From product brands and photographers to influencers, Instagram is one of the best places to create some buzz for a brand. However, to create a successful brand on Instagram, you need to stand out. If you want to use this popular social media platform to build and grow your personal brand, there are a few basics you’ll need to get right first.

Your Insta Strategy

Before you can start creating content and gaining followers, you should have the following in place:

• Objectives. What do you want to achieve by starting this account? By being clear on your goals, you’ll have a better idea of the content you should create. Do you want to simply grow your account or do you have a sales goal in mind?
• Audience. Who is your ideal target audience? Spend time getting to know what makes them tick – this will also help your content strategy.
• Niche. What is your unique selling proposition? You can’t be everything to everyone, so choosing a niche is key.
• Schedule. How often will you be posting? Have a basic schedule in place that you can start building on. I try and post on Instagram at least 3 to 6 times per week. I also just started a 30 day challenge of trying to post to Reels for the next 30 days…wish me luck lol. I write my social media posting schedule in my planner to help me stay on track.

Instagram Tips for Personal Branding Success

Reels, Reels, Reels

In case you don’t know, Instagram is focused and pushing more on video content than photography content (you can thank Tik Tok lol). What that means for you is that you need to invest in Reels if want to further grow your Instagram. Now, I’m not saying you can’t grown your Instagram without Reels, but you will be behind the power curve if you don’t take advantage of it. (I’m speaking to myself as well because I dislike doing video content).

Spend some time scrolling through Reels and try and find some of the more popular sounds. Once you find those, think of some ways that you can create video content using those sounds. This will likely help you get seen by more potential clients.

Stay Consistent

If you want a successful brand on Instagram, you need followers to trust you and start engaging with your brand. One way to do that is to be consistent. From the tone you use in your copy to your branding visuals, make sure that your followers can instantly recognize you and your content. Having a schedule of when you plan to post will also help you stay consistent because you won’t be waiting to the last minute to try and come up with something to post. I use Planoly to help schedule my social media posts. (Link is an affiliate link.)

Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are important because they’ll increase the visibility of your content. Get creative with your hashtags, make them specific, and ensure they speak to what your personal brand is all about. You should also spend time doing a bit of research to pick up on trends and find inspiration.

Show Them Who You Are

Instead of using a logo as your profile picture, opt for a professional headshot instead. Every entrepreneur and influencer needs a few professional photos that highlight their brand personality and style. These headshots are ideal as profile photos and can be used as Instagram posts too. Your followers want to know what you look like. 

Also, when I say show them who you are, I mean be authentic. People respect, and trust, brands that are authentic. You don’t want clients to feel like they have been bamboozled if they hire you and you are nothing like how you portray yourself on Instagram (and social media as a whole).

Get Sharing

Get involved in your online community by sharing and liking content that you find interesting or that you know your followers will enjoy. By being more involved and engaged, you start building real connections with your Instagram community. Just don’t go overboard.

Be Detailed

Go all the way with each of your posts. Include high-quality images, the right hashtags, location tags, and clear calls to action. Make each of your posts as detailed and engaging as possible if you want to stand out. It also helps to get your followers involved every now and then by asking for their opinions. 

Hopefully you found these tips on creating a successful brand on Instagram helpful. Instagram can be one of the best platforms to give people an inside look at what your personal brand is all about. Keep it interesting, stay consistent, be authentic, and you’ll be instafamous in no time at all.