How do you take photos on Instagram to build engagement with potential and regular customers on social media? In a world where images matter a great deal, the key to success on social media, and especially on Instagram, is the ability to create compelling content. For brand owners and e-commerce companies, Instagram has become not only a platform to showcase products, but more importantly a place to build relationships with customers and strengthen brand awareness.
Consistency of Material
Images on Instagram should be carefully selected and tailored to the nature of the brand. For example, for a clothing brand, it will be crucial to show clothes in a way that highlights their style and quality. For a home accessories shop, on the other hand, photos that inspire and show products in attractive interiors will be important.
Each brand should find its own way of visual communication (preferably unique 🙌) that resonates with its target group. It is important that and materials are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also convey the values and emotions associated with the product or brand.
Consider creating cohesive themed campaigns that can be promoted through a series of related product images. For example, a clothing shop might create a series of posts promoting a clothing line for the upcoming season, using unique aesthetics and consistent themes. In this context, it is important that the images are visually appealing and blend well with the rest of the feed on Instagram. Let’s get straight to the specifics.
Feed Analysis
Oreo
Photos that break the mould and introduce an element of surprise can set a brand apart from the competition. This is what Oreo does, for example – their creative use of biscuits in various artistic compositions attracts attention and encourages interaction.
Nike
Nike often releases images that not only showcase their products, but are also inspired by the sporting spirit of the brand. Their ‘Just Do It’ campaign is a perfect example of combining products with a strong and inspiring message.
GoPro
GoPro uses user photos to showcase the capabilities of their cameras. Their hashtag #GoProHero allows them to create a community around the brand while promoting authentic product use.
Aibnb
Airbnb showcases not only the places you can rent, but also the experiences that come with them. These are images that sell the dream of travelling and discovering new places.
Photos on Instagram should be part of a well-thought-out strategy that tells a brand’s story and builds an emotional connection with it. Examples from leading brands show that success lies in authenticity and a creative approach to visual content. So it’s worth investing time and resources into creating a cohesive and engaging portfolio of images that represent the brand in the best possible way.
In today’s visual world of social media, the right photos on Instagram can contribute significantly to a brand’s success. Business owners, especially in the e-commerce sector, need to understand that Instagram is not just a platform for sharing images, but a powerful tool for building brand awareness, engaging customers and driving sales.
Photos on Instagram – Types
Product Images on a White Background
These are an e-commerce staple and allow you to focus attention on the product itself, without distractions. For a beauty brand, this might mean clear, clean photos of perfume bottles or shadow palettes. Apple is known for this type of presentation – their products are often shown in a minimalist aesthetic, which emphasises their design and quality. they also give you the option to quickly change it to a coloured background which can build atmosphere on your brand’s Instagram.
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Lifestyle Photos
They show , in the context of real life. can, for example, show garments on models in urban settings, highlighting their urban character and functionality. Patagonia makes excellent use of lifestyle photography, showing its clothing in action, while climbing or surfing, which communicates the brand’s adventurous spirit. And the skoda? Check it out.
Behind-The-Scenes Photos
These photos build a relationship with the audience, showing the human dimension of the brand. This makes customers feel more intimacy and trust in the company. For example, a chocolate manufacturer can show how artisans create their products by hand, which adds value and authenticity.
Photos With Influencers
Collaborating with influencers is an effective strategy for increasing the reach and authenticity of a message. A sports brand, by collaborating with well-known athletes or fitness trainers, can showcase their products in authentic use, which further motivates purchase.
Working with influencers can be an effective way to increase reach and engagement on Instagram. Selecting the right influencers who fit the brand image and have credibility with their followers can bring significant benefits in terms of increased brand awareness and increased sales.
Incorporating these elements into the first chapter will provide rich and varied material that not only makes the most of the keywords provided, but also provides readers with practical advice and strategies for using Instagram effectively in a business context.
The Emotional Aspect
It is worth emphasising the importance of building an emotional connection with your audience through photos. Photographs that create a feed that evokes emotion – joy, nostalgia, inspiration – can significantly increase engagement. For example, a travel brand can publish photos of breathtaking landscapes, evoking nostalgia for travel. Coca Cola shows the bonds built.
A Question of Authenticity in Photos
In an age of over-fabricated and over-edited photos, authenticity has become currency in the social media world. Brands that present real images – of both their products and company culture – often build stronger relationships with their audiences. Discussing how to strike a balance between high-quality, professional photos and authentic, ‘human’ images can be key to understanding visual strategy on Instagram.
When to Add Photos on Instagram?
When to add photos on Instagram? This is a question that every brand needs to find an answer to. By analysing your followers’ activity data and industry statistics, you can identify the optimal days and times to publish. Posting photos regularly and thoughtfully will help build a strong and engaged community around your brand.
To make the process of regular publishing easier and more effective for your efforts on Instagram, there are a number of tools and apps for scheduling posts. These tools allow you to schedule posts in advance, which is extremely helpful in keeping your publications consistent and regular. Here are some recommended solutions:
Later – allows you to schedule, organise and automatically publish posts on Instagram. Its features also include generating hashtag suggestions and determining optimal publication times.
Hootsuite – is a comprehensive tool not only for scheduling posts, but also for monitoring activity on Instagram and managing interactions. It allows you to schedule posts, Stories and analyse the results.
