Here you are again. It’s Monday morning, and you’re staring at a blinking cursor, wondering what to post on Instagram. It’s prime posting time, (whatever that is, thanks algorithm,) and it’s slipping away by the second. ⏰
You know you need to post consistently to stay relevant and top-of-mind for your potential customers and ideal clients, but you never know what to say, so you go another day without posting, (hoping nobody notices.) “I’ll get back on top of it tomorrow,” you tell yourself (for the third time in a row.) ?
… Tomorrow turns into Friday, then next week, then next month.
Hey, we’ve all been there friend! At least I know I have. ??♀️
It’s like you approach Instagram with a setup for failure to begin with. No bueno. No more. ??♀️
Instagram doesn’t have to be so hard. I promise. ?
So don’t worry, we’re about to dive into some practical, actionable strategies for posting on Instagram; so you can know exactly what to say and how to share it.
But first, let’s set some things straight. I gotta cue a record scratch right here…
I know you want to grow a social media following… but please remember:
“Popular does not pay the bills.” – Jenna Kutcher
It doesn’t matter if you’ve got over 10, 20, or 30,000+ followers if you don’t have a strategy in action for converting your ideal clients into leads, then customers, then repeat customers. ??♀️
This is EXACTLY why I am completely against buying followers. It’s really sad to me, and it’s always obvious when people do it. They jump from 1,000 something followers to 10k+ overnight, and just hope nobody notices. I honestly feel bad for them; that they felt the need to do that to seem important or legit. But that’s another soapbox in itself!
Truth is, buying followers actually hurts more than it helps, and soon brands are going to require you to prove your following is 100% organic, and yes – they can run a test to see if it is. So if you’re doing this, swallow your pride, rid yo’ self of the bots, and get to work building an organic following. You can do it!! ??)
Okay, so now that we’ve covered that. ?
Before you get started with your Instagram strategy, there are a few things you need to find out in order to know what YOU should be posting on Instagram.
(‘Cause spoiler alert, not everyone can post the same stuff and get the same results.)
Instagram isn’t a one size fits all kinda thing, (and neither is anything else when it comes to marketing for that matter.)
Once you’ve established these things, you’ve got a solid framework to base your strategy off of. One that won’t just grow your following, but your profits too, (‘cause that’s what we’re all trying to do here, riiight!?) ??
A little heavy lifting goes a loooong way here, friend!
However, if you don’t know this stuff – you’ll forever waste your time on Instagram because there’s no rhyme to your reason… you’re just wasting hours writing things that don’t have true potential to scale your biz. ?
(If you need help deciphering these things, totally hit me up and snag a FREE strategy call to see if we’d be a good fit for a mentorship, where I hand-hold ya through this entire brand-building process and we get ya set up for social media success! Yep, it’s possible friend!! Hellloooo custom photography social media strategy! ??)
If you’re good to go with those brand buildin’ blocks I mentioned above, just keep on scrollin’!
My top tips on how to post on insta: ??
– Show up with the good stuff
– Only share what you want to shoot more of
– Remind people you’re booking (but in the right way)
– Have a point to each post
– Don’t just post and ghost
– Change your mindset
* Show up with the good stuff.
In order to truly make an impact on Instagram, grow a following, and grow your engagement, you’ve gotta show up.
Sounds super simple, right? But I so get it… it’s totally not sometimes.
However, when you know what you’re supposed to share and why – it makes it so much more simple to create your content and show up with it. Knowing what you do and why is KEY – it makes planning your content SO much easier (and not as draining!) ?
- Decide how many times you’re going to post a week on Instagram, and stick to it. Consistency is key here. Instagram notices when you’re being consistent, and the algorithm works in your favor when you are! ??
- (However, don’t just post crappy content for sake of being consistent.) Quality trumps quantity any day. That’s why having the categories for your brand is so helpful, because it keeps you switching things up so your brain can churn out content quicker!
- Once you’ve decided on your content categories (the type of content you’re going to show up with,) keep a running note on your phone or in Evernote (my personal fav,) of caption ideas and add to it often. Whether you’re inspired by a caption you read and want to put your own twist on it, or hear a quote while you’re browsing through a coffee shop’s marketing material – whatever it is that inspires you, drop it into the folder for that content category, and then you’ll never run out of ideas for what to post!
