How to Spruce Up Your Instagram Feed

Jacklyn Ruth

Digital Strategies Intern for the North American Division 

So, you use Instagram on a regular basis. You tag your #OOTD and share with tons of people, what you are eating daily. And since Snapchat doesn’t seem to mind being copied, you can post all your funny dog faces and flower crowns on an Instagram story.
But have you ever thought about being mindful with your Instagram feed? Have you taken the time to decide on a theme? Did you know that you can style your Instagram grid to look appealing to your followers and stand out as unique? 

First off…
What will your theme be? In other words, what are you passionate about? Personally, I have two IG accounts, one is dedicated to my book blog, and the other is my personal account. I have to decide: do I post about events I attend on my private IG? Places I’ve been? Decide on your niche and you are half-way there. 

Style
You’ve decided what you want to post…now how do you post it? Consistency is key.

• Use the same IG filter. This gives the same tint to your pictures and stays consistent as you scroll.
• Keep the same color in the background. For instance, use the same white background in all your photos and use a bright filter for a lighthearted feel to your feed.
• Use the same color scheme. If you like a green/blue/brown vibe, make the content of your photos consistent.
• Alternate a plain photo with text.

​More Advanced Style
If you want to get more advanced, there are a few techniques you can implement onto your feed.

• Use each square as a tile. You can alternate between a white photo and a blue photo to create this checkered look to your feed. This makes it appealing to the eye as you scroll down. 

• Line by line. This technique allows you to tell a story with a line of your IG feed. Note that you must post three pictures at once or the configuration will be off. This is good for people who travel a lot or if you post lots of fashion inspiration. One line can be dedicated to an outfit. Split it up how you like. This style reads almost like a magazine. 

• Follow the line. Again, note that three posts are required at once for this to work. This style is very easy on the eye and pretty to look at. Basically, the middle line will be white (or whatever color you choose) and that line will guide viewers down your feed. Be creative with it.

• Color by blocks. This one requires a bit more planning than other styles. To achieve this style, you must use a different filter every 3, 6, or 9 photos or use different colors in your photos. You may arrange your feed by color, filter, product, or travel destination.

• Cut one photo into pieces. This is best explained in an example. This means taking one picture and cutting it up into several Instagram posts so that your feed looks like the example below. This technique is easy to achieve thanks to apps like Instagrid.
  • First Instagrid will ask you to pick a photo from your gallery
  • Then the app lets you choose how many frames it will be cut into (3x3, etc.)
  • Once you move the photo to where you want it, Instagrid finishes cropping
  • Instagrid then numbers each section in the order you need to post them so it will appear in order on your feed
  • All that’s left to do is caption your pictures and add a filter (should you choose) and you’re done. 

​These are just a few ideas you can use to make your Instagram feed stand out. Borrow these ideas or modify them to your liking. The feed is your canvas.

​Have a creative idea for a unique Instagram look? Share it with us using #DigitalEvangelism.