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Brandwatch seems to check all the boxes social media managers may look for at first — it handles content planning, analytics, social media monitoring, influencer marketing, and loads more. But it does lack critical features and is often subject to bugs. So, let me...
Aug 5, 2024
Lacking inspiration or juggling multiple social accounts? Tired of staring at a blank screen, wondering what to post on Instagram? Been there.
In this article, I’ll provide you with a month’s worth of valuable Instagram post ideas that will keep your followers engaged and entertained. Whether you’re a seasoned influencer, a busy social media manager, or just starting your Instagram journey, these content ideas will help you create captivating posts that stand out from the crowd.
Let’s dive in and discover the endless possibilities of Instagram content!
Start out the month strong by scheduling your IG posts in advance. Try these bold, spicy Instagram content ideas.
Reels are a fun way to showcase your creativity and boost engagement. Create short, entertaining videos that grab attention and keep your audience hooked. Depending on your brand’s voice and audience, you can create brand storytelling videos, quick tutorials, Q&As, UGC, or hilarious skits. Once you’ve shared your Reels, you can add them to Instagram Story and write engaging captions.
Here’s a great example of a product business that sells modular keyboards. They create engaging content through high-quality pictures and videos, trending music, and other attention-grabbing elements.
View this post on Instagram
Stuck in a caption writing slump? No worries, we’ve got your back. Our free Instagram caption generator is here to save your social media game and make your life a breeze. Give it a whirl and watch your caption game level up faster than you can say “influencer.”
Everyone loves a good contest. Engage your audience by hosting a contest on your Instagram page. Encourage users to like, share, tag friends, or comment on your post while offering exciting prizes to the winners. Contests not only drive engagement but also help expand your reach as participants share your post with their Instagram followers.
Take inspiration from this example by GoPro. They are running a long-term photo contest, offering daily prizes to GoPro users and double the prize for premium subscribers. Now that’s a smart Instagram marketing strategy! By encouraging engagement and rewarding buyers, they create a sense of community backed up by a constant flow of user-generated content on their Instagram feed.
Photo of the Day post by @gopro
Don’t limit yourself to a single image or video — create carousel posts to tell a captivating story or share a series of related content. Carousels allow you to swipe through multiple images or videos in a single post, providing a more interactive and immersive experience for your followers. Showcase your brand, share a step-by-step tutorial, or present before-and-after transformations.
Get inspired by this amazing step-by-step carousel post by @the_socialserver, which emphasizes the power of delivering valuable information through easily-digestible carousel content.
Educational carousel post from @the_socialserver
User-generated content (UGC) can be in the form of testimonials, reviews, photos, videos, or engaging stories featuring your product or service. UGC not only fosters a sense of community and engagement but also acts as social proof, showcasing the positive experiences of real customers. Pro tip: encourage your Instagram followers to use brand hashtags on their posts so you can easily track Instagram content related to your brand.
Take Sephora’s strategy, for example. They share user-generated content on their Instagram account on a daily basis and use micro to macro influencers to increase trust and show off their products to a wider audience.
User generated content share by @sephora
Memes are officially an integral part of pop culture and have the potential to go viral, generating a lot of shares and comments. The secret is to stay up-to-date with the latest trends, news, and pop-culture events and pick up quickly on the ones that have the potential to go viral, putting your own spin on them. This way, you can easily entertain your audience and increase engagement.
Just like this Planable meme that references a Met Gala trending picture, adapted to the marketing community. Hilarious, right?
Instagram MET Gala meme by @planableapp
Get ready to captivate your audience with behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, product spotlights, seasonal posts, and helpful tips in Week 2!
Give your followers an exclusive look into your creative process or the inner workings of your business. Behind-the-scenes content builds a sense of authenticity and connection with your audience, making them feel like insiders. Whether it’s a sneak peek into your photo shoot, a glimpse into your office, or a backstage moment, behind-the-scenes posts are always a refreshing Instagram post idea.
Here’s how @laneige_us seemingly combines behind-the-scene content with influencer marketing and brand collaboration into a viral Instagram video.
Behind the scenes video scene by @laneige_us
From celebrating International Coffee Day to sharing a quote on World Environment Day, timely posts help you engage with your audience in a relevant and meaningful way, allowing you to join conversations that are already buzzing. Carefully choose the event, generate your caption with AI for a speedy reaction, and add your own brand to the mix.
Take for example this inspirational post by world bike traveler @kamranonbike who celebrates #internatinalmountainday as a symbol of adventure and nature. By mixing the two in one post, he promotes awareness of this international day, while also creating engagement around his personal brand.
International Mountain Day post by @kamranonbike
Share your expertise and provide valuable insights to your audience through helpful tips. Whether it’s beauty hacks, productivity tricks, or cooking tips, people love learning something new. By sharing your knowledge, you position yourself as an authority in your niche and build trust with your audience. Plus, who doesn’t appreciate free tips?
Here’s how Sophie @prettylittlemarketer offers her target audience of social media enthusiasts useful tips about building a social media strategy.
Educational Instagram carousel by @prettylittlemarketer
There are lots of creative ways to make your products or services stand out. Showcase their features, benefits, and unique selling points to entice your audience to test or purchase. Use high-quality visuals to display your product/service in action. This type of Instagram content creates awareness, educates your audience about what you offer, and can encourage repeat purchases.
Take a look at how @glossier showcases their new set of lipglosses with a simple yet effective X-Y graph that gets their followers talking about various product features.
