Are you ready to kick off your Instagram journey but unsure of what your first post should be? No need to worry.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a compelling first Instagram post that sets the stage for your profile, even if you’re starting with zero followers.
Whether you’re aiming to build a community, showcase your work, or just have fun, let’s dive into Instagram tips that will get you started on the right foot.
What to Post About on Instagram
Your first post on Instagram is more important than you might think. It’s like a first impression—it sets the tone for your profile and gives potential followers an idea of what they can expect from you moving forward. One of the most effective ways to make your first Instagram post impactful is by defining your Instagram content pillars.
Mallory Rowan, host of The Digital Creator guide, explained: “If you walked into a hardware store and found them selling produce, you’d be pretty confused, right? Well, that’s not how we want our followers and potential followers feeling.”
Define your Instagram content pillars
Content pillars (or buckets) are the themes or topics your content revolves around. They provide structure and help you stay consistent. For example, if you’re a chef, your Instagram content pillars might be breakfast recipes, culinary school tips, and late-night snack ideas. Each of these pillars falls under your overall niche—cooking—but provides variety in what you post. From your very first post, your audience will know what you’re about, and they’ll stick around for more.
Ask yourself these questions to define your content pillars:
- What topics are you passionate about?
- Who is your target audience?
- What kind of content do you enjoy watching?
- What gaps exist in your niche that you could fill?
- Who are your favorite creators?
So, you’ve got your content pillars in mind—but how do you decide what to post about on Instagram? Simple: your pillars guide your content. They’re like a roadmap for your profile.
Using the chef example again, your first post could be a delicious breakfast recipe that showcases your skills and personality. This aligns with your breakfast pillar while introducing your style. The key is to create posts that align with what your audience expects and what you enjoy creating.
Get Started with Your Instagram Content
Getting started is often the hardest part. Here are three simple exercises to help you develop and refine your Instagram content plan:
Exercise 1: Spaghetti on the Wall
Don’t hesitate to experiment—it’s all part of the process. Your content doesn’t have to be flawless from the start; in fact, it’s rare that it will be. Think of it like throwing spaghetti at the wall: the goal is to try different content styles and see what resonates with your audience. This could mean mixing up niches, exploring new formats, or taking creative risks. Keep an eye on what garners engagement, whether it’s likes, comments, or follows. While this approach may feel a little chaotic at first, it’s one of the quickest ways to figure out what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your content strategy over time.
“When you start off your Instagram journey, don’t expect to get the perfect content strategy before you start posting. The platform is always evolving and so should you and your content.” Mallory Rowan, host of The Digital Creator guide
Exercise 2: Take Action with Interaction
Your audience isn’t just there to consume your content—they can be an essential part of shaping it. Pay close attention to the feedback they provide, whether it’s through direct messages, comments, or even something as simple as the number of likes a post receives. If one of your posts performs particularly well, take a moment to ask yourself why that might be. You can take it a step further by actively engaging with your audience through Instagram Stories, using tools like polls or question stickers to find out exactly what they’d like to see more of. This kind of real-time feedback not only helps you refine your content pillars but also fosters a deeper connection with your audience.
“Don’t be scared to be vulnerable and open it up to your audience. It can actually help build rapport with them knowing that someone cares what they think.”
Mallory Rowan, host of The Digital Creator guide
Exercise 3: Research Off-Platform
Sometimes the best way to refresh your content ideas is by stepping away from Instagram altogether. Spending too much time immersed in the app can lead to burnout or creative blocks. Take a break, brainstorm with a pen and paper, and talk to friends or family about the types of content they enjoy on Instagram. You’ll be surprised at how stepping away from the screen can give you fresh insights and ideas. When you return, you’ll likely feel re-energized and ready to tackle your next post with a renewed sense of creativity.
“Sometimes you need to just walk away for a bit, staring at the screen and immersing yourself in the world of Instagram. Too much can cause burnout, step away, take a break and come back to it with a fresh mind.”
Mallory Rowan, host of The Digital Creator guide
By experimenting, engaging with your audience, and taking time to refresh your creativity, you’ll build a solid foundation for your Instagram content.
Maximizing Reach After Your First Instagram Post
Once you’ve published your first post, there’s still plenty to do! You can maximize its reach by employing a few post-publishing strategies:
- Use Location Tags: Whether you’re a local chef or a travel vlogger, adding a location tag to your post can help reach audiences in specific areas. People often search for posts tagged in their cities, so it’s an easy way to get discovered.
- Encourage Engagement: Don’t wait for someone else to start the conversation. Leave the first comment on your post to get the ball rolling. Followers will feel less hesitant to engage if they see the post is already active.
- Reflect on Your Performance: After posting, analyze what worked and what didn’t. Did your audience engage with your content? If not, why? Use these insights to tweak your future posts and keep improving.
However, maximizing reach and engagement doesn’t stop at analyzing a single post. Continuous improvement is vital for keeping your content fresh and your audience interested. Regularly reflect on your profile as a whole and ask yourself important questions like: What is your page really about? Can you summarize it in a clear, concise sentence? And even more crucially, is your content binge-worthy? If someone stumbles across your profile, will they want to consume more of what you’ve created, or will they move on after seeing just one post?
By consistently revisiting these questions and adapting your approach based on performance and audience feedback, you’ll ensure that your Instagram strategy remains engaging and relevant. Don’t forget that your content pillars aren’t set in stone; they can evolve along with your interests and your audience’s preferences. The key to long-term success and monetization is maintaining flexibility while delivering consistent value.
Social media creator, Mallory Rowan, left us with some words of encouragement, “Don’t give up if you’re not going viral right away – it takes time to experiment and you learn every time you post.”
Check Out The Digital Creator Guide for More Tips
Want to dive deeper into Instagram strategies? The Digital Creator Guide has got you covered. With over 70 short lessons covering everything from getting started on Instagram to understanding platform algorithms, it’s a must-watch for anyone looking to grow their Instagram presence.
Going beyond Instagram, the Digital Creator Guide also covers the worlds of TikTok and YouTube with new episodes released every week. So whether you’re a beginner or already have a growing audience, this guide will give you expert tips to take your content to the next level.
The launch of the Digital Creator Guide coincides with Viral Nation’s 10-year anniversary, celebrating a decade of pioneering innovative approaches to talent representation. Over the past decade, Viral Nation expanded its roster to over 900 content creators and now operates as a full-scale marketing agency with a social-first approach.
