Have you ever just stopped to admire the really successful Instagram accounts out there?
I know I have.
You know…the ones with literally millions of followers, incredibly high engagement and consistently viral content. It’s pretty incredible to watch.
When the BossBabe Instagram account crossed 3 million followers (in just three years) I was so excited.
Then, it really got me thinking: what is it that sets the biggest Instagram accounts apart? What are they doing differently to have the type of exponential success we all are striving for?
Here’s where I landed: there are dozens of things that contribute to a successful Instagram account (duh), but there is at least one thing every single account does well…
They all know how to talk about themselves.
Did you just cringe a little bit? Because I know several years ago, I totally would have. That’s because most people don’t know how to talk about themselves on Instagram. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
The thing is – the Instagram accounts that have the most success are talking about themselves…pretty much all the time. It’s in their bios, in their posts and all over their content.
You probably don’t even notice it. That’s because they’re really, really good at talking about themselves in a way that makes their audience know, like and trust them.
You can be, too.
In this blog, I’m going to share with you exactly how to talk about yourself on Instagram in a way that helps your account grow and scale so you can become an Instagram account people admire, too.
Let’s dive in.
How To Talk About Yourself In Your Bio
For your Instagram bio to drive engagement on your profile, it needs to have two key components: a clear profile picture and searchable keywords. Here’s what I mean…
1 – Your Profile Must Have A Clear Picture Of Your Face
I actually get a lot of pushback on this one, and that’s because so many people are afraid to show their face on social media. If that’s you, here are a couple of notes…
First, you shouldn’t be. Social media is called “social” for a reason. People buy products from people. If you’re willing to show yourself online, the people who follow you are much more likely to buy from you and support your business.
That being said, if you’re really opposed to using your face in your profile picture, I recommend you use a clear picture of your logo instead. It’s not quite as strong of an option, but if you’re absolutely against using your face, showing your logo works as a close second.
2 – Your Profile Must Have Searchable Keywords
A lot of people don’t think about it, but Instagram is a mini search engine. That means you want your profile section to have keywords that make it easy for people to find your profile if they need to work with someone in your industry.
Take a deep breath because I know what you’re thinking, and I have good news.
No, you don’t have to be an SEO expert to have keywords in your bio. You just need to be able to think like your customer. If you were looking for your business online, what would you search? Make a list of keywords and work them into your bio. That’s really all there is to it!
How To Talk About What You Do
So, I sort of lied earlier. There’s actually one more thing you need to feature in your Instagram bio, and that’s a short and sweet description of what you do.
One of the easiest ways to talk about what you do is to write a clear “I help statement”. Here’s the formula…
I help [the audience] [do what you help them do].
The first step to writing your “I help” statement is to write down who you help. Do you help working moms? Stressed pet-owners? Ambitious college students? Determine your audience and add them to the first blank.
Next, you’ll write what you help them do. Do you help decorate homes? Care for pets? Get financial aid? Add that statement in the second blank.
Here are some examples…
- I help working moms decorate their homes.
- I help stressed pet-owners care for their pets.
- I help ambitious college students get financial aid.
Add your “I help” statement to your bio and use it throughout your posts as a reminder to your audience of what you do and how you can help them.
How To Introduce Yourself In A Post
It is SO important that you take time to introduce yourself in a post every so often on your Instagram grid.
It might feel awkward to “re-introduce” yourself to your existing followers, but as your account grows, there will be more and more people who don’t know who you are or what you do. Those people will need to be introduced to you if you expect them to eventually know, like and trust you.
Writing an introduction post is actually not as hard as it seems. All you need to do is take the information from your bio and add a little sparkle.
Share your “I help” statement, weave any keywords into the copy and add a few personal details to make yourself relatable.
Don’t get overwhelmed by the personal details part. All you need to do is think about what you would say to a new friend. What’s your favorite coffee? Do you have any pets? What’s your favorite book right now? Little details like that will make your followers relate to you on a personal level, which is great for Instagram growth.
Can I Let You In On A Secret?
As I’ve studied the most successful Instagram accounts, I’ve boiled down their success into three categories: consistency, confidence and capitalism. Here’s what I mean…
Capitalism means you have an Instagram account that’s actually making you money. Confidence means you’re showing up as yourself with dynamic content that reflects your personal brand.
But it all starts with consistency – aka, your ability to just show up.
The problem is, most people don’t have time to “just show up”. For every individual post you’re sharing, you’re either wasting time trying to design it yourself or spending thousands on a graphic designer. It’s exhausting.
That’s why I created Insta Influence Kit – your secret weapon to showing up consistently on Instagram.
Insta Influence Kit is 100+ easy social media templates to help you elevate your message and grow a high-impact presence without hiring an expensive designer or spending hours in Canva every month.
Plus – it’s only $37. Click here to join the waitlist for Insta Influence Kit and let 2021 be the year you build an Instagram account you’re proud of.
