Why you should be planning your Instagram Feed on mobile

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When you take a look at the top Instagram accounts, most are carefully curated into visual (and marketing) masterpieces. And while you may find some popular accounts that went viral, just by chance, they are few and far between.

Luckily, what that means is that you have control over the success of your page. You have the ability to make your Instagram visually appealing, highly engaging and conversion-friendly (if you're into that).

In this article, we will dive into why and how you should plan your Instagram Feed to fit a mobile medium. We'll also talk about how to plan an on-brand grid that sets you up for success within your own niche.

Optimize the way your Instagram Feed looks

Whenever we create new Instagram content, most of us are hyper-focused on making that individual post the best it can be. Even though that is a good thing, we should also be thinking about how our Instagram account looks as a whole.

We need to think long-term - into the future and a little ways back. As a whole, we want our Instagram grid to be a masterful mosaic. All the pieces (posts) should synergize for an even greater experience. That is, whenever someone sees our newest Instagram Story, they should be able to click into our Feed and experience the same kind of content.

If you run an online business and want to gain more followers or boost conversions, think of your Instagram content as a resume or storefront. Your entire Feed and grid should "make sense" and be distinctly you.

How mobile plays a role in your Feed

Size matters - and when it comes to planning your Instagram content - the magic you create to fit those pocket-size mobile screens is the the money maker. When you think of Instagram content to post, always think about how it will look on mobile.

Originally, the mobile experience is what made Instagram different from other platforms like Facebook. Now, the Instagram analytic algorithm prioritizes content that fits the platform. So, always plan your posts for the Feed!

If you want to take advantage of the mobile medium, there are several "scenarios" you'll need to keep in mind. After all, your videos and pictures don't just pop up out of thin air when someone opens the Instagram app! Keep reading for more.

What to consider when planning your next post

Not only do you have to figure out what to post, you'll want to think about where it will show up and what is going on around the mobile medium. We don't live in a vacuum, so plan your post knowing there will be some interference...

Location of the new post

As you conduct Instagram planning, you might already realize that - of course - your post will show up on their phone. But there's more to the story. Here are several situations to consider when planning a new post:

• How does your image look as a standalone post?
• How does it look within the Instagram platform? Is it cut off?
• When scrolling, when does the image become eye-catching? At the top?
• Does someone need to see the whole picture to be engaged?
• Does your post stand out on the Explore page?
• Does your new post look like the one before it?
• How do your scheduled posts compare to older ones?
• How will your visual catch a follower's eye in the Feed?

Ask yourself all of these questions. Above all, each individual post should be fun to look at, but it should look like "part of the family" on your Instagram grid.

What your followers are doing when you post

A great Instagram post will catch your eye and keep you engaged, but it also has to battle a slew of other obstacles that prevent people from really seeing it.

After all, there's an entire world within and around our mobile phones! Let's go over a few examples to help you understand:

Example #1: You target busy moms who already get a lot of baby-oriented content in their Feed. They're tired, and don't feel like reading carousel posts with tons of words right now. But here comes your newest post - a highly visual meme. They love how relatable and easy to understand it is, so they jump to your Instagram grid to find more mom memes.

Example #2: Your followers look to you for inspiration. When they're stressed, they scroll Instagram. Make them stop and be more present with an affirmation written in lovely script. They jump to your main Instagram Feed to see that you've already posted 3-month's worth of daily inspiration. It's a match made in heaven!

What's the point of even mentioning these examples? Plan your feed around what your target audience is doing at the time you post. Their mobile phone is a small screen that can make a big impact on their lives. So, what can you post that will be meaningful and compelling to them?

What you need for a stunning Instagram Feed on mobile

Put your best foot forward with a few things that will set you up for success when planning your posts on Instagram.

Refine what you post

If you haven't solidified a content niche, now would be a great time to do so. Nothing has to be set in stone, but when someone scrolls through your Instagram Feed on mobile, they should have an idea about what you post.

Use a family of filters and templates

Within the posts themselves, try to keep filters, formats and fonts the same. When you create an Instagram post in the Mojo app, you can choose from 400+ premade templates and save them for later. It makes things go so much quicker when your colors, filters and video templates are already picked and saved for next time.

Preview with a good Instagram planner

You can find plenty of free planners to preview your Instagram Feed. Many will show you exactly what your Feed will look like once everything is posted. This gives you a great visual representation of how your account will look to followers.

Do the same for Instagram Stories and Reels

Your Instagram Feed isn't just limited to still images. Make sure your Stories and Reels coincide with the same brand guidelines as other posts. If someone loved your new Reel, they'll hop over to your Feed page for similar types of great content.

How to curate a show-stopping Instagram Feed

Now that you understand why you should be planning your Instagram Feed on mobile, let's talk about how to make it look absolutely stunning!

Revisit your branding

Whether you run a giant company or you're a solopreneur, outlined branding does wonders for your professional image. From colors to messaging to design, branding makes you distinct - and eventually recognizable, once you go viral.

From here on out, make your Instagram grid looks like it came from one cohesive vein. When you preview your Instagram for old and new posts, they should all "look" similar (without being the exact same).

When you create Instagram Stories and Reels in the Mojo app, you can set up a brand guide so that your preferred colors and fonts can be instantly input into our templates. Talk about a total time saver!

Declutter the Feed

If you're like most people, you probably preview your Instagram Feed and cringe at some of your older posts. It doesn't matter if you run a personal, creator or business Instagram account - not every post is a stunner.

As you improve your Instagram Feed and optimize it for mobile, get rid of subpar posts. If it doesn't take your breath away - or didn't get much engagement - get rid of it. Regularly refresh your Instagram grid so it stays on-brand.

Schedule your Instagram posts

Not only is post scheduling convenient, it will force you to think ahead about your content. With Instagram planners and schedulers, you won't have to come up with last-minute ideas that (you hope) will jive with followers.

When you schedule your Instagram posts, you give yourself time to add in on-brand filters, colors and design. If such proactive planning makes you a little nervous, remember that your Instagram is your resume or storefront. It's worth investing time into it!

Plus, creating new posts to schedule is easy in the Mojo app. Find hundreds of premade templates where you can drag-and-drop your media. Within minutes, you'll have professional-quality videos that are completely on-brand and optimized for the Instagram mobile experience. Just saying.

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