Get in your Instagroove: Try these ideas to give your Instagram account a creative boost

By Fiona Thomas

Clients. Job offers. Best friends. These are just a few of the things that have slid into my Instagram DMs over the years. When I started sharing my mental health struggles on the gram a few years ago, people responded.

I almost accidentally built up a community of people who have become like mates to me, and it’s an aspect of social media that I always like to remind the haters about. When I was writing my book, Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 and Be Your Own Boss, Instagram was the first place I’d go everyday to share my wins and my woes. It’s a place where I feel creatively free, to say what I want and have some fun.

Be yourself

I mean, really, be yourself. Don’t fall into the trap of making content that you think you should be making. Stay true to your roots and your personality, even if that includes showing up with messy hair, eye bags big enough to carry your shopping in and flaunting a less than positive attitude. Sharing your failures alongside your successes is key to living an authentic life online. Try and fake it and you’ll blend into the masses while rendering yourself exhausted from the charade.

Write in your own voice

Captions are the place where you can really express yourself. Don’t worry about sounding smart or well-read. Instead, write the way you talk and include personal anecdotes – these will always stick in people’s memory. Don’t be afraid to use colloquial terms (I’m from Glasgow so I always use the word ‘wee’ when I mean small) but stay away from buzzwords or anything that comes across as pushy or sales focused.

Get creative

Canva is a free website for creating graphics, and there are plenty of Instagram templates on there for you to choose from. Find a colour scheme and style that works for you and stick with it. This will help give your Instagram account a cohesive look. If you’ve already got a website or company branding, use these colours on your Instagram account too.

Think about the emotional impact

Instead of panic posting a photo of your avocado on toast, think about how you want people to feel when they look at your Instagram. As a mental health advocate I aways want people to feel validated in their feelings, so I talk a lot about my experience with depression and anxiety in a bid to help people feel less alone. It’s not that everything you post needs to be deep and meaningful. If you’re aim is to make people laugh then that’s OK too! Tell people a funny story or reflect on an embarrassing moment. Connecting emotionally with people is rewarding and has lasting impact.

Fiona Thomas is author of Out of Office: Ditch the 9-5 And Be Your Own Boss, published by Trigger Publishing, out 1st October 2020, available on pre-order, £9.99.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Most Popular

Sam’s Ultimate Festive Hampers 

Sam’s Larder sparks joy this Christmas with luxury festive hampers and if you’re looking for the ultimate ‘foodie’ gift this Christmas then look no further,

Luxury Care Homes

What Are Luxury Care Homes?

Finding the perfect care home that ticks every box for the needs of your loved one is a challenge that can take some time. However,

British Pie Week Competition

British Pie Week Competition: bake a pie and win a set of Denby cookware! One of the most delicious weeks of the year is almost