Tips on ‘INSTA’
BY Pallavi Pinakin
Since most travel enthusiasts have by and large been limited to virtual adventures in recent times, what better platform to wander around than on Instagram? Here are some tips that will help you do it right… without stepping on anyone’s toes.
OVER THE TOP As you browse through the photos of your last trip, you may find at least 20 great options for Instagram. But resist the temptation to bombard your followers with all of them at once – the accepted daily limit is three pictures – and if you have more, you could post them over the next few days.
Too many photos may result in people opting not to follow or even muting you. If you’re really keen to share a large collection, use Facebook or a photo sharing platform like Flickr. The less is more principle applies to hashtags too. Unless you’re an influencer, put no more than four or five hashtags on each post.
RAISE THE BAR If you were planning to share a fourth picture of your avocado toast, another photo of a cup of tea or place more quotes against a stock natural backdrop to entertain your followers, you should first hit the pause button. While there’s nothing wrong with sharing inspirational pictures and quotes on your ‘Insta’ feed, add a fresh twist regularly.
For instance, if you want your fourth avocado toast picture to make the cut, there should be something extraordinary about it – perhaps some unusual toppings or a striking plate. Avoid quotes by others – instead, provide some personal insights of your own.
SHARE IT RIGHT If you want to share a spectacular photograph taken by someone else, don’t simply copy and paste it, and pass it off as your own. Give credit to the owner and tag the original account in your post or make the owner’s details visible when you add it to your ‘Insta’ story.
BE AUTHENTIC It doesn’t matter whether you are using Instagram for your personal enjoyment, to boost your professional brand or support any aspirations of being an influencer. However, it’s vital that you post only places you have visited and activities you’ve personally participated in.
Online audiences are smarter and more watchful than ever before. So don’t get caught in a lie or give unreliable recommendations because they can cause problems for you. And always use text when you engage with your followers – because no one wants to interact with emoticons.