Spring Clean your Instagram: a step-by-step guide that will transform your Instagram page

Spring is the time of plans and projects - Leo Tolstoy

As the days get longer and the weather starts to warm up, it’s the perfect time to give your Instagram a fresh start.  Spring cleaning your Instagram can help you identify what is working well and what isn’t and also help you formulate a plan for the months ahead.  So why not take advantage of the change in season to give your Instagram the attention it deserves.  Here is our step-by-step guide on how to Spring clean your Instagram.

Bio

Start with your bio as this is where people will first land when they come across Instagram page and this is where first impressions count.  You have literally seconds to grab someone’s attention.  Does your profile picture stand out and represent your brand?  Does your text tell your ideal customer what it is you do and how you can help them solve a problem?  Think of your bio copy as your elevator pitch and make it punchy and don’t forget that call to action!

Highlight buttons

Look at your highlight buttons next.  They are just under your bio so are front and centre when people land on your Instagram page.  They serve as a great way to showcase your best content and allow new followers to quickly learn more about your brand. Review your existing highlights.  Are they up to date?  Organize your highlight buttons into relevant categories to make it easier for followers to find the information they need.  And if you don’t already, build a User-Generated Content highlight button as social proof of your brand’s quality.

Pinned Posts

Instagram's Pinned Posts feature allows you to pin any feed post to your profile. That means you have the option to feature a selection of photos, videos, and reels at the top of your Instagram feed.  Pinning a post is a great way to feature an important announcement or highlight some of your best content.  Are your pinned posts up to date and telling your followers your current key messages?

Content

Take a look at your recent posts and evaluate the type of content you have been sharing.  Go and look at your Instagram Insights and see what has been working well for you recently.  If there are any posts that no longer sit well with your brand, you might want to think about archiving them.

Follower list

You may have some inactive or fake followers on your account, which can negatively impact your engagement rate, so take a peek at your followers and remove any fake accounts or those that are not engaging with your content.  You may feel like this is the last thing you want to do as you have worked so hard to build up your follower numbers but remember that follower numbers are a vanity metric.  Instagram is much more fun when you are talking to and engaging with a smaller base of engaged followers who like and comment on every post rather than posting to an empty void of followers who have no interest in you or your product or service and never like the post and never leave a comment.  That can end up feeling soul destroying.

Accounts you are following

Unfollow accounts that no longer serve your business, your interests or have a positive influence on your life.⁠⁠  Just do it.

Reintroduce Yourself

Now is the perfect time to do a post re-introducing yourself.  Tell your followers about you and your brand and what it is you do and what problems you solve.  And don’t forget to include a photo of yourself.  People love to see the face behind a brand.  People do business with people so show your face!

Plan ahead

Summer will be with us before you know it so now is the time to start planning your future content.  Create a content plan to keep your posts consistent and ensure they align with your brand's messaging and values. 

Book a session with us

If you are feeling overwhelmed with Instagram or have just lost your Instagram mojo, book a session with us.  Whether you are looking for an audit or your Instagram, or help writing an Instagram Strategy or maybe you just need someone to take care of your Instagram while you focus on other parts of your business, we have something to suit you.  Together we can come up with a game plan to not only survive but thrive on instagram.

By taking the time to spring clean your Instagram account, you will not only feel refreshed and energised, but you will also be setting yourself up for success in the months ahead.  Good luck!

All photos of Kastyn Reid by Pamela Hanson for Vanity Fair Italy 2009.