Vibrant colors, a beautiful sunset, and #nofilter are constantly posted on Instagram by friends, but is it appropriate for an organization to post things like that? 

As Instagram grows and makes its way to being the main means of social media for the younger generation, it is becoming essential to know the do’s and don’ts of Instagram.  Here are some best practices for creating an effective and engaging Instagram.

1)      Have a developed and solid profile

The profile is something that anyone who visits your page will see.  It needs to have a picture that is relevant to your organization and a description that is catchy but informative about the organization or cause.

2)      Use thoughtful and meaningful hashtags

Make sure they relate to the subject of your post and make them specific.  You should also be aware of what other people have posted with that hashtag.  You should use no more than 3, and they should often call your audience to some sort of action. Double-check the hashtag with someone else to make sure it makes sense. (link article)

3)      Tag others

This is a best practice because it will cause the post to pop up on their newsfeed, which will give you more visibility.  Don’t go crazy though.  Only tag relevant people in the post.

4)      Post valuable information and be meaningful

Make your post something that is desirable to look at. That can sometimes mean adding text to a graphic.  Change it up a bit- there is a balance and sometimes it is good to be fun.

5)      Your images should match your brand

This means that you should be an expert on the things that deal with your organization and you should have little to do with other issues or topics on Instagram.

6)      Be active

You should be consistent in posting but not overbearing. You don’t want to be the organization that people just start to scroll past on Instagram.  This also means that you should comment on other posts, converse on relevant hashtags dealing with your company, and follow and converse with influencers in your field.

 

If you want more tips on how to be a savvy Instagram user you can check out tips here and here, or if you think you are well versed, add your own.  What’s your #1 Instagram tip?