Instagram is a free photo and video sharing platform through which celebrities, brands, thought leaders, friends, family, and others connect.
With a vast array of features, Instagram has gone beyond sharing photos to creating short-form videos, streaming live and being visible to one’s audience.
What is Instagram?
With more than a billion registered accounts, Instagram has become a household name. Going through the app, it seems the entire world is on this social media platform. Looking at it from this angle, this is another way to brand yourself on Instagram.
Like I initially pointed out, Instagram is a social media platform for sharing photos and videos to connect with others.
With a lot of business owners, entrepreneurs, startups, celebrities, showing themselves off on this platform, this is a good way to become visible to your audience by branding yourself on Instagram.
Branding is the process of creating a name or design that differentiates you from other brands or products.
Branding yourself on Instagram is another marketing strategy for you to establish trust with your audience or customers. Giving them a reason to remember you and also set you apart from other competitors.
Now, for you to brand yourself on Instagram, there are some basic things you need to do.
Download the Instagram app
Before branding yourself on Instagram, you need to know what Instagram is about and also download the app on your mobile device. It’s available on Android, iOS, and also Windows devices.
You will need to download the app, then sign up for an account. You can create a new account or log in using your Facebook account.
Setting up a profile
To create a new account, you will need to input your email address, full name, desired username and password. After setting up your account, your profile is next in line.
Your profile is where all your photos and videos are kept. You can also track those you are following and those following you. Also not to forget, you can run multiple accounts on your Instagram. A personal or professional account.
You can brand yourself on Instagram using any of the accounts. You can build a personal or professional brand. So to be recognized as a brand, your profile picture must be professional as well as your username. Your bio must be up to date.
Your bio gives a brief description of your brand. You can also attach a link to your website or YouTube channel.
You can as well edit your profile whenever you want. Do well to also add a location. This will be great if you run a professional account for business.
How To Brand Yourself On Instagram
Presently, Instagram is a relevant app for scaling both personal and professional brands. Branding yourself on Instagram will need you to put extra work into what you do and also be visible.
Whether you are a coach, entrepreneur or influencer, branding yourself on Instagram is essential as you present yourself as a force to be listened to.
To brand yourself, you need to first
1. Understand Your Goal:
What’s your goal for creating an IG page?
Did you create it to sell more of your products or to create brand awareness??
You can achieve many goals using Instagram but you need to first define your “why.” You must define your “why” before branding yourself on Instagram or any other social media platform.
The clearer you are about your goals, the easier it to craft the right message to show the right people.
You can use S.M.A.R.T goals and be intentional about them in order to gain whatever you want. This is a secret way to brand yourself on Instagram powerfully.
Your goals must be
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
2. Your Profile should be Optimized:
I talked about setting or creating your profile but it’s not only about creating an account and setting up your profile but you need to optimize it.
How?
√ Pick a username that will be recognized:
Choose an easy name people can find on Instagram. You can use your name if you are building a personal brand. Use a name you want people to easily remember.
√ Choose a branded profile picture:
In branding yourself on Instagram, you need to be unique. You can use the same picture on all your social media handles. Some people go-ahead to use their logo as a profile picture. That as well is great.
√ Optimize your bio:
Your bio is the next thing people will see after your username and profile picture. So craft an awesome bio for yourself as regards what you want to be known for.
You have 150 characters to tell the world what you do so use it wisely. You got to know that the words in your bio are so important if you want people glued to your page.
Tell them simply in words what you do and how they can benefit from it.
This really helps.
√ Include relevant links in bio:
You can include links to your blogs, sales page, products, linktree link and your other social media accounts.
Including all these links will enable people to see other things or activities you do.
3. Pick a Theme:
There is something you want to be known for, what is it?
Branding yourself on Instagram is not to get people confused but to get them to know and also like you.
Some coaches post about branding today, tomorrow is motivation, next tomorrow is relationship. Posting random subjects will get people confused.
You have a core theme message so don’t deviate from it. Be consistent with it across your social media platforms. This is for you not to confuse your followers.
Most people use their logo or brand colour to show this too.
4. Create Unique Content:
Create contents that would make people pay attention to you. Learn to create contents that would make people seek more information about you.
Whatever your brand is, just be yourself.
You can use IG reels to create content. You can also use graphics.
5. Reply to all DM’s and comments:
This is another important thing to note down while branding yourself on Instagram.
Learn to reply to people who comment on your post or send a DM across to you. It makes them feel connected. If you have much following, you can hire people to reply to comments and DM’s. It makes people know you are reliable and trustworthy.
6. Post Consistently:
Learn to post consistently if you are serious about branding yourself on Instagram. Be consistent and regular. Even if it’s posting twice, it will help build your following.
Conclusion:
With the tips listed above, branding yourself on Instagram won’t be a difficult feat to achieve. Remember, it might not be all that rosy when starting it. Learn from your mistakes and move on to do better.
Now keep branding yourself on Instagram. The world needs to see your good work.
