1. Thought leadership
Visually showcase your expertise. This one’s absolutely perfect for
photographers and designers. But almost any business can impress their
audience by sharing tips on simple graphics.
Create a template and bang out a bunch of them! You could share one every
#TipTuesday.
Snappa is my favorite easy tool to help you make speedy graphics.
2. Product features and benefits
Associate your product with your brand values, heighten its exclusivity, or share
how it solves a pressing problem of your audience.
This will generate enthusiasm among those your product suits best!
3. Product launches
Publicize new product launches and classics that are getting an upgrade. Create
anticipation!
I stirred interest and got test users by sharing my upcoming product as an IG
post.
4. User-generated content
You don’t have to do it all yourself! Share your best customer content (with their
permission).
73% of people said user content (or “UGC”) confirmed their decision to buy a
specific product. So try it!
5. Influencer and celebrity endorsements
You don’t need to have a huge company or budget to harness the power of
influencer marketing. Every niche has their own “tastemakers” whose fans hang
on their every recommendation.
6. Cause-related marketing
You can’t be all about your own business. Project the ideals and values your
company stands for by promoting or donating to an important nonprofit.
7. Use popular hashtags
My hashtag policy differs somewhat. Perhaps using wildly popular tags like #ootd
or #tbt might work for huge brands that have already built an engaged audience.
But until your account gets there, these tags will have your post buried in the
hashtag feed within seconds.
8. Memes
Memes can be effective if they suit your brand style and audience.
You can post animated GIPHY memes on Instagram!
GIPHY offers a one-click solution to turn any GIF into a perfectly looped fifteensecond .mp4 for you to upload directly to Instagram.
9. DIY ideas
Can you help your followers solve a problem quickly? Share your advice in a DIY
post!
I’ve noticed that time-lapse videos work great for quick DIY tips.
10. Instagram quotes
Quotes are always popular when they’re aligned with your audience’s interests
and your brand mission.
My go-to tool for quick quote graphics is Stencil. There are over 100,000 quotes
right in the app! You can see my sample below.
Open a template, search by your theme word (beauty, peace, health, marketing)
and you’ll instantly get quotes you can pop in.
Easy as pie! Plus you can quickly resize them to the optimal sizes for Pinterest,
Facebook, and Twitter, if you like.
11. Behind the scenes
Instagram is a great place to connect with your audience and build up know-liketrust with them!
Make them feel special by sharing a sneak peek behind the scenes.
12. Hyperlapse videos
Put a fresh spin on otherwise mundane images by making a hyperlapse video.
13. Stats and numbers
Tell a story by sharing stats that’ll impress your audience.
Perfect for sports teams, nonprofit work, marketing companies and more. Brag a
little about what you’ve accomplished!
Remember to keep your graphic simple, since it’s being viewed at a small size.
An easy tool to make quick infographics is Venngage.
14. Artsy stuff
Doodles, sketches, and calligraphy are extremely popular on Instagram.
If this fits your niche and your skill set, give it a go!
15. Throwback Thursday / Flashback Friday
Seems everyone loves nostalgia!
Using “throwback” posts to highlight the legacy of your business and celebrate its
history is an especially effective way to build your brand with #vintagelove.
16. Customer testimonials
Share quotes or short videos from customers explaining how they use and love
your product or service.
17. Reels
Don’t forget this latest feature! These short, 15 or 30-second videos live in their
own tab that can be accessed above the account’s feed.
However, when you upload a Reel, you can also choose to post it to your Feed. If
you choose this option, the Reel will show up in your profile grid along with your
other posts.
18. Frequently asked questions
Answer a FAQ. Encourage your audience to add their questions in a comment!
19. Bag spill photo
Spill the beans! Umm, I mean bag 🙂 Show your essentials and ask followers to
name theirs.





