For years, Instagram has been playing a game of “add the next hundred million users” with no signs of slowing down.
The social media platform has a lot to offer in terms of marketing, and it’s clear that many brands have already adopted the network as part of their social media strategies. In fact, over 25 million businesses are currently using Instagram.
What’s the key to Instagram’s success? One factor is its visual nature. But another factor that’s often overlooked is its ability to help you build a consistent brand voice. Today, let’s talk about what brand voice is, why it’s important, and how you can use Instagram to build a consistent voice for your brand.
1. Identify your target audience
First things first, you need to know who you’re talking to. Before you can build a consistent voice on Instagram, you need to know who you’re speaking with.
This will help you create content that resonates with your target audience and develop a voice that they’ll find relatable.
Say you’re a digital marketing agency. You may want to create content that speaks to small business owners, startups, or even marketing managers at larger companies.
2. Choose a few adjectives to describe your brand
When you think of your brand, what are the first few words that come to mind? These words are part of your brand’s personality and can help guide your tone of voice.
For example, if your brand is all about helping people feel energized and motivated, your voice might be more upbeat, like a morning person who just drank a cup of coffee. If your brand is all about relaxation and peace, your voice might be more calming, like a yoga instructor guiding a meditation. Brands in B2B and industrial sectors often adapt ideas from eCommerce strategies for manufacturers to make their Instagram communication more structured and consistent.
For more inspiration on developing a strong, clear voice, see these speaker secrets you can steal.
3. Create a brand guide
A brand guide is an essential tool for any business. It’s a document that outlines your brand’s core values, mission, and vision. It also includes information about your target audience and competitors. You can use tools like Typeface’s Brand Hub to create a brand guide and assist with brand management.
In addition to these details, your brand guide should also include information about your brand’s voice. This is the tone and language you use to communicate with your audience. Having a brand guide in place will ensure that everyone on your team is on the same page when it comes to your brand’s voice.
It will also help you maintain a consistent voice as you grow your business and bring on new team members.
4. Write a bio that reflects your brand
Your Instagram bio is one of the first things people see when they visit your profile. It’s also a great place to showcase your brand’s personality.
Keep your bio short and sweet, but make sure you include the most important information. This could be your brand’s tagline, a brief description of what you do, or a link to your website.
You can also use emojis and line breaks to make your bio more visually appealing. Just be sure to keep it all on-brand.
5. Use consistent filters
Filters are a great way to add a unique touch to your Instagram posts. They can help you create a consistent look and feel for your content and make your account more recognizable.
When you use the same filters over and over again, your followers will start to associate them with your brand. This can help you build a consistent voice on Instagram and make your account more memorable.
There are lots of different filters to choose from on Instagram, and you can also create your own custom filters with the app. Try experimenting with different filters until you find a few that you really like, and then use them consistently in your posts.
6. Create and stick to a content calendar
If you’re not already using a content calendar to plan and schedule your Instagram posts, now is the time to start.
A content calendar is a document that lays out what you’re going to post and when. It helps you plan your Instagram content in advance, so you’re not scrambling to come up with ideas at the last minute.
Using a content calendar can help you make sure that your posts are consistent in terms of frequency, timing, and overall vibe. It can also help you make sure that you’re not posting too much of the same type of content.
If you’re not sure where to start, try using an Instagram scheduling tool like Later. You can use Later to plan and schedule your posts in advance, and you can even use it to create a content calendar.
7. Use the same hashtags
Hashtags are a way to categorize your posts and make them discoverable to people who don’t follow you. But they can also help you build a consistent voice on Instagram.
Using the same hashtags in your posts can help you connect with people who are interested in the same things you are. This can help you build a community of like-minded people who will be more likely to engage with your content.
Using the same hashtags in your posts can also help you build a consistent voice on Instagram. If you use the same hashtags in all of your posts, people will start to associate those hashtags with your brand. This can help you build brand awareness and make your content more recognizable.
8. Add a location to your posts
Adding a location to your posts can help you reach a wider audience and connect with potential customers in your area.
When you add a location to your post, it will show up on the location’s page, where anyone who is interested in that location can see it.
This can help you get more exposure for your posts and grow your following on Instagram.
Adding a location to your posts is also a great way to let your followers know where you are and what you’re up to.
9. Share user-generated content
One of the best ways to build a consistent voice on Instagram is to share user-generated content.
Not only does this show that you value your customers, but it also helps to build trust with new followers.
When you share content created by your customers, you’re showing that you value their opinions and that you’re a brand that cares about your customers.
This is a great way to build a consistent voice on Instagram and to build trust with your audience.
10. Respond to comments
When people comment on your posts, it’s important to respond. This shows that you’re engaged with your audience and that you care about what they have to say.
It’s also a great way to build relationships with your followers and to get to know them better.
Make sure to respond to comments in a timely manner. If you wait too long, people may think you don’t care about what they have to say or that you’re not paying attention to your account.
11. Track your progress
Finally, as you start to build a consistent voice on Instagram, you’ll want to track your progress.
How is your audience perceiving your brand? Are you getting more engagement on your posts? Are you gaining more followers?
All of these questions can be answered by tracking your Instagram analytics. You can do this by going to your Instagram profile and clicking on the “Insights” tab.
From there, you can see a variety of different metrics, including engagement, reach, impressions, and more.
You can also use Instagram analytics tools to get even more insights and track your progress over time.
If you partner with influencers and run an affiliate program, you can also follow detailed affiliate commission analytics to understand how well your page is converting. Tools like ReferralCandy make this easy.
Conclusion
Consistency is key when it comes to building a brand on Instagram. Don’t be afraid to let your brand’s personality shine through in your posts. Your followers will thank you for it.
