There are many social media platforms to choose from, but Instagram is quickly becoming a favorite for blogging.
When you think of blogging, you probably think of a content management system like WordPress. It has a home page, a blog page, and lots of content.
But WordPress isn’t the only place you can 1) create consistent content and 2) monetize an audience over time. “Blogging” has a much more broad definition than what it had when it started! I personally love Instagram, and to date it’s still one of the largest and most used social media platforms.
This article will discuss how blogging on Instagram can be done successfully and how it can help you increase your income!
Blogging or Instagram Microblog – Which is Better?
There are pros and cons to blogging on Instagram versus other platforms.
On the one hand, there’s no denying Instagram’s appeal as a visual platform – which can be great for fashion and food bloggers who want to share photos of their latest creations. But, as with any social media platform, it takes time and effort to build a following on Instagram.
On the other hand, blogging on another platform like WordPress and then linking to your Instagram account can be a great way to drive traffic to your blog.
Your followers on Instagram will see your posts in their feed, and if they’re interested in what you have to say, they may click through to your blog.
First: Microblogging on Instagram
Microblogging just means posting short, snackable bits of content, instead of writing long, exhaustive blog posts (like this one). On Instagram, this usually takes the form of photos and videos that are less than a minute long. It can also mean posting long form content that doesn’t go over Instagram’s character limit of 2200.
It can be a great way to keep followers engaged with frequent content that is still high quality!
Why is microblogging great for bloggers?
We live in an age where people have shorter and shorter attention spans. If you can hook someone with a quick video or image, you can maintain their attention through blogging content. It’s also good for Instagram, because it creates more opportunities to show up in feeds and hashtags.
Tips for Blogging on Instagram
1. Open a Creator Account
Instagram recommends a Creator account for bloggers; you will have access to analytics that you cannot get in a personal account. The Business account is recommended for brands and retailers.
To start a new account, just head to Instagram.com and follow the prompts. Note that Instagram is intended to be used on mobile devices, and will not have full functionality on a desktop.
2. Choose a Niche
If you don’t already have a niche for your blog, now is the time to decide where you’re going to start. For more on the best way to do this, see here.
Some popular niches that do well on Instagram are fashion blogging, lifestyle blogging, beauty blogging, travel blogging and food blogging. (Though if you are not already in travel, right now may not be the best time to dive in).
3. Take Good Photos
This one cannot be stressed enough.
If you are not taking good photos, your blog will not do well on Instagram.
Not only is it important to have high-quality content, but also to make sure that your posts look good in the feed. This includes using a consistent filter, cropping your photos so they’re square, and curating your feed.
It’s also important to use good hashtags, which are covered later in this post.
4. Write a Bio & Profile Picture
Your Instagram profile should include the same elements as you would have on your blog or other social media accounts: name, website address (if you have one), business email, and some call to action text.
Some Instagram accounts choose not to include their website link – this is fine! But make sure you always include an email address so people can contact you if they want more information about your blog or products.
How To Grow Your Instagram Following (Or, How to Be a Famous Blogger on Instagram)
Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to start growing your Instagram following.
1. Hashtags
Hashtags are a critically important part of using Instagram for blogging. They help people find your content, and they also help to grow your following.
When choosing hashtags to use, make sure to use a variety of them – don’t just use the same hashtags over and over again. This will help you to get into different hashtag feeds, which can expose your blog to new audiences!
You’ll find that some blogging niches are dominated by certain hashtags – for example, travel blogging is very popular on Instagram but many of the top travel bloggers have saturated relevant hashtags, so it’s important to choose other tags as well.
Don’t just use hashtags because they exist – make sure that the hashtag is relevant and will bring you new followers! It’s worthwhile to do some research on Instagram before choosing your top hashtags (for example: #travel).
2. Engage with Followers
As with all social media accounts, it’s important to engage with your followers! This means liking and commenting on their photos, following them back if they’re following you, and sending thank-you messages when someone shares your content.
This also includes using Instagram Stories to engage with your followers – you can host live Q&As, show behind-the-scenes footage of blogging, etc.
Blogging on Instagram: How to Promote Your Blog on Instagram
Now that we’ve covered how to grow a following for your blog on Instagram, let’s talk about how to promote your blog posts. If you have a blog hosted outside of Instagram, it’s important to know how to drive traffic to your posts.
Posting Frequency & Timeliness
When you first start blogging on Instagram, it’s important to post frequently in order to gain followers. Once you have a significant following, you can space out your posts a bit more, but it’s still important to be timely.
If you’re going to be away from blogging for an extended period of time, make sure to let your followers know! You can do this by posting an Instagram Story or through a post on your feed. Or, even better, you can schedule out posts in advance and avoid a break in your posting schedule altogether.
Tools for Blogging on Instagram
There are a number of great tools out there that can help bloggers to improve their blogging process. These include scheduling tools, photo editing tools, and more!
Some popular tools for Instagram blogging include:
- Canva: free graphic design software
- Hootsuite: scheduling tool for Instagram and other social media accounts
- Gramblr: desktop app to schedule posts on Instagram (requires a blogging platform)
Blogging with Instagram Ads & Promotions
One important thing that we haven’t covered here is how bloggers often use ads or promotions on Instagram.
There are a couple of cool options out there for bloggers: you can run ads that show your blog posts, or use an influencer marketing strategy.
This is not only great for bloggers who want to grow their presence on social media but also those looking to promote products and services as well.
Instagram is a useful tool for bloggers of all levels of experience.
As with any social media platform, it’s important to be creative and engaging, and to make sure that your content is high quality. Use these tips to grow a following for your blog on Instagram, and watch your traffic (and income) grow!
