Here are seven tested & proven ideas for brands to get your creative juices flowing into beautiful Instagram posts:
Filter Harmony
Brands should have a few choice filters in their arsenal. Sticking to them helps set a feed’s look and feel. It also promotes consistency. Also known as presets, they add character to a photo. With visual planning, social media managers can use them to tell brand stories. One should not be limited by Instagram’s features, too. A Color Story, Snapseed, and VCSO are examples of excellent alternatives. It is possible to test the filters side-by-side on third-party apps like Later and Preview.
Brand Colors
This approach is clever. It can trigger the audience to remember the brand when they see objects in those colors. The team behind A Color Story shows their peers how to execute this style flawlessly. The creative director should provide clear instructions during its implementation. The social media team needs a color palette as a reference. And everybody can take a page or two from Pantone’s style guide.
Brand Templates
Brands tend to share different things on Instagram. They communicate via photos, graphics, gifs, and memes. They also share a lot of Boomerang clips featuring their employees. No matter the content type, it is important to prepare templates for quotes, memes, and even videos. Even Instagram Stories need templates, too. This will also lighten the load for visual artists. Startup Rags2Riches is a good example. It is easy to spot the graphics it uses when posting about its products and promotions.
Color Block Party
Color blocking jazzes up an Instagram feed instantly. It keeps followers glued and coming back for more. A block consists of nine consecutive images that adhere to a theme, which is a certain color or hue. This approach gives viewers time to transition from one grid to another. It usually works for brand and personal portfolios, such as those of vlogger Kat Von D Beauty and visual designer Henry Wu. Instagram did notice and feature Wu’s work in 2016.
Banner Images
Inserting banner images in a gallery breaks the monotony of square frames. Plus, it amplifies the content. Like the billboards of traditional advertising, banner images require immediate attention. They add to the customized look of the feed. Tools like Giant Square, Instagrid, and nSquares allow 3×1 up to 3×4 grids. Herschel, a Canadian backpack maker, has displayed mastery of this style. It is best to apply it during product launches, seasonal offerings, and such important company events.
Font Pairing
The process can be as elegant as wine pairing. It starts with a basic understanding of typography. Then one can study dynamic pairing from there. There is an abundance of articles on this topic online. Creatives and social media teams should be encouraged to explore. Of course, they should also stay consistent with the brand. TED’s Instagram demonstrates how to craft compelling graphic designs. With the right font combination, even a simple text can pop.
User-Generated Content
Brands should see user-generated content (UGC) as an essential component of their Instagram marketing strategy. According to AdWeek, “not only is UGC much cheaper to implement (practically free in certain instances), it is also much more effective.” It can drive sales, engagement, and virality. Studies show that people trust UGC more than traditional media. Of course, the brand has to define the terms for such campaigns. It has to observe intellectual property rights as well. Re-gramming is still the most reliable method. It requires users to download Instagram photos and videos through a third-party app and put the re-gram or re-post tag.
Bottom Line
Brands should pick the design ideas that resonate with their identity. Also, it is better for you to choose one you can stick with than three or four you cannot master. Feel free to explore and experiment, but remember to tailor the work according to your strengths!
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