Seven ways to grow on Instagram in 2024
Stop using Instagram as a place to just share pretty pictures and start being more strategic with your approach. Here are my 7 tips…
1: Use all the features of the platform
There’s so much you can do on Instagram and the more you can make use of the full features of the platform the more success you’ll have.
The image below gives you a quick tour of where to find things but make sure you vary the type of content you’re putting out and include a mix of:
reels
IG stories
live video
video in your feed
image posts
carousel posts
guides
There’s so much potential for what you can create - so be creative and test lots of different types of content to see what resonates best with your audience.
2: Use other tools to help you manage your account
Here’s some tools I use to stay consistent with Instagram, help me stay on brand and just improve what I’m doing on the platform:
Later - a scheduling app
Link Tree - an app that helps you set up a landing page of links. Use this as your clickable link on Instagram
Canva - for graphic design type work - has templates for all types of documents eg. social media posts, flyers, cards and mood boards
Colorstory - an image editing app
Display Purposes - Hashtag generation app
Word Swag - an app to create quotes and word images for social media
Social Curator - curated captions and images for Instagram - subscription service
3: Optimise your bio area
Your bio is the first thing people will read when they come to your page. It’s what they will use to decide whether or not to follow you. Here’s some tips for your bio:
your bio should be about who you help and how (not about you!)
use notes on your phone to add line spacings
add emojis to show personality if you want
include your name - especially if you are a solo business owner who offers in person services
include the location you service (if you are an in person designer) - this is a huge one that so many people don't have!!
include social proof if you have it (awards you've won, as seen in...)
4: Make the most of your one clickable link
You get one clickable link on Instagram so make the most of what you do with this.
I use Link Tree for this as I can then create a ‘landing page’ of other links for people to go and check out. Check out my Instagram to see how this works and what I include on that landing page. You can also create a landing page on your website for this as well if that’s easier for you.
Make sure to send this link to revenue generating pages on your website - e.g. to book a consultation with you or to purchase one of your products. Don’t waste this link by sending people to a blog post or a media feature.
5: Keep your posts on brand using templates
I use Canva to create lots of different templates for my Instagram content.
These templates are all branded with my company colours and fonts and when I have a new idea for a post I can quickly jump in to one of the templates, add in the content, export the post and upload it Later for scheduling. This takes so much less time than if I had to create the full post from scratch every time.
Create systems around what you do on Instagram that will save you time and help you be more consistent.
6: Use video more than anything else
Instagram now prioritise video content over all other content.
Make sure you use all video features on the platform including stories, long form video and of course reels. The more video you create the more the algorithm will show your content to people.
7: Make your feed look aesthetic
You have a few seconds when someone lands on your page for them to decide whether or not to follow you.
Not everyone agrees that you need your feed to look aesthetic as these days the most important thing about growth on Instagram is providing consistent, valuable content. But I still think the visuals of your page matter and you should try and have some kind of theme going that makes your page look cohesive.
Here’s some ideas for ways to organise the aesthetic of your feed:
use brand colours and fonts (that’s what I do)
have a specific type of photo editing style
make it black and white
have a repeating grid (I also use this - where ever 3 posts I have a specific type of post, see my Instagram page for this).
use colour as your theme (e.g. @crafttherainbow)
have a specific kind of spacing between your images
wear the same outfit in all your videos (e.g. @pinksparrowsocial)
There’s so many ideas of what you can do here - those are just a few to get you going!
Bonus tip: Do all this consistently
My final tip for growth on Instagram is to just create consistently on the platform.
Honestly Instagram is a numbers game - the more content you create, the more your account will grow (assuming your content is helpful and valuable of course!). So put out as much as you can for as long as possible and growth will be inevitable.
Courses and Templates for Designers and Architects
DO YOU WANT TO….
Improve your professionalism?
Find more clients?
Bring in more revenue?
Create better systems and processes?
Then check out my business courses and templates for designers and architects.
These courses and templates leave you with work done - not just a long list of things you need to do next. We have a really strong focus on taking action and getting things created that improve your business.
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Clare x
Dr Clare Le Roy