Variety is important for success on Instagram, whether you’re a new account or have been using the app for years. Keeping an eye on trends is similarly essential and can help you decide which direction will offer the most benefits. This snsflow.com guide looks at Instagram content ideas for different account types, as well as where to find inspiration.

Why You Need New Instagram Content Ideas

Keeping up with other Instagram accounts across your industry is only possible when you know current online trends. Even if your profile has good engagement, it doesn’t hurt to find new ways of growing your audience. Here are the benefits of embracing new IG post ideas:

1. Matching Current Trends

Social media moves at a rapid pace, and your content ideas need to fit what’s popular. This will help it reach more people using the Instagram algorithm. In addition, more people will be looking for the hashtags that you add to these posts.

2. Diverse Content Types

Seeking out new ideas will encourage you to add more variety to your account. This can include behind-the-scenes posts, challenges, giveaways, and anything else that shows a new side of your personality. In addition, some post formats will offer you higher engagement rates.

3. Follower Growth

New types of captivating posts will connect you to more profiles. Even if you’re happy with your current followers, this could be a big boost to your account. Short-form video, for example, might be an untapped market for your profile that you can use.

4. Audience Segments

Once your account reaches a certain size, you’ll have many different ‘segments’ of followers. It’s essential that you manage to appeal to each one. Experimenting with your Instagram post ideas will let you keep people happy and even retain your old followers for longer.

Instagram Content Ideas for Beginners

If you’re starting an Instagram account from scratch, it helps to hit the ground running with great, relevant posts. Generally, your focus should be on introducing yourself to new followers and taking the opportunity to show your niche. Here are a number of Instagram content ideas for beginners on the platform:

• Introductions: You only have one chance to introduce yourself to potential followers. Use this to show people what to expect from you.
• ‘Day in the life’ videos: These posts highlight who you are behind the account. So you can build a rapport with your audience.
• Joining challenges: Search popular hashtags for challenges that suit your account. Join in; make sure to add the hashtag to each post.
• Recommendations and reviews: If your profile’s all about reading, shout out your current book. If you’re a foodie, recommend a local restaurant.
• Carousel posts: Combines several photos and even videos, allowing you to show more variety in just one post.
• Life hacks: Everyone has a piece of knowledge that could change someone’s life. Use Instagram to share your tips with the world.
• Quotes: Adding regular quote posts to your account will inspire your followers and create a more emotional connection with them.
• Contests and giveaways: Even if your account is new, a giveaway encourages people to comment. This then boosts your engagement even further.

Instagram Content Ideas for Business Accounts

If you’re running a business, your Instagram content has to show you as a thought leader. However, you’ll be even more successful if you still show a relatable brand personality. Here are eight Instagram content ideas for business profiles:

• Product showcases: It might seem obvious, but your business can use Instagram to highlight new products and their main features.
• Reposting reviews: Sharing content from people in your community acts as ‘social proof’ of your services. This shows off their high quality.
• Giveaways: Businesses can also run giveaways with their own products as the prize. Be sure to mention that only followers can enter.
• Industry events: Promote an upcoming or current event in your sector. This can help you network with anyone else in attendance.
• Employee spotlights: Do you have great people working for you? Make sure your followers know just how important they are to your business.
• Cross-promotion: Partnering with other brands who complement your niche can help you reach an entirely new audience. Even influencers can help.
• How-to guides: Sharing the tricks of your trade shows how valuable your ideas are. This could even link back to a blog post on your website.
• Weekly livestreams: Getting in front of the camera and streaming to your network allows you to connect with potential customers.

How To Post on Instagram

If you’re a new account looking for ideas, the first thing you need to know is how to post. This is an art in itself; minor factors like posting times make a big difference to your engagement. Here are the main steps for posting on Instagram:

1. Plan Your Content

You should plan every post at least days in advance. This gives you the opportunity to fine-tune your content and make a schedule. You must also figure out which times of the day give you the best engagement.

2. Start Your Post

Press the + button at the bottom of your Instagram feed. This opens up a gallery where you can choose the right pictures or videos. You can select several of these at once to create a carousel post.

