Over 500 million users log onto Instagram each and every day. From fitness inspiration, memes, and fashion to food recipes and business advice, these users are looking to find their own little corner of the internet, and they do that by scrolling, liking, and engaging with content that excites them.
So, how will your brand get a slice out of that 500 million? It all starts with your aesthetic!
Depending on your brand’s target audience, there’s a pretty significant chance that they’re going to skip your website’s home page altogether and head straight to your Instagram feed. Instagram relies so much on visuals that in one snapshot, literally, a potential client, customer, or fan can get a feel for what your business is about.
Creating a curated Instagram feed is one of the easiest ways to show your audience what makes your brand unique. And in the digital space, you only have a few seconds to convert a viewer into a follower, so make it count!
Are you ready to take your IG feed to the next level? Let’s go!
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #1:
Start with a clear vision of your goals.
What do you want your followers to feel when they look at your Instagram feed? Before you can do anything else, you have to hone in on this, first! Think of your Instagram as a story where each picture represents a chapter. The chapters all have to connect in some way or else the story won’t make sense.
Sit and brainstorm the message you’re trying to send. Do you want viewers to feel inspired? Informed? Empowered? Finding the answer to this will be the foundation for a successful Instagram page.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #2:
Tap into your audience.
You should know your audience down to their core! What kinds of content do they like and dislike? What resonates with them? Are they into quirky quips or long-form content—storytelling and informational posts?
Once you know who your target audience is, check out other Instagram feeds that share your same audience. Analyze what works for those feeds. Take a look at the content that gets the most engagement, and tap into that feeling for your audience. There’s no need to shoot in the dark when there are endless sources of inspiration out there.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #3:
Create a mood.
Have you ever clicked on a business’ IG feed and immediately felt exactly what they’re trying to convey? That’s a mood!
Whether it’s bright colors and panoramic outdoor shots or hipster cappuccinos and Kinfolk Magazines, a feed with a mood brings you right into the company’s world, making you go, “Hey, these things aren’t part of my daily life, but I sure wish they were.” Voilà, now you have IG #goals!
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #4:
Pick a color scheme.
Considering that Instagram is so heavily visual, color is everything, and how you use it is crucial. It’s true, aesthetic trends are shifting, and the days of using one color scheme for your entire feed are over.
Sticking to one color scheme creates a beautiful visual for followers, but it’s not set in stone. You can change your color scheme with the seasons, when you have a new product launch, or when you want to shake things up—as long as you’re consistent.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #5:
Choose a variety of photos.
From flat-lays to up close and personal photos, there are no limits when it comes to building your Instagram feed, just make sure to mix it up! Play with white space and contrast with color. Zoom in or take it back and give your viewers the full picture. It’s totally up to you.
Variety is the spice of life, and when it comes to building an aesthetically pleasing IG feed that still gets your followers pumped, it’s essential!
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Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #6:
Plan ahead.
You know those big influencers who post numerous times per day…everyday? Well, most of them aren’t posting on the fly while they’re out traveling, eating, shopping, and doing all the things.
These posts are planned and scheduled ahead of time to ensure that each photo matches the aesthetic, contributes to the brand story, and sparks something inside the viewer. It’s hard to be this precise when you’re posting on the go, so schedule in advance to ensure you’re hitting all the marks.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #7:
Edit your photos.
Even the world’s best photographers have to edit their photos, and you should too! And although Instagram has a handy dandy editor built into the platform, you’ll be better off leaving the Valencia filter alone.
You don’t have to be a professional to edit your photos, and you certainly don’t have to pay for expensive editing programs. Take a quick look through the app store, and you’ll find lists of free photo editing apps. From VSCO to Snapseed, all you have to is play around in the app to find your groove.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #8:
Don’t go crazy with filters.
Who doesn’t love playing with the crazy filters on Snapchat and IG stories? Strobe lights, dog ears, rosy cheeks, old VHS style quality pics—filters are a lot of fun, but you should use them with caution when posting on your business’ IG feed.
Whenever you want to use a filter, you have to ask yourself, “Does this fit my aesthetic?” If the answer is no, consider posting the photo to your IG stories or keep it in your private archives.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #9:
Keep text in sync.
For some brands, posting inspirational quotes, jokes, or memes is a hot ticket item for their IG, and if this is something that your brand could leverage, go for it! Just make sure your text is on-brand.
No matter what kind of graphic you’re creating, make sure the colors, font, and spacing are cohesive with your feed. To take it a step further, you could create a template for your graphics to ensure every post fits.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #10:
Find balance on your feed.
Too much of anything is not a good thing. When you put all of these tools together, the one thing you need to remember is balance! Balance is the key to everything in life.
If your followers love funny quotes, do that, but not too much! Don’t fatigue your audience with the same kind of content over and over again. You should be able to step back and look at a feed that is a well-balanced mix of images and text.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #11:
Continue your aesthetic on IG stories.
Now that you’ve created an aesthetic that feels good, it’s time to take that mood onto your IG stories! A third of the most viewed stories on IG are from businesses, so that means if you’re not using stories to uplevel your brand, you’re missing out.
While the idea of stories is meant to be quick blips of content that are easily digestible, that doesn’t mean you should fly by the seat of your pants. You still need an aesthetic, a story, and a goal, even if the content only lives for 24 hours!
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #12:
Create meaning for your followers.
With so many people using Instagram to promote, inspire, sell, and engage, it’s not enough to simply fill your feed with beautiful images. You have to add value!
Anyone can post a nice picture, but what are you actually saying? What is it that you say differently or better than your competitors? How do you engage your followers? Start with the value you’ll bring to your fans and build from there.
Creating an Instagram Aesthetic Tip #13:
Stay open to change.
Just like the world around us, Instagram trends are constantly shifting, so don’t be afraid to adapt to your audience. Keep your eyes peeled for new trends. Remember those “brand inspirations” we mentioned above, check in on them every now again. What are they up to?
Your Instagram feed needs to evolve with the times…if you want to stay relevant on the platform. But the good news is this. Once you create a solid base of fans, they’ll stick by you as long as you’re true to you—trends come and go, but value resonates.
Creating and curating an Instagram aesthetic has to be a multi-faceted approach. And although we like to think of the platform as a simple photo sharing app, it’s so much more than that!
If you’re ready to take your IG game to the next level—with aesthetically pleasing images and killer content—we’ve got your back. Click here to get started!