Journalist Edition:
When it comes to Instagram, the objectives might be a little unclear, given the platform was not meant to drive traffic to your articles or news blogs.
The goal of visually-focused social media platforms such as Instagram is to increase brand recognition.
Instagram has approximately 800 million monthly users, and according to one study, brand interaction on Instagram is ten times higher than on Facebook, 54 times higher than on Pinterest, and 84 times higher than on Twitter.
Photography: Freestocks.org sourced from pexels.com
Struggling on how to begin? swipe your way down these 9 top tips…
1. Use the #Hashtag to your advantage.
The benefits of utilising hashtags on social media in general are disputed, but they’re crucial on Instagram. According to one study, posts containing at least one hashtag receive 12.6% higher interaction than those without.
They also classify material, which is important because Instagram users may now follow particular hashtags to receive whatever relevant content they choose, so applying them can help you reach new audiences.
Make sure the hashtags you use are exactly what they appear to be. Some businesses have found themselves in awkward circumstances after mistakenly using hashtags that belonged to specific online subcultures and communities.
2. Add links to your Instagram stories.
Instagram stories is a wonderful place for audience interaction. Especially if you want to redirect your readers to your news articles. Just simply paste your links to a new Instagram story and there you have it.
It is also a wonderful function for giving your audience a behind-the-scenes peek at your newsroom’s operations, or you can use it to report on a topic as it unfolds.
For stories tend to be on the lighter side, captions must be written directly on the photo with colorful fonts, emojis and graphics to provide context. One general guideline is that the shorter the sentence, the better.
When scrolling through their Instagram feed, users rarely enjoy having to skim through 50 odd slides and would rather get straight to the point.
3. Be creative.
Although it’s important to remain persistent and on brand, you should also be open to trying new ideas. There is no exception when it comes to experimenting and connecting with your audience on social media.
Each week, The Washington Post has started introducing readers to members of its team on one of their Instagram accounts.
The account introduces followers to members of the Post team and gives employees full control of the account for the day so they can share what it’s like to work for one of the country’s most recognisable publications.
You may also include polls in your articles that question people about the community or what types of posts they’d like to see from you.
4. Keep posting, be consistent.
If you are a journalist and are trying to establish an engaging audience, it’s best that you are always prepared with something new and different to post. Not only do you want good content, but it is also vital to post at time where everybody is most active.
Post regularly with a rhythm that you can maintain. All of this must be sustainable. Be sure to have a mixture of photos and videos … If you want to try something new, do it for at least 3–4 months so your viewers can get used to it.
5. Live in the moment — Go live
Instagram Live allows users to broadcast live videos to their followers via Instagram Stories. It’s great for increasing engagement, connecting with your users directly, sharing news, and establishing your story.
When going live, you should always be prepared, especially if you have a news story, a general update, or even just a quick waffle with your viewers.
For example; Are you introducing a recent news story to your viewers? Write down every feature you want to show off. What makes this news? Why should your viewers be interested in this piece?
Are you sharing a quick tutorial for your viewers? Write down all the steps they need to know and any other tips you want to offer.
Don’t forget to engage your viewers, establish a relationship with them, build up that trust. That way you’ll be a thriving journalist that everybody will come and listen to. #Respect
6. Don’t be shy, show off that profile.
As a journalist, you should make sure your profile is extra special. This is one of the first things users see when they visit an Instagram page. Got to love a good first impression!
It’s all about the looks. Your profile has many things for users to see: a profile picture, bio, highlights, stories, and of course your grid full of feed.
Profile Picture: Even if if its in that small circle, a picture is worth a thousand words. It’s best to have a picture so your audience can identify your account. This can be either a personal photo or a brand logo that is recognisable in the Instagram feed and stories!
Bio: Users will only want to follow you when they know what your content is about. Your bio is a welcoming ground, a few brief words to summarise your account is the best way to go. Use hashtags and links to bring in further info. *Not a whole essay*
Highlights: This is your own personal display. Stories you put up can be added as a highlight to your account. This means you can categorise your content as a lil teaser for what your viewers can expect to see from you.
Story: Viewers can see when you upload a story as there will be a ring of colour round your profile picture. This can be any form of media and even links, be sure to make it interesting and worth while.
Feed: This is your ground, the birth of your content. You can post as many videos, reels, images etc as possible. Just as long as it captivates attention and doesn’t tend to get repetitive or boring. This is what users can see, so let's light up that feed.
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