Makeup artists: Spill your cosmetic bag.
Parenting bloggers: Spill your diaper bag.
B2B bloggers: Spill your work tote.
Artists: Flat lay your favorite tools
Etc!
20. Challenge of the month
Come up with a challenge for your followers, themed to your niche or the season.
21. Get feedback
Have your followers tell you about their needs related to your niche. Is there a
kind of tip, blog post, or product they’d like to see more of?
This shows you care and sets you up as the go-to for their needs.
Be sure to follow through!
22. Offer your freebie
Do you offer a relevant freebie when readers sign up for your email list?
Be sure to let your IG followers know! Leave the link in your bio and in an IG
Story.
23. Thank a customer
Sometimes a customer will make your day! Post a “thank you” graphic and tag
them.
This shows you appreciate your buyers, and gives you another way to mention
your products
24. Reflect
Share with your audience where you were “a year ago today.” Find an old photo
or screenshot, or snap a memento to post.
Thank them as a group for helping you reach the success you have
25. Get advice
Whether you’re potty training, puppy training, or training for a marathon, share a
picture and ask followers for their tips.
Everyone loves to be heard.
26. Share clips
If you do a podcast, a free webinar, or a paid training, share short clips as IG
posts.
This shows your audience what you’re up to, as well as showcasing your
expertise.
27. Who inspires you?
Who is an inspiration to you, and why?
If it’s someone you know personally, post a pic of the two of you.
If it’s a famous person, you may be able to find a public domain photo, or you can
make a graphic of one of your favourite sayings.
28. Industry trends
What’s new in your niche? If it would interest your audience, or if you’d like to get
their take on it, post about it.
29. Share your team
Whether you have a staff or some virtual support, plan a series of posts
highlighting your team members, and how they help you.
30. Event selfie
Attending an event? Whether it’s business or personal, consider snapping a selfie
and sharing on Instagram.
31. Event insights
If the event drops some knowledge bombs your audience would appreciate,
share them!
Create a brief video with a pertinent tip. Repeat with another if they enjoyed it.
You might also share mini-videos of the speakers, if allowed, or create quickie
graphics with quotes.
32. Book selfie
Hold up a book you’re reading and share your thoughts. Or if you’re camera shy,
create a nice photo of the book in a flat lay or still life.
Then ask your followers what they’re reading, or what they recommend
33. Share a favourite app
If you’ve found something that makes life easier, let your followers know.
Snap a screenshot for the visual, and add a few sentences about how it helps
you.
See if they’ve tried it, or ask what their favorite app may be.
34. Affiliate
product review
If you affiliate for products in your niche, you can often get quality images to
share on social media. Just be sure you have permission.
share your own or another user’s positive experiences with it.
You can put a link to a longer review on your blog in a Story or on your bio.
35. Start a sentence
This is great for comments! Create a graphic with the beginning of a sentence.
Ask your followers to finish it.
Example: “My biggest struggle last week was…”
Wait and see what happens!
How to Use Days of the Week Hashtags
1 | Before using hashtags, research them.
Hashtag meanings can change over time. And some hashtags don’t mean what
you think they mean.
Some hashtags I decided not to include due to wild stuff being posted on them.
Just make sure you want your posts to live in that neighborhood – er, hashtag
feed.
2 | Post early.
Depending on your time zone and your followers’ location, you may want to
make your days of the week posts either early in the day, or perhaps the evening
before.
Don’t post so early that it doesn’t make sense, but also don’t post #TGIF on
Friday night in Pacific time, as most people will be seeing it on Saturday
3 | Save time.
You don’t always have to produce the content yourself to participate in these fun
hashtag days.
Search the hashtag, find a post you like, and retweet, share, or re-gram.
4 | Make a note.
For Instagram, keep a note on your phone with groups of hashtags that you can
copy and paste quickly.
5 | How many hashtags?
Use no more than 3 hashtags on Twitter, and up to 30 on Instagram. Yes, I use
that many. They work!
#MotivationMonday or #MondayMotivation Start the week on an upbeat note
with a motivational picture quote.
#MCM or #ManCrushMonday Why not feature a male client, employee, or
influencer in your niche? On a more personal note, you could feature your
spouse, significant other, or BFF (but do keep it within the realm of
professionalism).
#MeowMonday Here’s your first chance this week to post an adorable cat photo.
Do your employees, customers, or followers have photos of their favorite felines
they’d love for you to share? Ask!
#MondayFunday Share something fun about you or your business!
#MusicMonday People love to know what kind of music you (or your team)
favor, and to share theirs. Or you could feature an upcoming concert, or one you
attended over the weekend.
#MondayMemories Your first day of the week to go retro.