* Only share what you want to shoot.
This sounds super elementary as well, but friends – don’t just post work for the sake of posting it.
- If you’re currently sharing newborn photos but shooting them makes you want to scratch your eyeballs out – DON’T POST THEM.
- Truth is, you attract what you put out, and people are going to think you’re all about shooting “x type of sessions” if you’re posting them. Notice I didn’t say you had to stop shooting them… just don’t post them.
- Take photos of something else you love, or add yourself into the mix to make up for the missed content! (Definitely do the latter from time to time!)
If you need to book more couples, set up some styled shoots and post model calls to get the content, and share that!
* Remind people you’re booking.
For some reason, we think clients are just supposed to find us and book us without us letting them know we’re booking.
Weird, I know. I’ve definitely been guilty of it too. ?
- But, you want to be sure you’re putting in a good mix of “hey I’m booking” posts, with posts about you and other things you love! Otherwise, you’ll come across as car salesman-y, and that’s no bueno.
- A good rule of thumb is to serve (or share about you and things you love,) 80% of the time, and sell (remind people you’re booking, share specials/deals on sessions, etc.) 20% of the time. That’s why finding your other brand categories is so helpful, because you know exactly what to pull from to fill in the rest of the blanks!
* Have a point for each post.
Decide on what your goal is for every piece of content you’re sharing.
- Is it to get them to inquire and book a session with you? To learn more about you and your brand? Give you tips/recommendations? Build your brand morale? What’s the point?
- If you don’t have a point for your posts (that feeds directly into your goals, either monetary or mission-based) then you’re wasting your time.
- Pro tip: your primary end goal should be to get people OFF of your Instagram and onto a medium that YOU own. Ex.) your website, your email list, etc. That’s where you can actually make an impact, connect them with your service/offerings, and make bank. Instagram doesn’t pay the bills, funneling them into your offerings DOES. ?
* Don’t post and ghost.
If you’re not going to take the time to engage with your audience, don’t bother posting.
- Instagram has to be a “give and take” type of relationship, not just a “take, take, take” one. It’s called SOCIAL media for a reason.
- Take at least 15-30 minutes to engage with everybody that comments on your post, and then go share some love back on their pages. It speaks volumes about who you are and your commitment to your fans, and people DO notice. I promise. (I know it means the world to me!)
* Adjust your mindset.
Stop looking at followers as something you need MORE of, and instead be grateful for those who’ve already shown up and want to hear from you.
- If you only have 5 followers, that’s 5 people who’ve shown up that want to hear from you and have raised their hands towards you and your content. Speaking to 5 people can be scary if you’re not used to public speaking. Now, what about your 100 followers? 200? 400? 1,000?
- Bet ya have a different mindset now, don’t ya? If I were to have to stand in front of all 4,800+ of my followers to chat – I’d sweat a bullet or two, wouldn’t you!? But, I remind myself that’s exactly what I’m doing everyday… showing up and serving them – and it helps to bring immense purpose to what I’m doing now, and who I’m doing it for.
?? It’s about an abundance mindset over a scarcity mindset, friends. ??
I could go on and on about social media and the strategies behind it, but we’d be here all day! ? However, I hope this post was oh so helpful for you and has gotten you excited to show up and put your words and art out into the world this week! ? I believe in you more than you even know, and I can’t WAIT to see what you share!
Like I said, if you’re really struggling with your photography social media strategy – snag a free strategy call with me and let me see what I can do to help you have a strategy you LOVE, that makes you excited about creating your content and sharing your work! ??
Here’s to rockin’ Instagram with a plan, friends! ???
If ya liked this little gem, you’ll LOVE this guide on how to create a photography business with zero competition. (Cause that’s what we all want, right!?)
Wanna stick around and stay learnin’? I knew I liked ya. ?
Feel free to binge on these blog posts, or pin ’em on Pinterest for later! ??
If you’re short on time, follow me on Pinterest – and you’ll get these kinda tips delivered straight to your feed! You know… when you’re scrollin’ through Pinterest with coffee in hand, ready to take on the day… or, procrastinate.
Whatevs. Pinterest biz sesh, anybody!? ??
Read the Comments +