In recent years, blogging has been one of the more classic trends that have taken over the web. The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown that followed brought out a lot of creativity in people and most of that creativity went into blogging.
Building one from scratch isn't as difficult as you might think, however. The heavy lifting is creating content to deploy the ideas you already have.
The same goes for an Instagram blog.
Starting a blog on the social network is no different from starting a regular blog, all thanks to the high limit of 2,200 characters in each post. This is the highest limit of any social media app.
So you can create a blog with your Instagram account, which is designed to drive sales, show off your products, for affiliate / influencer marketing, or just for fun. The platform is there to meet your needs, whatever your reason.
Here are a few steps to take when starting an Instagram blog, along with some tips on how to build a community that engages with your content:
1. Create an Instagram account
Definitely one of the more obvious steps in this process. You need an IG account – either you use an already existing account or create a new one, it all depends on your goals.
The platform allows you to change your username. So if you already have a bunch of subscribers you don't have to lose them – try changing your name by deleting unnecessary posts and changing your nickname if necessary. Then you are good to go.
2. Choose a goal
Do you know the popular saying “jack of all trades, master of none? This applies to starting an Insta blog. It is extremely important to choose a niche that matches your skills, talents, goals and personal values.
Focusing on a particular niche (or a combination of related niches) will help you gain consistent followers, views, and engagement. Basically you tell them, 'Hey follow me to find out more about this my content is awesome and you will enjoy it. "
You can't be a beauty blogger and then all of a sudden start posting travel tips and the best places to go. You lose a lot of followers and confuse those who remain. A majority have followed you for beauty and makeup advice, but now they are finding that you no longer offer it.
Take your time when selecting your niche and focus; this is the key to remember here. And to repeat, you need a niche that matches your strengths and talents.
Also, changing your market is possible but requires a lot of rebranding, so stress is best avoided. Alternatively, you can choose a broad topic and then specialize once you get the hang of it.
To give you some ideas, here are the most popular niches for an Instagram blog:
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Beauty
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Way of life
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Food
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Modeling
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Talking about motivation
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Finance
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Trip
3. Build a solid profile
Create your bio / profile to tell a story. A story about you and your blog. The bio section is pretty much the first impression followers have of you, as this is where they go to find out more about your Instagram page. This may persuade or deter them from pressing that illustrious follow button.
You have to sell yourself to the public in 150 characters, so do it right. Take your time and create a catchy and compelling biography that will remain anchored in their memory.
The goal is to create a bio that gives a clear, sometimes creative, insight into what your page is about. Whether you're talking about travel or crypto, you've got to put it in there. If you are looking for promotions and / or collaborations, your details should also slip in there.
4. Download quality images and videos
Since Instagram is an app built around photos and videos, uploading high quality visual content is important.
Using low quality or unrelated images / videos can damage the way your blog is viewed by others and affect both your subscriber count and engagement.
Obviously, the way your page appears is very important. This is why some of the best Instagram bloggers invest in their page aesthetics in different ways.
Most of them use the 3 by 3 post, where they upload a particular image three times with different styles so that it is perfectly aligned. Others use a preset filter for all of their images, which makes them look good when viewed.
If you can't create your own images, be sure to use photo websites (like Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels, etc.) to find images for your page.
5. Write great articles and use relevant hashtags
Your blog is as good as the content you post. When you start it, you need to do your best and create great content that will appeal to your target audience.
People will follow you when they know you have something to offer, and they can gain valuable insight from your posts. Always think from this perspective.
Ask yourself, what do people want to know? What are their interests? Needs? These questions will help shape your mind to think about useful content to post.
Don't forget to include a CTA (call to action) in your posts. A CTA is very helpful in getting readers to take action. It could be a phrase asking them to buy a product or share the post with their friends. And it's important to always have a CTA.
Hashtags are incredibly useful when posting to Instagram. They give your posts a wider reach through search, because clicking on a hashtag takes you to all of the content that hashtag was mentioned in. It's a great way for people in your niche to find your page and get involved in your work.
6. Use Instagram features
There are now plenty of Instagram features designed to make your life easier, from Profile Highlights to Stories functionality.
These are all great ways for you to showcase and market your blog. You can even take a step forward and buy Instagram ads to promote your downloads.
Here are some more tips to help you successfully run an Insta blog:
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Sharing of user-generated content.
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Post when your audience is most active.
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Interact with your viewers like a real human being.
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Create a well-thought-out Instagram strategy that takes your content and engagement into account.
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Engage with other pages in your niche, especially those that show trending videos and images.
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Engage your audience with contests, question-and-answer sessions, live videos, and more.
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Use GIFs, emojis, memes, and other fun and interactive media.
These are all great ways to grow your next Instagram blog.
Start your Insta blog today!
Hosting a social blog on the platform can seem overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it you'll find that there really isn't anything you can do. Create your account and choose the desired niche, then you are ready to go.
One of the most important practices to note when running an Insta blog is to be consistent. This is the key to breaking down all barriers and being successful when starting a new blog or trying to drive traffic to an existing blog.