Social media tips are interesting for every self-employed person, not just photographers. In today's digital era, Instagram has become an important marketing tool for freelancers to showcase their services and products. As a photographer in Mallorca and Germany who knows her way around the world of visual aesthetics, I have been using the platform for years. On the one hand, to market my service myself, and on the other, to be able to provide my clients with the best possible results for their feed. Accordingly, I have been observing the platform from the perspective of a self-employed person for several years now, and I have learnt a lot in the process. Here are my 5 best tips for Instagram!
1st social media tip: Storytelling through images
For me, this is one of the most important of all social media tips! Instagram is a platform based on visual content, so it's important to tell a personal story through pictures and videos. As a self-employed person, you have a unique story to share. Where did you start, what challenges did you face on your journey to success, what people did you meet along the way? Use the power of visual storytelling to show your personality, passion and expertise. Create a visual identity that reflects your brand while appealing to your audience. The content should always offer the audience added value, i.e. followers should either learn something from it or feel addressed on an emotional level.
2. investment in the quality of the photos
The quality of photos is crucial to stand out from the crowd. Millions of images are published on Instagram every day. As a photographer, I know how important it is to use professionally shot images. Remember that your Instagram feed acts as your digital business card. Invest in quality equipment and/or the services of a professional photographer to ensure your images are engaging and capture the attention of your target audience. A little side note: Before embarking on the Instagram project with fervour, make sure it's the right platform in the first place. For self-employed people in the creative industry, Pinterest may be more suitable, whereas self-employed people in the IT industry should focus more on LinkedIn.
3. a classic social media tip: Targeted use of hashtags
Are hashtags out of fashion? My opinion: Not at all! Hashtags are a powerful tool for making posts accessible to a broader target group outside of your usual audience. Research relevant hashtags in your industry and use them strategically in your posts. Choose wisely here. Two highly frequented and three less popular hashtags should suffice. A balanced selection, used with consistency, can increase visibility and attract new followers. Recently in particular, some customers have told me that they have found me via hashtags. And because this is what ultimately matters in marketing, these social media tips are still absolutely important and highly topical 🙂
4. interaction with the audience
Instagram is not a one-way street. It is important to actively interact with your audience in order to play to their interests as efficiently as possible. Reply to comments, take part in discussions under popular posts and show interest in your followers' content. This creates a closer bond, encourages engagement, which positively influences the algorithm and, over time, builds connections that can more easily turn into clients. Take time to respond to messages and comments. Set yourself a time limit to complete this task every day. Again, consistency is key!
5 A basic social media tip: Visual consistency across platforms
The last and perhaps most important social media tip in general is visual consistency across different platforms. Your Instagram presence should harmonise seamlessly with your overall online presence, including your website and other social media. Use professional images to emphasise your professional skills as a self-employed person. The recognition value created by this visual consistency will pay off over time. Interested individuals will recognise you, and this familiarity can easily be converted into paying customers. Instagram photos should have a clear style and a coherent aesthetic that represents your brand.
Instagram can be a powerful marketing tool if used correctly. As a photographer, I recommend that you carefully design your visual presence. This will engage your audience and build long-term customer relationships. Of course, a lot of energy should be put into creating a uniform appearance, but perfectionism is out of place at the beginning. Only by taking the actual first step will you recognise what you can improve in your visual appearance.
This is where I can provide my clients with the best possible support. After getting to know each other, we work together to create a mood board that emphasises the actual elements of your brand. We choose the colour and setting for the photo shoot, giving your Instagram presence visual consistency in line with your values. Depending on the intentions and priorities in the brand message, I offer shoots in Mallorca and Frankfurt. In both locations, we have a huge selection of locations with which we can create a uniform yet varied portfolio of personal branding images for you. Feel free to enquire via the button to start your career 2024 with a professional rebranding.
More from me
You can find many business images and advertising shots with examples and inspiration in my detailed Portfolio.