If I Had to Start My Instagram Account Again, Part 2
Create a Winning Instagram Strategy
Starting an Instagram account without a clear strategy is like setting off on a road trip without a map. You might eventually get somewhere, but it’s unlikely to be where you wanted to go. A well-thought-out Instagram strategy is essential for creating a cohesive, engaging, and goal-driven account.
Here’s how to craft a winning strategy for your Instagram account:
Define Your Goals
What do you want to achieve with Instagram? Are you looking to:
- Increase brand awareness?
- Build a community around your business?
- Drive sales or generate leads?
- Showcase your expertise?
Set clear, measurable objectives to guide your efforts. For example, instead of saying, “I want more followers,” aim for, “I want to grow my followers by 20% over the next three months and increase engagement by 15%.” This way you can measure your success and tweak any changes as neccessary to stay on track.
Know Your Audience
Understanding your audience is the cornerstone of a successful strategy. If you’ve already defined your niche and target audience (see Part 1), now’s the time to deepen that knowledge.
- What content resonates with them? Check competitors’ posts, analyse comments, and engage directly with your followers to learn what they value.
- What challenges do they face? Your content should solve problems, provide inspiration, or entertain.
Plan Your Content
Your content should align with your goals and audience interests. Here’s how to structure your content plan:
- Content Themes: Identify recurring themes that align with your business. For example, a coffee shop could focus on behind-the-scenes videos, customer stories, and tips for brewing at home.
- Content Formats: Decide on the mix of Reels, carousels, Stories, and static posts based on what works for your audience and what your goal is. For example looking to grow you following? Reels are best for reach for most people. Looking to start conversations with current followers? Try carousels. Selling to a warm audience? Stories is where it’s at!
- Consistency: Create a posting schedule you can stick to. Whether it’s three times a week or daily, consistency is more important than frequency.
Engage with Your Audience
Posting content is only half the battle. The real magic happens in the comments, DMs, and through interactive features like polls and quizzes. Engagement shows the algorithm you’re an active, community-focused account and helps you build trust with your audience.
Stay Flexible
Instagram trends and algorithms change frequently. Stay informed about updates and adapt your strategy as needed. What works today might not work tomorrow, so always be ready to experiment and refine.
Track Your Progress
Use Instagram Insights to monitor:
- Engagement rates
- Reach and impressions
- Follower growth
- Content performance (e.g., saves, shares, and comments)
Analysing these metrics will help you understand what’s working and what needs adjustment.
Your Winning Formula
By defining your goals, understanding your audience, planning your content, engaging authentically, and staying flexible, you’ll create a strategy that not only grows your Instagram account but also supports your broader business objectives.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Final thoughts:
Creating a strategy for small business owners is one of the stand alone services I offer. The investment (as at Jan 25) is £400. You can read more about it here or email me at hello@tcbsocialmedia.com
Let’s get your Insta working hard for your small business and bringing your growth and sales in 25!
Suze 🫶🏽
Category: Insta Tips, Marketing