Instagram is the social media platform where the most interaction between companies and customers takes place and where the most engagement in the form of likes and comments takes place. And it pays off for practically every company!
Because on the one hand, products and services can be presented in a particularly aesthetic way and on the other hand, the platform offers an opportunity to provide personal insights into the company and everyday working life.
Rapidly building up reach is therefore no longer wishful thinking. But what needs to be taken into account with a company profile on Instagram so that the company also appears serious and professional?
1. Picture world on Instagram
How do snapshots become professional Instagram pictures?
Use neutral backgrounds, as minimalist images go down better on Instagram (the same goes for filters - less is more!).
Try out different perspectives! It's okay to take a photo from below or from above.
Planning is the key! The content should be planned far enough in advance so that, for example, weather and light conditions can be taken into account.
In the feed, the images are displayed square with an aspect ratio of 1:1. You should therefore make sure that you select the square mode when you take the pictures.
2. Optimize your Instagram profile
What does it mean to optimize your Instagram profile? It means paying attention to certain elements:
Photo Profil It is your business card, the first image users see and the first impression they get of you. Therefore, it should be professional, match the style of your feed and say something about you at first glance. You can opt for an institutional photo of you, with a neutral background and a pose that inspires confidence, or you can include your logo to emphasise your brand identity.
Name It is the name that is visible to users, by which they remember you and by which they understand at first glance who you are and what you do. Choose a keyword that refers to the services you offer: this will help you to better position your profile in your market niche.
Category Properly select the category your business falls into among the categories suggested by Instagram: It will be visible under your username and will serve users to better classify you in a specific area!
Biography Use the space in the bio to explain in a few lines who you are, what you do and what you offer your audience. Add some hashtags to index your profile, some nice emoji to add color and be relevant to what you are saying, and as always keywords!
Be short, concise, direct and professional.
Highlights Use them strategically for your business. Choose topics that can answer your visitors' most important questions: who you are, what you do, why they should follow you.
3. Recognition value is important!
Recognition is important for an Instagram account. One or two themes should run through the entire posts and the photos should match each other and be edited in the same style.
It is also important that the content offers users a certain added value, i.e. that it is designed in such a way that it appeals to the target group and, at best, triggers engagement in the form of comments or likes.
4. Instagram Stories
Insta-Stories allow you to expand your feed with additional videos and photos. This is a great way to tell a story and engage your target audience.
The traffic on your Instagram profile can increase with targeted Stories, as they make the profile look more interesting and varied. It is advisable to come up with at least x3 Instagram Stories every day.
5. Posting of Reels
Another way to share information in a different format, and one where engagement is even higher than with photos. All formats on Instagram are important (photos, reels and carousels), but Instagram is now a platform that promotes videos.
A good strategy would be to post more reels without forgetting the other content, because even a carousel/photo can go viral.
6. Planning the content to be published
For an effective communication strategy, it is essential to start planning. The editorial plan for Instagram is a real calendar that contains the content you want to publish in the coming weeks or months.
For each day of the editorial calendar, the planned publications are listed. In this way, you have a strategic overview of your work, can be better organized and avoid thinking at the last minute about which topic to cover in the next article, so that you run the risk of publishing hastily without adding value.
You don't have to post every day, but if you want to grow your community, you should post at least three times a week.
Best of all, it's completely free to open an Instagram business account! Join the approximately 4.1 million Instagram users in Switzerland - a great platform to bring your business closer to your target group and promote your products and services.
If you have any questions - please contact us!
Touchpoints Team