Instagram tips

Get started with these tips:

• Create a simple and concise user @handle. This should be an easy way for someone to know what your account is about, whether it’s personal or for a department/organization.
  
• Choose a profile photo for your new account that relates to your @handle.  Contrary to other social media platforms, Instagram has a circular profile photo as opposed to a square one. Keep in mind that this shape may cut off parts of your profile picture. Profile photo dimensions are 110x110.
  
• Add a website link and bio. Keep your bio short and sweet but informative; most of your story will be told in pictures!
  
• Determine if your account should be public or private in settings. You will need to confirm any and all followers if you make your account private. You can also consider changing your account to a "business" account, where you can access analytics. We recommend that you create a business account. 
  
• Check your settings to see how often you'd like notifications from Instagram. How often do you want to know when someone follows you, mentions you or tags you in a photo.
  
• Share the password to your account sparingly. Limiting the number of people who can post to your account will ensure that you have a consistent voice throughout your posts. We recommend that you have two people with access to the account at all times. 
  
• Once your page is set up, let us know here.
  

Once you’ve created your account:

• Instagram’s audience is younger compared to Twitter or Facebook. Keep it playful and highlight the fun parts of your department/organization.
• Interested in scheduling posts so that you won’t have to worry about posting one throughout your busy day? Consider a third party program, like Schedugram, that allows you to plan your posts in advance.
• Plan to post photos three to four times a week, and try to avoid posting more than twice a day. Utilize Instagram stories as a more immediate way to show more content without clogging your followers’ feed.
• Use high-quality photos, and do not over-edit a photo. A good photo is worth a thousand words, but a blurry one won’t tell your followers much of anything.
• Photo dimensions are 1080x1080, 1080x1350 or 1080x566. You have the option to make an image square or full size.
• Repurpose content from other users. See a picture you like on someone else’s account? Comment on it and ask them to email you the picture so that you can repost the high-resolution picture on your account! Remember to give photo credit.
• Design a content calendar with relevant events, holidays and important dates so that you can post appropriate posts on these days.
• The official WVU Instagram hashtag is #instaWVU. Encourage users to use the hashtag to interact with all WVU accounts and use this hashtag in your own posts, as well. Avoid creating new hashtags or ones that are irrelevant.
• Develop a list of hashtags and locations that you can browse through to engage with users by liking and commenting on their posts.  Hashtags to keep an eye on include #instaWVU, #WVU, #WVUbound, and #visitWVU.
• Keep an eye on your Instagram direct messages as well as the photos you are tagged in. Good content can pop up in those places!
• Last but not least – have fun with it! Use emojis, think of creative captions, use relevant trends and interact with your followers.

Once you’ve posted:

• Take a look at the start of each month to see how you did through "Insights." Specifically look for posts that did well and others that didn't do so well. You may begin to see trends for posts your audience likes and doesn't like, and that will allow you to tweak your content month-to-month. 
• If you have the social media budget, think about promoting your account or posts to improve reach. For more information, click here.