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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Instagram Tips from 7 Brands I Follow


Instagram Tips from 7 Brands I Love to Follow

It's no secret that I love the Instagram community. With over 400 million monthly active users as of September 2015, I'm not alone either. When I'm not researching best practices and developing content strategies for the brands I represent, I love checking out content from thought leaders in different industries. Tapping into ideas from other sectors isn't just fun for me. It also enables me to discover new ways of delighting people and hidden facets of our diverse buyer personas. 

To that end, I've compiled seven of my favorite brand Instagram accounts. They've been able to successfully build an audience and deliver content that has both resonated with their audience and helped to grow their brand awareness. 

This list is not exhaustive of course, but it does showcase how brands with varying styles can cater to their audience on the same platform. Bear in mind that variety is key. Not every post should be “about” your business or even feature your products. The brands I've selected feature a mix of lifestyle posts, quote imagery, giveaways, videos, press highlights, and promotional photos to round out their content strategy. I hope this will help give you inspiration for what kind of photos and content to publish on your own Instagram!

UPDATE: If you're looking for more great tips on how to grow your Instagram & reach your target audience, I highly recommend Diana Trinh's JUMPSTART YOUR INSTAGRAM course!




The 90s aesthetic is strong with Rosehound Apparel. They make patches, pins, and more goodies to adorn your acid washed denim jacket. Unfortunately, their products speak my wallet's language. :(























And now for the ultimate gentleman's lifestyle destination: Tom Claeren's "Monaco Lifestyle" blog. One part James Bond, one part Matt Smith (Doctor Who), his inspirational quote imagery and over the top lifestyle spreads have pushed his account over 150k followers.









Cherie Tu is a vegan teen YouTube personality from Australia. Her recipes are to die for, and without a doubt will give you major food envy! Most of her shots are of seriously delicious eats, but occasionally she mixes in personal photos and brand messages.





A photo posted by Freebird Boots (@freebirdboots) on


















Freebird Boots is a brand under the Steve Madden family of brands, so of course I'd be a fan! I especially love how they incorporate a mixture of lifestyle imagery and up close product shots to round out their Instagram strategy.


A photo posted by Nutsa Modebadze (@nutsa) on







Nutsa Modebadze is a fashion designer who specializes in handmade leather works. Her workshop is based in gorgeous Bali. When she isn't sharing beautiful shots of her incredible designs, I'm swooning over the tropical landscape.















Bill Crisafi's witchy sketches are simply from another time. Based in New England, there's definitely a vibe of part Salem witch trials, part Pagan spiritualism. He also has cats, which I can get behind.






















Last but not least is Brit + Co. Founded by Brit Morin in 2011, the site is a destination for the crafty inclined set. I'm personally not a Level 5 Pinterest girl yet, but her site is a wealth of inspiration on a ton of topics.