It’s 2019 and Instagram is taking the lead in the social sphere! If your brand hasn’t already taken the plunge, the best time to start was yesterday, so we’ll get you up to speed with the Instagram basics and the most important steps to take first.
Profile Photo
They say a picture is worth a thousand words! Your Instagram profile photo is one of the first things people will see when they visit your profile. It is also what people will recognize you by when you post and they are scrolling through their feed or stories. Your followers will come to know you by your profile photo, so it’s important to make it memorable.
1. Stay on brand
Think about using your logo as a profile photo! Hopefully, it’s already become a staple with your other marketing efforts, so chances are people will recognize it when they see it on Instagram.
2. Background color
Get bold with this one! If you are choosing to use your logo as your profile picture, stick it on top of a colorful background, preferably a color that’s part of your brand. If your logo is already colorful, a plain black or white background will let your logo do all the talking.
3. Sizing
The magic number is 110 x 110 pixels. Whether you’re designing your profile picture yourself, or you get your graphic designer to do all the work, make sure not to stray too far away from the above sizing. Don’t forget that Instagram will also be cropping that square into a circle after you upload, so make sure to leave plenty of space!
Bio
We all learned in elementary school—the Five W’s. Your visitors want to know who you are, what you can help them with, when you are open, where you are located, and why they should choose you! Your Instagram bio can be the most powerful part of your page.
1. Username
This must be your brand name or something very close to it. Instagram will only allow one person to claim a specific username, so if your exact brand name is already taken, you may have to get creative! Think about adding an underscore or abbreviating part of your name, but don’t stray too far away from your brand.
2. What can you help your visitor with
People love to find solutions to their problems! What problem can you solve for your visitor? Tell them what you specialize in and paint a picture for how you can help them out.
3. Business Hours, Address, and Website
Let people know when and where they can stop by! Make sure to include both your physical address and website. Instagram even lets you add the following call to action buttons; Call, Text, Directions, and Email.
4. Why should your visitor choose you
Show someone who is coming to your page why they should follow you or why they should come to see you. Show your personality! Don’t be a boring robot; it’s important for them to feel that there are actual humans they are interacting with.
