Instagram

INSTAGRAM

The Snapshot (click links to jump to section):

Instagram and Getting Started

Instagram is a huge social media platform (300 million users+) that is popular with younger and more diverse audiences. Below are a few of the features on the platform and tips on how to grow engagement. Please note that this is a mobile-only application, but is owned by Facebook, so there are lots of integration features and cross-posting options by linking your two accounts.

Also, if you want to post to Instagram directly from your computer, you can signup for a free Hootsuite account that will allow you to link 3 different social media accounts and schedule up to 30 posts a month - for free! Check it out here. (see new recommendations below)

November 2021 Update on post scheduling: Facebook now lets you schedule Instagram AND Facebook page posts through their Business Suite: https://business.facebook.com/. It’s free and tackles two social accounts in one. Also, you can view your insights for Instagram much more in depth in the business suite.

Or, you can use Canva’s free non-profit account that has a scheduler calendar for the posts you create and can be posted on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Hashtags

Did you know that you can search hashtags and follow them? By following hashtags, you can see a lot of different creators that might be ones you want to follow but not needing to search them down. It also let’s you see what’s popular in that hashtag…

Did you know that you can search hashtags and follow them? By following hashtags, you can see a lot of different creators that might be ones you want to follow but not needing to search them down. It also let’s you see what’s popular in that hashtag category!

Instagram growth relies on the use of hashtags and relevant content. Posts that use hashtags see a 12% increase in engagement and helps non-followers find your content. Test what hashtags work for you and see which posts see more engagement with certain ones. This will help build a nice library of tried-and-true hashtags for your organization. You can post up to 30 hashtags per post, but studies show that there is a sweet spot of 9 hashtags per post to garner the most engagement.

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Hide hashtags: Don’t clutter your content. Keep the reader focused on what’s important: your compelling caption.

How to do it in a comment:

  1. Upload your content as usual but leave out the hashtags in the caption box

  2. Once your post is published, simply click the speech bubble icon under your post to leave a comment

  3. Now write out or paste the hashtags you want to include in the “Add a comment…” box and tap Post

  4. Once your photo or video gets more comments, your hashtags won’t be visible unless a users taps the “View all comments” button

How to do it in the caption:

You can also bury your hashtags within the caption itself.

  1. Tap the 123 key when composing a caption

  2. Then tap Return

  3. Enter a piece of punctuation (whether a period, bullet, or dash), then hit Return again

  4. Repeat steps 2 to 4 at least five times

  5. Instagram hides captions after three lines, so your hashtags won’t be viewable unless your followers tap the “more” option on your post

Some common hashtags based on content-type:

Trout

#browntrout #rainbowtrout #comefishwithus #fishing #flyfishinglife #FlyTying #FlyTyingJunkie #FlyTyingAddict #fishing #beer #flyfishing #onthefly #greenbackcutthroat #flyfishinglife #troutlove #lifeisgood #memories #tightlines #bentrod #creekfishing #wildplaces #troutbum  #nativewatersflyfishing #anglernation #fishingisdope #learntofish #findyourwater #kidsfishing #teachthemyoung #flyfishingsaveslives #getoutstayout

CTU

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#colorado #trout #keepemwet #conservation #fishexploreconserve #repyourwater #catchandrelease #cutthroattrout #nativetrout #wildtrout #movie #youthcamp #morethanthefish #saveourrivers #cleanwater #conservewater #protectourrivers #conserve #protect #savethewild #localgov #takeaction

Colorado

#denver #coloradosprings #fortcollins #optoutside #explorecolorado #goldencolorado #flyfishcolorado #colorado #travel #mountains #fraser #winterpark #parksandwildlife #publicfishing #publiclands #instagood #mountainlife #highcountry #slowmotion #craftbeer #rockymountains  #outdoorcolorado #shoplocal

Women

#shewhowanders

#shewhowanders

#colowomenflyfishers #womenonthefly #5050onthewater #girlswhoflyfish #unitedwomenonthefly #fishlikeagirl #womenwhoflyfish #FlyTierFeature #Womenwhofish #flyfishingwomen #womenonthefly #womeninscience #stemwomen #womeninstem #femaleauthors #womeninresearch #andshesdopetoo #sheexplores #sheventures #shewhowanders

Outdoors

#diversifyoutdoors

#diversifyoutdoors

#natureisbest #landscape #nature #forest #hiking #camping #naturelovers #wanderlust #adventure #keepitwild #simplyadventure #wildernessculture #liveoutdoors #discoverearth #rei1440project

Diversity

#brownfolksfishing #blackinstem #beenoutside #melaninbasecamp #diversifyoutdoors #latinooutdoors #sheexplores #everyonesoutdoors #andshesdopetoo #sheexplores #outdoorasian #brownpeoplecamping #beinggreenwhileblack

Instagram Specific

  • #instagood: Use this on photos you’re particularly proud of.

