If you are finding it increasingly more difficult to get noticed or to get your message across on Instagram, you’re not alone. The ever-changing Instagram algorithm can leave us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted and thinking… What’s the point?
When you post to Instagram – especially if you are posting at optimal or peak times – you are competing with so many other people to be seen and heard. Some are even trying to communicate the same message or the same offering as you – it’s no wonder it feels tough!
Never fear, we are here to help. There are some practices that you can put in place that will help you stand out from the rest, make an impact and target your right audience. We promise we’re not going to make you dance in front of the camera!
Here are 5 ways to help you stand out in a saturated market
1. Theme your account
We’re going to ask you to stop reading this post for 5 minutes and research some of your favourite brands on Instagram. More than likely, you noticed brands who do Instagram “well” have a theme. Theming essentially means sticking to a distinct colour palette and using the same filters and fonts across your account. Putting together a mock feed at the same as your monthly content calendar will allow you to visualise how the feed will look and feel once all your content has been posted.
Tip: We use the dark/light philosophy for our clients. This simply means we post one light and one dark image on repeat to ensure the colour and feel of the feed is well-balanced.
2. Simplify your message
Like all of us, your audience is time poor and they need to be able to absorb your message quickly. We encourage you to think about these three questions when planning your social media content:
- What are the facts?
- Can you use simple language to get your point across?
- Could it be misinterpreted?
This doesn’t mean you always need to be super-brief but make sure every word you have written has a purpose and isn’t filler to bulk up the word count.
It always helps to have a second set of eyes test your message and make sure it’s easy to understand. Tricky or time-consuming messages are rarely remembered.
3. Find your optimal and peak time
It may sound counterintuitive to say “don’t post at the optimal or peak time” but hear us out for a second. If you are posting at an optimal or peak time – so is everyone else. Which means your message is more likely to get lost.
If your business is a cafe – try posting your content early in the morning so it’s the first thing people see when they wake up. If your business offers baby products – consider posting late at night or even in the early hours of the morning when new Mum’s are awake feeding. It’s about finding the right time for your right audience – not when Instagram says the most people are online.
4. Appeal to ego
People are most engrossed in their self-interest and what can bring or add the most value to their lives – play into that.
Use “you” and “your” and make it about them, their needs, goals, wants and desires.
E.g. Phrase 1:
Book a room at NOAH’s hotel.
Phrase 2:
Are you looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city this weekend? We have the perfect spot for you. Experience unparalleled luxury when you stay with us at NOAH’s – there’s mouth-watering local dining destinations and the beach right on your doorstep. What are you waiting for? Book our beachfront accommodation today.
5. Get some help
Social media marketing is a marathon, not a sprint and getting some professional help to create a strategy that’s going to take your brand or offering to the next level might be your next step.
At HyperWeb we create and share engaging content on social media to increase brand awareness and drive traffic back to your website. We can also work with you to use social media to run promotional campaigns and giveaways, which can help to increase leads and customers. Get in touch today to discuss your project.
