What to post on Instagram? A quick look at this social media site and the options can quickly get overwhelming. And if you want to use Instagram to promote your business, you first need to consider what types of posts are likely to appeal to your audience.
Luckily, there’s no shortage of things to post on Instagram. Once you have identified who you want to reach you can start looking for the type of content that will resonate most with them. You will soon find out there is a lot of stuff to post on Instagram, so be selective.
To give you some idea of how some of the top brands use Instagram, take a look at some of the most popular post types.
Instagram Post Ideas or, What to Post in Instagram
Styled Product Photos
Instagram is all about creative and unique visuals. So when you share product photos, you’ll want to make sure you style them in a way that’s visually interesting, like this post announcing a new collection from Vans.
Unique Product Uses
You can also show off interesting ways to use your products, and even share some cool ideas from your customers. Letterfolk, a small business that sells customizable letter signs, does this often.
Sale Announcements
Instagram can also be a great way to update your followers about sales or special promotions, as long as you also come up with interesting visuals to accompany those announcements. This post from Starbucks is a good example.
Inspirational Images
Not all of your Instagram posts have to just be about your products. You can share some images that are meant to tell stories or offer inspiration. And sometimes, they might just include a little glimpse of a product too, like this post from Nike.
Milestone Celebrations
You can also use your Instagram account to celebrate some of your business’s milestones, like birthdays or anniversaries. This post from Taco Bell is a good example.
Unique Customer Photos
Even if none of your customers actually have your business’s logo tattooed on their body, they might share some creative photos with your product or brand included that you can then repost.
For life. #PabstBlueRibbon • ?: @drbake17
Contest Previews
Instagram can be a great place to host a contest for your followers. You can show off how to enter using a photo or video, like this “dunk” contest from Oreo.
Watch Shaquille O’Neal drop the mic, and then dunk an Oreo Cookie. Then do yours. #OreoDunkSweepstakes #USOnly Link in bio.
Hashtag Posts
Instagram makes it easy for you to challenge your followers to post their own photos as part of a contest or giveaway and then track the entries using hashtags. In the post below, Warby Parker asks followers to post their dog photos with the tag #WarbyBarker.
Founder Photos
Social media can be a great avenue for putting a human face on your business. And there’s no easier way to do that than by sharing photos of your founder or team behind the scenes, like this one of Richard Branson on a trip with Virgin Atlantic.
We have arrived. #RockyMountainFly
Behind the Scenes Shots
Customers love to see what goes into making your products or campaigns. This shot of Jared Leto behind the scenes at a Gucci campaign shows how you can share images that give a quick glimpse behind the curtain while still fitting with your brand image.
Employee Appreciation Posts
You can get even more specific and profile or thank your employees publicly on Instagram. This can improve morale within your business as well as show your followers that you have a great team.
Event Updates
If your business is hosting any events, either in person or online, you can create a quick Instagram image to update your followers so they know when to buy tickets or tune in.
How does a seasoned blogger shop? Watch a Sephora Haul in action with the #SuarezSisters @NatalieOffDuty and @DylanaSuarez today on #FacebookLive. Plus, ask them beauty questions for instant tips. #LinkInBio
Holiday Themed Product Photos
On holidays, either major ones or lesser-known days that might intersect with your business, you can share a festive photo that also includes some of your product, like this one from menswear retailer Bonobos.
Limited Edition Products
If your business has any products or services that are only available for a short time period, it can be a good idea to share photos of those products to give your followers a heads up.
Now available for a limited time. (cc: @groteskito) #Converse
Product Choices
Any brand can post a photo of just one product. But you can add some interest and engagement by posting photos of multiple products and asking your followers to vote or share their favorites. This Topshop post compares similar products that are just different colors.
Project Ideas
Lots of Instagram users are interested in creative and unique DIY projects or ideas. So you can share a short video or series of photos to demonstrate a cool new way to use your products.
Stop Motion Videos
Videos let you show off a little bit more on Instagram than just standard photos. And stop motion videos like this one from Staples’ account give you a creative way to share content.
Giveaways
No matter the platform, people like getting the opportunity to win free stuff. On Instagram, you can post a photo and ask followers to repost it with a hashtag, or even post their own photos or tag other in a specific post.
Creative Challenges
Adobe likes to get creative on Instagram by posting monthly themes and challenging their followers to take photos within those themes, like nature related photos during April. The company then reposts some of its favorites.
Quotes
You can also show photos of quotes or sayings that might be relevant to your business or followers, like this one from WeddingWire.
Instagram Photo via Shutterstock
Aira Bongco
Really inspiring. These may be useful when you are looking for image inspirations for your next promotion. What’s important is that it gets the attention and relays the right message.
I think that quotes is really effective in Instagram. I have seen people build a following just on that.
Another idea is memes or style inspiration. This also gets lots of follows and likes.
Fun article that taught me the power of visual marketing. Yes, my favorite is the dog with glasses. That would certainly catch my eye on Instagram. Also, I like how Starbucks created a “mood” for morning coffee and relaxation. We will strive to be more creative and think through how we can interest and inspire our Instagram audience.
nice list, i think, these are all we can do with instagram to promote our brand
Great article….Social media is very useful platform in today’s time. We can promote our business on social media platform like facebook, instagram etc. Facebook is great place to grow your business by posting some nice article and ads related to your business.
Thanks for this nice article
Rosie
Great clear ideas , thanks