Tips & Best Practices for New Creators

Instagram Can Generate a Full Time Living for Popular Influencers

If you’ve ever wondered why your Instagram posts aren’t getting the engagement they deserve, you’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest challenges new creators face in the social media world. With millions of posts flooding Instagram daily, standing out can feel impossible. But here’s the truth—Instagram’s algorithm rewards creators who know how to engage their audience and create high-quality, authentic content. So, how do successful influencers consistently achieve high engagement while newcomers struggle? The answer may lie in a few key strategies that many newcomers overlook. Let’s break it down and help you create the content that gets noticed!

The Importance of Content Creation on Instagram

Instagram has evolved beyond just a photo-sharing app to become one of the most powerful tools for personal branding, business marketing, and online community-building. Whether you’re trying to gain followers for a business, share your passions with the world, or build an online community, content is king. But creating content that resonates, attracts followers, and fosters engagement isn’t always easy, especially if you’re new to the platform or feeling stuck in your efforts.

What New Creators Get Wrong: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Before we dive into what works, let’s first identify some common mistakes that prevent new creators from succeeding on Instagram.

1. Inconsistent Posting

One of the most significant mistakes you can make is not posting consistently. Posting once in a while may seem harmless, but the Instagram algorithm rewards consistent activity.

What to Do Instead:
Create a content calendar to ensure you are posting regularly, whether it’s daily or several times a week. This helps keep your audience engaged and ensures that you stay top of mind. Consistency is key to building momentum on Instagram.

2. Not Interacting with Followers

Instagram isn’t just a platform for broadcasting content; it’s a social network. Many new creators fail to engage with their followers, whether it’s responding to comments, liking posts, or participating in conversations.

What to Do Instead:
Actively engage with your followers by responding to comments, liking their posts, and participating in relevant conversations. This builds community and encourages more people to interact with your content.

3. Ignoring Instagram’s Video Features

It’s no secret that video content performs well on Instagram. However, many new creators focus exclusively on static images and miss out on the power of Reels and Stories.

What to Do Instead:
Integrate video into your content strategy. Instagram’s algorithm loves Reels and Stories, and both are great ways to increase your chances of being seen by a broader audience. Video allows you to showcase your personality and creativity in ways that photos can’t.

Meta’s Best Practices for Instagram Content

Instagram’s parent company, Meta, offers several best practices that all creators should keep in mind to improve their content’s reach and engagement. These are tried-and-true strategies that align with how Instagram’s algorithm works in 2024.

1. Optimize for the Algorithm

Understanding how Instagram’s algorithm works can be a game-changer. In general, the algorithm favors content that receives higher engagement (likes, comments, shares, and saves). It also rewards posts that are timely, relevant, and visually appealing.

Best Practices:

  • Post when your audience is most active: Use Instagram Insights to determine when your followers are online and schedule your posts accordingly.
  • Use Hashtags Effectively: Research popular hashtags relevant to your niche. Avoid overloading your posts with irrelevant tags, as this could result in less engagement.
  • Prioritize Saves and Shares: Posts that people save or share with their friends are deemed more valuable by the algorithm, so aim to create content that encourages these actions.

2. Quality Content Over Quantity

While consistency is important, quality should always take precedence over quantity. Instagram rewards content that’s visually appealing, creative, and offers value to its audience.

Best Practices:

  • Focus on aesthetics: Make sure your posts are visually appealing. Use consistent filters, color schemes, and high-quality images to create a cohesive and attractive feed.
  • Tell a story: Your captions should engage your audience emotionally. People are more likely to interact with posts that resonate with them on a personal level.
  • Experiment with different formats: While photos are important, mixing in carousel posts, videos, Reels, and Stories is crucial for variety and engagement.

3. Video and Photo Content: What Works Best for Engagement?

Both photos and videos have their place on Instagram, but the key is to know when to use each and how they contribute to your engagement strategy.

  • Reels (Video): Reels have become one of the most powerful features on Instagram. With their ability to reach a wide audience, they often receive more engagement than static posts. Create short, captivating videos that entertain, educate, or inspire your audience. Reels also tend to get prioritized in Instagram’s Explore feed, which is a great opportunity for new creators to increase visibility.
  • Carousel Posts (Photo + Video): Carousel posts allow you to upload multiple images or videos in one post. This format increases the time users spend on your post, which boosts engagement rates and encourages them to swipe through the content.
  • Instagram Stories (Video + Photo): Stories are temporary (24 hours), but they allow for a more intimate connection with your audience. Use Stories for behind-the-scenes content, promotions, Q&As, polls, and interactive content. Instagram’s algorithm rewards Story interactions, so make sure to use stickers and polls to engage your audience.

The Verdict: While photos still have a place on Instagram, video content, especially Reels, should be the focal point of your content strategy if you want to maximize engagement in 2024.

Top Tips from Popular Influencers for Creating Engaging Instagram Content

Let’s take a look at some of the habits of successful Instagram influencers that new creators can emulate.

1. Be Authentic and Relatable

Influencers who succeed on Instagram do so because they connect with their audience on a personal level. Authenticity is key in building trust.

What to Do:
Be real. Share personal stories, challenges, and victories. Let your audience get to know the real you. Authenticity builds trust and loyalty, which translates into higher engagement.

2. Use Captions to Tell Stories

Great captions are often the difference between an Instagram post that gets ignored and one that sparks engagement. Influencers know how to craft captions that grab attention and prompt their audience to comment or share.

What to Do:
Write compelling captions that encourage engagement. Ask questions, share anecdotes, or provide value. Always include a call-to-action (CTA) such as “What do you think?” or “Tag a friend who needs to see this!”

3. Collaborate with Other Creators

Successful influencers frequently collaborate with others in their niche, whether through shoutouts, challenges, or co-hosting live sessions.

What to Do:
Partner up with other influencers or creators in your space to expand your reach. Collaborations often expose you to a new audience and help build credibility.

4. Engage Through Stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to connect with followers on a more personal level. Successful influencers frequently use features like polls, quizzes, and Q&A stickers to get their audience involved.

What to Do:
Post interactive Stories that invite feedback. Polls, questions, and behind-the-scenes content can spark conversations and keep your audience engaged.

Things to Avoid When Creating Instagram Content

While there are plenty of things that do work, there are also some common mistakes that new creators should avoid.

1. Overposting or Spamming Your Followers

Posting too frequently can overwhelm your audience and lead to unfollows. Keep a balance.

Tip: Stick to a regular posting schedule, but don’t overwhelm your audience with constant content. Quality always trumps quantity.

2. Ignoring Analytics

Many new creators post content without ever checking their analytics. This means they’re missing out on key data about what’s working and what’s not.

Tip: Regularly review Instagram Insights to track engagement, follower growth, and content performance. This data will help you fine-tune your content strategy.

3. Failing to Use Hashtags Properly

Hashtags help your content get discovered, but overloading your posts with irrelevant tags can hurt your reach.

Tip: Use targeted hashtags that are relevant to your content. Avoid using generic or overused hashtags and focus on niche ones that relate specifically to your audience.

Conclusion:

Creating engaging content on Instagram isn’t easy, but with the right strategies, new creators can thrive. By posting consistently, interacting with your audience, leveraging Instagram’s video features, and following Meta’s best practices, you can start to build a loyal following and increase your engagement.

Remember: While photos are important, video content—especially Reels and Stories—should take center stage in your content strategy if you want to reach new audiences and boost engagement. Be authentic, tell stories, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Success won’t come overnight, but with persistence and the right approach, you can unlock the full potential of Instagram for building your personal brand or business.

Resources and Links

By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful creator on Instagram