Let’s face it, we’ve all wondered what other people are thinking when they look at our Instagram. With social media being declared the highlight reel of how we live our lives, it only makes sense that we want to put our best foot (or photo) forward. So, being the social experts that we are, we decided to round up some of our do’s and don’ts for Instagram to help you live your best #Insta life.
DO: Engage with your followers!
While social media may be a place for you to express yourself, it’s also a place for you to interact with friends, family, fans, etc. Let your followers know they’re heard. Give them a like, follow, comment, anything to show you care.
DON’T: Follow and unfollow and follow again and unfollow again and you get the point.
Who doesn’t love a new follower? But there’s nothing worse than the haunting follow/unfollow cycle until you get a follow back. Just follow and let the Instagram course take its ride.
DO: Tag!
It’s a great way to engage with other brands and people. Plus, we all want to know where you got those super cute shoes and we don’t really want to ask. There are two types of tagging to be aware of – tagging accounts in the actual photo versus tagging accounts in the caption. There are pros to both. Tagging in the caption displays the account name without people having to click to show tags, giving immediate exposure. However, tagging the account in the photo adds it to their profile’s tagged photo section, allowing people who follow them to see it even if they don’t follow you. It also makes it more likely the account you’re tagging will see the photo even if they’re not logged into their Instagram at that moment. If you’re working with a brand or professional, make sure you find out if they have specifications for tagging!
DON’T: Take a sponsored post just to take a sponsored post.
More now than ever, our social media has become a reflection of not only who we are, but how we conduct our lives – what brands we use, what people we hang out with, what we want the world to know about us. Taking a sponsored post just for the sake of being #sponsored can cheapen your brand, whether it be a personal one or a professional one.
DO: Have fun with it.
At the end of the day, your social media should be fun! Nobody lives a perfect life, and even though Instagram may be the highlights, we all want to know you’re human from time to time. Be relatable; it’ll make your content all the more appealing to your followers.
DO: Take advantage of Instagram stories and Instagram live!
With Instagram rolling out new features all the time, Instagram stories are a great way to pop up on people’s feeds who don’t follow you, but probably should. Also, this is a great alternative to giving your followers a peak into your everyday life, without ruining your awesome Instagram feed.
Have some of your own tips or tricks? Tweet us @somethingsocial or tag us on Instagram – @somethingsocial.