With the new Instagram Feed algorithm, changing the dynamics of what works (and what doesn’t) on the platform, there’s still a lot to learn about Instagram marketing this year.

To get yourself up-to-speed, check-out our top 10 best practices to help you improve your Instagram feed content:

1. Plan Ahead

If you always rely on last-minute content, you’re more likely to end up compromising on the quality and consistency of your posts.

Knowing exactly what you’re going to post in the coming week, or month, gives your brand a huge competitive edge.

Related: create the best Instagram Stories.

Planning how your Instagram feed is going to look saves you time and increases your productivity.

You’re less likely to make mistakes, and you’ll have plenty of time to do research, catch-up on trending topics, edit your posts, and write the perfect captions.

You can also schedule your posts in advance using a tool like Later. Scheduling makes it easier to post at the most optimal time of day. Better yet, it frees your mind to focus on more important things – like actually creating a great post.

Related: learn more about the magic of Instagram IGTV.

Scheduling also helps you mix things up – for example, you can post a photo on Tuesday, a small teaser video on Thursday, and launch the full video with a link on Saturday. The result? Total control and maximum engagement.

2. Color Balance Your Instagram Feed

Using the right colors is key to captivating your audience and creating a cohesive theme for your Instagram feed.

Color psychology tells us that every color conveys a certain meaning – you don’t want that meaning to clash with your brand image, so make sure you integrate your brand colors into your feed.

Here’s how @minimalistbible creates color consistency in their feed:

Notice how everything is so harmonious, each post goes perfectly with the flow, they look like family, that’s for sure. The result is a color balanced + planned ahead Instagram feed.

Pro-Tip: If you’re confused about choosing the right colors, here’s a tool to help you generate your own color palette from existing images.

3. Look for a Pattern

To make your feed look more consistent and follow-worthy, establish a pattern for your posts.

Grid patterns are pretty popular these days – for all the right reasons! They make your feed look organized and visually appealing.

Here’s a cool example of a grid pattern by @CompeteEveryDay:

You can tell it’s not a random way of posting.

4. Be Present

If you want to stay on top of your follower’s minds, you need to post frequently.

But that doesn’t mean you start spamming their feeds – you need to find the right balance.

Post too much – you run the risk of being un-followed.

Too little – they might forget about you.

While there’s no right or wrong answer about how frequently you should post, you need to be consistent. If you’re posting once a day, make sure you stick to it. That’s important because followers will start expecting your posts over time. If you’re inconsistent, you’re less likely to have an impact and get noticed

Related: get more followers with these Instagram Growth Hacks

Pro-tip: The best posting frequency is the one that your business can keep-up with – don’t make false promises!

5. Choose the Right Topics

There’s nothing more off-putting than a brand with no personality.

You need to have a clear purpose behind the content you post. Choose the right topics that don’t clash with your brand image or your audience persona.

Do your research and find out what’s trending before choosing a topic for your content. Look for top posts under relevant hashtags and learn from your competitors.

Above all: make sure your Instagram feed content is valuable, engaging, and interesting enough. Your followers should have a reason to like, comment on, or tag their friends in your post.

6. Use Hashtags Wisely

According to a study, Instagram posts with at least one hashtag tend to receive 12.6% more engagement!

With the new algorithm, hashtags are even more important. Use the force wisely!

Don’t turn your caption into a hashtag essay – only use a couple of the most relevant ones. If you still want to use a handful of other hashtags, post them as a comment instead of writing them inside the caption.

Another tip is to use hashtags with a purpose. Of course, one of the reasons is to reach a wider audience. But you can also use hashtags to identify your brand, start a trend, get users to engage with you, and encourage user-generated content.

Check-out how @CompeteEveryDay uses its name as a hashtag to engage with its audience. You know what’s the coolest thing about it? People feel like using it. They already win.

Remember – stay away from vague, generic hashtags. They are already saturated with millions of posts. Do your research and find out the most relevant and niche hashtags that your audience is looking for.

You have more chances of showing up on hashtag feeds with not a lot of competition.

7. Quality over Quantity

No matter what you do, do not compromise on the quality of your feed. Work hard on each and every post, so it delivers actual value to your audience.

Don’t just post for the sake posting. Low-quality content can actually tarnish your brand image in the long run and decrease your engagement rates.

Related: if you’re a blogger you will love this tips

Think about it – the number of posts doesn’t count for much when the visuals are pixelated or blurry. Consider investing in a good camera that will improve the quality of your posts. Trust me, your audience is going to thank you for it.

8. Tell a Story

Use your Instagram feed to build a story around your brand.

Related: talking about stories learn how to create great Instagram Stories.

Visual storytelling is the most powerful way to connect with your audience, communicate what you’re all about, and build a loyal following.

Each post should tell a compelling story that your followers can actually relate to. Here’s how @Evanchildsfitness told a unique, personal story about her life:

Pro-tip: use Instagram Stories to invite your followers into your everyday life. Stories generally feel more personal than posts and offer greater Instagram engagement.

9. Respect Who You Are + Pay Attention to What Works

This is potentially the most difficult thing you’ll need to do for your brand – should you post about what you love or what your audience wants to see?

There is no right or wrong answer here, but it’s always a great idea to find the right balance.

You cannot ignore either of the two – so, find content ideas that reflect your true self and connect with your audience at the same time. In the long run, this is what’s going to make your Instagram marketing a success.

First step: choose a niche for your Instagram business that you’re actually passionate about. This will automatically bridge the gap between your brand’s essence and what your audience likes to see.

10. Captions Can Change Everything

Visuals are great – but never underestimate the power of a great caption.

The right caption can enhance the beauty of your image or video, and offer a backstory to give it context, make it easier to understand, and highlight its relevance.

Captions are also a great place for motivating your followers to take action. For example, you can include CTAs like ‘visit my blog’, ‘tag your friends or ‘grab yours today’ to increase conversions.

Captions are also good for landing on the Explore page. The new Instagram algorithm favors the time spent on a post – write a captivating caption, and more people will spend time reading your post!

Ready to Revamp Your Instagram Feed?

Follow the best practices above to make your Instagram feed look gorgeous and attract more followers. Remember to be creative and add your own flare to each post!

Did you find any of these tips helpful? We’d love to know! Let us know your comments and feedback below.