What is blogging on Instagram and is it right for you?
Ready to jump start your blog, grow your traffic, and get eyes on what you have to say? Then it’s time to try blogging on Instagram.
As a leading social networking site, Instagram offers massive potential for bloggers around the world largely due to the fact that the social site boasts over 1 billion active users each month and shows no sign of slowing down.
On top of that, the average user spends 28 minutes a day browsing their feed.
This user data is important, because it means that bloggers on Instagram can expand their reach and get even more eyes on their content.
If you haven’t started blogging on Instagram yet, no worries, there’s still time to get started!
Who should be blogging on Instagram?
Although Instagram offers great potential for many bloggers, the truth is that it’s not a one-fit-all solution and some will do better on the platform than others.
When it comes down to it, user demographics play a major role.
If you’re writing a blog and sharing content that doesn’t resonate with the primary user demographics found on Instagram, then it’s going to be a lot harder for your blog to succeed on the social network.
On the other hand, if Instagram is abundant with your target audience and you’ve hit the demographic motherload, then blogging on Instagram may be the perfect fit for you, assuming you’re using it in the right way (hint: understanding how Instagram works and how to optimize it for your brand is key!)
So, who is most likely to be successful when it comes to blogging on Instagram? Let’s take a look.
According to Sellfy, the top 11 niches that experience the greatest success on Instagram include: travel, beauty, fashion, health/fitness, parenting, lifestyle, business, music, photography, food, and animals.
Now, if your niche is not in these top 11, don’t freak out.
It’s still possible for you to thrive blogging on Instagram, but this list gives you an idea of what areas take the top spots on the platform.
Why is it so important for bloggers to leverage Instagram?
As the saying goes, “Content is king,” but let’s be honest, if no one is reading your content then you may as well be writing in a diary.
The thing is, people need to know your content exists in order to read it, and Instagram offers a platform to spread the word, increase awareness and get your target audience reading what you’ve written.
By building a following on Instagram and following best practices for the platform, you can get your content in front of a huge audience.
Realistically, even reaching a fraction of Instagram users is a big deal. The reach you can access through Instagram allows you to foster relationships you have with existing readers and establish relationships with new ones.
What does blogging on Instagram look like?
Blogging on Instagram can take two forms.
First, there is the traditional method where you operate a web-based blog with articles packed with useful information.
The second option comes in the form of micro-blogging, where you take advantage of the generous 2,200 Instagram character limit and offer valuable content right in your Instagram posts’ caption.
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so let’s take a quick peek at what each one has to offer.
Traditional Blogging on Instagram
With this option, you’ll generate post images and write captions that get the attention of other Instagram users and direct them to your recent blog post by asking them to visit your blog through the link in your Instagram bio or profile.
Without a doubt, the premium link location is in your profile, where your blog is a simple click (or two) away for your visitors.
Another option is to share a link within the caption of an individual post; however, this requires users to copy the text link and paste it into their browser – so it’s not exactly ideal.
Utilizing the traditional blog method means that your website is getting friendly with different search engines (hint: *Google*), and that is important for long term blogging success.
Micro-Blogging on Instagram
With the micro-blogging method, your ‘blog post’ is shared via the caption field on Instagram. This option helps others social users view your content in real time, without any extra effort on their part.
They can see the post and read the post without navigating off Instagram. Micro-blogging can be a great way for you to get started with zero upfront costs.
All you need is a niche, an Instagram account, and some ideas, there is no need to have a website, domain or host.
Micro-blogging also reduces the burden of lengthy content development, because while traditional blogs host articles that range in length from 500 to 2500 words and beyond, Instagram limits users to around 300 or 400 words per post, and let’s face it … having to write fewer words is a big time-saver.
How to get started with blogging on Instagram
When it comes to blogging on Instagram, whether you choose the tradition method or opt for micro-blogging, the basic steps to get started are fairly similar (except for having to create a website of course!)
Here’s a look at what you’ll need to do to get started.
- Open an Instagram account.
- Complete your profile (so other users know who you are and what you’re all about.)
- Add a link to your blog in your profile (especially if you’re utilizing the traditional blogging approach.)
- Find other accounts you’re interested in following.
- Begin sharing your own content using effective captions, hashtags, and images in each post.
- Start engaging with other users.
Remember, Instagram is a picture and video sharing app. So, while your copy needs to be on point, it’s also important that your visuals meet the mark.
They need to capture your audience’s attention and get them to either click through to your blog post or scroll down to your caption and read what you’ve got to say.
