Avoid These Instagram Post Pitfalls

Instagram is one of the most powerful marketing tools in the world, mainly because of its exceptional visual platform. This hugely popular social media app allows you to share (and show off) your brand using videos, photos, reels, and live streams.

Much like TikTok, Instagram caters to the Gen Z audience. This market group is essential for marketing your business in 2023 and beyond, considering around 60% of users are under 34.

Using Instagram, you can promote your brand to millions, with the platform having 2 billion users. This massive audience means any business can increase brand awareness and strengthen its online presence.

And if you’re going to succeed on Instagram, you have to avoid the following pitfalls:

Bad Quality Images and Videos

Avoiding bad-quality uploads may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed at the sheer number of low-resolution photos and videos on Instagram.

If you’re taking your photographs and recording your videos, edit your footage and images until they’re perfect. Instagram is all about looks, so use only beautifully lit and stunning visuals.

If you’re using stock images, download the highest possible resolution. After you scale them down to fit Instagram’s recommended size, they will still look great.

Remember that Instagram posts are shared more than on any other social media platform, so the extra effort is worth it in the long run.

Going Overboard With Hashtags

Hashtags are great, and Instagram allows up to 30 of them per post. However, you won’t be building your credibility as a professional brand if you’re stuffing 30 hashtags into every post to trick Instagram’s algorithms.

You must strike a balance between your interactions and the number of hashtags that work per post. If you find that users share your posts even if you only include four hashtags, go with it.

When you choose hashtags for each post, don’t just pick the popular ones. Remember to include specific hashtags that will direct users to your brand.

Neglecting Your Instagram Bio

Your Instagram bio isn’t just another section to fill out to establish your account. It is an opportunity to introduce yourself and your brand to the world. With a few well-thought-out sentences, you can let your ideal audience know you have solutions to their problems.

You can also add a link to your website or online store in your bio, so potential buyers can easily browse your products and services.

Not Posting Regularly

If you’re going to create a company Instagram account, you have to commit to the time and effort it will take to make it a success. This means posting according to a regular schedule and providing insight into your business.

Whether you’re a travel blogger or a CEO, once people become invested in your business, you must work hard to keep them interested. You don’t have to post 17 different pieces of content a day, but you should be able to contribute something to your feed at least a few times a week.

And, while you’re at it, you should be interacting with your followers and responding to their comments and queries. If you’re inactive on your Instagram page, you will lose out on new followers and potential sales or new business.

Posting Too Much

Saying that too-frequent posting is a problem may seem like a contradiction. However, you may turn people off if you’re overactive. This is especially true if you’re recycling existing content every week. Refrain from filling up your posting schedule just because you don’t have the time to create new content regularly.

When your followers start seeing the same videos or images daily, they might unfollow you in favor of Instagram pages that deliver fresh content.

If you can’t go without reposting, turn these posts into a trend like #throwbackThursday or something similar.

Not Telling a Story With Your Visuals

Don’t ignore the power of the Instagram grid. A styled grid is visually appealing and makes your brand instantly recognizable if you do it right.

A grid helps you tell your brand’s story. You can do this by styling three posts at the same time and alternating text or quotes with images. You don’t have to include text in your grid, but it’s a good idea when you don’t have enough photos or videos to use.

You can play around with grid formats until you find one that best represents how you’re trying to visualize your brand. You can even add borders around each image to help them stand out.

One of the grid options taking over Instagram in 2023 is the puzzle. It will take you some time to master, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a mesmerizing grid where your images interact.

Not Using Instagram Stories

Statistics show that around 50% of Instagram users have purchased from a company after seeing their brand on an Instagram story.

If you’re not using Instagram stories, you are missing out on the chance to be at the top of your followers’ feeds. This means you’re wasting the potential to increase engagement and sales.

You can use Instagram stories to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business or even to get their opinion via a poll or quiz. You can add tutorials to your Stories or chat with your audience about your products, answering any questions they may have.

You can even use it to make exciting announcements and promote special offers.

Conclusion

If you’re using Instagram correctly and taking advantage of all its great features, you will drive brand awareness for your business while connecting with your target audience.

Furthermore, you can leverage the power of influencers or partner with brand ambassadors to increase your Instagram footprint.

Having a verified Instagram account instantly boosts your brand’s reputation, especially if you exclusively do business online. A good reputation is crucial to the success of your business as it builds trust with your followers.

Instagram is also the launchpad for word-of-mouth business. Once you’ve established a good following on your account, you can sit back and watch as your followers recommend your business and increase engagement with your brand on your behalf.