How to create the PERFECT Instagram introduction post for your small business

If you know me, then you'll know by now that I LOVE using Instagram as a marketing platform for my small business. It's a powerful visual platform to reach your ideal clients as a small business owner, and it's FREE!

One thing I would always advise doing on your Instagram page to help build a community with your followers is to introduce yourself. For some small business owners though, this isn't always the easiest thing to do.

I've been asked a few times over the past few weeks by fellow small business owners how they can introduce themselves to the world of Instagram. They've asked what they should include in an introduction post, how personal they should get, if at all, and/or how they can introduce themselves and still keep it relevant to their business.

Here's my top tips:

Getting personal: This is a biggie. How personal should you get on an introduction post that is being posted on the internet to strangers? Well, there are three things to consider - How personal are you comfortable with? How relevant is the personal story to your business and will your ideal client be able to relate to your personal story? Have a think about all three of these and go from there. You can find an example of one of my own introduction posts here which is very personal. Was I totally comfortable with it? Hmm not 100% but at the same time it's a form of therapy putting my story into words, albeit a very short version, and it's incredibly relevant to how my small business started. I also know that a lot of my ideal clients are parents and would be able to relate on some level.

Clear, appropriate image: Your introduction post is introducing you and your small business to the world, let's make sure the image you use is clear and appropriate. What I mean by appropriate is, unless your small business actually is a pub, then an image of you in the pub with your mates hanging off you at either end isn't appropriate. You get me? If you have brand photography images then put them to good use here, if not, get a friend to take a clear, well lit photo of you perhaps at your desk or workspace or outdoors in a neutral location like your garden or the park. This photograph is also not the time to try anything new with hair, make up or clothes, be yourself, show up how you want to be seen!

Text over photo: This is one I'm going to give a whirl next, text over a photo in a sort of magazine cover style, but a bit less cheesy. You would then continue/repeat your message in the caption, You can find an example here. This is a good scroll stopper if you want to try and reach new followers.

Video reel: Instagram loves reels and I don't see that changing any time soon so why not do a little video introduction! This can be B-Roll like you just pottering around, working or out for a stroll. Or, you can of course do straight on at the camera! Either is fab, remember to pop text over the video on this one, a hook to get folks to take a peek like "Want to know the real me?" (or "reel me" if you're feeling "punny" ) I'm here all week LOL

Update regularly: My tip here is to pin an introduction post to your pinned posts so it can always be found easily but also update your intro posts at least every 3 months. It's also good to have a pic of you pop up every 12 posts or so. This doesn't always need to be a full on intro post, it could be you chatting about something else like your product or service. If you think of when a follower is scrolling Instagram on their phone, there are generally around 12 posts showing at each time. It's a good idea to help build that know/like/trust factor to have your face pop up at each scroll/refresh of those 12 posts.

There you have it, these are my tops tips for creating an introduction post for you and your small business on Instagram. Will you try it? Tag me if you do @amandahughes.uk I'd love to say Hi and give your post some love!

Speak soon,

Amanda