Tips and Tools for Optimizing Your Instagram Account

Instagram is always the place to be—but you already knew that. Though other social media platforms are viable options for building community, Instagram is usually the favorite among creators. Still, there’s an obvious downside to its popularity. With more than 75 million daily users on Instagram, you need to do your due diligence and optimize your account to stand out from the masses.

During BlogHer Creators Summit, social media experts Ashleigh Hardin-Jones and Amanda Lederman talked about how they navigate Instagram and how others can enhance the skills they already know (and the ones they don’t). Rest assured—there are more than enough tools to help elevate your Instagram profile and build brand awareness. Read on for their advice and a full replay of their session.

Engage to build

• Engage with your audience by liking and responding to comments.

• Do not ignore your DM’s! Provide thoughtful responses with links to your site.

• Consider reposts in your Instagram feed and stories from accounts you love.

  • Amanda uses Gramsave.com, which allows you to download IGTVs, Stories, Highlights, Videos, Slideshows, Tags, and more.

  • If you’re sharing the work of another creator, always tag them and provide a credit in the caption.

  • Comment on the posts of fellow creators, too. Set up notifications for accounts you’d like to engage with so you don’t miss a beat.

Tags and Hashtags

• Two words: USE THEM!

  • You increase your visibility by using them and it cannot be stressed enough how much of a difference they can make.

• Instagram Feed:

  • You can tag up to 20 accounts.

    • Tag the featured account or user in the photo.

  • You can include up to 30 hashtags.

• Instagram Stories:

  • Tag up to 10 accounts.

  • Tag up to 10 hashtags.

    • If you don’t like how they look we’ll let you into a secret — you can SWIPE THEM OFF! They will still register but they won’t destroy your aesthetic. Just don’t put them in the trash.

• Make sure to mix up your tags and hashtags. Instagram will flag if you’re using the same ones on repeat.

• Think of hashtags the same way you think of SEO. You don’t want to use the most popular hashtags. Find ones that fit your niche and have a happy medium of posts to make sure your post appears as a recent post on the hashtag’s discover page.

Free Resources for Content Creation

• Canva (also has an app)

  • Remove backgrounds, create posts, pre-planned templates, make your own GIFs and videos, add movement to images and titles.

• Easil

  • Similar to Canva. Online only.

• Online Video Cutter (free)

  • Upload videos to clip and cut online.

• Headliner

  • Create videos with captions or use for podcast audiograms (also has an app.)

• IG Stories for Instagram

  • Web browser extension.

  • Ability to download full Instagram Lives and Stories without comment overlay.

Our Favorite Apps

• Splice

  • For video editing, recording, etc.

• Instories

  • Custom Instagram stories with motion effects.

• Mojo

  • Creating Instagram posts and Instagram stories with motion effects.

• Square Fit

  • Sizing Instagram posts and adding a video/image to a custom background.

• Memes App

  • Creating meme-like posts.

• Unfold

  • Instagram Story collages and designs.

• CutStory

  • Cut’s long videos in to 15 second clips for Instagram Stories.

• Spacie (also a website)

  • Create line breaks in your Instagram captions.

• Scheduling Apps

  • Buffer, Iconosquare, Later, Coschedule, Hootsuite, Sprinklr, Social Studio.

Instagram Live

• Create a countdown and add to your Instagram Story at least 24 hours before the live so your followers can set an alert.

• Include a title, pin a comment, and/or make it a fundraiser.

• Add and remove people from your live when necessary.

• Turning off comments is an option.

• Play with filters.

• Pre-plan your caption and thumbnail for IGTV.

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