As I sit down to write this post, I can’t help but feel a little bit lost. This post was supposed to explain the final stage in my Instagram Process series (read the previous posts here & here); how I unleash them on the world. I was going to talk about the best times to post, share hashtag advice and all that jazz…but with Instagram’s algorithm change, that’s gone out the window.
When it came to posting times and hashtags, I used to have it all sussed out to ensure maximum engagement. However, in a post-algorithm world, there’s no formula for getting it right. You can tick all the boxes of a nice image, but with non-chronological feeds and shadow blocking (certain hashtags getting blocked so you don’t appear in them), there’s just no telling whether an Instagram post will sink or swim these days.
Nevertheless, I’m going to share this part of the process as it’s pretty instrumental. Also, this is the part where you get to share all the hard work you did in Part 1 & Part 2 with the world!
Planning
Instagram is one of the few social channels where you can’t pre-schedule posts to go out automatically, which is why I like to plan my feed ahead of time.
Planning your Instagram feed also helps ensure you’re on-theme if you want your feed to look aesthetically cohesive (which it doesn’t have to, that’s down to your personal preference!).
To do this, I use an app called Preview (screenshot below) which lets me drop my photos into a grid just like Instagram’s so I can preview how they’ll look together.
You can even add captions and search their hashtag library, so when it comes to posting you just hit ‘share’ and paste your caption in. The app also has a bunch of other cool functions like filters and a scheduling tool which prompts you via notifications when it’s time to post, but I don’t use these.
It’s also probably worth mentioning I have a folder on my phone where I keep a stash of photos to share, so I always have some content to fall back on.
*sneaky spoilers of upcoming Instagram photos below!*
Hashtags
If you want to get your content out there, using relevant hashtags is a good way to do this.
You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags per photo, so use wisely! Research hashtags used by other influencers in your niche. From there you’ll naturally attract like-minded Instagrammers. Generic hashtags like #photography, #fashion or #flower are likely to be overcrowded and won’t get you much quality engagement.
Once you’ve found your hashtags, categorise them into a library that you can just copy and paste from. I use an app called InstaHelper (below), but you can your notes app works too.
Top tip for all you travel Instagrammers out there: before I visit a place I always do a search for which hashtags are most used, each city tends to have its own set of hashtags!
Captions
Hashtags are important, but don’t forget to add that final flourish to your photos with a caption underneath! Short, snappy and witty captions never fail, but I always enjoy reading longer captions that tell a story. In a sea of clichés, a detailed caption can go a long way to establish a connection with your followers.
Best posting times
As I mentioned, this used to be pretty straightforward. But with the algorithm update doing away with chronological timelines, when you post is pretty much redundant. Saying this, I tend to get the best engagement on images posted between 08:00 am & 10:00 am but this is rarely consistent.
And so we’ve reached the end of this Instagram journey! I hope you’ve picked up some useful ideas from this series. Do you use any apps that help with managing your Instagram?
If you’d like to read more about the algorithm or my thoughts on Instagram & the pursuit of perfection, I wrote about it here!
Photos by Sanj – full outfit post coming soon!
