If I was starting Instagram from 0 in 2024, this is what I would do

Summary

In this video, Elise shares a step-by-step guide for reviving or starting an Instagram account from scratch in 2024. She emphasizes the importance of choosing between a personal or business brand, crafting a compelling bio, and creating content that answers common niche questions. Elise advises not to chase virality at the expense of target audience engagement, and stresses the value of direct messaging and automation tools like ManyChat to scale engagement without becoming a bottleneck. She also highlights the significance of analyzing content performance and iterating strategies accordingly.

Takeaways

• 😀 Starting an Instagram account from scratch requires a clear decision on whether to build a personal or business brand, with personal brands often growing faster due to the trust people place in faces over faceless brands.
• 🎯 Defining your mission, audience, and unique offerings is crucial as it forms the foundation for all content creation on Instagram.
• 📝 Crafting an effective Instagram bio is essential, with the first line highlighting who you help and how, the second line building authority, and the third line providing a compelling reason to click the link in your bio.
• 📈 Posting content that is search-friendly and answers commonly Googled questions in your niche can increase the chances of appearing on the explore page and reaching new audiences.
• 🌊 Creating a B-roll Reel with text overlay is an easy way to start making content for your feed, capturing everyday activities without directly addressing the camera.
• 🚫 Avoid the temptation to chase virality at the expense of attracting your target audience; quality of engagement matters more than quantity.
• 🔍 Analyzing underperforming content and iterating on it can help improve future content and find what resonates with your audience.
• 🤝 Engaging with your audience through direct messages (DMs) is critical for building relationships and converting leads into sales.
• 📲 Utilizing automation tools like ManyChat can help scale your Instagram presence by managing DM conversations and delivering resources to your audience without manual effort.
• 🔗 Encouraging comments on your posts can trigger automated DMs, which is an effective way to engage with your audience and continue conversations.
• 🛠 Removing yourself as a bottleneck in your Instagram strategy by implementing automation and engaging content can significantly boost your business while saving time.

Q & A

What is the main challenge Elise faced with her Instagram account?

Elise felt her Instagram account was dying due to the changing Instagram algorithm and the need to adapt her strategy to revitalize her account.

How many followers did Elise have on her Instagram account before she started her revitalization efforts?

Elise had grown her Instagram account to over 185,000 followers before she started her revitalization efforts.

What is the first step Elise suggests when starting an Instagram account from scratch?

The first step is to decide whether to be a personal brand or a business brand, considering that personal brands typically grow faster and are more compelling.

Why are personal brands more effective on Instagram according to Elise?

Personal brands are more effective because people trust faces more than they do a faceless brand, as demonstrated by the followers of Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Richard Branson exceeding those of their respective companies.

What should be the focus of your content creation on Instagram?

Content creation should stem from defining your mission, your audience, and your unique offers or ways, ensuring you are laser focused on who you help and how you help them.

How important is the Instagram bio in attracting followers?

The Instagram bio is crucial as it tells the target audience who you are, why they should care, and why they should follow you, within the 150-character limit.

What is the recommended structure for the first line of an Instagram bio according to Elise?

The first line should state 'I am for XYZ, and I help them do ABC,' calling out the target audience and how you assist them.

Why is it suggested not to delete videos that don't perform as expected on Instagram?

It's advised not to delete underperforming videos because the algorithm can continue to pick up a video long after it's posted, and they may still be seen by the right audience.

What is the significance of engaging with the audience on Instagram?

Engaging with the audience is critical for growth as it helps build relationships, generates leads, and can convert into sales, as demonstrated by Elise's student who had a $45,000 week after engaging with her followers.

How can Instagram be used as a search engine to increase visibility?

Instagram can be treated as a search engine by creating search-friendly reels that answer commonly Googled questions in your niche, increasing the chances of appearing on the explore page and reaching new people.

What is the importance of not being a bottleneck when growing an Instagram account?

Removing yourself as the bottleneck is crucial for scalability. Using automation tools like ManyChat can help manage DM conversations and deliver resources to followers without manual intervention, freeing up time to create more content.

What is the recommended approach to posting content on a new Instagram account?

It's recommended to post nine to twelve pieces of content right away to populate the feed and give future followers a taste of the content they can expect.

How can you generate DMs on a new Instagram account?

You can generate DMs by encouraging viewers to comment on your videos and then following up with them through DMs to continue the conversation.

What is the one thing most business owners forget to do in their Instagram strategy that could cost them?

Most business owners forget to remove themselves as the bottleneck in their Instagram strategy by not utilizing automation tools to manage DM conversations and deliver resources to followers.