Instagram is no longer just for the kids. 

What once was a novelty platform for selfies is now a content cache of over 800 million users equipped with analytics, click-to-purchase capabilities, and user insight features. Many of the biggest companies and brands have started using Instagram on a daily basis. Having the ability to connect on a more personal level with customers, clients, or community and understanding how they experience content has proven to be a very valuable digital marketing strategy, especially in to expand brand awareness. Brands looking to grow their digital footprint should know that Instagram is beginning to emerge as the perfect place for business to meet casual – and, more importantly, to gain exposure. 

For any business diving into the world of Instagram for the first time or that is rethinking its current brand, there are several ways to remain professional both in strategy and design. 

Instagram feed design

There are a few components within Instagram where users can view content. When first starting out on the platform it’s important to begin with focusing on the account’s individual profile. Each account’s profile has a section that users call “the feed,” and there are many ways brands can make a feed more pleasing to look at. In fact, a well-curated feed with a consistent look has been proven to be more popular and attract more followers in addition to keeping existing followers coming back for more content. It’s also how followers, both new and current, can distinguish a singular brand’s content from other profiles at first glance. 

Knowing this, the first step to create a professional Instagram feed is to choose how the feed will be designed. This is also known as a theme or an aesthetic and will help to capitalize on brand identity. Below are popular designs used to attract an audience and cultivate a more impactful presence. 

• White or black border 
• Singular colors story 
• Rectangular boxes 
• Checkerboard 
• Vertical lines 
•  Split image 

One item to note is that content is organized in rows of 3 square images. This is an element to be mindful of when designing a feed, as the patterns that can be created when working in rows of 3 are limited. Choosing a theme for content is also often referred to as selecting a “grid design,” because of the grid-like nature of how posts are displayed. 

How to create Instagram content that reflects your brand identity

Businesses taking to social media to connect with a new audience should look at Instagram in a unique way – it provides a way to visually extend brand awareness that other platforms don’t necessarily offer. And because trends continue to show that visual media is valuable, whether it be photography or video, it will be crucial for businesses to create content that is immediately recognizable and speaks to the mission of that brand. 

After a grid or feed design is chosen, the next step is to apply your brand standards. For a color story theme, as an example, brand and logo colors are a great place to start. If filtering imagery with brand colors isn’t within the direction of the grid design chosen, including a company logo on every post is another way to take ownership of content and further brand awareness. 

There are a few tools that can be used to help make content that reflects a brand easily. Programs like Canva include features such as brand tool kits to store logos, fonts, and brand colors, as well as Instagram post templates for simple application and inspiration. The Preview App is an Instagram planning resource that allows users to see how their feed or grid will look over time and is a great way to organize a design aesthetic. Both come with free versions that have limited capabilities and offer more expansive features on paid professional tiers of membership. 

Keep a pulse on trends and application features

Businesses on Instagram can track insights and user experience data by creating a business account, which opens features that are different from a personal profile. Here you can take a look at how your core audience interacts with your content so that you can adjust strategies as needed. When thinking of brand awareness, it’s always a good idea to follow your competitors as well to see how they are branding their content and interacting with their audience. And, last but not least, remember to use and follow hashtags relevant to your brand and to look out for trending hashtags so that your brand stays relevant.

For more marketing insights and industry related news, visit our website. The team at Taylor Brand Group offers a range of branding and marketing services from reimagining your brand’s core message, to ad agency functions such as media and public relations, and also creating social media content and strategies. Contact us or visit us online to learn more about how we brand.