Is curating your Instagram feed frivolous, or does it increase your revenue?
The Why
Your Instagram feed aesthetic is one of the first things potential customers will notice when they visit your profile. Keeping a feed that looks clean, polished, and on-brand is key to turning a passerby into a loyal audience member who will then convert into a customer.
A unique and cohesive Instagram aesthetic is more than just visually pleasing; it’s a pillar of your brand recognition and business success. Your profile's colours, photos, layout, and tone can help you gain followers and increase your sales.
The idea of curating your feed to one specific “aesthetic” can seem frivolous, but it helps convey your brand’s voice and personality. It allows your audience to connect with your content and recognize it instantly on their feed. An intentionally curated feed establishes your brand as being professional-- especially amongst young people.
Generation Z is the group of people born between 1995 and 2015. People in Gen Z are digital natives. The market control is shifting into this generation's hands as they are commencing their careers. As they continue to hold more of the economy, it is crucial to consider them in your marketing. If you’re looking to target them, your brand needs to fit the parameters they expect. Part of this is having an online presence that feels trustworthy — a brand that people can connect with on a personal level. According to 99 Firms, 85% of Gen Z learns about new products through social media, and one in three follows brands on social media they are thinking of buying from. Suffice to say, an attractive Instagram feed is crucial for attracting younger customers especially.
While these statistics are more definite amongst Generation Z, the same principles apply to Instagram users of all ages. Simply put, you need to have an intentional, cohesive, and visually appealing Instagram profile for your brand to flourish.
The How
Defining your brand is the first step to determining your Instagram aesthetic. While you may have a good idea of your brand's appearance in-store or on your website, translating that to an Instagram profile can be challenging. Before you can create your aesthetic, you need to ask yourself a few questions:
What kind of audience would I like to cultivate?
How do I want people to feel when interacting with my profile?
If you can answer these, you’ll have a much better idea of what kind of aesthetic will work for you. Not every aesthetic will resonate with all audiences, so get specific about your goals and commit to embodying that. You may want to do some market research by perusing pages that resonate with you and/or your target audience. This will inspire the directions you can take your platform.
After you’ve chosen an aesthetic, your focus can shift to implementing it. One of the simplest ways to create a cohesive feed is by using Adobe Lightroom presets. Lightroom presets allow you to apply the same edits to any photo with one click. While not every preset will work for every shot, preset packages include a range of similarly themed presets, allowing you to find at least one that will work for any photo you post. Our shop offers packages that include multiple complimentary presets that work in harmony with each other to ensure that there is an edit that will work with every type of photo you take. The presets are designed to unify diverse imagery for a cohesive feed and convey a specific aesthetic. This package includes a photography guide that explains the lighting, colours, and subject matter to consider to nail the aesthetic.
Taking great-looking photos for Instagram doesn’t mean you need to hire a professional photographer. Read this in-depth article describing how you can take professional-looking photos with just your iPhone. While professional shots are great, nearly anyone can take stunning photos with their smartphone — it’s just a matter of learning how.
Lastly, pay attention to details. Having clean and aesthetically pleasing covers for your story highlights (graphics for this also available on our store), a professional bio, and a beautiful profile picture will all help to convey your brand's story. It only takes 45 milliseconds to make a first impression, so get strategic with your Instagram page. A curated Instagram feed can genuinely increase your revenue. If you'd like a personal consultation and audit for your online presence, reach out and let's strategize about how we can elevate your platforms.
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