10 Myths That Will Change How You Look at Instagram

There are a lot of “tips” out there about Instagram that are keeping you stuck which can be super overwhelming and confusing. These tips might have worked in the past, but if there’s one thing we know about Instagram it’s that it’s always changing! Here are 10 myths that will change how you look at Instagram.

 

 

You don’t have time to waste when it comes to creating content and growing your business. You deserve the most updated information and strategies that will bring you the best results in the shortest amount of time. While it’s not likely that you will grow by thousands overnight, it is very possible to start growing by the thousands within several months if you nail down the Instagram strategies that are working right now and stick to your content plan. 

If you’re ready to get serious about your business then I am your girl. I coach business owners on how to grow FAST and in a way that lasts. There are no hacks or shortcuts, but there is a true strategy that works. (I know it does because it’s the same one that’s helped me and my clients grow by the thousands and beyond.) But we can discuss more of that later, let’s focus on those 10 myths that are no longer true about Instagram.

 

10 Myths That Will Change How You Look at Instagram

 

 

Instagram Myth #1: Hashtags aren’t useful.

Some people are saying to use 5-8 hashtags on your Instagram posts. Some are saying to use more than that, and some say to not use any at all! So confusing, right? Before the algorithm, Instagram was a chronological feed which meant hashtags helped your content get seen by more people. However, that’s not how it works anymore. 

The Instagram algorithm helps content get in front of the people who would want to see it most. Hashtags are becoming less important when it comes to going viral or gaining exposure. However, that does not mean they are completely useless. Hashtags help add to your use of keywords in your content, which will help boost your posts when people are searching for your type of content. 

I recommend using at least 5-8 hashtags in each of your posts and making them niche-specific. The more specific you are with these the better. But please do not spend a lot of time on these. I personally create a list of hashtags for each of my content pillars and use those whenever I’m creating a post within that pillar. I also use Flick.Social that helps me see which hashtags are trending and which ones are performing well in my content. You can check that out HERE! 

 

Instagram Myth #2: You have to have a perfect feed. 

Years ago, you had to have the perfect feed. Your pictures had to be beautiful and everything had to be curated. Now, it doesn’t have to be perfect. You should definitely still worry about your feed, but you don’t have to worry about it quite as much. Don’t worry about creating a Pinterest-worthy Instagram account, but make sure it looks like a business account. 

Some things you want to nail down for your Instagram business account:

• Fonts
• Brand colors
• Content templates
• Professional photo
• Clear and concise bio 

Having these things will help people know that you are a legit brand and you show up professionally for your audience. It’ll also help people start to recognize your brand whenever it shows up in your feed. They will associate your colors and fonts with who you are and it’ll make you more memorable. If you want help with establishing a solid brand for your business, let my team audit your Instagram! You can learn more about that HERE.

 

Instagram Myth #3: There’s one best time to post on Instagram.

There is not a single best time to post on Instagram. If you use a scheduling app for your Instagram account, it may give you recommendations on the best time to share your content. Instagram will also show you when most of your users are on Instagram. You can use these as clues for when to post your content. I recommend posting 1-2 hours before most of your audience is on. 

I actually don’t stress too much about posting times. Our posts are lasting a lot longer than they used to. For example, I have reels go viral 2-3 weeks after I post them. Also, when I had a call with Instagram they said it’s more important to show up consistently than to show up at a “perfect” time every day. Just choose a time that works for you and commit to showing up at that time every day. 

 

 

Instagram Myth #4: You can grow on Instagram without a strategy.

This is the worst advice you could ever believe. When you decide to start a business and use Instagram to grow it that means you need to show up as a business on Instagram. And that means showing up with a strategy and a plan to grow–not showing up randomly and hoping something sticks. 

Show up with a plan so you know what content you want to share, you know what your audience wants, and create niche-specific high-quality content. If this sounds like too much, you can sign up for my Insta Social Society where I will send you a monthly content plan that includes trending audio, Cavna templates, and more. You can learn more about that HERE! 

 

Instagram Myth #5: Engaging with your audience doesn’t make that big of a difference.

