Free PDF: Instagram Strategy Guide to Perfect Your Content Plan

Download this mini-workbook filled with useful questions to help you tell your brand’s story and connect with followers

Posting on social media without a plan can lead to wasted time when content doesn’t contribute to your goals. Think of your account like a narrative, with each post forming a part of your story, and your Instagram account will become an exciting and authentic expression of your brand.

Natasha Samuel (@shinewithnatasha) is an Instagram strategist who helps clients design digital campaigns using video, and hosts a podcast on entrepreneurship. Here, she explains what an Instagram strategy is and why it’s important to clarify before you begin posting. Understand the types of post and what you want to achieve with the below tips, then download your free PDF to get started.

What is an Instagram strategy?

For Natasha, the best Instagram strategy is “a content plan that’s going to help you get closer to your goals”. Rather than posting randomly, you reflect on your desires and KPIs before you gets started.

A proper strategy can help you work out exactly what kind of posts you need to create to reach your desired audience. Natasha states the five surfaces to consider on Instagram: Stories (which disappear), the Feed (images and videos), Video (longform), Lives, and Reels.

Your plan also helps you think about the content of those posts, which will depend on two factors. One is your goal for your platform. Do you want more clients and customers? Do you want to build a community which you could monetize later with brand partnerships (or not)?

The other is your ideal customer, whose needs you to need to cater for. What are they looking for online, and what would they stick around for? Try analyzing your own social media habits to help work this out.

So, what does the above theory look like in practice? Natasha gives the example of a food brand whose goal is to get more converting customers, and whose ideal customer is a young person who likes cooking. The perfect match would be reels and stories that share fun recipes using the brand’s product. These recipes could be intermixed with behind-the-scenes videos that explain the production process, and videos about the company values. All this will humanize the brand, as well as connecting over shared interests.

How a strategy helps you build your brand

The first thing a strategy creates is consistency. By posting a minimum of three times a week, you create an expectation for your followers, and a handy routine for yourself.

The second thing a strategy creates for you is longevity. Once you know what works, you can replicate your success over and over, making slight adjustments as you go to keep things sustainable and fresh.

Natasha stresses that you don’t always need to be on social media to make things work: championing content creation really helped Natasha to avoid burnout and feel inspired while making something great to share with her clients. “Show up imperfectly,” she encourages her students, and focus on the fun.

Download your Instagram strategy workbook

Are you ready to build an Instagram strategy in a relaxed but practical way? Through asking yourself a set of questions, Natasha’s mini-workbook will take you step-by-step through the important considerations that are unique to your brand.

After clicking the button, you’ll find a PDF titled Free Instagram Strategy Guide by Natasha Samuel in the Downloads folder on your computer.

Sign up for Natasha’s course Storytelling Strategies for Instagram Reels. In the course, you’ll build a solid Instagram strategy and learn how to incorporate Reels to connect with your audience like never before.

Build your brand online with these bonus resources

1. Create a personal branding action plan with these eight expert tips.

2. Watch this tutorial and learn how to increase engagement on your Instagram account.

3. For even more tips, check out these ten online social media courses for creative freelancers.