With over 500 million daily active users, standing out on Instagram is getting harder by the day.
And it can feel oh-so overwhelming when you want to build brand recognition on Instagram!
The good news is, brand recognition is something any business can achieve. And today our special guest on the Plann blog, Nicte, is going to share 5 ways you can build brand recognition on Instagram.
Ready to take notes? Oh, and make sure to follow to the end for a special surprise!
5 Steps to Improve Brand Recognition with Instagram
1. Know your brand values to connect with emotions
The most successful brands are the ones that drive an emotional connection with their audience.
Before you jump into Instagram, you need to establish your brand values. Not only will this give you clarity, it also serves as a guide in how you approach your content.
People connect with brands on an emotional level.
There is always something that triggers people to buy in — it could be their compelling mission, or a product that solves a pain point and gives business owners precious time back (ahem, thank YOU Plann!).
2. Define your target audience
While we can dream of helping the entire world, we simply can’t. Defining your ideal target audience, allows you to create content that resonates with them. Make sure you know how your product or service solves a specific pain point / need for that audience.
The broader your audience, the harder it becomes to address their needs. With a clear idea of who you want to connect with, you will be able to create content that truly speaks to your audience.
Here are some key things to define:
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Behaviors
- Lifestyle
3. Harness the power of color
Color is often a misunderstood and underutilized element when it comes to creating brand recognition. As a matter of fact, 80% of brands are recognized by color alone.
Color is so critical because it plays an important role in psychology and emotional response. And it’s often influenced by culture, traditions, current trends — even personal experiences.
Understanding what emotions your brand colors evoke, can be a powerful ally when you are wanting your audience to feel a certain way.
Let’s say one of your brand colors is a sunny yellow… You can use that color when you want to evoke joy and a sense of warmth.
Or perhaps you want to relate relaxation and tranquility, then use a turquoise or aqua
Once you start connecting your brand colors to emotions through your content, you are on your way to harnessing the true power of color.
4. Have intention behind your visuals
We’re wired to connect with visuals before we read anything.
This is why having a clear idea of your brand values and who your target audience is, necessary to help you create visuals that make your brand a standout.
For every visual element you add, stay consistent. Make sure it supports your brand values and aligns with your target audience. There are so many things we can cover with this topic alone, so let’s touch on the must haves…
Fonts
- use fonts that are legible.
- stick to no more than 3 fonts, too many are visually disruptive.
Photography / illustration style
- keep your images consistent.
- If you are going for moody, vintage feel, stick to that. Avoid going from moody to polka dots and glitter. It will take away from your brand message and confuse your audience! Yikes!
Brand voice:
- While this is not a visual element, it should align with your visuals. Let’s say you are talking about how rollerblading is so liberating, and you use a photo of you climbing a tree… there is clearly a disconnect.
5. Establish consistency through branded templates
One of the best ways to amplify your brand message and establish consistency, is to develop branded templates. Having a brand that is consistent across the board, is crucial for brand recognition. If we post content that is different every week, it makes it harder for people to recognize our brand.
Branded templates are tailored to your brand and help you stay organized with your content.
Make a list of the type of content you share: quotes, statistics, testimonials, behind the scenes, etc.
You can start simple with 3 template designs. Then, define which template works best for each category. That way, you start to build consistency with your content. And with time, your audience will recognize your content.
Are you ready for the surprise?
I know how challenging it can be to create templates, especially when you juggle a lot as a business owner! So, every image that you see on this blog is actually a free template you can use. These are perfect for sharing quotes or even Instagram Stories.
Just click on the image and you will get access to the design. Simply download the free app (Adobe Spark) and edit your text. You are welcome to use it for personal and business purposes.
Building brand recognition on Instagram will take time, but when you apply these tips you will be in a much better place. As you are implementing these, don’t forget the value in creating a community and engaging with your audience.
Be sure to let me know which tip was your biggest take away.
You got this!
Pssst, let’s stay connected over on Instagram @NicteCreativeDesign
