Common Instagram Myths Busted

Sometimes it can feel like everyone has an opinion on social media; the latest top tips, the most effective hints, how to triple your followers overnight...

…it can feel overwhelming and confusing, almost like you are caught in the middle of the ultimate game of Chinese whispers before you even get started and take the first tentative steps and hit the “sign up” button.

I would hate to think any creative minded business person is simply not utilising this highly effective platform purely because of the rumour mill, so I wanted to step in and give you all some clarification on some common myths (as someone who has extensively researched, managed and grown numerous Instagram accounts for artisanal brands just like yours)

Hashtags don’t count if you place them in the comments underneath a caption

This has been a hot topic of debate. I give both options to all of my clients - why?? Not because it affects your “post reach” in any way shape or form but it can make the aesthetic of a post look different. There is no better or worse way of where you place your captions, they will still perform in exactly the same way.

Converting your personal account to a business account will decrease your visibility

You will have undoubtedly heard the rumour that converting your personal profile to a business one will decrease the visibility and reach of your posts. This in turn will affect your organic engagement and growth rates.

This simply isn’t the case. What this function does exist for is for businesses just like yours to be able to differentiate themselves. You also gain access to additional functionalities such as analytics on how your post has performed and being able to link your Instagram page to your Facebook page.

To Get more followers you should simply follow as many accounts as you possibly can

To a certain extent I agree with this statement, following for followers can actually be a successful way of building an online community. But it will only prove fruitful and worth while if you are genuinely interested in their content and feel like they would find yours relevant as well.

You shouldn’t have a strategy, your posts should be more spontaneous to appear authentic

Whilst instagram originated as a platform for individuals to share their candid snaps it has undoubtedly evolved overtime. With additional features such as being able to shop on Instagram coming in to the mix it cannot be disputed that it is a wonderful platform for businesses to really utilise when offering up their products and services.

Strategy wise I work with all of my clients to really delve in to the data that comes with having a business account and really suss out the best times to post, the kind of content your followers really engage with. Obviously as soon as businesses realise they are able to share their most valuable content while communicating directly with their target audience, posting to the platform becomes much more intentional and strategic.

Whilst I actively encourage all of my clients to have a “game plan” as such for their grid I think Instastories can be a great way of sharing impromptu highlights and interesting moments that align with their brand.

I hope this has helped dispel any Instagram myths you may have had, if you’ve got any further queries let’s chat some more.