#MindfulMonday Perfect for a business or life coach, yoga studio, and more.
#MarketingMonday Share a tip that’s worked for your business. Maybe even
send folks to this article!
#ManicMonday What’s on your plate this week? Be sure to ask your followers
about their week ahead, too.
#MondayBlues How do you beat them? Be positive, not negative, with this one.
#MondayMotivation #MotivationMonday #MondayBlues #MarketingMonday
#MusicMonday #MeatlessMonday #MaxoutMonday #MondayRun #MondayOutfit
#MindfulMonday #ManicureMonday #MancrushMonday (or #MCM)
#MondayFunday #ManicMonday #MondayMemories #MondayMantra
#MondayMood #MondayMadness #MountainMonday
#TransformationTuesday or #tt Show how your product or service has
transformed customers or businesses. A great day for a testimonial!
#TipTuesday Perfect for any business! Share your expertise with your followers
in a tip graphic.
#TravelTuesday When it fits, show where your business (or pleasure) has sent
you lately.
#GoodNewsTues Everyone can use more positivity. Share a short feel-good
story or video.
#TrendyTuesday Works for fashion niches, but also a way to show how your
business is keeping up with the latest.
#TopicTuesday Share your thoughts on a popular topic in your industry.
#TuesdayShoesday Spotlight on fun or interesting shoes in your office!
#TuesdayTreat Everyone like to drool over a little #foodporn! Or, offer your
followers a freebie as a treat.
#TuneTuesday or #TuesdayTunesDay See #MusicMonday for ideas
#TongueOutTuesday or #TOT Show your pet, or your own silly side!
#TakeMeBackTuesday or #TimehopTuesday Your next nostalgia tag of the
week. Share a vintage photo of your business or industry.
All the Tuesday hashtags:
#TravelTuesday #TransformationTuesday #TipTuesday #TechTuesday
#TuesdayTasting #TacoTuesday #TuesdayShoesday #GoodNewsTues
#TuesdayTunes #TakeMeBackTuesday #TastyTuesday #TuesdayTrivia
#TuesdayTruth #TuesdayTreat #TurtleTuesday #TuedayTakeover
#TougueOutTuesday #TattooTuesday
Wednesday Hashtag Ideas
#WellnessWednesday or #HealthyHumpDay or #WednesdayWorkout If
relevant to your business or personal brand, share a health-related tip. Perhaps
your team members could take turns sharing their favorite exercise or health
food.
#HumpDay Celebrate what you’ve accomplished already this week, and ask your
followers to join in so you can cheer them on.
#WisdomWednesday (or WednesdayWisdom) An opportunity to share a smart
business tip.
#WayBackWednesday Another trip down memory lane!
#WoofWednesday It’s the dogs’ day! Share a cute puppy picture.
#WineWednesday If you love wine, lift a glass to toast your followers!
#Humpday #WorkoutWednesday #WisdomWednesday #WellnessWednesday
#WayBackWednesday #WoofWednesday #Winesday #WineWednesday
#WhiskeyWednesday #WackyWednesday #WomenWednesday
#WednesdayWords #WinItWednesday #WaterfallWednesday
#WhiskersWednesday #WeddingWednesday
#ThankfulThursday Show gratitude to a client, customer, employee, or
supporter of your business. Or, get your followers thinking positively by asking
them to name something they’re thankful for.
#TBT or #ThrowbackThursday The most popular day of the week hashtag!
Show something you or your company did in years past, your company’s growth,
products or services you offered years ago.
#Thursdate Not just for midweek dates, you can post your business meetings
and events.
#ThursdayThoughts Share your thoughts on a trending topic in your niche.
#ThinkPositiveThursday Got a positive thought for Thursday? Share it in a
picture quote.
#ThursdayVibes How are your followers feeling this Thursday?
All the Thursday hashtags:
#ThrowbackThursday (or #TBT) #ThankfulThursday #ThinkPositiveThursday
#Thursdate #ThirstyThursday #ThursdayThrowPillows #HandToolThursday
#ThoughtfulThursday #ThursdayVibes #ThursdayNight #ThursdayThoughts
#TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday)
Friday Hashtags for Business
Yes, businesses can have fun on Fridays!
Connect with your audience by throwing in some fun Friday hashtags.
#FF or #FollowFriday or #FeatureFriday Spotlight another user on the social
media platform. They may return the favor later!
#FBF or #FlashbackFriday Yes, yet another chance to dig into your archives for
a look back.
#FridayFunday Post a meme, or something fun, as people slide into weekend
mode.
#FreebieFriday Your followers will love Fridays even more if you tip them off to a
freebie they’d love.
#FunnyFriday Share something funny about your business, customers, or
employees.
#FearlessFriday Tell a story about overcoming challenges in your business.
#FridayReads Share a blog post, or business-related book you’re reading.
#FoodieFriday Great for food bloggers, restaurants, and fitness businesses – or
an awesome opportunity to post a pic of a fabulous meal!
#FridayNight Ask followers about their plans.
#FeelGoodFriday Post feel-good photos or quotes that your audience would
love.
#FlashBackFriday #FearlessFriday #FashionFriday #FictionFriday #FridayReads
#FridayFacts #FollowFriday (or #FF) #FridayIntroductions #FeatureFriday
#FitnessFriday #FoodieFriday #FridayFlowers #FridayFun #FridayFunny
#FridayVibes #Friyay #FridayFeels #FridayNight #FactFriday #FreebieFriday
#TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday)
#Caturday Did you miss #MeowMonday? Here’s your second chance!
#SaturdaySwag Perfect to tag products you sell, or are giving away in a contest.
