Should You Share Personal Content on Your Business Instagram?
Should You Share Personal Content on Your Business Instagram?
Should you share personal content on your business Instagram account, or should you keep things strictly business? It's a question that divides opinion in the marketing world. Some will tell you that sharing anything unrelated to your business dilutes your message, confuses your audience and distracts from what you're actually trying to sell.
I'm going to hard disagree.
I've spent the last 12 years using social media, primarily Instagram, to market various businesses, and I've shared everything from family life to my dog, hobbies and my slightly ridiculous obsession with collecting rocks, pottery and sea glass. Some of those completely unrelated posts have gone crazy viral, bringing thousands of new people into my world and that's exactly what we're talking about in this episode of Growth Addicts.
why getting personal on your business Instagram can help you attract new followers, build relationships and even turn those followers into customers.
🎧 Listen to the full episode using the podcast player above.
Why Should You Share Personal Content on Your Business Instagram?
Let's say you're a virtual assistant who absolutely loves collecting crystals, you might think crystals have nothing to do with being a virtual assistant and you're right, they don't. But they've got everything to do with you, and you ARE the business.
Imagine someone who's been thinking about hiring a virtual assistant comes across your Reel about crystals and hey, it turns out they love crystals too! Suddenly, they've discovered something you have in common, and that might be the very thing that makes them think you're someone they'd love to work with.
Personal content can play a part in all three stages of my Attract, Nurture, Convert approach to social media marketing. It can introduce you to new people, help existing followers get to know you and give potential customers that extra bit of confidence to buy from you.
And let's not forget something else please...
Personal content can be FUN!
How Personal Should You Get on Your Business Instagram?
As personal as you're comfortable with! Getting personal doesn't mean sharing your deepest, darkest secrets with the internet. It might be your hobbies, family life, pets, favourite restaurants, something funny that happened that morning or a little glimpse behind the scenes.
For others, it might be sharing something more meaningful about their personal experiences. There are no rules about how much of your private life you need to share, and I'm certainly not suggesting that every post from hereon in should be personal. Your business Instagram still needs a strategy, people need to understand what you do, who you help and how they can work with you but amongst all that carefully planned marketing content, leave some space for spontaneity and the real person behind the business.
Especially in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content, I think showing up as an actual human being matters more than ever, what do you think?
What Should You Post on Instagram Stories for Your Business?
This is where I do recommend sharing a little something personal every day.
Inside The Small Business Community, I share a simple, repeatable three-step Instagram Stories routine in our Weekly Marketing Pack. It's particularly useful if you're one of those small business owners who opens Instagram Stories and thinks... well, nothing 🤣 blank screen and blank brain moment.
Here's how it works:
1. Start with a personal, interactive Story.
Say good morning and ask your audience how they're doing. Use a simple poll with options like Great / Meh / Don't ask.
2. Talk about your business.
Share something happening in your business that day. A new product, a customer booking, an upcoming workshop or something you're working on. Include a link or call to action to book/buy/sign up.
3. Finish with something personal.
Show what you're doing next. Maybe you're heading out for coffee, tidying up after the school run or sitting down at your desk with a mountain of work.
That's it! A simple way to show the human behind your business while still promoting what you do.
Examples of Personal Content I've Shared on Instagram
Wondering what personal content actually looks like on a business Instagram account? Here are three examples of personal Reels I've shared on my own account:
Three Personal Content Prompts to Try This Week
If you're not sure where to start, try putting your own spin on one of these:
1. "The ___ routine I wish I'd started years ago"
2. "I'm a [personal status] and when I say I need a ___, what I really mean is I need ___"
For example: "I'm a 42-year-old twin mum and when I say I need a break, what I really mean is a bag of Maltesers, a warm bath and nobody asking me a question for at least two hours"
3. "I'm officially in my ___ era and I'm all in"
Your gardening era, sea-swimming era, reading era... whatever you're currently loving!
Let's Make Social Media Fun Again!
Your social media strategy for business should absolutely be planned and purposeful, but that doesn't mean every single post needs to be carefully constructed around your business. Leave room for the things you enjoy, the experiences you've had and the little moments that make you YOU. The thing you think has absolutely nothing to do with your business might just be the thing that introduces your next customer to you.
Give one of those prompts a go this week, and if you do, tag me at @growthaddictspodcast or @amandahughes.uk. I'd love to see what you create and give it some love!
And if you'd love more help and support planning your content, my Weekly Marketing Pack is just one of the resources waiting for you inside The Small Business Community. Kettle's on and we're saving you a seat!
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