What to Post on Instagram | 18 Photo & Video Ideas to Spark Inspiration
Things to post on Instagram.
1. Off camera content
2. Client produced content
3. Rousing or persuasive statements
4. Fascinating insights
5. Auspicious or recent developments posts
6. Comical pictures or recordings
7. Convincing drawings or designs
Instagram is not just a go-to social network for people anymore. Many marketers have caught wind that it is a powerful social network they have to possess some kind of presence on.
The platform's heavy emphasis on visual content like photos, videos, illustrations, and GIFs is becoming a critical way for brands to speak their story and message.
Plus, it is a good way for businesses to humanize their brand, recruit future employees, showcase their product and content, and delight and have interaction customers.
Plus, it is a good way for businesses to humanize their brand, recruit future employees, showcase their product and content, and delight and have interaction customers.
One particularly great point about Instagram is that it is not only for still photography. there is a lot of directions to travel with each post, whether it's posting shots from behind-thscenes, videos, animated GIFs, holiday-themed content, contests and giveaways, reposts of followers and employees ... the list goes on.
Check out these 18 ideas for videos, photos, and other content you'll post on Instagram. (And for more inspiration, inspect our list of the simplest brands to follow on Instagram.)
18 Ideas for Videos, GIFs & Photos to Post on Instagram
#1. Behind-the-scenes shots.
Instagram may be a great platform for humanizing your brand, and giving your audience a sneak peek at what goes on behind the scenes is a method to try to to that. it is also an honest thanks to show followers what it's wish to work there, which is great for your recruiting efforts.
Here's an example from the Boston Red Sox, showing what batting practice seems like close-up (with a very cool, fish-eye shot to boot).
And here's one from alittle brewery in Somerville, Massachusetts called Aeronaut Brewing. We love how this one shares the faces behind the brand, giving followers the prospect to urge to understand who's on the within .
#2. Reposts from fans and followers.
Some of the simplest photos on brands' Instagram accounts are curated from fans and followers. (In fact, FedEx's Instagram feed is nearly entirely made from curated photos.)
Check out the posts people have tagged you in, and if you're keen on them, consider reposting them to your own followers. Not only does it make the first poster feel good, it also shows everyone that you're taking note of your fans.
Just make certain the photos you're reposting are really top quality , which you @-mention the first poster in your caption.
Just make certain the photos you're reposting are really top quality , which you @-mention the first poster in your caption.
What do great samples of repost images and captions look like? Here's one from the parents at ASOS. note of how they write the caption:
They write a completely new caption, which incorporates a tidbit on how their followers can get featured on their Instagram page (by using the hashtag #AsSeenOnMe).
Then, they credit the first poster using the camera emoji and therefore the poster's username.
They write a completely new caption, which incorporates a tidbit on how their followers can get featured on their Instagram page (by using the hashtag #AsSeenOnMe).
Then, they credit the first poster using the camera emoji and therefore the poster's username.
And here are two painfully cute reposts from Cisco Brewers in Nantucket. note of how they write the captions, which is different from the way ASOS does it:
First, they quote the first caption, followed by the camera emoji and therefore the original poster's username. Then, they add their own hashtags, like #brewerydogs.
First, they quote the first caption, followed by the camera emoji and therefore the original poster's username. Then, they add their own hashtags, like #brewerydogs.
To repost a photograph on Instagram, you'll simply screenshot the photo and crop it. Or, you'll use a reposting app like Repost for Instagram, which is my personal favorite. there is a free version with (pretty inconspicuous) ads.
#3. Relevant quotes that talk to your audience.
Some people ridicule at the amount of quotes out there on Instagram. But if you post them sparingly, they really tend to encourage tons of engagement. If the post speaks to your audience, people like to share them and tag their friends within the comments.
Quotes also are an excellent opportunity to share the kinds of things your brand stands for, whether it's spiritual, inspiring, funny, or something else.
Quotes also are an excellent opportunity to share the kinds of things your brand stands for, whether it's spiritual, inspiring, funny, or something else.
To create a quote image, you'll be wanting to download an app that allows you to upload a photograph and overlay it with text. Here are some good ones:
Quipio: A free app with premade designs that creates adding text and sharing through social media very easy . Only downside it's doesn't have plenty of editing options.