Instagram is built in a way for you to be social with others. Do not engage with others just to check it off your list, but really engage with them to build relationships. This will really help your business take off and create opportunities for collaboration and other things that would not have otherwise been possible. 

 

Instagram Myth #6: Trending audio is out.

This myth is 100 percent false! Instagram came out a little while ago and said they were going to start prioritizing original content. People took this as trending audio being out. That’s actually not what they meant. Instagram was just trying to help encourage content creators to use their own content and to stop stealing other people’s content. 

Trending audio is very much alive and well and will still help you grow faster than ever. My general rule of thumb is to use audio that has not been used more than 30-50K times. If it’s been used more than that, you’ve probably missed the timeframe and you can just move on to the next trending audio for your reel. 

 

 

Instagram Myth #7: Sell products in your feed. 

People are using the Instagram feed completely wrong. You should be using your feed to attract new people to follow you and nurture the audience you already have. You nurture by posting content that entertains, educates, or empowers. It may be OK to post about a sale every now and then, but if you’re trying to sell in your feed over and over again you are going to get less and less engagement. 

Use your feed to build your community and make them want to watch your stories. Your stories are where you will do your selling. This is the best place to sell because the people who watch your stories are the ones who are most interested and committed to you and your business. 

 

Instagram Myth #8: Post every single day OR do not post every day.

Which one is true? How often should you post on Instagram? This has to do with your goals and your capacity. If you can only post 3x per week consistently then do that. It is much better to do that than to post 10x one week and only one time the next. Consistency is key!

If you want to grow quickly, commit to creating a lot of content. The more you post the more data you have about what is and is not resonating with your audience. Depending on where you are on your Instagram journey, decide how often you want to post. Above all, make sure you are posting high-quality content that is niche-specific for your people. 

 

Instagram Myth #9: Reels are the only way to grow.

While reels definitely help you grow, they are not the only way you will grow. I’ve had carousel posts and static posts bring me thousands of followers. The key here is to make your content so niche-specific that it makes it easy for people to share the post with their friends and easy for you to grow. 

I will say, however, reels make it easier for you to grow because of their separate algorithm that targets specifically people who do not follow you. But overall, every type of content on Instagram will bring you more followers as long as you produce valuable content your audience can connect with.

 

Instagram Myth #10: You have to spend hours a day on Instagram.

This is not true. You may be spending hours on Instagram every day if you don’t have a strategy. But having a strategy will help you know when to show up, why you show up, and what kind of content to create. When you have this strategy nailed down you can batch-create your content and schedule it out over an extended period of time. 

If you do the work upfront with creating a strategy and content plan, you will see the magic start to happen. You will start to grow without having to create, edit, and post in the moment. That takes so much time. It is the best feeling to see your Instagram grow without you having to be there every moment to make sure it happens. I want you to experience this. My Insta Social Society will help!! 

 

BONUS Instagram Truth: Instagram is a search engine! 

Instagram is a search engine–just like Pinterest, YouTube or Google. Instagram is getting better and better at being a search engine, so how do we capitalize on this as content creators? The first thing to do is niche down. The more specific you get on the content you create the better the algorithm will get at knowing who to share your content with. If you show up in every post with one common goal in mind, the algorithm will know who exactly to put your content in front of and those people will follow you.

The other thing you can do is use SEO (search engine optimization). You use this by using keywords (the words people type in the search bar to find the content you create) in as many places as you can. Use it in the graphics of your carousel posts, in your captions, reels, hashtags, bio, handle, and even your name. 

Adding this to my Instagram strategy helped me grow over 100K followers in less than a year, so I know it works. When you figure out how Instagram operates today and really commit to posting the way that it wants you to, then you will grow faster than you ever thought possible. That’s what happened to me and it can happen to you too. 

 

 

10 Myths That Will Change How You Look at Instagram

Alright, friend, those are the 10 myths that will change how you look at Instagram. What do you think? Are there any that surprise you? I’d love to see how you move forward now that these myths are debunked for you. Start creating your plan to grow on Instagram, and if you need any help, reach out to my team, we’d love to help! You can also follow me on Instagram @iammichellegifford so you can keep getting the best strategies for growing on Instagram and beyond!