Buffer – a simple and intuitive-to-use tool for scheduling posts on Instagram and other social media platforms. Buffer helps you schedule your publications and analyse the results.
Sprout Social – in addition to scheduling posts, it offers advanced analytics and reporting, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of your activities on Instagram.
Planoly – this app is specifically designed for use with Instagram, offering the ability to schedule both posts and Stories, and analyse the results.
Sked Social – focused on e-commerce, it offers postscheduling and performance analysis tools, which is particularly useful for brands focusing on selling through Instagram.
Image Sizing on Instagram
A technical issue, but just as important as the time of publication, is the adaptation of photos to Instagram requirements. The size of the photo on Instagram and its dimensions are crucial to how it will be displayed and received by users. Pay attention to the platform’s current guidelines on , to ensure they are displayed in the best quality and format.
Dimensions of a Photo on Instagram
The dimensions of a photo on Instagram should follow the platform’s recommendations to ensure optimal display on different devices. Brands often use square (1:1), vertical photos (4:5) or horizontal (1.91:1) depending on the content and message they want to convey.
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The Impact of Hashtags and Descriptions
The importance of well-chosen hashtags and thoughtful photo descriptions should not be underestimated. Hashtags can significantly increase the reach of posts, and descriptions are a great way to add context and personality to photos. Examples of effective use of hashtags and tips on writing engaging descriptions can be very useful for brands looking for ways to increase the visibility of their posts.
Hashtags are not only a way to categorise content, but also a tool to help increase the reach of your posts on Instagram. Here are some tips for using hashtags effectively:
Hashtag analysis – conduct research to find the most relevant and popular hashtags in your industry. Tools such as Hashtagify or All Hashtag can help you identify popular and effective hashtags.
Industry and niche hashtags – in addition to general hashtags, focus on those that are specific to your industry or niche. This will help you reach a more targeted audience.
Mix popular with less popular – use a mix of popular hashtags (with high reach) and those that are less popular but more targeted. This will allow you to reach both a wider and more engaged audience.
Number of hashtags – Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags per post, but it’s not always worth using that many. Experiment with different numbers to find the perfect balance for your posts.
Create your own hashtags – consider creating your own unique hashtag for your brand. It’s a great way to build community and increase engagement.
Monitoring and Analysing Results
It is important for brands to regularly monitor and analyse the results of their activity on Instagram. Discussing what metrics are important, how to interpret the data (e.g. engagement, reach, profile clicks) and how to adjust strategy based on this information will be a valuable addition to the chapter. This will provide companies with the necessary knowledge to continuously improve their presence on Instagram.
There are various analytical tools on the market that can help with this analysis. Below are some examples of tools that have been highlighted by various sources as effective in 2023:
Squarelovin – a free tool that offers a monthly analysis of recent posts and growth, as well as a history of content broken down by hour, day, month or year.
Crowdfire – allows you to track in detail the performance of your business account on Instagram with a selectable time range of 1 to 90 days.
Later – allows you to link posts to specific URLs, tracking page clicks, page impressions and click-through rates from your Instagram profile, allowing you to track how many sales a specific post has generated.
Minter.io – creates PDF reports that can provide information on follower growth, post and profile engagement, most popular photo filters and more.
SmartMetrics – collects insights on an hourly basis, providing more than 30 metrics on Stories, posts and your Instagram account.
Hootsuite – offers extensive social listening and analytics tools, allowing you to create custom reports and compare historical data.
Iconosquare – ideal for agencies or brands with multiple social media accounts, provides advanced insights to optimise your overall social media strategy.
Keyhole – allows you to track hashtags, mentions, keywords and URLs of previous and current posts.
Sprout Social – offers in-depth analytics on post performance, audience engagement and competitive data.
Metricool – provides comprehensive analytics to help track account performance on Instagram, including followers, engagement and other key metrics.
Sendible – an advanced social media management tool offering advanced Instagram analytics.
Summary
In summary, the key to effective photos on Instagram lies in understanding and utilising the specifics of the platform. Success on Instagram requires not only the technical quality of the photos, but also creativity, authenticity and storytelling skills. Strategies such as using a variety of photo types, including product, lifestyle and behind-the-scenes shots, and the appropriate use of hashtags and engaging descriptions, can significantly increase reach and engagement.
Remember to tailor your content to your brand and its values, as well as to the expectations of your target audience, to help you effectively realise Instagram’s potential as a promotional tool.
Harnessing the power of Instagram photos with a well-thought-out strategy can dramatically elevate your brand’s visibility and engagement. By leveraging the various types of Instagram photos, from product-centric to lifestyle and behind-the-scenes shots, businesses can create a rich tapestry that not only showcases their offerings but also tells a compelling brand story.
Utilizing this approach ensures a deeper connection with the audience, fostering both loyalty and excitement around new campaigns. Moreover, optimizing your photo strategy involves not only the aesthetic appeal but also aligning the content with the emotional narrative of your brand. By carefully considering elements like consistent visual themes, tailored hashtags, and timely posts, brands can enhance their presence and interaction on the platform.
The example of leading brands highlights the significant impact that creatively curated Instagram photos can have on audience engagement and brand perception.
