13 tips to make your Instagram posts more attractive

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Like it or not, the quality of your Instagram posts makes a difference in the amount of followers you have and how many likes you get. High-quality content is one of the driving factors to boosting engagement online. 

Let’s jump straight into how to make an Instagram post shine! 

With a few simple fixes, your posts can stand out better in the Feed and get people interacting with your brand!

13 tips to make your Instagram posts more attractive

Luckily, some of these tips are very quick and easy to implement. A few others take time, but they’ll set you up for success.

#1 - Use post templates

You absolutely can post just a plain photo on the Feed. In fact, sometimes you should!

The important thing is to offer diversity in what you post. 

To look more professional, add graphics, borders and words to your post. 

But… instead of manually editing your posts, save time with pre-made post templates. Mojo has hundreds of incredibly stunning Instagram templates! You have so much flexibility in color choice, design and more. 

#2 - Choose great filters

Unless you’re a super experienced photographer, you’ll likely need to jazz up your photos with filters. 

There are several ways to filter your Instagram photos: within Instagram, on your smartphone, within video creation apps (like Mojo). 

As a brand, it’s important to maintain your Instagram grid with a consistent filter. Or at least, a consistent family of filters that you use. 

#3 - Pick your photos wisely

Choosing the right photos for Instagram Stories and posts is half the battle. The first honest question you should ask yourself is, “Is this photo worth sharing?”

For your existing followers, they want to see things that add value, meaning and interest to their lives. For new followers, you’re competing with millions of posts to catch their attention. 

Think long and hard about what your followers (AKA potential customers) want to see and interact with.

#4 - Be meticulous 

Unfortunately, Instagram has become a place of bad grammar and spelling mistakes - even on the Explore page! 

Don’t be lazy, and don’t be like millions of other accounts that simply don’t care if they slip up. You can be better!

Before you post, read and reread all written content on the image and in the caption. Taking 1-2 extra minutes before posting will be well worth the trustworthy relationship you’ll build with your audience. 

If you do spot an error, make sure you know how to edit Instagram Stories and posts. 

#5 - Optimize your lighting

There is only so much “fixing” you can do when editing a photo or video. So prioritize good lighting. 

Here are tips to improve the lighting on your Instagram videos and photos (before you take them):

• Face a window so that light hits your face (or the face of your product).
• Go outside, especially on dry, partly cloudy days.
• Tap the center of your camera screen so it knows what the subject is. 
• Use ring lights to brighten up your face - and make your eyes sparkle.

Even without filters, these tips will make your images and videos exceptionally better!

#6 - Be unexpected

Start thinking outside the box when it comes to photos and videos you can share. What does your target audience see all the time? What would really shake up their Feed?

If you normally post product highlights, consider sharing a diverse selection of content, including:

• Behind the scenes fun
• Product comparisons (with competitors)
• Demos
• Non-promotional posts (education, origin story)
• Contests and giveaways

Consider collaborating with other accounts to add diversity. For example: A rhinestone hat company could share a photo of a llama wearing their hats.

# 7 - Use the grid (your camera grid)

Most smartphone settings can be manipulated to show a 9-square grid on the screen as you take a picture. This can help you center your subject and optimize the scale using the “rule of thirds.” 

The rule of thirds is a photography strategy. The subject is centered on any intersecting point in a 9-square grid. Or, it is centered along one of the vertical or horizontal lines. 

This can make your photos look artistic and balanced - without having to crop it smaller and risk making it pixelated. 

#8 - Shake up what you share

For existing followers, they’ve come to expect certain content from your account. Shake up their Feed by posting something unlike anything you’ve posted before. 

For new followers, shake up what you share - compared to the other accounts that they see. 

If you’re an eco-friendly water bottle brand that always posts your products, show a comparison of how 1 of your bottles will save them 10,000 plastic bottles over their lifetime. 

#9 - Crop like a pro

Sometimes all your photo really needs is a crop. Instead of always centering your subject, skew them to the right, left, up or down. 

Or, zoom in to draw interest and intrigue - rather than showing the whole. If your photo is jarring and has them guessing what exactly it is, it could really catch their attention and hold it. 

#10 - Hire a pro

DIY solopreneurs: Hear us out. 

It may be worth it to hire a professional. They will have the experience to create amazing content that will be loved by your followers. 

Plus, the money you pay to hire a pro can often get a great ROI in sales, growth and conversions. 

#11 - Have a message

Emphasize certain points (like a great discount) by adding words to your posts. 

Not only can it compel people to take action, but they won’t have to click into the caption to know about it. 

#12 - Let photos speak for themselves

Opposite to tip #11, leave words off of your posts. 

If you have really stunning visual imagery, sometimes you just need to leave it alone and let it speak for itself. 

But, let us emphasize that the imagery should be really stunning!

#13 - Be intentional 

Above all, the best Instagram posts are strategized, curated and tested. If you tend to post randomly, it’s time to rethink how to use Instagram to grow your business. 

Planning your content, mapping out the month and working hard to create great posts will do wonders on your branding, engagement and (hopefully) sales. 

Looking to upgrade your social content? Subscribe to Mojo Pro today and get started!