Top Tips for visual storytelling on Instagram
Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social networks, but are you making the most of this visual platform that’s designed for creative folk? “Facts bore, stories sell” is a common saying and whether you are trying to sell a product or just share your passions, It’s the people and the brands who tell the most interesting visual stories that are usually the most successful.
Micro-stories
Instagram calls itself a ‘visual inspiration platform’ and the best way to inspire others is through the power of your photographic storytelling. The best storytelling involves telling snackable, micro-stories that tie into your passions - with not much deviation. All great Instagram feeds have one thing in common—consistent themes! Whether you are using Instagram as a personal account to show off your latest makes or a business account, you want to develop a strong visual identity that represents what you are enthusiastic about in life.
Be consistent and creative
Good, consistent visual storytelling is what cuts through mediocre content posted online today. If you want to grab people’s attention and grow your online audience, you need to post regularly and be creative with how you share your ideas and tell your story. And remember there is no right or wrong with creativity!
Start using stories (if you haven’t already)
Every day, over 300 million people use Instagram Stories! This feature, copied from Snapchat, is about posting regular photos and videos that can be more raw and unedited, safe in the knowledge that they’ll only be seen for 24 hours. It can be a way to show the more human side of your feed by sharing a sneek peek at your work in progress for instance - and you don’t have to worry about it fitting in to the look and feel of your Instagram grid!
Instagram stories are also discoverable too - ‘Discoverable’ means that people who don’t follow you can see your posts too. It’s a great opportunity to create new brand fans or for people that share your common interests to find you.
Props
Props are also a great way to to tell your story, whether it is yellow and blue yarn, to create a feeling of happiness and freshness, or your crafty brew that gives a relaxed and homely feel to your photo, or a photo prop card (available from dearewe.com) that annotates your photographs. It’s all about getting creative and props can really help with visual storytelling.
Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make, but about the stories you tell. – Seth Godin
Dear Ewe’s Top tips for telling a compelling visual story:
Plan ahead, decide what you want your feed to be about.
Use your eyes before you use the lens.
Look for strong colours, shapes and lines.
Shoot from different angles.
Play with props.
White space gives your feed room to breathe.
Keep your edits simple.
Aim for quality over quantity.
Keep your Instagram feed consistent.
The best captions encourage people to engage.
Telling a story without words can be tricky, but you are a maker, you are a creator of beautiful things, you create things from raw materials, you can do this!
Don’t forget to join the tribe, tag us on Instagram @DearEwe and share your photos using #craftyewetribe