Overgram: A free app that has 10 of the foremost popular fonts from the premium app (Over HD, $2) and has an equivalent text resizing, alignment, and positioning tools.
Typic Pro: A $2 app that pairs fonts with different photo filters and style elements like banners, badges, and embellishments. Typic -- the free, lite version -- doesn't have design elements and limits text color to black and white, but it does have a number of an equivalent fonts and filters.
Overgram: A free app that has 10 of the foremost popular fonts from the premium app (Over HD, $2) and has an equivalent text resizing, alignment, and positioning tools.
Typic Pro: A $2 app that pairs fonts with different photo filters and style elements like banners, badges, and embellishments. Typic -- the free, lite version -- doesn't have design elements and limits text color to black and white, but it does have a number of an equivalent fonts and filters.
Here are a couple of samples of quotes done well, starting with this one from TheSkimm. The key to the present post's success is that it's hilarious to their specific audience -- and it also shows that the quote itself doesn't need to be consider to delight people.
Here's a more beautifully designed quote from activewear brand Lorna Jane, which carries an empowering message from their founder:
Pro Tip: Want to fiddle with words and images? I found this really cool, $2 app called WordFoto that allows you to turn your pictures into images made from words, rather than just adding words on top of photos.
#4. Really cool statistics.
Another cool thanks to overlay text on a picture is by posting a statistic that resonates together with your audience. Try using statistics from your own research, or finding some that are relevant to your message, your value proposition, and so on. (Read this blog post to seek out out how and where to find accurate, compelling data.)
Here's an example from Quarter For Your Crisis, a corporation with the mission of helping millennials reconnect with themselves, their faith, and their world.
Here's another one from the meditation app Headspace, with an easy text box overlaying a coloured , nondescript background.
#5. Timely posts and newsjacks.
Is something cool happening within the world or the country where your target market lives? a selected holiday? National Puppy Day?
Get in on the action by posting something delightful. Remember to use logic when newsjacking -- the last item you would like to try to to is publish inaccurate information or offend anyone.
Get in on the action by posting something delightful. Remember to use logic when newsjacking -- the last item you would like to try to to is publish inaccurate information or offend anyone.
What are some samples of delightful, timely posts? Here's one from a Mediterranean restaurant called Cava Mezze Grill to celebrate Opening Day for baseball, as all of their locations are within the us .
And here's a fun example from Starbucks for National Croissant Day.
#6. Funny posts.
If you'll make your followers laugh, they'll likely enjoy your photo -- and should even share it with others. After all, sometimes the foremost memorable photos are those that make us laugh.
Pro Tip: ( Since people tend to be happier on Fridays, Neil Patel suggests posting funny or upbeat content to match your audience's mood.)
Pro Tip: ( Since people tend to be happier on Fridays, Neil Patel suggests posting funny or upbeat content to match your audience's mood.)
Try posting photos and pictures that you simply think will make your own audience laugh, like Oreo did with this fake text message conversation with "Milk."
Here's another example from BuzzFeed Parents, which matches to point out how simple an excellent shareable post are often.
And during this one from Pabst cordon bleu . All they did was dress up a dog during a hilarious outfit then put a Pabst can ahead of him ... and it worked sort of a charm.
#7. Cool illustrations.
Have any artists on your team? a method to face call at a sea of images is to post a very cool, compelling illustration.
They do not even need to be super fancy -- inspect this easy , black-and-white example from Oreo:
They do not even need to be super fancy -- inspect this easy , black-and-white example from Oreo:
Here's a more complex one from Pabst Blue Ribbon:
#8. Content promotions.
Beautiful images are critical to your Instagram marketing strategy because they tell a story and draw people in. In fact, colored visuals increase people's willingness to read a bit of content by a whopping 80%.
- Related:
How to get real unlimeted auto instagram followres & likes_ free instagram
So if you're creating a bit of compelling written content sort of a recipe, a report, or a blog post, why not use a visible platform like Instagram to market it?
Simply pair a stimulating and relevant image with a caption that promotes the content, then ask people to follow the link in your bio. (Again, make certain to form that link trackable.)
