BEST PRACTICES GUIDE

Instagram Best Practices Guide

Using InstagramInstagram AccountCreate an Instagram account to tell your brand story and to engage with your followers. You should include information about your brand, an image or logo and a link to your website in your Profile. Post images that give followers a glimpse into who you are and help them build a connection with your brand.

Tips for posting compelling content:

» Give users behind the scenes access

» Show followers what you’re working on or what inspires you

» Take users through a day in the life of the brand

» Educate followers on the brand history

Instagram APIUse the API to access your own content and/or user generated content based on username, hashtag or location. Users are posting millions of photos to Instagram every day. Use the API to see where and how users are talking about your brand.

Tips for how to use the API:

» Create an online gallery of photos related to your brand, product or cause

» Display photos in real-time during live events

» Print photos to use in displays or to give to users at events

» Create a digital map of your own photos or of where users are tagging your brand

» Ask users to submit photos for contests or campaigns

Instagram CommunityThe Instagram community is extremely active. Find ways to connect with your followers and give them opportunities to engage with and talk about your brand.

Tips for how to engage with the community:

» Organize an InstaWalk around the city or behind the scenes at an event

» Host an Instagram MeetUp

» Create weekly hashtag challenges

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Instagram for BusinessWe’ve put together some tips and resources to help you get started using Instagram for your brand or organization.

» Getting Started with Instagram This is a quick guide for how to set up and start using your Instagram account

» Instagram for Business Help Center The Help Center provides resources and answers to frequently asked questions

» Business Blog The blog highlights great brand accounts, community engagement, unique API examples and general tips for how to manage a brand account.

» API Developer Page The site provides detailed information for developers using the Instagram API

Best PracticesChange PerspectiveMake sure you sign up for a personal account as well so you can experience what a user experiences. You’ll discover how you want to consume content, how you interact with other users and what type of images you find interesting.

ExperimentEvery brand has a different audience and wants to engage in different ways. Experiment with what types of photos to share and how often to post. Listen to the feedback from your users and adjust accordingly. It takes a while to learn who your audience is and to understand how to use a new platform.

Share Compelling ContentPost photos that users can’t see anywhere else – behind the scenes photos or sneak peeks of what’s to come. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and pay attention to what users like and comment on most. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your photos more beautiful.

Tell Your StoryThe photos you post tell a story about your brand. Users can tell when you’ve put thought into every photo you post. Being authentic about the content you share will help you build genuine connections with your followers.

Expand Your AudienceConnecting your Instagram account to your other social networks is a great way to let your followers know you’ve joined Instagram and to grow your audience. It also makes it easy to share the content you post on Instagram to your other accounts in order to increase your reach and exposure.

Post ConsistentlyUsers generally like to see a variety of photos from different accounts in their feed. Post often enough to keep users engaged, but keep them wanting more. Spread your posts out throughout the day or over multiple days.

Engage With the CommunityInteract with the Instagram community, both in the app and in person. Ask questions in your caption and respond to comments. Engage with your local Instagram Meetup groups. Encourage users to hashtag photos at your events.

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BEST PRACTICES GUIDE