Steps to Curating and Branding your Instagram Grid for your Business
Do you have an Instagram Branding Strategy?
Now that you know the basics of Instagram (if you don’t, click here) it’s time to tell your story and showcase your work. You could start randomly uploading pictures here and there and writing some captions, but if you want Instagram to benefit your business, this is not the way to do it.
Let’s chat about your grid. Remember, your IG grid is the set of tiles that make up your Insta account when someone clicks on your handle (account name.) This is mine:
As you can see, I have a nice color scheme/brand that matches my blog. Your Instagram account should reflect your website/blog. So here are the steps to branding your Instagram Grid.
Step 1. How often will you post to Instagram per month?
You’ll need to determine how many posts you’ll create for the month. You might be wondering why, but it’s important in the next steps. If you really want to build your business on Instagram, I suggest posting at least once per day (this includes the weekends and holidays.)
Step 2. Categorize your photos
You might be asking, “What? Why do I need to do that?” Instagram is a great tool to connect with others and build your business. Your grid should be inviting and NOT sales oriented or come across as spam. Your grid should come across as a helpful tool to your audience. I recommend that you choose anywhere between 8 to 12 categories. For example, these are my photo categories: books, inspirational/motivational quotes, skincare, branding tips, coffee, inspirational photography, SAHM lifestyle (highlighting my kids and hubby), WAHM lifestyle, food and opt-ins. As you can see, all of these categories reflect my blog and my mission to helping women build their businesses on social media. Take a look at my grid above; you’ll see some categories reflected throughout the photos.
Step 3. Plan your Grid
Oh yes! This is important. Each month, typically the first day of the month, I sit down with a printed blank month calendar (just google calendars and print one) and begin to fill in each day with my photo categories. I spread them out evenly throughout the month. So typically each category is scheduled 2-3 times per month.
Step 4: Putting your Instagram branding strategy online
Think of Instagram as a story board. You’re taking your audience on a journey, photo by photo, giving them valuable content and they continue to come back for more! This is where subject matter, filters and color scheme come into play. If you’re not sure how to start, think about your overall mission. Use this as your criteria for your images. For example, my profile bio says this: Helping mompreneurs grow social platforms and brand themselves * Blogger w/ Instagram + #socialmedia tips * Coffee-obsessed * Global Skincare CEO. Again, take a look at my grid and my photos certainly reflect my mission.
Personally, I need to see my photos together before I post to Instagram. I use two apps to plan my layout: VSCO and The Preview App. Both apps are great to pop in your photos because it looks just like your Instagram Grid. I use these apps every week.
To sum it up: categorize your photos, use the same filters, ensure that your colors work well in your grid and stick to your mission. Follow these rules and you’re golden. Watch your Instagram game explode!
Check out my Instagram feed from over a year ago: YUCK! What a mess!
It was a HOT MESS! No branding, no categories, and no color scheme.
If you need help with stylish photos, jump on over to Styled Stock Photography.
Do you need a little refresher on your IG account? If so, click here!
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Love this. I haven’t been planning my grid but I will post a photo first and if I don’t feel it looks right with the rest of my grid I don’t post it. Still working on it! These tips will help!
Love this! Definitely going to use the planning grid!
I love how you plan out your month with pen and paper – I definitely have to try that! Whenever I use digital planning methods I fall down the rabbit hole of image editing instead of actually, you know, planning. 🙂
Hi there
Thanks for sharing before I started blogging, I always thought Instagram was for rich teens showing off,did`nt know I could use it to promote my website.
Thanks so much for sharing.
You’re welcome Roamy!!
You definitely gave me some food for thought! I haven’t been planning that far ahead.
I love planning out my Instagram feed in advance. It’s been so helpful for me.
It really does make a difference!
Instagram is one of the things I haven’t mastered yet, so your post is chock-full of great information for me! Thanks for posting!
Welcome Kristi!
I have been looking for ways to improve my Instagram page and gain followers. Will follow these tips. Thank you.
Very welcome!! Good luck.
This is a great post! I need to start working on my grid!
These are awesome strategies to help with social media marketing!
You’re welcome Viviane