Instagram, with its vast and diverse audience, presents a great opportunity for businesses to expand their reach and boost engagement. Content on Instagram is of course all about quality media, but there are other best practice tips you can follow to supercharge your feed. The platform's algorithm favours content that resonates with users, making it essential to understand and implement strategies that work.

Here's a guide on what to post on Instagram to maximise reach and engagement, and the reasons behind their effectiveness.

Instagram is primarily a visual platform. High-quality photos and videos are more likely to capture attention, get shared, and encourage interactions. So post striking images, well-produced videos, eye-catching graphics. Ensure good lighting, clear focus, and aesthetically pleasing composition. As with any social media platform, it’s essential to understand your audience and post content that resonates with them.

Instagram Stories and Reels offer a more dynamic way to connect with your audience. They are super popular, and are prominently displayed and often get prioritised by the algorithm. Try posting behind-the-scenes content, quick tutorials, fun polls or quizzes in Stories; additionally creative, short-form videos in Reels that capitalise on current trends.

Authenticity fosters trust and loyalty. Users are more likely to engage with content that feels genuine and relatable. Share personal stories, real-life experiences, and candid moments. Show the human side of your brand or personality.

Featuring content from your audience can boost engagement and community feeling. It shows you value your followers and encourages others to share their experiences. So share reposts of customer photos - giving credit of course - testimonials, or any content where your product or service is being used by real people.

Posts that prompt a response naturally boost engagement. Asking questions or seeking opinions can drive more comments and shares. Ask questions in captions, create polls, or start a debate on a relevant topic. Encourage followers to tag friends or share their thoughts to boost your reach.

Providing value can help in retaining audience interest and building authority in your niche. So post tips, how-to guides, industry insights, infographics. Share content that informs your audience, or teaches them something new.

Regular posting keeps your brand top-of-mind and helps in maintaining a steady engagement rate. Timing is also crucial to ensure maximum visibility. So develop a content calendar, like the Maybe* Social Planner, and post when your audience is most active (which you can learn in Instagram Insights). Keep experimenting and tracking what works best for your unique audience.

Hashtags increase the discoverability of your content. Geotags can help in reaching a local audience or those interested in a specific location. Use relevant hashtags (but not too many). Tag locations, especially if your content is location-specific.

Once you have crafted your posts, schedule them ahead using the Maybe* Social Planner. We'll walk you through Posting To Instagram here.