#SocialSaturday Ask your followers a question so you can get to know each
other!
#ShoutoutSaturday Give a shout out to one of your star employees or best
customers.
#SalesSaturday #SaturdaySpecial #SaturdaySale Offer a Saturday-only
discount on your product or services.
#SaturdayStyle Fashion mavens, this one’s for you.
#SaturdaySweat Share your fitness routine or sweaty chores today!
#SaturdaySweets Candy stores, bakeries, restaurants, and nutrition experts can
share their special treats or a recipe with this tag.
#SaturdayNight Feel free to post a photo of your fun evening – as long as it
doesn’t cross the line into looking unprofessional.
#Caturday #SaturdayStyle #SaturdaySweat #SaturdaySpecial #SaturdaySale
#SaturdayShopping #SaturdaySwag #SaturdayBrunch #SaturdayShenanigans
#SelfCareSaturday #SaturdayRun #SaturdayFun #SaturdaySelfie
#ScreenshotSaturday #SaturdayNight #SaturdayNightFever #SaturdayShoutOut
(or #SS) #SocialSaturday
#SS or #SelfieSunday Where does your Sunday take you? Post a pic, if
appropriate.
#SundayFunday As above, but you don’t have to be in this shot!
#SundayRead Share one of your recent blog posts, or a favorite book your fans
would enjoy.
#SelfcareSunday Perfect for health and beauty niches! Or post a graphic
#StartupSunday Tell a tale of how you started your business.
#SpotlightSunday Spotlight a loyal customer or evangelist.
#SundaySweets #SundaySweat #SundaySpecial #SundaySale
#SundayFunday #SundayReads #SpotlightSunday #StartupSunday
#SundaySweat #SundayHike #SelfieSunday #WeekendVibes #ScienceSunday
#SundayBrunch #SundayVibes #SundayBest #SundayDinner #SundaySesh
#SelfCareSunday #SundayScaries #SuperSoulSunday #PancakeSunday
#SundaySweets
USE 30 HASHTAGS
Should I Post Instagram Hashtags in Comments or
Caption?
Instagram hashtags may be placed in the photo or video caption at the time you
post.
Or, hashtags may be added in a comment (or several comments) after posting.
There’s no difference to their functionality, so it’s your choice.
I prefer adding hashtags in comments, as these are quickly buried once you get a
few user comments.
If you write an engaging caption with a call-to-action or question (please
do!), people may get distracted by a raft of hashtags and forget to complete your
desired action.
This is why I recommend Instagram hashtags in comments rather than captions.
If you’re confused on whether to hide hashtags in a comment or caption, and
which actually works better, do a split test! You can do this manually, or for easier
comparing, use Tailwind.
The most popular hashtags of all time
1. #love
2. #instagood
3. #photooftheday
4. #fashion
5. #beautiful
6. #like4like
7. #picoftheday
8. #art
9. #happy
10. #photography
11. #instagram
12. #followme
13. #style
14. #follow
15. #instadaily
16. #travel
17. #life
18. #cute
19. #fitness
20. #nature
top 50 hashtags for 2023
1. #love
2. #interiordesign
3. #design
4. #fashion
5. #instagood
6. #style
7. #inspiration
8. #art
9. #travel
10. #summer
11. #realestate
12. #foodie
13. #homedecor
14. #smallbusiness
15. #shoplocal
16. #motivation
17. #wellness
18. #health
19. #lifestyle
20. #beauty
21. #food
22. #home
23. #selfcare
24. #photography
25. #fitness
26. #nature
27. #handmade
28. #ootd
29. #photooftheday
30. #skincare
31. #architecture
32. #selflove
33. #shopsmall
34. #luxury
35. #supportlocal
36. #instafood
37. #beautiful
38. #mentalhealth
39. #mindset
40. #business
41. #vegan
42. #linkinbio
43. #healthy
44. #family
45. #interior
46. #entrepreneur
47. #interiors
48. #delicious
49. #explore
50. #realtor
Use hashtags that are relevant to your niche.
Using specific and relevant hashtags helps you connect with people who are
looking for exactly what you’re posting.
You can find relevant tags by searching your keywords in Instagram, or using a
site like Hashtagify.me.
Watch what others in your niche are using.
See what your peers and influencers are posting on their photos.
Check out the related tags Instagram suggests when you tap a tag that’s relevant
to your content. Try them if they seem useful!
Be sure your hashtags are active.
Check the hashtag feed to see that the tags you’re using are currently being used
by others.
Create a branded hashtag for your company or a campaign.
Check that these tags aren’t already being used, particularly in a way you
wouldn’t approve of!
Prompt fans and followers to use your tag, and you’ll soon learn just who your
superfans are. Support, encourage, and regram them!
If you insist on using uber-popular hashtags, you MUST post them in your
post caption.
If you wait even a second to post them in a comment, they’re pretty much
worthless, as your post will be buried in that hashtag feed the instant you add it.
If you post hashtags in several comments, post the more popular ones
first.
Post hashtag comments in the order of how fast the hashtag feeds move!
Niche hashtags CAN still be added at a later date!
DON’T bother adding hashtags where the original date of your post would have it
buried deeply in the feed – BUT there are some cool super-niche hashtags that
have only several hundred to a few thousand posts in them. Many of these even
have avid fans!
For easiest hashtagging, keep groups of 30 hashtags in your phone’s Notes
app.
Create and save a set of 30 tags for each type of post you make
Use more hashtags relevant to your niche.