3. Filter the Images

Click Next to access the app’s filter options. You can then scroll along dozens of choices to find one that fits your aesthetic. If you want to customize them further, double-tapping a filter lets you change its intensity.

4. Write a Caption

Pressing Next again lets you write a caption, tag people, add music, and more. Shorter captions are more successful, according to Social Insider. Make sure to add popular hashtags to the post; this makes your account easier to find.

5. Submit Your Post

If you’re happy with the post, press Share. You can expect to get likes from your followers within a matter of minutes. Keep an eye on your notifications and respond to any comments to boost your engagement.

What Are the Best Content Types on Instagram?

Currently, Instagram lets users share stories, reels, live broadcasts, carousels, and feed posts. If you want to grow on the app, you should come up with ideas for each. They’ll all help you target a new audience segment. Short reels are especially popular with young users, for example.

When figuring out how to post on Instagram, you also need to learn which content types fit your account. For instance, audiences with little free time might not view a live stream. It might help to try each format out to see which ones help you with your engagement.

A carousel post with several photos or videos often gives more engagement than a single-photo post. This also lets you share more content in just one interactive package. Informative carousel posts that have text on each ‘slide’ are also useful if you plan on discussing a topic in-depth.

Varied content ultimately makes it easier to reach a broad audience. Promoting posts using your stories lets you cover both of these bases and get more interactions, for example. However, this will still depend upon the actual quality of your content and if your followers find it engaging.

The Importance of Visuals for Creative Instagram Post Ideas

Instagram is an incredibly visual platform, and every post is an opportunity to show how creative you are. For example, you need a consistent color scheme that fits your brand. Color theory is a great way to have an impact on anybody viewing your content. Red will help you stand out, blue shows your brand as more relaxed, and green pairs well with nature.

If you plan on adding Instagram Reels to your marketing strategy, use the platform’s own editing tools. This lets you add graphics from Instagram’s own library, as well as a wide range of special effects. If your account has the budget, third-party apps could offer more unique flourishes. You can share creative TikToks as reels, but you must remove the watermark for best results.

While you can definitely add text to your posts (especially via carousels), you must always focus on visual experiences. Your creative Instagram post ideas should still tell a story, however. This makes every piece of content a lot more immersive and helps it resonate emotionally with your audience. Your post has just a few seconds to get a reader’s attention, so every detail matters.

How To Find Things to Post on Instagram

You can find new content ideas for Instagram in unlikely places. For example, simply searching keywords on other sites, including TikTok or Pinterest, will give you plenty of inspiration. On top of this, each comment that followers leave on your content has hints of what they’re looking for.

Whether you’re a personal or business account, understanding user personas is key to success on Instagram. You need to think about who makes up your audience, as well as who else you’re hoping to target. This will help you fine-tune your content and even tailor it to these people.

Directly surveying your followers will also give you a lot of ideas. You could do this by running a poll or Q&A on your Instagram stories, possibly even asking for suggestions. This approach will show that you’re listening to feedback and want to hear from your audience.

Don’t be afraid to use your own brand as a starting point. A product feature post could even lead to your next sale, especially if you add an Instagram Shopping link. However, your posts should still take the form of user-generated content rather than a basic advertisement.

Identifying Content Trends on Instagram

If you have a professional Instagram account, you can directly view Reels trends. This is visible via your Professional Dashboard and shows which hashtags and audio choices are currently enjoying the most engagement. For other feed posts, the Explore page updates every day. This shows what content types the IG algorithm considers most relevant to your account.

Some of the trends you notice depend upon the time of year. For example, Christmas is a great opportunity to share seasonal posts about the holiday. There is also a range of third-party online tools that can help you track trends. When popular topics change daily, this may be the only reliable way of finding things to post on Instagram.

Your account needs high-quality Instagram content ideas to avoid falling into a posting rut. With snsflow.com, you can connect with new organic followers who appreciate each type of content on your profile.

With just one payment, your content is sure to enjoy the consistent attention that it deserves. Try snsflow.com today and get the Instagram engagement you need in order to reach an entirely new audience.