  • #photooftheday: Also reserved for your best work. There’s an associated @photooftheday Instagram account that selects one “winning” photo with the hashtag each day and shares it with their more than 269,000 followers.

  • #picoftheday: Same concept as above.

  • #instagrammers: Popular with Instagram influencers and other power users.

  • #igers: Short form of #instagrammers.

  • #instamood: Intended to be used in photos that reflect the publisher’s mood. Typically #instamood posts are not of people, but scenery.

  • #TBT (and #ThrowbackThursday, the longer and less frequently used version): As noted above, this all about nostalgia marketing. For more, check out our guide to using #TBT to promote your brand.

  • #FBF or #FlashbackFriday: Because one day a week dedicated to nostalgia isn’t enough. The concept is the same as #TBT, although the Friday tag isn’t as popular.

  • #ManicMonday: Use on posts that illustrate your busy week ahead or wacky company culture.

  • #WisdomWednesday: Post a quote or piece advice that your target audience will find helpful.

  • #FridayFunday: A chance to humanize your brand and entertain your audience with some lighter content.

  • #NoFilter: For photography purists. Use on posts that you haven’t applied a filter to.

  • #selfie: Self-explanatory. As a social media marketer, you can use this hashtag when you’re representing your brand at an industry event.

  • #regram: Use this when reposting a photo from someone else’s account to your own. Make it a part of your user-generated content strategy. To learn how, check out our tips for reposting content on Instagram.

  • #contest, #giveaway, #sweepstakes, etc.: Use these if you’re looking to give something away to full-time contest contestants. Hopefully the winner will share their prize and promote your brand with their audience.

Instastories

Due to the instant nature of Instagram Stories, they’re a great way to share announcements such as new projects, event and general updates! They help convey the humanity of the organization and give a sneak peek into the inner workings. Other features that can help engage your audience:

  • Polls

  • Gifs

  • Audience Questions

  • New post previews: You can use stories to post a preview of a new post on your main Instagram to help drive traffic there

  • Instagram Live

Another great thing is to use Instastories to repost Instagram posts there instead of on your feed. Since you have to download a “Repost app” to share someone else’s post on your own feed, you can click the “send” icon on any post and choose the option to “Add post to your story” as a less invasive and fun way to share another’s content. Plus, it fills it your own pages gaps by sharing other account’s content onto your Instastories reel.

Authenticity & Your Voice

As brands, we need to stay as far away from dishonest content as possible, but this isn’t any sort of groundbreaking advice. So take the honesty and transparency a step further. Get honest and real about your product or service whenever you can. Go behind the scenes and humanize your brand with your social media content.

  • Skip the calls to action for a second

  • If you mess up, own it

  • If your social content is there just to collect views, clicks, or likes, you should rethink your strategy. You’re better off not posting anything than posting sub-par content just for the sake of gaining clicks. Avoid clickbait

Location Tags

Location tags a crucial part of any Instagram post. In fact, studies show that posts with a location tag get 79% more engagement than those without, meaning that you’re giving up valuable engagements and reach by not using them.

Promote elsewhere to grow followers

One of the easiest ways to build your Instagram following is by promoting your Instagram account on places where you already have a following—like your blog, website, and newsletter.

Post more often, even when you do not have a picture ready

Don’t have the time to create original photo and video content? Don’t write off Instagram just yet. Instead, use a high-quality free image repository like Pexels, Unsplash, or pixabay to find premade content that you can post without charge or attribution.

pexels.com/

unsplash.com

pixabay.com

You can post these to your Instagram account when you’re out of ideas, or when your content library has run dry. Just make sure that you mix this content up with actual in-house content, so that you get the upside of posting original content while still posting consistently.

Additional ways to increase engagement

  • Sweepstakes and contests are one of the easiest ways to boost your engagement and help you gain followers in a pinch. But instead of hosting a random giveaway, get creative and host a photo contest. You can also host contest over Instastories which creates a sense of urgency for your followers as it only lasts for 24 hours.

  • Post When Your Audience is Most Active, you can see those statistics in your insights option by clicking the top-right menu when looking at your profile.

  • Post videos in your feed (60 seconds max), videos can help mix up your content and reach new audiences. They have been known to have better engagement rates, but Facebook (parent company) has been phasing those perks out as of last year.

  • Mix it up with art. Have someone in your organization that draws, paints, or digitally sketches? Have them make something for your feed, or related to a story that can engage new parts of your audience and non-followers.

 

Thank you to our River Champion business partners!

 

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