If you didn't know, Instagram just threw a big wrench in the social media game. Next week or next month (Instagram hasn't said when) the platform will no longer post photos chronologically. They say it's for the best, but we had our doubts. But, after thinking about it, I think Instagram has the right idea. Let's talk about it:
Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms in the world. The company was purchased for $1 Billion by Facebook and is expected to make $1.86 Billion by the end of this year. So, the company CLEARLY has a working strategy. When everyone heard about this big change, we got upset. Shoot, even The Blogger Girls posted a photo asking Instagram to keep it CHRONOLOGICAL.
Why were we upset? Well, bloggers, business owners, and brand strategists love Instagram because the posts are more organic. We got hit hard when Facebook changed their algorithms which pushed business pages out of the mix. Everyone automatically started thinking that, as a business owner, Instagram is going to forget about you too.
Instagram does not separate “personal” from “business” accounts - source
However, how many times have you had a friend ask you, "Did you see my post?" and your answer is 'no'. That's because most people follow 500+ people but only check the platform about four times a day. There's now way that you'll see everything all the time. What does this mean? As a business owner (and, YES, blogging is a business) your Instagram timeline needs to be interesting and CONSISTENT!
As the photo above suggests, "post epic stuff more often"! Before the change happens, find your rhythm. Figure out what hashtags work the best, what times do your readers/fans most like your posts. Take the next couple of weeks to test your posts. Take better photos; time out for blurry, random, or uninteresting photos. Remember, Instagram is a VISUAL platform. Even if you post a meme, make sure it's clear, focused, and tells the story about your profile.
Always, return the favor - LIKE epic stuff, more often. If you believe in the power of social media, you have to encourage and engage with people you like. Whether it's your local blogger bestie or a company that posts fabulous shoes - make sure to leave a comment and like their posts. Instagram will realize your behavior and show you their posts more often. You won't miss out.
So, I know that change is scary. But any business person will tell you that navigting change will show you how successful you'll be. Let this new Instagram change push you to telling more compelling stories across various social media platforms. You got this!
For more tips on being a better IG'er, read this post on Helene In Between. She'll be a speaker at CREATE.CONNECT 2016!
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