Here's an example from Staples, promoting a group of free, printable holiday-themed planners and gift tags:
And here's an example from Nature's Path Organic, which shows off the finished product of a recipe that's linked to in their bio:
#9. Product promotion.
Instagram is not the place to be publishing product-centric posts every single day -- but that does not mean you cannot use it to showcase products every once during a while.
We propose using the 80/20 rule on social media: 80% of the content you post to social media should be helpful and valuable to your audience, and 20% are often self-promotional.
We propose using the 80/20 rule on social media: 80% of the content you post to social media should be helpful and valuable to your audience, and 20% are often self-promotional.
For Instagram, it's even more important to form that promotional content fun, compelling, and lovable. to spotlight a selected product, post an image or video about it, then send people to the (trackable) link in your bio.
Here's one example from the web clothing company ASOS. (Check out how casual and funky the caption is.)
Here's another one from Frank Body, which uses a picture and a few humor within the caption to pique followers' interest within the product without being overly promotional.
#10. Compelling videos.
For the past few years, most of the social media world has been moving toward emphasizing video. In fact, by midway through 2015, mobile video plays exceeded 44% -- up 74% from 2014, and up a whopping 844% since 2012.
It took Instagram a short time to return around to video, but they recently announced they're rolling out the potential for users to record and upload videos up to 60 seconds long (whereas the max was 15 seconds previously).
It took Instagram a short time to return around to video, but they recently announced they're rolling out the potential for users to record and upload videos up to 60 seconds long (whereas the max was 15 seconds previously).
When executed well, videos are an excellent way for your Instagram content to face call at the feed. you'll either record a video from scratch (including recording multiple video clips), otherwise you can upload a replacement video from your phone's library an equivalent way you'd upload a traditional photo.
Pro Tip: By default, every Instagram video will start playing without sound -- after which viewers can choose whether or to not turn the sound on.
Due to this, you'll either got to upload videos that do not need sound to be understood, or you will need to entice people to show the sound within the first second or two.
Due to this, you'll either got to upload videos that do not need sound to be understood, or you will need to entice people to show the sound within the first second or two.
Here's an excellent video from Purina that delights viewers with some cute calf love .
#11. Hyperlapse videos.
Want to use video to face out from the gang while also solving for your followers' short attention spans? Try creating a Hyperlapse video.
Hyperlapse may be a free app by Instagram that condenses videos into brief, moving, hyper-speed videos.
The videos find yourself looking pretty cool because of built-in stabilization technology that allows you to film these time lapse videos without having to stay your hands still. (Want to form your own? Here are step-by-step instructions.)
The videos find yourself looking pretty cool because of built-in stabilization technology that allows you to film these time lapse videos without having to stay your hands still. (Want to form your own? Here are step-by-step instructions.)
Here's one among my favorite examples, which comes from Starbucks.
#12. Fun, lighthearted GIFs.
GIFs are everywhere nowadays, and other people love them because they assist accurately convey ideas, messages, thoughts, and feelings during a snackable (and often laughable) way.
On Instagram, you'll upload a GIF a bit like you'd a video (as long as it's but 60 seconds long).
On Instagram, you'll upload a GIF a bit like you'd a video (as long as it's but 60 seconds long).
Check out the samples of GIFs on Instagram below for a few inspiration. (And to make your own animated GIF using Photoshop, click here for instructions.) Here's an example from Staples.
And one from Starbucks.
#13. Contests and giveaways.
Trying to support the launch of a replacement product? Contests are one among the simplest ways to expand your reach and have interaction your community on Instagram.
The network doesn't make it easy to capture leads and knowledge from your followers, but a contest or giveaway is a method to try to to it.
The network doesn't make it easy to capture leads and knowledge from your followers, but a contest or giveaway is a method to try to to it.
Just make certain to call your followers to require action by using the space in your caption to elucidate the competition and even guide them to a link in your bio. (Pro Tip:
Make certain to form that link trackable so you'll see what proportion traffic your Instagram post is driving. find out how to feature a trackable link to your Instagram bio by reading #6 during this blog post.)
