12 Easy Ways to Be Awesome on Instagram

Looking for ways to be awesome on Instagram but not sure what to do first? These ideas aren't too complicated and can help boost your efforts.

You'll be awesome on Instagram in no time!

1. Upgrade to a Business Profile

You'll get free in-app analytics on your posts and Instagram Stories that can help you make decisions on what content is performing well. Planning future content based on guessing isn't nearly as effective.

2. Add Variety with Boomerangs

It takes me three or four tries to get a fun boomerang but it's always worth it!

A boomerang isn't like a GIF that loops, it's a video that plays forward and then backward. You'll need to keep your phone steady while your capturing your work of art.

Stuck for ideas? Go to the Instagram account @BoomerangfromInstagram for inspiration.

What is life and what is insta? ???? by @jerm_cohen

A post shared by Boomerang from Instagram (@boomerangfrominstagram) on Jun 20, 2016 at 10:29am PDT

3. Host a “Live with” a friend

It's fun to invite viewers or pre-plan guests to pop into your Instagram Live streams.

Live video helps you share in an authentic way, but sometimes it can be intimidating when you’re on your own. It’s easy to add a guest while you’re broadcasting. Simply tap the new icon on the bottom right and tap “Add” to invite anyone who’s currently watching. Once they join, you’ll see the screen split into two and your friend pop up right below you. Your viewers can still like and comment as they follow along.

From Instagram:

To go live and then invite a friend to join your broadcast:

1. Tap  in the top left of the screen or swipe right from anywhere in Feed.
2. Tap Live at the bottom of the screen, then tap Start Live Video.
3. Tap .
4. Tap on a person's name to invite them to join your live video. Keep in mind you can only invite someone who is already viewing your live video.
5. If your friend accepts the invitation to join, you'll see them appear in a split-screen view. You'll also see if they've chosen to decline.
6. You can remove the person you invited to join your live video at any time by tapping x at the top right corner of their split-screen.

To ask to join a friend's live video that you're watching:

1. Tap Request when you see the option to request to join the live video.
2. Tap Send Request
3. You'll receive a notice that you're about to join the live video when your request is accepted.

How easy is that?

4. Hold a Q&A in your Instagram Stories

Tell people to send you questions in your Instagram Stories and then share the answers publicly in your Stories.

Fun and engaging!

5. Check your Analytics for Your Best Time to Post

Find the best time to post on Instagram. This is from my analytics in the Instagram app.

My best time on Saturdays is noon.

6. Set a Weekly Schedule

If you have a schedule, you'll stay on task. Writing things done makes them more concrete than making a promise to yourself [in your head] and then forgetting about it.

How to set a schedule.

7. Create Highlights for your Profile

Instagram Stories only last 24 hours BUT you can now add them to a highlight that stays on your profile under your bio. How cool is that?

To add a story to a highlight:

1. 1. Go to your profile and tap  below Stories Highlights.
   2. Tap to select the story or stories you want to add to highlights, then tap Next.
   3. Choose a cover photo and enter a story name for your highlight, then tap Add. You can add more photos or videos to your highlight at any time by tapping Edit Highlight.

Note: Stories you add as highlights remain visible as highlights (and saved in Stories Archive) until you remove them, even after the original story has disappeared

8. Keep your Bio Fresh and Interesting

9. Figure out what your “why” is for each post

10. Learn to rock a selfie

Guess what, they don't have to look cheesy. Here's some great ideas for capturing a great self-portrait on your phone.

11. Think like an editor

Choose carefully when posting images and video to your profile.

If your photo is blurry, retake it. Take multiples of all your shots so you can find the best one later. One quick shot usually isn't good. It takes time to compose the photo, get the lighting right, etc.

12. Curate your posts

Carefully selecting each post to match is part of creating your mood and style for your Instagram feed.

 

7 Instagram Best Practices to Build Your Audienceby Sprout Social