Lip products in an Instagram post by @glossier
Tap into the current season, holiday, or special occasion and create mood posts that reflect the spirit and theme of that time. Whether it’s a festive decoration, a holiday-themed recipe, or a seasonal promotion, seasonal posts help you stay relevant and connect with your audience on a timely basis. These posts can drive engagement by capitalizing on the excitement and interests surrounding a particular season.
Here’s how this interior designer @rapsodia_w captures key seasonal moments of her cozy home, turning this post into a lifestyle content gem.
View this post on Instagram
Week 3 is all about keeping your content fresh and engaging by diving into industry trends, humor, and collaboration.
Sharing industry trend posts is both informative and engaging. By providing valuable information and analysis, you position yourself as a thought leader — whether it’s discussing the latest fashion trends, sharing tech innovations, or analyzing market developments.
Check out luxury consignment brand @therealreal, whose informative post challenges the retail market status quo and brings awareness to the importance of circular fashion.
Instagram post on circular fashion impact by @therealreal.
Never underestimate the power of a good pun. Lighten up your followers’ day with a relatable joke or funny meme. Good jokes are highly shareable and help create a positive connection with your audience. Just make sure your humor is appropriate for your target audience and aligns with your brand’s voice.
This Barbie meme is making waves amongst Pretty Little Marketer’s followers, having social media managers laughing and crying at the same time.
Funny Barbie-inspired meme by @prettylittlemarketer
Show your customers some love by giving them a shout-out on Instagram. Feature their posts, testimonials, or reviews to highlight their positive experiences with your brand. Not only does this make your customers feel appreciated, but it also encourages others to engage with your products or services.
Take note of @vagabondshoemakers who turn their clients into inspirational muses.
@vagabondshoemakers customer shout out on Instagram
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. By teaming up with other creators in your niche, you can tap into each other’s audiences and gain exposure to new followers. It’s a win-win situation that allows you to expand your reach and build valuable partnerships.
Take Puma’s example, whose Instagram collaboration with Scuderia Ferrari got both Formula 1 fans and fashionistas cheering on both brands’ Instagram accounts.
@pumamotorsport sharing a supportive post for the @scuderiaferrari team
Let someone else take the reins of your Instagram account for a day or a specific event. Inviting a guest creator or influencer to do an IG takeover gives your audience fresh perspectives and introduces them to new content. This unique tactic will create buzz and engage your followers. Keep in mind that a successful takeover needs a good plan and a relevant host for your audience.
Instagram takeover of @inmannews by brand ambassador @holly.meyer.lucas
Finish off your month with Instagram stories and posts that show appreciation, provide practical value, and showcase your brand’s originality.
Dedicate a post to your clients or customers, expressing gratitude for their support. Highlight your favorite success stories, share their feedback, or simply thank them for choosing your products or services. Client appreciation posts strengthen your relationship with your audience and demonstrate the value you provide.
Show some love as this luxury esthetician does with their much-appreciated clients.
Client appreciation post on Instagram by @lashluxemiami
Share step-by-step guides or tutorials that help your audience achieve specific goals or overcome challenges. Whether it’s a DIY project, a recipe, or a fitness routine, practical guides empower your followers to take action and achieve desired results. Visual content like videos or infographics works best for this type of post.
Check out this practical guide from Figma and quickly learn how to create gradient animations.
View this post on Instagram
Let your creativity shine! Create and share original content that reflects your unique style and perspective. Stand out from the crowd by offering something fresh and different. It could be a captivating photo, an artistic illustration, or a thought-provoking quote. Original content helps you establish your brand identity and attracts Instagram users that resonate with your brand’s personality.
Check out this satirical illustration shared by the popular paper tablet brand, Remarkable. The illustration grabs the user’s attention, while the post’s description guides them deeper into the discussion.
Original satirical illustration by @remarkable
People love learning new skills or gaining knowledge. Share a how-to post that breaks down a complex task into simple steps. Whether it’s a blog tutorial, a home improvement guide, or a coding lesson, how-to posts provide value and demonstrate your expertise.
The best part about how-to guides is that you can turn them into many series. This way, you’re creating recurrent content that works across all your social media accounts. Videos and IG carousel series are great for this type of post.
Take, for example, this aesthetically satisfying yet simple and informative carousel post from @girlpowermarketing on how to get into marketing without a degree.
Educational post by @girlpowermarketing
Pick your most versatile product or service and put it under the brightest spotlight on stage. Highlight its unique features, benefits, or success stories. This tactic not only increases awareness but also encourages repeat purchases from your existing customers. Pro tip: You can also create product series classified by theme, feature, or market success.
Examine how @ouidad, a hair product company, showcases its most valuable product.
Playful product spotlight post by @ouidad
There you have it! One month’s worth of engaging, diverse, and captivating Instagram content to keep creative blocks at bay. From leveraging Reels and organizing contests to sharing user-generated content and creating current events memes, you now have a plethora of creative Instagram posts to experiment with and engage your audience in creative ways.
Now it’s time to unleash your creativity, experiment with different formats, and plan your Instagram feed with a captivating visual journey that keeps your followers coming back for more. Let your social media post ideas run wild keep your Instagram grid attractive!
Remember, a scheduled feed is a happy feed!
Creative Thinker | Content Writer | Sustainability Utopian. Passionate and versatile information scavenger. Funny and witty but also dead-serious and determined. Asks a lot of uncomfortable questions.
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