informational . Delivering information to the audience. This may be an up-to-date price list, information about a change of address or the opening of a new branch. We also include useful posts on the topic of the account.

Involving . Such posts are aimed at engaging existing subscribers to leave comments and communicate with you. Here you can discuss procedures and products, hold competitions. nine0005

Entertainment . Posts of good mood and increasing loyalty. Humor brings you closer to your readers. Entertainment content includes funny memes and videos, curiosities and polls.

Of course, in one post you can't reveal the topic of blog copywriting. Therefore, I give 7 rules for a good post for Instagram:

  1. Write for your target audience . Use the same words, terms and slang. If you write for moms, then greet them: “Hello, mufflers!” at least indecent. nine0189
  2. Make text of different lengths . Write both short posts and long ones. There is no universal recipe here, test it.
  3. Write the way you speak . Some people, sitting down to the text, for some reason, begin to fence complex constructions.
  4. Follow logic . First, Anna Karenina fell in love and only then threw herself under the train. Not vice versa. ⠀
  5. Follow structure . Attract attention with a headline (if you practice captions on pictures) or the beginning. Then talk about the benefits of the product and end with a call to action. nine0189
  6. Divide text into paragraphs, spice it up with emoji .
  7. Write every day . Regularity is the key to success in copywriting.

Post Stories and Reels

Stories examples: lifestyle, questions, polls

In Stories tell us about yourself, personal insights, how your work day went, share achievements. Emotional content brings the blogger closer to the audience. It is very important to publish stories daily so as not to get lost from the feed of subscribers. nine0005

Business accounts can post current promotions, new products, arrange interactive questions and answers about products or services. This will increase coverage and find out what is interesting to the target audience.

I advise the owners of personal blog to conduct more live communication: polls, voting, situations from everyday life, breaking news.

Blogger-expert can share the results of work or achievements of students in stories. Show subscribers customer reviews, tool or product reviews. Arrange an interactive with a vote or a request to evaluate the result in a before / after style. Don't forget to show the personal on the blog, it has a good effect on the reach. nine0005 Video examples in Reels: they can be both entertaining and useful videos

Reels is a new feature from Instagram and it is also an attempt to move TikTok. It appeared in the world in August 2020, and in Russia it was launched only at the end of June 2021. It is a short video for 15-60 seconds. They are displayed on a special tab and do not disappear after 24 hours, like stories. The main difference between rils and stories is that they are shown not only to your subscribers, but also to random people in the feed. nine0005

Track statistics

Statistics are needed to understand what is interesting to the audience and to promote your blog competently.

I'll note right away that statistics are available only for business accounts and author profiles. To transfer an account to a business account, you need to connect statistics to Instagram. In it, you can see the age of the audience, their gender, location, periods of greatest activity by day of the week and hour.

Pay attention to posts, stories and Reels that have received more reach, a lot of comments and likes. Analyze them and make similar content. Over time, you will find your recipe for fasting that will “get in”. nine0005

How to start promoting on Instagram

We have come to the final step in order to start attracting an audience on Instagram. Even the steepest profile will bend without advancing. So let's see what options we have.

Free promotion

The social network annually cuts this direction and it becomes more and more difficult to gain followers on Instagram for free.

Geotags . Indicate in the posts the places where your target audience is. For example, if you photograph newborns, you can use the geo-tags of antenatal clinics, perinatal centers, maternity hospitals. nine0005

Barter or Mutual PR (VP) . You advertise a blogger for free, he advertises you. Be sure to analyze the account with which you want to conduct the VP. Ask for statistics on stories, take a look at the percentage of likes and comments from the total number of subscriptions, it should be at least 6-10%. This method of promotion is appropriate if your blog has at least 1-2 thousand subscribers.

Hashtags . It's good, but you need to know how to use it. Don't even try to post high frequency hashtags like #fit , #girl , #work . They will only work if you are a Kardashian with a billion followers who will bring your post to the TOP of the recommended with their likes. For young blogs, there is a chance to get into the recommended ones only with low-frequency hashtags. For example, #website text or #weight loss workout .

Spamming HF hashtags in a post is a useless thing and will not bring a loyal audience. Most likely, after such hashtags, stores, other fitness trainers and motivation blogs will subscribe to the author of this post. nine0002 SFS . Post a useful or not very useful post with a call to talk about your blog in your profiles. In response, you talk on your blog about the people who supported your account.

This list used to have geo tags and hashtags for stories, but in 2021, Insta turned them off as well. Stories by geo-tagging are no longer available, which means that they cannot be used for promotion.

massliking and massfollowing never go away, but I have always been against this method. You can do it manually better than with the help of services, albeit longer. nine0005

But remember - there is always a risk of getting banned for using MF and ML, so think a thousand times whether you are ready to lose what you have been gaining.

Paid promotion

In the vastness of the network, you can still find articles in which there is the cherished phrase “... although Instagram does not have ads …”. Right now, you can buy placements in Posts, Stories, Reels, and IGTV only in Facebook Ads. In addition, you can always buy ads from bloggers, bypassing the official advertising tools. nine0005

Targeted advertising
Examples of advertisements in the target: 2 ads in stories and 2 posts in the feed

Target is a one-love for me. You can choose the goal of promotion: more visits to the profile, site or increase in the number of comments. Customize the audience: specify gender, age, location. Target will show your posts or stories exactly to those who could potentially become your client. Or it will remind people about you who have already visited your profile, saved posts, but for some reason did not subscribe. nine0005

Advertising with bloggers

A great way to increase the audience of your blog is to buy ads from bloggers. Choose to start microblogs with a small number of subscribers. The audience of such accounts is quite involved, and you can get more return on advertising in such a profile.

You can use popular exchanges like Sociate, but I recommend always looking for handles and contacting blog owners directly for advertising.

In addition, you can buy advertising in public. But here you need to analyze well and choose sites. See to it that the audience is alive and active. nine0005

What is forbidden to post on Instagram?

It is forbidden to publish nude photos, posts that incite conflicts on religious, political or social topics on Instagram. Plagiarism is not allowed - the social network is against content theft. For spamming in Direct and spamming comments, you may be subject to a permanent account ban.

Also, the service may consider publication of several posts in one day as doubtful:

  • New profiles 2-4 weeks old can publish no more than 3 posts per day .
  • Profiles older than 6 months can post up to 25 posts per day .

Instagram reacts sharply to any mass action. Numerous identical hashtags, comments and direct messages are perceived as spam. Endless likes, subscriptions, unsubscribes make the page activity suspicious. For various violations, insta can ban you for several hours, days, months, and even forever. nine0005

Conclusion

Now you know everything to start blogging on Instagram. This social network is a goldmine for business and self-expression. I hope you understand the algorithm of actions and this article will really help you in maintaining a profile.


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