Create a Stunning Instagram Feed with These Essential Steps
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Setting Goals for Your Instagram
- Planning Your Content Categories
- Posting Frequency and Consistency
- Defining Your Visual Aesthetic
- Creating a Mood Board
- Translating Your Ideas into a Real Feed
- Writing Captions and Scheduling Posts
- Getting Feedback and Making Adjustments
- Conclusion
Planning an Aesthetically Pleasing and Professional Instagram Feed
Hey, what's up? I'm Mike Leisure, an art director and artist, and together with Proper Worldwide, we're here to help you create an Instagram feed that not only looks good but also helps you achieve your business goals. Starting an Instagram can be overwhelming, with questions like how often should you post? Where do you begin? But don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we will guide you through the process of planning an aesthetically pleasing and professional Instagram feed. We'll share our experience working with various brands in fashion, creative lifestyle, and cannabis spaces, and show you every step of the process. So let's get started.
Setting Goals for Your Instagram
The first step in planning your Instagram feed is to set goals. Goals serve as a guide to measure your success and keep you on track. We categorize our goals into two buckets: metric-based goals and value-based goals. Metric-based goals focus on numbers, such as the number of followers you want to generate, the number of comments you aim for, and driving sales. Value-based goals, on the other hand, center around the value you want to provide to your followers. This could be through informing, inspiring, educating, or entertaining them. By establishing your goals upfront, you'll have a clear direction for your content creation and the type of community you want to build.
Planning Your Content Categories
To create a cohesive and engaging Instagram feed, it's essential to define your content categories. These categories serve as topics of discussion for your social media posts and ensure that your content is diverse and interesting. You can derive your content categories from your goals. For example, if one of your value-based goals is to inspire, your content category could include posts about design, branding, photography, video, and icons within those realms. You can also look at your competitors or accounts you admire for inspiration. Aim for at least six content categories to keep your feed varied and your followers engaged.
Posting Frequency and Consistency
When it comes to posting on Instagram, quality should always take precedence over quantity. Aiming for a high posting frequency without considering the quality of your content can lead to low engagement and a disinterested community. Start with a posting frequency that is manageable for your business. We recommend using the ramp-up method, where you gradually increase your posting frequency over time. This allows you to establish a flow and determine which content resonates best with your audience. For example, you could start with posting two or three times a week and later increase it to five times a week. Remember, consistency is key in maintaining an engaged audience.
Defining Your Visual Aesthetic
An aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed is visually cohesive and reflects the brand's personality. To achieve this, you need to define your visual aesthetic. Three key factors to consider are color, contrast, and composition. Choose a color palette that aligns with your brand's identity and evokes the desired mood. Determine the level of contrast you want in your posts to make them visually striking. Finally, consider the composition of your shots, varying between close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots to create a visually dynamic feed.
Creating a Mood Board
To ensure consistency in your visual aesthetic, create a mood board. A mood board is a collection of images, colors, and textures that represent the look and feel of your brand. It helps you visualize how your posts will be laid out and conveys the mood you want to evoke. You can use tools like Photoshop or free platforms like Google Docs to create your mood board. Sharing the mood board with your team members allows for collaboration and ensures everyone is on the same page.
Translating Your Ideas into a Real Feed
With your goals, content categories, visual aesthetic, and mood board in place, it's time to translate your ideas into a real Instagram feed. Using a design software like Photoshop, arrange your posts in a template or artboards. This will give you a visual representation of how your feed will look once it's live. Label your posts to keep them organized and export them in the appropriate sizes and formats for Instagram. This step allows you to see how your content flows and make any necessary adjustments before posting.
Writing Captions and Scheduling Posts
Captions play a crucial role in engaging your audience and conveying your brand's message. Once you have your posts ready, write captions that align with your content and capture the attention of your followers. You can use the free Google Docs platform to collaborate with your team members on caption writing and leave comments for feedback. When your captions are finalized, schedule your posts using social media management tools like Sprout. Scheduling ensures that your content goes out at optimal times and keeps your Instagram feed consistent.
Getting Feedback and Making Adjustments
After launching your Instagram feed, it's important to gather feedback from your audience and make necessary adjustments. Pay attention to engagement metrics like likes, comments, and shares. Analyze which types of content resonate best with your audience and adjust your content strategy accordingly. Additionally, seek feedback from your team members, clients, or industry experts to gain additional insights and perspectives. Continuously learning and improving based on feedback will help you refine your Instagram feed and drive better results.
Conclusion
Planning an aesthetically pleasing and professional Instagram feed requires setting clear goals, defining content categories, maintaining consistency, and expressing your brand's visual aesthetic. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be on your way to creating an Instagram feed that not only looks good but also accomplishes your business goals. Remember, it's an iterative process, and adjustments may be needed along the way. Stay open to feedback and keep experimenting to find what works best for your audience. Good luck on your Instagram journey!
