Instagram is one of the fastest growing social networks right now. It’s visual, it’s quick, it’s mobile, and it’s easy to use. Whether you’re new to Instagram or want to polish up your profile so you can grow your followers, here are a few content tips to help you cultivate an engaging audience on the platform.

1. Post interesting, colorful photos and videos.
   Instagram is visual. Your goal should be to post photos and videos that evoke some kind of emotion – happiness, humor, motivation, nostalgia, love, etc. Make your imagery relatable and feel free to experiment with your own creativity. When you get creative with what you share (vs. only sharing images/graphics/videos from other people), some of your personality will shine through to your audience, which will help you build a better connection with your followers.
2. Pay attention to where your image crops when uploaded.
   Instagram is a little different than other social platforms, not only because of its mobile nature, but also because of how images “fit” on the platform. Originally Instagram only allowed for square images, however, recent updates have made it possible to also add rectangular images. Whichever way you choose to add images, pay close attention to where your image crops to ensure that important parts of your image don’t get cut off.Another thing to consider when posting rectangular images is how they look on your profile. When someone views your profile, they will initially only see all of your images in squares. If you use rectangle images with text that runs right to the edge of the image, most of that will get cut off when viewed as a square. New visitors might view your profile as unprofessional if they see this being done regularly. You can see the difference below. One profile looks “clean,” inviting, and professional while the other profile looks distracting.
   

3. Regram other content.
   Creating all of your own content can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task. There is nothing wrong with the occasional regram (sharing someone else’s post) as long as you do it properly. Always get permission to regram another person’s work. Start by asking permission, and once you’ve received their permission to regram it, be certain to give the original creator credit. You can do this simply by stating, “Photo by xxx” or “?: @xxx.” This little mention that only takes a couple of seconds to add to your post demonstrates professionalism and respect for fellow content creators. Be sure to watch out for those “tags” when you’re considering using someone else’s content so you are careful to be seeking permissions from the original content creator. Regram apps are helpful in ensuring that a regram is properly tagged.How to spot a regram:Don’t overdo it with Instagram filter effects.
   Instagram has an array of filters you can apply to your photos to change the look and style, but the trend of modifying photos is quickly changing. People want photos and videos that are colorful, but relatively natural looking. While those filter effects might be tempting, try to limit your use of them to prevent your profile from looking dated.
4. Post regularly to keep followers interested.
   Just like any other social platform, if you want to keep followers engaged, you need to consistently post new content. This doesn’t mean you need to post 10 times a day, but rather choosing how often you want post and sticking with it. If you post three photos today and wait a week before you post another photo you’ll likely lose a few followers.
5. Let your personality shine through.
   Believe it or not, people are more likely to purchase products from someone they like than from someone who simply sells a product. Regardless of how knowledgeable you are about what you are selling, if you keep yourself hidden from your audience and only talk about L’BRI, your audience will likely lose interest in your feed.