What are your keywords?
What are peers/competitors/influencers using?
What does Instagram suggest as related?
Create a custom tag for your brand or campaign.



Be sure to check first to see if it’s already being used.
Promote your tag’s use by followers.
Engage / shout out your fans who use it!
Keep hashtag groups in your phone’s Notes app.



One group for each type of content you post.
Copy them to your clipboard before you post content.
Follow up immediately with hashtags in a comment.
1 | Create a compelling Instagram profile
What do IGers see when they visit your account? Your bio!
Is it clear what you offer, and why they’d want to follow you?
As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression. When someone
visits your profile, they’ll decide in seconds whether or not to follow your account.
Make sure your Instagram profile picture matches up with your other accounts, so
people recognize you.
If your business name isn’t well-known like IKEA or Nike, add a few keywords to
your name to clarify your niche.
You only have 150 characters for your bio! I recommend bullet points that
communicate at a glance.
Feel free to set them off with emojis. An emoji can communicate a lot in a single
character.
2 | Curate a beautiful gallery
Know what else IGers see on your profile?
Your last few posts!
Instagram is a highly visual platform, and users are discerning. You can’t just
post any old thing that you might get away with on another platform.
Create your brand story:

Decide on a visual theme you’ll use to represent your brand.

Make sure your photos will provide value to your followers.

Use your products to tell a story that will be of interest to your audience.
Because of the grid gallery on your profile page, it’s critical that you develop and
follow a themed look or style. This gallery is going to communicate at a glance
what your account is about – or just look like a mishmash of swiped content and
reposts.
Create your brand content:

Use your business colors, fonts, and photography style.

Use high resolution photos and third-party editing apps to enhance your
photos.

Use Instagram filters, third-party filters, or no filter as appropriate to your
brand.

You can also try apps to add text to photos for a consistent look.

Product images should feature the product prominently in the picture.

Utilize Instagram video for more creative storytelling.

3 | Post Instagram Reels

Not familiar with Reels? They’re 15 to 30 seconds clips that are set to
music. They can be shared in the Stories and Explore Feeds – plus there’s
a new dedicated Reels tab.

Reels are the newest feature on IG – and Instagram loves to maximize
reach for its latest additions.

In fact, they’ve even been advising IGers who want to grow their accounts
to use them 4 to 7 times a week.

With the trending and popular accounts feature, you have a chance to
reach a totally new audience. They’re also easy to access in the same way
as IGTV.
4 | Use Instagram Stories – and keep ‘em
coming!
Stories are a fun and effective way to stand out.
Instagram pushes Stories out, both at the top of the home page, and again
throughout the feed.
They don’t want IGers to miss them, so take advantage!
Your Story will be bumped to the front of the line each time you add to it, so keep
those updates coming. At least a couple a day – even better, every couple hours.
Don’t forget to curate your best Stories into themed Highlights you’ll show on your
profile, under your bio.
5 | Choose the best Instagram hashtags
I can’t overstate the importance of using hashtags with your posts and Stories.
Hashtags really help your account get discovered.
But they have to be the right hashtags! Use a mix of brand-specific, industryspecific, and trending hashtags.
6 | Don’t forget to geotag
Here’s another way for your posts and Stories to be found! If you’re at a popular
location, tag the location. IGers perusing that geotag will find your post there as
well.
Posts with a tagged location result in 79% higher engagement than posts without
a tagged location.
7 | Craft an engaging caption
Now that you’ve got an awesome post or Story, be sure to get engagement on it,
or it’ll just fizzle away.
Tell followers about your experience on a topic, and ask theirs.
Post an inspirational quote and ask if they agree with it.
Ask questions that encourage comments.
And don’t forget to respond to those comments! If you don’t want to engage on
social media, you’re in the wrong place.
8 | Post at the best times for engagement
Check your own analytics to see what works best for your account. Every
account and audience is different!
As a general rule, the best days to post on Instagram are weekdays, with posts
published on Tuesday and Wednesday getting the highest engagement.
Posting to Instagram from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. results in good engagement for
brands.
Interactions on posts peaks between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m, with a lot of audience
activity between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. when people get off work.
9 | Post consistently
I know this can be tough. You’ve got a lot on your plate.
But you really need to post daily or your engagement will suffer.
Poor engagement means IG will show your posts less often.
Less new people will discover your posts, and it’s all downhill from there.
Those that increased their rate of posting over the three month study saw a
significant increase in their engagement rate, and enjoyed higher follower
growth rates too!
10 | Post user-generated content
Running out of post ideas? Get your audience to help!
Encourage your followers to create videos, photos, and GIFs with your products,
or post a testimonial of your services.
Create a branded hashtag that can showcase all user-generated content for your
brand. You can feature this on your bio too!
It’s a smart way to increase your brand awareness and get more content too.
Buffer grew their Instagram following by 442%, largely by sharing user-generated
content. They posted relevant photos that their followers had clicked along with
their Instagram handles.
11 | Like and comment to grow organically
This should be obvious, but it isn’t.
Get social with your followers, and those you hope to become followers, posts!
It’s quite amazing how often I see accounts of mediocre quality with hundreds of
likes on their posts. Even into the thousands!
And how did I find these accounts in the first place? They dropped by my gallery
and “liked” 10 or more of my posts.
Or maybe they liked a few and left a genuine comment on one.
THIS is truly the best way to make people aware of your account, and get new
followers.
Why? Because it’s social media!
People are there to be social, and to engage with people who show an interest in
them – not just in selling stuff to them.
So, go find the followers of your competitors and get engaged.
Engage to your heart’s content!



