Instagram Checklist: 7 Things to Do Before Posting
Some people think Instagram is as simple as selecting a photo and hitting “publish” but that could not be further from the truth.
While it may be the easier way to manage your social media, it won’t be the most helpful in the long run. You have to make your posts valuable and put some intentions behind them, rather than just throwing up a post.
7 Things to Check Before Posting to Instagram
Write out your caption.
This is an obvious point, right? This actually is the hardest part for a lot of people (including myself). Something I have started doing is pulling from a document of ideas I have listed and planning out my posts. I have found it is easier for me to write out a caption first and then choose a photo that will go with the caption. Now, sometimes there are certain posts and you have to speak to/describe what is in the photo.
If you are struggling for ideas, or ever not sure what to post, write out captions or ideas that you can pull from when you are having a hard time. No more struggle! Also, if you’re having a rough time with ideas—e-mail me! Let’s chat.Produce high quality content.
This is also is an obvious point, but something I wanted to touch on. You can actually get high quality images fairly easily by learning some tips to take better ones on your smart phone. You don’t need a fancy camera to have high quality images. The same goes for video. Avoid blurry or grainy images at all costs. Try to get bright, natural lighting for the best results!
Add hashtags.
Hashtags will not hurt you, they will only help you! Add up to 30 hashtags within the caption or add them in a comment after you post. (It will work either way.) Try to mix up the size of the hashtags you use, too. For example, #flower has over 218 MILLION posts, but #wildflowersofinstagram only has 126,000 posts. Get super specific, use a few larger ones, and don’t forget to mix in hashtags based on location.
Add your alt text.
Alt text is hidden in advanced settings when you go to post. Alt text is actually used for an on screen reading program for those who have visual impairments. Not only does it help people get a clearer picture of what your post is about, but it helps your photos show up more when people are searching for related things on Instagram.
Tag related accounts.
You should try to tag accounts that are related to your niche, local to you, or tag whatever accounts are featured in your photo. It will help you get noticed and you might even get some features or shares on your post or social media out of it!
Tread lightly, though. If you are tagging people or influencers that have nothing to do with your photo, you might come off as spammy. Some people don’t like being tagged, so use your best judgement. When in doubt, just ask!Geotag the location.
Another step in posting on Instagram is adding the geotag of the location of the photo(s) or video. This can be a more general tag, like a big city you live near, or it can be the address of your business or whatever place is in the photo. This increases visibility and is helpful to people who follow you so they have an idea of where you are located or they can easily find the businesses or places you are tagging in your post.
Post to Facebook!
If you don’t have a Facebook for your business, you should! Connect your business Facebook page if you haven’t done so already. Otherwise, connect and share your posts to your own personal Facebook. This is an easy way to share content/create content pieces for another platform where you might have a whole new and/or different audience.
