Instagram Strategy: Essential Dos and Don'ts Part 1

Instagram remains one of the most powerful platforms to connect with your audience, build your brand, and share your story. Yet, many users struggle to find the right balance between posting content that reflects their personality and content that truly engages their followers.

If you want to improve your Instagram presence, it’s crucial to understand what works and what doesn’t from a social media manager’s perspective. This guide will walk you through the essential dos and don’ts to help you build a strong Instagram strategy that resonates with your audience - in a language you'll understand!

Instagram feed showing different content types

Dos for a Successful Instagram Strategy

Regularly Post to Your Stories and Show Your Personality

Stories are a great way to stay visible and connect with your audience in a casual, authentic way. Posting regularly to your stories keeps your followers engaged and lets them see the real you behind the brand or profile.

Share behind-the-scenes moments, quick tips, or even polls and questions to encourage interaction. This builds trust and makes your profile more relatable.

Practice Writing Captions That Tell a Story and Add Value

Captions are more than just descriptions. Use them to tell stories, share insights, or provide useful information.

For example, if you post a photo of a new product, explain how it solves a problem or share a customer’s experience. This adds depth to your posts and encourages followers to engage with your content.

Learn How Hashtags Work and Use Them Wisely

Hashtags help new audiences discover your content. Research hashtags that are relevant to your niche and audience. Use a mix of popular and niche-specific hashtags to increase your reach without getting lost in a sea of posts.

Avoid using unrelated hashtags, as this can confuse your audience and reduce engagement.

Have a Variety of Content Types

Instagram supports multiple content formats: videos, single images, and carousels. Mixing these keeps your feed dynamic and interesting. Videos can explain concepts or showcase products in action, while carousels allow you to share multiple images or tips in one post.

Variety helps you appeal to different preferences within your audience.

Understand Your Target Audience Profiles

Knowing who your followers are is key to creating content they care about. Use Instagram’s insights to learn about their age, location, and interests.

Tailor your posts to their preferences and needs. For example, if your audience is mostly young adults interested in fitness, focus on workout tips, motivational stories, and healthy recipes.

Tag Locations

Adding location tags increases the chances of your posts being discovered by people interested in that area. This is especially useful for local businesses or events. It also adds context to your posts and can encourage local followers to engage.

Learn How to Use Instagram’s Features

Instagram regularly updates its features, such as Reels, Guides, and Shopping tags. Experiment with these tools to see what resonates with your audience. Using new features early can give you an advantage and show that you are active and up-to-date.

Share Your Best Content to the Feed

Your feed is your brand’s showcase. Only post your best photos and videos here. High-quality, well-edited content attracts more followers and keeps your profile looking professional. Save casual or less polished content for stories.

Want to know what not to do in detail?

Stay tuned for part 2!