Like and comment popular photos. Mention both creator and other
commenters.
Follow the 5/3/1 rule to find engage and gain new followers!
Like five photos, comment on three photos, and as a result you should
earn one new follower.
Your Instagram account needs your personal touch
Top 3 Reasons to Use IG Stories
Clients get to know you and your staff better: Why not have your team
introduce themselves and say one or two things about themselves?
Show why your process is better: Maybe you only use the freshest ingredients.
Let your clients see you buying them or picking them. You don’t have to give
away your proprietary secrets but give them a glimpse.
Highlight your product and grow brand awareness: Use this opportunity to
show off what your company and product can do for them.
two ways to keep your Story alive!
1 | Add more Story segments.
2 | Curate your best Stories into Highlights.
If you have the image or video for your Story on your phone, follow these
steps:
1. Schedule an image (a ‘dummy’ reminder post) for the time you’d like to
publish your Story to Instagram as a notification through Tailwind.
2. When you get your reminder from Tailwind that it’s time to post, tap
‘Post to Instagram.’ This will open the Instagram app and the image
you scheduled will save to your photo library.
3. In Instagram, choose to post to your Story and then tap the ‘X’ in the
top left corner.
4. Next, start a new post using the ‘+’ button at the bottom of your screen.
You can either select the saved image, or add other images or videos
to post to your Story.
5. Choose any Story segments from your archive. Stick to a theme.
6. Select an eye-catching cover image for your Highlight.
7. Give it a clear and concise name. A maximum of 11–13 characters and
spaces will show.
How to Get More Engagement on Stories
To maximize your Story’s effectiveness, try these tips:
→ Geotags increase your reach by including you in the relevant Stories for that
area.
→ Links have been shown to get up to 25% follow-through to your site or landing
page. So use them!
→ Long videos can be cut into shorter segments with an app like CutStory.
→ “Takeovers” by employees or influencers generate high levels of engagement.
→ Polls collect feedback or simply start a conversation.
Instagram Stories vs Posts
Should you use Stories or posts?
You should absolutely use both, and use them in tandem!
You can put a live link in a Story – you can’t do that in a post!
1 | Have your post and Story prepared.
2 | Post your Story. Don’t forget to include the link.
3 | Now post to the feed and tell people to check out your Story and click the link
for more info.
More IG Stories stats from 99firms (sources cited on their site):
1 in 4 Millennials and Gen Z-ers look for Stories of the products and
services they want to buy.
 15%–25% of people swipe up on a link in branded Stories.
 One-third of the most-viewed Instagram Stories are from businesses.
 36% of businesses use Instagram Stories for product promotion.
 59% of brands link Instagram Stories to a shoppable page.
 The average posting frequency for IG Stories is 2.3 posts per week.
 Instagram Stories accounts for 34% of Instagram’s sponsored content.
You can @mention another account. When a user taps it, they’ll hop to the
other account.


How to Make an Awesome Instagram Profile for
Business
write a great bio that tells the world what you do, and why they should follow you.
You can @mention another account. When a user taps it, they’ll hop to the other
account
The last line of your bio might be a call-to-action to inform users why they should
click your bio link!
Got a branded hashtag? That’s a must to include in your bio.
You could also use a tightly-niched hashtag where your content rules the top
posts.
Be sure to include your one precious live link on Instagram. This goes in your bio,
and you can direct IGers to your link in your post captions.





Crafting the perfect bio.
Sharing the right mix of content.
Increasing your engagement.
What’s the Best Instagram Post Size?
The optimal Instagram photo size is 1080 pixels wide by 566 pixels high, up
to 1080 wide by 1350 pixels high.



You can upload larger images, but they will be reduced in size to 1080
pixels wide.
Photos between 320 and 1080 pixels wide will post at their original
resolution, but beseen stretched on most screens.
You can upload images less than 320 pixels wide and let IG upsize them to
320, but these will look the worst.
INSTAGRAM POST
ASPECT RATIO
RESOLUTION
Square photo or video
1:1
1080 x 1080 px
Landscape photo or video
1.91:1
1080 x 566 px
Portrait photo or video
4:5
1080 x 1350 px
The portrait or vertical image gives you the most impact in the Instagram
stream. Use 1080 pixel width by 1350 pixels tall.
If your photo is larger, no worries – Instagram will reduce it when you post. Try
not to post smaller, though, as your image will lose quality when viewed on most
devices, especially retina screens.
You can upload a Reel with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 9:16. I
recommend 9:16, since Instagram Reels are viewed full-screen at the 9:16
aspect ratio. You may use the size 1080 x 1920 pixels, just like Stories.
Reels should have a minimum resolution of 720 pixels.
The recommended size for the Instagram Reels cover photo is 420px by 654px
(or 1:1.55 ratio)
What Size is a Reels Thumbnail?
In your IG profile, Reels are cropped to a square or 1:1 aspect ratio thumbnail.
Just as with un-square image posts, you have no control over this cropping – it’ll
be the exact center of your video.
Or you can choose to upload your own optimized thumbnail image, just like you
can do for YouTube thumbnails.
Keep in mind that in the Reels gallery, the thumbnail will show the full 9:16 image
(reduced to 1/3 size).
Instagram Reels Specs