Make certain to form that link trackable so you'll see what proportion traffic your Instagram post is driving. find out how to feature a trackable link to your Instagram bio by reading #6 during this blog post.)
There are many, many various sorts of contests you'll post on Instagram. Here are a couple of ideas, starting with the one below from Social Print Studio. Their call-to-action asks for comments on the post, from which they'll choose winners.
Here's one from Rent the Runway asking people to enter a contest by following the link in their bio.
#14. Mosaics.
Not many brands are using this tactic, but I've always found it to be a very cool, unique user experience. to not mention, it is also an ingenious thanks to get users to travel to your business' account page.
You see, most of your followers won't be watching your Instagram photos from your account page, as they'll typically check out them in their Instagram feed.
But once I started scrolling through the pictures below from Cava Mezze Grill in my feed, it took me a second to work out what was happening.
I kept seeing snippets of "New York," which had a cool teaser affect. This enticed me to travel to Cava Mezze Grill's main account page, where I could see the complete picture.
But once I started scrolling through the pictures below from Cava Mezze Grill in my feed, it took me a second to work out what was happening.
I kept seeing snippets of "New York," which had a cool teaser affect. This enticed me to travel to Cava Mezze Grill's main account page, where I could see the complete picture.
#15. Asks to "tag a lover ."
While you technically can tag friends in posts on Facebook and Twitter, it happens most regularly on Instagram. there is a culture around tagging your friends if you see a post that resonates with you or reminds you of that person.
This helps you both increase engagement and broaden your reach.
This helps you both increase engagement and broaden your reach.
If you would like to encourage your followers to share the post with others, sometimes all you've to try to to is ask. within the caption, include a call-to-action asking people to tag their friends, and provides them a prompt to try to to so.
For example, within the post below from Rent the Runway, they ask followers to "Tag your BFF!"
In our post below from HubSpot, we asked followers to tag their office coffee buddy.
In this cute video from Headspace, they asked followers to tag someone they like to help celebrate Valentine Day .
Similar to asking your followers to tag a lover , you'll also simply ask them to "double-tap," which is how your followers can Like your photo or video. The common language for an ask like this is: "Double-tap if..."
In the example below from Rent the Runway, they ask followers to double-tap if they need to wear the dress from the photo to their next wedding, which may be a fun thanks to engage their fans.
#16. Reposts from your employees.
Reposting your employees is an awesome thanks to showcase what happens behind the scenes at your company, while really helping your followers "bond" with the people that work there.
For example, the parents behind the Boston Red Sox's "Fenway Park" account often reposts photos and videos from their grounds crew.
Voir le profil
Voir le profil
ASOS features a really cool approach: They repost Instagram content from their individual stylists, who function as brand lifestyle ambassadors with accounts specifically related to ASOS, like @asos_megan and @asos_isabella.
While the most ASOS account posts mostly their own content, they often repost from their stylists, like within the image below.
While the most ASOS account posts mostly their own content, they often repost from their stylists, like within the image below.
#17. Cross-promotion of another social media account.
Cross promotion of other social media accounts on Instagram may be a good way to let your Instagram followers know where else on social media they will find you. That way, you'll get your Instagram followers to become your followers on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and so on.
Pro Tip: If you've got goals around increasing your following on Snapchat, post an image of your unique Snapcode.
A Snapcode is a picture that appears just like the Snapchat logo, but with a pattern of dots.
To follow you on Snapchat, all users will need to do to is open the Snapchat app, take a photograph of your Snapcode, and tap their screen. Here's an example from HubSpot's Instagram account.
A Snapcode is a picture that appears just like the Snapchat logo, but with a pattern of dots.
To follow you on Snapchat, all users will need to do to is open the Snapchat app, take a photograph of your Snapcode, and tap their screen. Here's an example from HubSpot's Instagram account.
#18. "We're hiring."
Finally, let your followers know you're hiring every once during a while by posting an easy call-to-action on your Instagram page, including a trackable link to your jobs page in your bio.
Here's an example of a "we're hiring" post from WeWork:
And here's a pleasant one from Rent the Runway.
What other ideas for Instagram posts does one have? Share with us within the comments.
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