Why is Instagram so great?

1. Probably the least cluttered social media platform
2. Intense avoidance of anything “spammy”
3. Superior average user-interaction
4. Has turned into the most “personal” social network

Why is Instagram Less Cluttered?

Instagram has worked very hard to build a platform that discourages spammers, and encourages real, personal interaction.

1. Very little 3rd party API interaction
2. Taking a picture requires more effort (vs. Twitter)

3rd Party Integrations

1. API: Application Program Interface
2. No automation (vs. Twitter)
3. Instagram constantly blocks 3rd party integrations for getting to close to automation
4. = Far less clutter to cut through

This is an opportunity

This make users far more likely to take note of you, than they would be on another platform, such Twitter

You have to fight less to be noticed

Why should I be on Instagram?

1. 300 million monthly active users
2. 4.21% “Brand Engagement” (FaceBook and Twitter are both less than 0.1%)
3. The average Instagramer user spends 21 minutes per day on the app
4. Most “measurable” aspects like this point to Instagram as the “best” social network
5. Instagram forces musicians to be visual, often resulting in more creative ways of expressing their music
6. Instagram’s 15 second video limit, while infuriating, is also just enough to show your viewers how awesome your music is, and make them want to check out more.

Killer Instagram Profile

Step back, and consider...

1. Who do YOU enjoy following?
2. Why do you enjoy following them?
3. What makes them interesting to you?
4. What about their profile caught your eye initially?

Why we follow

1. Know them personally
2. Celebrity (probably not an option for you yet)
3. An engaging personality
4. Pictures of a subject / theme you find interesting
5. Beautiful pictures
6. Useful advice through pictures

Know them personally

1. At least initially, you should follow all of your friends on FaceBook. Under settings, select “Follow All”
2. At least initially, follow all of your contacts in your phone. Under settings, select “Follow All”
3. Then, if you are using Instagram for browsing, slowly weed out any you find uninteresting

Celebrity

1. You are probably not starting as a celebrity (otherwise, you wouldn’t be here)
2. You can gain some momentum as a sort of Instagram “mini-celebrity”
3. At first it is impossible, but through the life of your account, move to healthy ratio of following to followers. At least 1:3 - following:followers
4. Social Proof, when people look at your profile

An engaging personality

Besides people we already know, and celebrities, this is the number one reason people are followed on Instagram. These pictures are window into your personality, so make sure you are choosing pics that fit this theme, and that really do let your personality shine through.

Pictures of a subject / theme

1. You’re a musician, so post about music
2. DON’T be lazy. EVERY picture should be good. You’re essentially creating a magazine spread for your “brand.” Delete any bad pics
3. Stick with your subject. Maybe your unique angle on music, whatever it is. But stick with it

Beautiful Pictures

1. Lots of people get followed simply because they take incredible pictures
2. Combine good picture taking skills (later videos) with your specific theme, and you’re on your way to a killer profile
3. Delete bad pictures. When people come to your profile, they scroll through old pics to decide if they want to follow. Delete bad one

Useful advice through pictures

1. This is less common on Instagram than other places
2. Because it’s less common, it actually works better here than a lot of outlets
3. Maybe 10-30% of the time, consider overlaying a message or quote on your pics

 

You can get free access to my Instagram for Musicians video course by reviewing the podcast in iTunes, taking a screenshot of your review, and emailing it to [email protected]