There are many reasons why brands should take advantage of what Instagram offers, but I will mention only one: 300 millions monthly active users, making it one of the fastest growing social networks.

Unfortunately, a mere presence isn’t enough for Insta-success. If you watch out for these common mistakes, you’ll be on the right track to leave a mark.

#1 Private account

Go on your profile settings and make sure your account is open to anyone to find and see. This is basic, but users will be less inclined to follow you if they can’t see your content.

#2 Poor quality

Instagram users are skilful amateur photographers – that’s why bad shots will drive little engagement and will soon be forgotten. It’s worth paying attention to quality and aiming for eye-catching shots; if your pictures stand out, your posts will benefit from a longer fan engagement.

#3 Too much/too little

Aristotle put it simply: the best choice is the middle ground. He was referring to virtue, but he’d be raising an eyebrow if he saw brands’ inadequate balance of posting activity.

Followers don’t want to scroll through their feeds and only see your posts (especially if branding too much – think lifestyle!); “unfollow” is just a click away.

Brands post an average of 1.5 times per day, the more successful brands post once an hour. It’s important you keep feeding your followers with consistent quality content.

#4 Misusing hashtags

Hashtagging is a powerful tool when used properly; it’ll help you get discovered and will increase your popularity. Start by using relevant and trending hashtags, then consider creating branded hashtags.

#5 No interaction

Interacting with your audience is mandatory. If you neglect comments, forget to follow back and don’t give credit to your followers, your fan engagement will hardly increase.

By Alessia Cacaveri