Instagram is the ultimate native advertising platform. Unfortunately, not all brands have figured it out. Indeed, native advertising, which juxtaposes a product as it is used in the world, can be difficult in a square photograph. However, if you want to improve your native ad campaign, here are a few things you can do.
Excellent IG Native Marketing Done in Five Ways
Using Stories
Instagram’s “Stories” feature gives unlimited photo and video posts for brands. However, photo and image “spamming” on the social network could put off plenty of users. Using Stories’ images and captions, you can create photos of people using your products everyday and a catch phrase. The purpose of the phrase is to clarify the message of the photo. You can think of it as traditional print ad marketing transitioning into the digital age.
However, you can also use different creative concepts. You can talk about a person’s day-in-the-life of using your products or services. First, you can create a cover photo for the first Stories slide. Second, you can use the photos to tell a story similar to a three-year-old child’s fairytale book for self-reading. By doing this, you have achieved the true purpose of Stories: to tell a memorable narrative.
Utilizing Short Videos
Borrowing the storytelling concept of the “Stories” feature, showing short segments of daily events or even a well-produced (but obviously shot with smartphones) video can work to your brand’s advantage. You can make these videos “episodic,” with each Story or video on your Instagram showing different scenes or plot aspects.
However, if you want to focus on just your product without a plot, then you can use videos that show its capabilities. For example, you can have someone eat the actual sandwich with your specially-prepared recipe. Then, they can eat a competitor’s sandwich. It can also be a hilarious take on what employees see in your product. Native advertising need not only focus on the actual purpose of the product. An unrelated plot can revolve around it, too.
Overall Grid Aesthetic
Instagram shows a three-photo width on both mobile and desktop. If you create an image that is split by this width, then you can catch your viewer’s eye effectively. Alternatively, you can create mosaics when your IG is in grid view.
However, you can create interesting notions if you create a video that has a similar preview image: your product. It might look absurd that you would bombard your entire grid with identical photos. Upon clicking one photo, you can reveal it is a video. To make things better, you can use the product in different applications. This will pique your consumer’s curiosity to click the other “photos” to see the videos behind them.
Your IG’s grid is the first thing your viewers see. Make it attractive, intriguing, and anything that will urge users to click.
A Narrative With Layers
As with your images, videos, and homepage grid aesthetic, your IG account can create its own “meta” narrative. This creates a “general” layer about your Instagram account. For example, you can create a protagonist in your social network account. This protagonist’s story revolves around your products. Then, you can create narratives that are exclusive for each of your products and services.
Multi-layered narratives are interesting to viewers because they introduce a sense of flow. Given that most audiences watch series and love movie sequels, the idea of multi-layered narratives appeals to a great number of audiences. It also makes it easier to show how your product is useful in plenty of real-life situations.
The Rule of Thirds
Do not forget about photography and cinematography principles. Apply the rule of thirds. Divide your image’s grid into nine parts. You can position important items, such as your characters or products, along these grid lines to make them prominent.
Other photography guidelines also work in your favor to tell a visual story. Focusing on the aesthetics of your photograph or video is important. Instagram is attuned towards beauty, elegance, and creativity. It makes better sense to utilize these expectations to your advantage.
Genuine Experiences
Lastly, people use Instagram to share their overseas experiences. Audiences radiate towards posts that illustrate experiences. For example, your content in the last few weeks can be about the convention your business attended. It can also be a humorous or picturesque photo of your work environment.
Genuine experiences is important. It reinforces your brand’s story and shows the work environment that encourages your employees’ creativity and diligence. If your experience is enviable, then you’re doing native Instagram advertising correctly.