We all know how important social media is to ALL small businesses these days, but it’s even MORE important for us as photographers because our potential clients want to see our photos before they will even entertain booking us. We ARE our photos. So what better way to get those photos in front of potential clients than Instagram? The good news is, we have TONS of content. I mean, Instagram is all photos, and that’s all we do, right? The bad news is most of us aren’t utilizing it to its full potential. Here are 5 common mistakes photographers are making on Instagram.
1. Inconsistent posting: If you’re only posting once in a blue moon, you’re not doing it right! Many experts suggest posting on Instagram at least once a day, if not more. We always suggest using software to help you plan out your social media in advance. For PhotoSpark, we LOVE Planoly. It’s a great way to organize your social media posts, and it makes batch work super easy.
2. Not taking advantages of stories: Instastories are an amazing way to show your followers the real you, not just your business. Feel free to post photography-related stuff on your stories… favorite locations, behind the scenes footage, wardrobe ideas, etc. But don’t forget to also post about YOU! Your clients want to get to know you, so stories are a great place to post cute photos of your dog, your kids, or a fancy latte without having to worry about the aesthetic of your Instagram feed.
3. Not hashtagging enough, or hashtagging the wrong things! Hashtags are the best way for potential clients to find you. If you’re posting without hashtagging, you’re missing out on a big opportunity to reach new people. Certain hashtags are “shadowbanned” however, so you have to make sure you aren’t using any of those, because it can result in the rest of your hashtags being blocked. Hashtags & their rules are always changing, so it’s not a bad idea to check out some of your favorite bloggers/Instagrammers & see what they’re using!
4. Inconsistent style: Instagram is all about showing your best work to the world, so you really need to be sure that your editing style is consistent. A potential client needs to know what they’re going to get if they book with you. Again, Planoly is a great way to do this.. you can line up all of your posts in advance & see how they look together. You might want to avoid certain colors next to each other, or you might want to only use super bright photos. Using software to plan out your feed helps you remain consistent in your style, and results in your feed looking really pretty & well put together!
5. Not engaging with your followers or other businesses: It’s really really important to engage with other people on Instagram! Think about this, if you post a photo and you get 10 comments, that’s awesome. Now, if you reply to each of those comments, you’ve DOUBLED your comments. Be sure to write comments of at least 4 words (emojis don’t count!) to get through Instagram’s algorithm. You also want to be engaging with past clients, making sure they remember who you are. If you’re trying to grow your following, make it a point to follow a few new accounts every day, and comment on their photos with meaningful, unique comments!
We hope these tips help you grow & sustain your Instagram accounts! Want to know more? Be sure to tune into our episode all about Instagram with Melissa McClure. You can check out show notes & listen HERE!
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