How to Create A Cohesive Instagram Account

When building an Instagram account for your business, it has to look the part. Not only does your account need to convey a sense of professionalism, it should also share what your business is about in a simple glance. 

While there’s no denying that on-the-go unedited content creates a real feel, too many live posts can end up looking chaotic. What you need to do is create an engaging balance of content and keep your business’ page cohesive. 

Want to know how to do this?

In this quick guide, we outline how you can create a cohesive Instagram feed and show off your brand to its full potential.

Step 1: Create Niche Content

We’ve all heard the term “content is king,” and when it comes to Instagram, it really is. 

Identify your niche and focus on sharing content that’s based on that, and only that. For example, if you’re a food blogger, sharing five recipes and then a random fashion-related post is not niche content. 

The content you post also needs to relate to your business and your branding, with everything becoming one voice. Stick to what you know and become an expert in that field. We recommend that you research your audience first and develop your content to target your ideal demographic.

Step 2: Commit To Your Content

Producing good quality Instagram content takes practice and patience. You need to build up to the point where you’re publishing industry-changing content, and this requires an ongoing commitment. 

Be prepared to learn from your mistakes and adapt your content plan accordingly. You can look at what your peers or competitors are doing for inspiration, and see what works and what doesn’t. Just be sure not to mimic them too closely.

Step 3: Choose A Color Scheme

When developing your corporate identity and social media templates, you would’ve chosen a couple of colors that best represent your brand. These colors would more than likely tie in with your logo.

Carry this color palette throughout your Instagram feed and try not to deviate from it too often. The transition between your website and social media should be seamless. There needs to be a consistent thread between the elements.

Step 4: Select A Preset

In simple terms, choose a filter for your images and create a uniform look for all of your posts. This means that you don’t need to do excessive editing to get a cohesive look across your feed—although there’s no harm in going the extra mile. In some cases, the photo quality may impact the look of the preset and may require some tweaking to get the image in line.

Step 5: Find A Balance

It’s important to note that when we say cohesion, we don’t mean that every single image needs to look exactly the same. 

What we mean is that the content needs to portray your brand and remain true to its identity. 

You need to find a balance for your posts to prevent your grid from looking cluttered or bland. If we consider the food blogger reference from earlier, you may want to consider something along the lines of having two food fact posts and one DIY cooking tip. Then, you can either repeat that pattern, or simply alternate the color tone for each post. The answer can really be as simple as that.

3 Tips For Taking Consistent Instagram Photos

While creating posts may seem simple, the quality of your images can make or break your feed. These images evoke your brand identity, so they should be crisp and clear enough to look good online, on small screens, and when printed using a photo printer.

Consistent quality images will create a cohesive look and feel across your Instagram feed. To make sure you’re on the right track, implement these 3 tips:

• Lighting

When taking any photo, you’ll know that the lighting can be the difference between an average photo and a great one. When taking pictures for your Instagram feed, it’s important to know what kind of lighting you’re going to use, and how you will be able to achieve the desired effect every time. 

For bright photos, take your photos in daylight, avoiding shadows and possible reflections. For a moody effect, try taking photos at dusk. It’s important to experiment with lighting and take note of the times of day that best create the shots you want. This will help you repeat the effect whenever you need to create content. You can also cheat and use filters or edit the image, but it’s not quite the same!

• Colors

You need to incorporate your color scheme into your content. You can do this with a pre-designed template, by placing an object of that color in the frame, or by using selective coloring. 

Whichever method you choose, be sure to stick to it. It doesn’t need to be exactly the same in every single post, but it does need to create a flow throughout your feed. This helps tell a story and retain your brand’s narrative.

• The Mood

Is your content exciting and vibrant, or elegant and chic? You need to choose a mood for your business. This mood needs to reflect your brand, what you stand for, and what you’re looking to achieve. 

It may sound like a lot to incorporate, but when you have a clear vision of what your brand is, choosing a tone and mood should be a fairly simple process.

Everything you do in your Instagram feed requires involving all the elements of your business in a visual manner. Whether it’s sharing products, pro tips, or random facts, it all needs to relate back to what you’re doing and looking to achieve. Your content also needs to be relevant and original.

In the same breath, it needs to be easy for your audience to identify your brand when it pops up on their feed or timeline. Instagram is an easy way to enforce brand consistency and spread your message, but it’s up to you to ensure the success of your endeavors.

Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to creating a cohesive feed that really speaks to your target market.