Carefully Crafting a Consistent Account - With A Focus on Instagram
Written by Leah Oake
Banner Photo by Mourizal Zativa on Unsplash
It is easy to read why social media increases the likelihood of success in societies. All of that information is almost common sense now to the average technology user. This is why I felt my previous article, “The Importance of Social Media,” warranted a part two. Social media is more prevalent now than ever, and it is quite necessary to support the creation of a well-rounded society. But, there must be some effort put in to allow the positive effects to take action. Learning about it is only the first step! In my previous article, the main points emphasized were commitment, consistency and curiosity. With those in mind, you are ready to take action! In this article, I will give you some helpful tips and tricks to craft and form your society’s social media account. After finalizing your account, hopefully, you will feel proud of the results and be ready to take on social media one post at a time.
First Impressions
Profile Picture
Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash
When someone is scrolling endlessly through Instagram and comes upon a new, intriguing, Instagram account, the next thing one would do is click on the profile. Viewers intensely analyze the profile picture, biography, highlight section and latest posts. That is where the focus needs to be! When choosing your profile picture you need to take into account a couple of things:
Does it represent your society?
Are you choosing a logo or an actual photograph? Why?
Is it engaging or pulling?
Does it aesthetically fit in with the rest of your feed?
Many societies choose to make their own logo, which is normally the profile picture as well. Tools often used are Canva, wix, and Adobe thumbnail – but there are hundreds of other options out there! Most societies pick objects that are clear indicators of their societies’ functions and goals—for example, a musical instrument for a music-orientated society. In addition, societies normally add some acknowledgment of Saint Mary's, which may just be the society’s name included with “SMU” in the corner. When designing the profile picture, make sure it is something that the society can use on posters or other memorabilia too! You want it to be recognizable but not too flashy. Do not feel bad if you want to look at other society profile pictures for inspiration! Creativity is most often sparked when actively looking!
Biography
After deciding on the profile picture, it is time to write your biography. The bio should be concise, informative and gravitational. When creating it, prepare to have a short blurb that touches on your goals, inclusivity and an introduction. Here is a template if you are stuck:
“The Saint Mary's University ____ Society! We are constantly looking for ___, and ____ people that want to be a part of a ___ group of people! Follow for updates and news about upcoming events and meetings!”
Your biography does not have to be complicated! Having a couple of lines can be enough to gain support and new members. Play around with different sentence structures, words, and themes to see what sticks and best represents your society’s mandate and goals.
Highlight Section
After ironing out the biography it is time to take the highlight section into consideration. Now, if you are creating an account for a completely new society, this may not be reasonable until you can gather society photos. Your highlight section should give viewers an easy window into some of the less formal parts of your societies. For example, different highlights can focus on meetings, some on a certain event, executive moments or something new! If your society is new, feel free to come up with a highlight relating to your specific society. If your society is based around food, make a highlight focused on new recipes! This way you can enhance your profile before fully having actual content.
Latest Post
The first thing someone will click on is the latest post. This post can truly make or break a first impression. If you are nervous that your latest post may not reflect exactly what the society is striving to reflect, consider pinning posts. Pinning posts is a great way to have your main society goals and important posts at the forefront of your Instagram page. This is especially convenient if your society prides itself on humorous content. Sometimes that content can overshadow the very essence of what your society is trying to showcase. This is not to say to not post comedic media! Reels and stories are simple but effective ways to be engaging but also add in splashes of comedy. That type of media is sometimes the most effective, so make sure that is something that your society actively works on to pin the more informational-based posts.
The first impression on any social media account can determine whether someone continues to scroll or clicks that follow button. Effort needs to be exerted in every aspect of your society and should not be limited when it comes to social media. Hopefully, with these helpful tips and tricks, your profile can gain every ounce of attention you and your society deserve! A beautiful aesthetic and a funny hook can set your society up for success more than you would think! Good luck and happy designing!