Top Tips for Building Your Very Own Instagram Blog

By: Bryan Newsomme

Today, there are over one billion people on Instagram. From a simple photo-sharing network, it now employs hashtags and on-platform SEO for better reach, and its 2,200-character limit on captions allows for more engagement. All of these are why we previously cited Instagram as a great blogging platform for beginners. So, if you want to start your very own Instagram blog, here are some tips to help you begin:

Open a Creator Account

The first step in starting an Instagram blog is to shift your personal account into a creator account. This move will give you additional account features, like seeing your account analytics, boosting posts through ads, and having a contact button on your profile. You will then be able to reach more people, and you can then curate your content depending on what you think your followers will benefit from the most. But because there are already so many bloggers on the app, you have to make yourself stand out. Carve out an Instagram niche for yourself by identifying what field you can contribute to, what topics you can post consistently about, and what your followers need from you. Be really specific about your niche, so you can target a particular audience and establish yourself as an authority in that area. When you've decided on what to focus on, you need to upgrade your account details, starting with your profile picture and bio. These are the first things your would-be followers will see upon opening your account, so make sure they are captivating and representative of your brand.

Plan Content

To increase your reach, you have to post regularly. You have to create content that will grab your target audience's attention and encourage them to engage because these factors will rank your posts higher on your followers’ feed. For your first few posts, be sure to introduce yourself and briefly narrate what inspired you to start blogging on Instagram. You can also share snippets of your personal life, like behind-the-scenes work, daily routine, or even your pets. To welcome your followers, you can even host games or do giveaways! With this consistency comes posting at around the same time every day. But with your day-to-day life, it might be difficult to manually remind yourself to post. And if you miss out on your scheduled posting, you might disrupt the momentum of your growing account. That is where a posting scheduler can help, and luckily, there are several available for free!

Maximize Analytics

As mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of using a creator account for Instagram is its account analytics. This is an accessible set of information pertaining to your followers, including their demographics and peak time of engagement, and your posts, such as their individual impressions and interactions. And though charts and data can be a little intimidating to the average person, paying attention to Instagram analytics has a clear benefit: It lets you see what is working and what is not. Whether you are using the free Instagram Insights feature or a third-party analytics provider, this can help you make more informed decisions for optimizing posts and Stories with the hope of increasing traffic and engagement. Since this is a trial-and-error process, you probably have to go through several posts first before getting your rhythm, but your efforts will surely be worth it.

Moving Forward

The key to building an Instagram blog is to engage, engage, and engage. Every time a follower leaves a comment or sends a well-meaning message, respond with appreciation. You are not only making your account more active, but you are also building a meaningful relationship with your followers. And as we stated in a previous post titled ‘The Importance of Building Relationships Around Your Content,’ being a part of a community makes writing less solitary and more fulfilling. After all, that is why you got into blogging, right?