60-second max length (previously 15 and 30-second max length)
Video Export Settings
o H.264 video file
o Bitrate target around 2-3 Mbps
Audio Export Settings
o AAC codec
o Sample Rate of 44100 Hz
o Channels set to Mono
o Bitrate of 160 kbps
| Instagram image ad size and specs
The Image Ad is the most widely used advertising type for both Instagram and
Facebook.
As Instagram is a photo-sharing social media platform, it’s essential to share
visually pleasing content.
Instagram crops your image to a square when it is displayed on the feed, but you
can also add it as a landscape or portrait image.
Here are some specifications of Instagram image ads:





Caption: up to 2,200 characters
Image format: .jpg or .png
Max. file size: 30 MB
Square (1:1 aspect ratio):
600×600 pixels (minimum)
1936×1936 pixels (maximum)
Landscape (1.91:1 aspect ratio):
600×315 pixels (minimum)
1936×1936 pixels (maximum)

Portrait (4:5 aspect ratio):
600×750 pixels (minimum)
1936×1936 pixels (maximum)

2 | Instagram video ad size and specs

Video Ads let you introduce your brand or offers with a video or GIF.

Instagram videos start to play when the application opens. The moving
nature of video ads helps to catch user attention as they scroll their
Instagram feeds.
Here are the basic specifications:




File Size – up to 4GB
Length – 120 seconds
Caption Length – 2200 characters
Aspect Ratio:
Square – 1:1
Landscape – 1.91:1
Portrait – 4:5
3 | Instagram Stories ad size and specs
Stories are one of the popular features on Instagram.
Instagram Stories are similar to Snapchat in that they allows users, and brands,
to share self-destructing photos and videos. They draw attention to your brand
with Stories Highlights, which will stay on your profile until you remove them.
On Instagram Stories, you can post recorded videos, photos, live videos,
boomerangs, text and music. You can also add stickers such as your location,
user tags, the temperature and hashtags.
Here are the Stories specs:






Format: Full-screen vertical ad (9:16)
File types: .jpg or .png
Photo content: visible for 5 seconds
Aspect Ratio: from 1:91 to 4:5
File type
.mp4 or .mov (Video)
.jpg or .png (Photo)
Maximum File Size:
4GB (Video)
30MB (Photo)


Length
Maximum: 15 seconds
Images show for 5 seconds by default
Dimensions
Resolution: 1080 x 1920 (portrait)
Minimum: 600 x 1067
4 | Instagram Collection ad size and specs
Collection ads worki like this: When users see an advertisement or offer from
your brand, they’ll have the option to purchase products directly from the ad.
Using Collections, you can showcase your products and discounts to increase
sales. The result proved that it increased conversions by 6.3%.



Aspect ratio: 1:1 to 16.9
Character length: 90
Formats and dimensions are the same as those of a standard image or
video ad.
5 | Instagram Carousel ad size and specs
Carousel ads allow you to show a series of scrollable images or videos rather
than just one single image.
This ad feature can link to your Facebook Page or website directly using a “Learn
More” button.
Here are some specifications of Carousel ads:









Minimum number of carousel cards: 2
Maximum number of carousel cards: 10 successive carousel cards
Aspect ratio: 1:1 (recommended)
Resolution: 1080 x 1080 pixels (recommended)
Image file format: .jpg and .png
Image maximum file size: 30MB
Video length: up to 240 minutes (15 seconds recommended)
Video file format: .mp4
Video maximum file size: 4GB

Good captions help make a connection

Instagram is all about engagement rate and reactions. Your post captions
are the best way to boost this connection that people feel when they see
your content.

Since the feed algorithm uses reactions and engagement to help decide
what to show people, having a caption that makes a connection is more
important than ever.

They need to feel a connection with what you say as well as what you show
– which leads to the next reason…

Good captions encourage people to react

When people feel that connection, they react to it.

And we know these reactions are IG gold.

So the right caption can inspire someone to engage with it!

Good captions get people to comment or even DM you

The final step that can result from a great caption is that people are more
likely to comment.

Or they may feel the need to reach out and DM you to chat more.

All of these are positives as far as Instagram is concerned.

