Do It For The Gram: How To Get More From Instagram

[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]“Do it for the gram!” is a saying that means you do things in your life so you can take pictures and show off on Instagram – in some circles, this is also known as “Digital Marketing”. Wondering how the future of Instagram marketing is shaping up? Read on…

With COVID-19, increased social activism, and the introduction of Instagram Reels, saying that the last 12 months have been unprecedented is an understatement.

We are well into 2021 and the development of Instagram’s in-app features shows no sign of slowing. The platform allows users and businesses alike to create authentic connections, and the Carmella Crew encourages all users to ensure they create Instagram content that does one of three things: educate, entertain or inspire.

Let’s scroll and double-tap the top 5 ways influencers, and businesses alike can take advantage of “doing it for the gram”.

• Stories
• Reels
• Shopping
• Social Cause
• IGTV Ads

Instagram Stories

Even though it was launched more than four years ago, it took no time at all for Stories to cement itself as one of the top Instagram trends.

Instagram Stories allows you to share multiple videos and photos taken throughout the day, complete with overlays of doodles and stickers – similar to Snapchat.

Today, it’s considered to be not just one of the platform’s most popular features but also among parent company Facebook’s best products.

In fact, it’s an extremely popular tool among influencers—as many as 88 percent of them say they publish content on Stories regularly.

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to try this out, it’s officially #Storytime.

Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels, which allows users to create and edit short, 15 and 30-second videos, was launched in August 2020. Given TikTok’s impressive growth and Reels’ similarities with it, it’s hardly a surprise that Reels have become just as popular.

If Instagram Reels is still a foreign concept to you, don’t worry—it’s never too late to harness the value of video content on social media – and bonus: Reels are being prioritized for newsfeed, so you’re likely to have an even better chance of getting your content seen. 

Go on – try it out!

Instagram Live

As countries worldwide have gone in and out of lockdowns, people continue to take to digital channels to keep social. 

Live videos on Instagram can last for up to an hour, and followers may get a notification when you go live so they can tune in and interact with you during the broadcast. While you’re live, you can pin a comment for everyone to see or turn comments off altogether.

At the peak of the pandemic in April 2020, Instagram Live usage skyrocketed 70 percent in just one month (Business Insider, 2020). 

Analysts continue to attribute it to the fact that humans are not wired to remain in isolation for long periods of time and are turning to social media channels to satisfy their need for social interaction.

This option can be great to help showcase authenticity and connect with your audience in a much deeper way.

In-App Shopping
With online shopping growing in popularity, alongside the number of Instagram users, one of the top Instagram trends through 2021 continues to be shopping on Instagram.

If you’re a brand or business with a physical product, you definitely don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to introduce your products to Instagram’s 500 million daily users!

Just start by taking the first steps to be an approved retailer with Instagram, and then you can begin creating awesome posts with tagged products for easier Instagram shopping for your followers – it won’t disappoint. 

Instagram Social Cause

One of Instagram’s newest features is its fundraiser feature, launched in Q3 of 2020. With it, users can either start their own personal fundraiser or contribute to existing campaigns.

The tool was introduced in response to the slowing economy triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and is in place to encourage users to help and support struggling businesses.

In the first seven months of 2020 alone, more than $100 million was raised for those affected by COVID-19 on Instagram and Facebook alone and the company says it’s been seeing a solid wave of digital activism recently.

If there’s a fundraising element to your business, not-for-profit, or brand, this is an exceptional element to explore.

IGTV Ads

IGTV Ads are a new way for creators to monetize their IGTV content.

According to Instagram, ads appear when a user clicks to watch an IGTV video from the preview button in their feed. They are mobile-optimized, vertical videos and last up to 15 seconds long.

This move has made IGTV a much more compelling platform for creators on Instagram, who may not have been previously incentivized to share content “for free”.

How can your band leverage this aspect of Instagram? It’s the perfect channel for showcasing products, DIYs, and tutorials — the kind of content that really resonates with audiences and helps build long-term relationships.

Ultimately, getting a better understanding of these top 5 Instagram elements should help arm you with enough information to craft an Instagram marketing strategy that will put you one step ahead of your competitors. Remember: whichever avenue best suits your creative style be sure to educate, entertain or inspire.

Whatever you do, just do it for the ‘gram![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]