Best Ways to Stand Out on Instagram: Lifehacks for Original Content

Did you ever wonder why some Instagram accounts gain thousands of followers, while others go unnoticed? It would seem that everyone is doing the same thing: posting beautiful photos, writing interesting texts, but the result is different for everyone. Just as in the world of collecting, where a rare coin can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, for example, 1999 penny value and the features of this coin, despite its initial simplicity, attract the attention of connoisseurs, so in Instagram the value of content is determined by its originality and special author's style. But how do you make your profile really special?

So here we would like to talk about some of the best tips for creating original content that will attract attention and make you stand out, so that you can improve your profile step by step.

Visual Style: How to Make Your Profile Memorable

1. Create a Consistent Style of Photos

The first thing a user notices when they open your profile is the overall visual style, because beautiful and aesthetically pleasing always catches the eye. If your account looks chaotic, with mismatched colors and random photos, the likelihood that people will subscribe to you decreases dramatically. Studies show that color palette affects engagement: photos with dominant cool colors get 24% more likes than warm colors, but warm photos get more comments.

Thus, in order to stand out, it is important to develop your brand identity:

• Define the main colors of your profile and stick to them in every post.

• Use uniform filters in photo processing. Popular bloggers like @tezzamb or @jessicawang, this is how they achieve a cohesive and stylish profile.

• Think about the concept of backgrounds: do you lean more towards monochrome minimalistic surfaces or rich textures that reflect your subject matter.

For example, if your blog is about coin collecting, use stylish macro photos against a dark background, creating a sense of antique value.

2. Use Composition and Framing

It is these two features - composition and framing - that are the secrets to expressive photos. Even if you don't have a professional camera, proper framing and angles can help you create impactful shots for your posts, but it's important to have some knowledge here. For example, one of the most important principles is the golden ratio, a classic scheme used in painting and photography to create a harmonious composition. This method is based on a balance of proportions, where elements in the frame are positioned to naturally direct the viewer's eye towards key objects.

One practical way to apply the golden ratio in photography is the rule of thirds. It helps you place the main elements of the frame in the most effective way. Imagine that the image is divided into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. The most important objects should be located at the intersection of these lines to make the composition more natural and pleasant to perceive.

But proper placement of objects in the frame is only part of the job. Foreshortening also plays a huge role in the perception of the photo, and photos taken from an unusual angle attract attention. For example:

• A top view makes the shot minimalistic and stylish.

• A low angle adds drama.

• Diagonal lines create an effect of movement.

For example, a beauty blog might shoot cosmetics on the hand with natural light to convey texture, while a blog about coins might take a macro photo with a zoomed-in effect, showing the fine details of the coinage.

Content Strategies: How to Keep Audience Attention

3. Master Storytelling and Engage Subscribers

Well, storytelling is a fashion trend; but also it is a powerful tool for creating deep connections with your audience. People are much better at absorbing and remembering stories than dry facts or descriptions. It is stories that can evoke emotion, provoke discussion and build trust between the blogger and subscribers.

How to create compelling and engaging content? Start with an intriguing question. If you want your subscriber to read the post to the end, start with something that will immediately grab their attention. Along the way, do not forget to add personal emotions because a story that is bursting with emotion will be more easily understood. Share your feelings, worries, even doubts - it makes you more human and resonates with subscribers. And after you've told your story, don't forget to add a CTA (call to action). For example, you can invite subscribers to share their thoughts in the comments or ask a relevant question to increase engagement.

Example: On a blog about collecting, you could tell the story of a coin that has traveled through the ages and came to you, and now you are not only showcasing its material value, but also its history. In a beauty blog, you can share a moment when proper skin care resulted in better skin and how it changed the way you look at yourself. Such posts elicit an emotional response, create connections, and increase your credibility.

4. Diversify Content Formats

Instagram offers many different content formats, and each one has its own characteristics and challenges, and diversifying them will help you keep your followers' attention and diversify your feed. If you use only one format - it can lead to viewer fatigue and less interest in your content. If you use only one format - it can lead to viewer fatigue and less interest in your content. Thus, it is important to understand when and why each format is best used to maximize engagement with your audience. To understand which formats work best, please refer to the table below:

By the way, according to statistics, videos get 49% more engagement than static images, and publications with animations and interactive elements keep users on their profiles longer. This means that  you should bet on dynamic content if you want to stand out and increase your audience.

Tech Lifehacks: How to Increase Reach and Engagement

5. Use Hashtags and Geotags Correctly

Hashtags and geotags are powerful tools for increasing the visibility and engagement of your content on Instagram. But here you need to use them wisely.

Due to hashtags users are able to find content on topics of interest to them, but it's important to choose relevant ones. Avoid overloading your post with too many hashtags to prevent being shadow banned. The optimal number is 10 to 15 hashtags that accurately reflect the essence of your content.

It's important to use only relevant hashtags, mix popular and niche hashtags to reach a wide and specialized audience, but don't rest on your laurels and remember to study and watch those that are actively used in your niche.

Geotags are location tags that help make your content visible to users in specific regions. According to research, geotagged posts get 79% more engagement. This is especially useful for businesses or events that target localized audiences. So, if you publish a post about a rare coin, add a geotag with your location to attract people from your area interested in collecting or exhibiting.

6. Simplify Your Work - Use Specialized Tools

The right tools can make a blogger's job much easier and help you create quality content that will grab your audience's attention. Depending on the niche, there are specific apps and platforms for each type of content that can help you streamline the process of creating posts, processing photos and videos, and scheduling posts. Here are some popular tools for bloggers:

All of these tools make the work of bloggers much easier and help ensure that content is regular and of high quality. For example, a coin collector, using Coin ID Scanner, can instantly find out the value and characteristics of a coin and then create a detailed post about its rarity and historical value. A beauty blogger, using Lightroom and Snapseed, can process makeup photos, making them look more colorful and professional to attract the attention of subscribers. Also, Later or Planoly can be used to effectively plan and organize posts to help schedule content in advance and keep track of engagement.

The Path to Instagram Success

Your success on Instagram is not the number of followers, but the ability to evoke emotions, create vivid visuals and engage your audience in compelling stories. Due to applying thoughtful tips and recommendations above, you'll be able to stand out from the competition and create a truly unique profile. So, do not be afraid to experiment, look for your unique style and let your content speak for itself!