And they can help lead back to that first point, making connections with
people to increase your level of engagement.
Have a strong first sentence
Because Instagram shortens the caption to 2 lines in the initial view, that first
sentence is super important.
How long is an Instagram caption before the more button? 125 characters or
fewer.
You want to get the most compelling piece of information in there. Or you might
even start with a question. Make it enticing!
This leads them into reading more for the answer. The aim is to keep them
reading!
Make sure the most important stuff is near the front of the caption. In addition to
the first sentence, you usually have another line to get the most important stuff in
early.
So front-load your caption with the good stuff to ensure it’s seen.
And remember, the aim is to get them to hit that ‘more’ button and read the rest.
Write for humans and don’t worry about algorithms
Algorithms are a fact of social media marketing life. But you never want to write
for them – only for people.
That means writing captions for your audience, and not worrying about ticking
those algorithm boxes.
Be yourself, use your brand voice, talk as you would to someone on the street.
Write what you would say to your target audience if you met them in person.
Whatever works best for you, find a way to harness the real human conversation
for the best captions.
Keep a consistent brand voice
You’ll also want to work on ‘brand voice.’ This can be whatever you want it to be.
The idea is that you use certain phrases, structures to your word combinations,
and even the words themselves. These help showcase your personality, and help
people get to know and connect with you.
If you sound different in every caption, people might not realize they’re all from
the same person – or even the same business!
That’s why those popular Instagram caption prompts are best used as prompts,
not just copy-and-paste.
Create something that sounds like you – not like the person creating the prompts!
Add value for your audience
Not every caption needs to do this, but some definitely should.
Including value in the caption works for any niche. It could be a tip or trick, a
snippet of news, a new tool or app, or simply something that’s helped you.
By offering value as well as entertainment and a way to connect, you can win
over your audience.
And there’s a greater chance they’ll save the caption and bookmark it for later
reference – Instagram loves that!
How long can Instagram captions be? The character limit is 2,200, which is
about 400 words. But you don’t need to use them all!
Don’t forget to add emojis
A lot of us use emojis without thinking about it. But be strategic using them in
your Instagram captions.
You want to use emojis to enhance your captions. However, you need to watch
for ones that could have more than one meaning.
Using the right emojis will help make that important connection with followers.
And makes your caption more fun to view!
Finish with a strong CTA
Every caption needs to finish with some kind of call to action (CTA).
This can be something as simple as asking them to follow you or comment.
Or it can be guiding them to that clickable link in your Instagram profile to take an
action.
You might even want to ask them to tag a friend or post a photo in reply with a
branded hashtag to get that user-generated content.
Have in mind the CTA you want to include before you start the caption, so it feels
natural.
Should You Write Captions Straight to Instagram?
The final thing to think about is your caption writing process.
You may be tempted to just write captions straight into Instagram. But it’s better
to avoid this.
Instead, grab a Google Doc, or even something like Airtable.
Here you can create a database of your posts, and add some metrics to help you
track what works best.
Open the Google Doc and write a load of ideas for captions.
Then as you go back through and fine-tune them, pick the best ones.
Eventually, choose the ones you want – but don’t throw the others away. Keep
them to use another time, or on a different social media platform.
Then copy-paste your caption to Instagram, add your video or image, and post!
Creating Great Instagram Captions
Creating Instagram captions that unlock more likes, comments, and reach is
about creating a process.
It might seem tempting to give up and try an Instagram caption generator – but
those can’t craft the kind of captions you need.
What works is understanding and including the elements you need in a caption.
Then arranging them correctly to get the right response.
When you write those long ones that are proven to increase engagement, don’t
waste your words! Be sure to use Instagram caption spacing for increased
readability.
Finally, you’ll pair them with beautiful imagery to create great visual content that
rocks the Instagram feed!



Static image or video Instagram post ideas.
Instagram Stories.
And the latest to hit the scene, Instagram Reels.
It’ll take time to master, and some trial and error. But you’ll get a system going
where your captions rock, and your audience responds to them.
Break your captions into paragraphs with spacing.
→ It looks more aesthetically pleasing for your audience.
→ It encourages skim readers to keep going as they tend to look for those gaps
as they skim.
In a sense, it is a bit like using short paragraphs in your blog posts! Which, you
may have noticed, I love to do.
When you’re using fun formatting options like unique fonts for Instagram bios
and captions, you might like this trick too.
And while you’re at it, include some of the most popular Instagram emojis!
To use this method:
1. Type or paste your caption into the IG app.
2. Where you want a line break, hit Return.
3. This will take you back to the letter keyboard, so tap the 123 at far left
to go back to the numbers, symbols, and return key pad.
4. Add the symbol on the line, then hit Return again.
5. Repeat as many times as desired.
6. Add your hashtags and post by tapping Done.
When is the Best Time to Post on Instagram?
The best time to post to Instagram is on Tuesday between 11am and 2pm. The
best daily posting time is Monday through Friday at 11am.
the optimal time is generally between 11am and 2pm.
The best time to post on Instagram Sunday is between 9am and 3pm.
Technology companies and blogs





Best time: 10am Wednesday (CDT)
Best day: Thursday
Best engagement: 10am-5pm (CDT) Wednesday to Friday
Worst day: Sunday
But once you’ve been posting on Instagram for a while, there’s a better
way.

You can get information about your account from Insights. This is
customized data based on your account and your audience.

Add this to the general data and you can fine-tune your posting schedule

Activity tab

If you head into Insights on your Instagram app, the first tab is content.

But the second one is ‘Activity,’ and there’s some good data here.

First, there’s your general reach. This is broken down by the last seven
days.

So, you can compare what you posted to the days with the most reach.

Did your posts reach people or fall flat? Take some notes from here.

Interactions

Further down the same page is the ‘interactions’ section. This is looking at
profile visits.

Again, it highlights the last seven days. It highlights the days you had the
most profile visits.

Do they line up with when you posted? Or particular types of posts?

Audience

The final tab is ‘audience’ and there’s information on followers here.

Scroll down to the bottom and you can see followers by hours or by
days. Again, you can compare this with your posting schedule for a bit more
context.

Here, you can see if you pick up followers at particular hours of any day. Or
you can see if any day of the week brings in more followers than others.