We’re so excited to be back with another episode of The Stephanie Kase Podcast! This week, we’re talking about what’s working on Instagram right now to see growth. We’ll be sharing our actual strategy for Instagram. This strategy probably won’t change much throughout the year. Obviously we’ll adapt to any new updates they might roll out, but overall, the strategy won’t change with every update. Being able to have a plan that lasts is a major goal of mine! It’s also something I’ve been working on with my new Instagram course coming soon (in April!). Anyway, I’ve been a business owner now for 8 years and the way I show up on Instagram has always been pretty consistent. That’s allowed me to grow my personal brand. 

I currently run two Instagram accounts. My Stephanie Kase account has become about my family and my girls. My educational content lives on Stephanie Kase Education. Make sure to follow along on both so that you can keep up with what’s going on – and see my strategy in real time. Finally, we have a waitlist going for our new Instagram course that you can join here. Now, onto my current strategy for growth on Instagram! 

#1: Low Effort Content with High Value

If you’re a student in my Instagram Reels Mini Course, then you know that I’m a huge fan of creating content that is the best time investment for your business. What I mean by that is that you want to create content that will get you the most impact for the least amount of time put into it. This has looked different in different seasons of my life and business. A tangible example of this is that lip sync Reels used to perform really well. These Reels often take a short amount of time to make and yet, there’s always a lot of engagement on these pieces of content. Our Reels would gain 900K views when we did these. So, we made lip sync Reels. Now, because so many people have done them, their impact has lessened. They’re still important but not as much. So, we still incorporate them into our strategy but it’s important to be sure we know what is resonating right now. 

Right now? That’s stock video Reels. People are layering text over video clips (see an example here). It’s super low effort but it will have a high impact on your account! That’s why I love this option. All you need is some footage of your business – packaging products, behind the scenes, working with clients – and you can create these Reels. I love how easy this truly is and how it’s becoming relevant on Instagram now. Filming these little snippets of your day has been something I’ve always taught. People love to watch that kind of video content – and it’s something you can easily do. 

#2: Instagram Reels

Okay, so this one feels kind of obvious. But, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise. We’ve seen Instagram Reels be super impactful for growth on Instagram. I do truly believe that if you’re someone newer to Instagram, this is where you need to put your effort. This is the fastest way to be discovered by people who don’t follow you! It’s still true in 2023. It’s interesting to me how quickly Reels became a huge part of the app and how Instagram is going in this direction. They want to support creators and help you get your content seen. Reels are the best way to be seen by new eyes! If you need ideas on what kind of Reels to make, check out our free download here!

#3: Using New Updates

The next thing that encourages growth on Instagram is using the new updates. I want to preface this by saying that I never want to be a teacher that stresses you out over using every single new update. I know it can feel like Instagram is constantly making updates and it feels overwhelming. Just pay attention to them and use what feels natural to you. Incorporate the new ideas organically into your own Instagram strategy. It’s important to be aware of what’s happening and use what you can but try not to put extra pressure on yourself about it! 

Remember, Instagram’s end goal is to get users to stay on their app. If you’re creating organic content that performs well and keeps your audience engaged, then that’s what they want. Use those new updates when they feel good to you but focus on the quality of your content. That’s what really matters. Create content for your niche audience that is valuable. 

#4: Personal branding

The next thing that works well in our Instagram strategy is personal branding. This might not surprise you – especially if you’ve been following me for a long time. People connect with people – more than any images or words on a screen. That’s why I have believed and used the power of personal branding for so long. When I first started on Instagram, I made it a goal to have 50% of my content be personal and 50% business. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to share everything about yourself online. Choose the connection points that work well for your audience and use those! That personal content is going to help you stick out in your part of the industry and help your ideal client connect with you.  

My personal brand has definitely shifted over the years – now I share more about motherhood and my girls. But, I love that. I love that your brand can change as you do. 

#5: Instagram is a discovery platform that indirectly leads to sales

This one is a bit different, but remembering that Instagram is about people discovering us is part of our strategy. Instagram is a place where we can connect with our audience and that indirectly leads to sales… and that’s okay! People find us on Instagram and get to know us and the brand there. But, when they make a sale, it’s usually because they’ve joined our email list. So, that’s why understanding this point is important to us. We are able to take our Instagram followers and get them onto our mailing list through our posts, sharing our freebies, and talking about it in Reels or stories. We understand that our sales are made there – not by clicking a link in our profile. So, keep that in mind with your own strategy. 

Instagram (and social media as a whole) was made to connect with other people. We want to be social on those platforms! People join email lists and newsletters so that they can keep up to date. They expect to be sold to on that list. Understand your client’s journey with you and map out the steps it would take for someone to purchase from you. This is helpful to think about what you need to do to get people on your lists! 

There’s 5 parts of our Instagram strategy for growth in 2023. I hope that these points help you to plan your own strategy and change how you look at Instagram! 

Other Reels Resources 

I also offer a free one-hour Instagram Reels class if you want more help with how to grow your reach, followers, and customers with Reels in 2 hours a month! You can sign up for that HERE. And, if you have questions or want some extra support, I’ve got a FREE Reels Growth Facebook Community that you can join. I absolutely love getting to chat with everyone and help them work through their questions about Reels!

Wondering what to make for your next Reel? Free quiz to find out what type of reel idea you should make next! 

Need ideas for Instagram? Grab our free sample Instagram posting schedule here!

If you’re listening and you have ideas about what to talk about next, please send in your requests! I really do want to know what you want to hear about in future episodes. Email me at [email protected] with your questions!! I can’t wait to hear from you! Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, too. We appreciate all of the support and love!