What Does Your Instagram Feed Look Like in 2021.

When it comes to your Instagram feed, you want it to not only be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, but you also need it to be engaging so that you drum up more followers, create a strong online community surrounding your brand, and turn support into real customers.

Throughout 2020 we’ve seen the ‘ideal’ Instagram aesthetic change, especially with the presence of new features, such as Reels, coming onto the scene. With activism, change, and community becoming a central feature of the online world in 2020, the informative aspect of Instagram has risen, and the typically popular Instagram feed that features nice visuals of stereotypical models has declined in popularity.

So, what does this mean for 2021? What should your Instagram feed look like to produce the best engagement, and how should you go about curating this ‘ideal’ feed?

In this article, we’re going to share insights into what your feed should be like in 2021 for the best engagement, as well as share some tips on how to go about curating your feed, so you can be on top of the game this year when it comes to social media marketing.

Inclusivity

Inclusivity should always be something that you focus on, but in 2021, it’s more important than ever. When it comes to your visuals, make sure you’re posting a variety of models, in your messages, support minority groups, make sure the videos and stories you post have subtitles so they’re accessible to all, and make it a point to show off that you have a forward-thinking brand that supports equality.

Informative Content

There’s been a huge rise in the amount of informative content on Instagram - it’s not all about pretty photos anymore, even though that’s key too. Whether you post information about an important cause your business is supporting, you share a video of your team members or you post facts about your brand’s production process, it’s important to share information with your audience. It’s also important to show the personality behind your brand, so try and loosen up a little and get more chatty.

Unedited Content

Long gone are the times of overly edited photos and photoshopped images. You need to start sharing unedited content, or at least only lightly edited content. People are preferring, more and more, seeing unedited, realistic content that’s not overly saturated or fake, so it’s time to put down your photoshop apps and focus on simply making sure your images are aesthetically pleasing, rather than overly edited.

Reels

Reels became an important part of Instagram in 2020, particularly towards the end of the year, and they’re still incredibly important and are predicted to keep their popularity throughout the year. Rather than seeing static posts and scrolling past, Reels allow users to really engage with the message you’re trying to convey, simply because watching a video is more exciting than staring at a still image.

If you’re not 100% comfortable with using Instagram Reels, check out our article telling you all about them, here.

Carousel Posts

Social Insider research shows that carousel posts tend to have a higher engagement rate per post - between 1.65% and 5.13%, depending on the profile size. So, if you’re not using carousel posts already, what are you waiting for? These types of posts are not only more engaging with users, but they also allow you to share more at once, providing users with a larger ‘hit’ of your brand, hopefully making them more intrigued by your feed and your business overall.

Film Photography or Grainy Edits

There’s a growing popularity for film photography on Instagram, with the unedited, grainy look that it gives engaging with users. So, maybe for your next photoshoot, it’s time to get your film photography game on and ditch the digital camera. However, if you don’t have the means to do that, you can always add grain to your images, creating that vintage, unedited look that everyone’s going to be loving so much this year.

Retro Aesthetic

Everything comes back into fashion at some point, and we’re seeing the rise of a retro aesthetic coming through on Instagram a lot already this year. Whether you display your brand’s information on a text screen of a Nokia phone or you’re reposting old quotes from the ’70s, it’s a good idea to add some retro-chic images to your feed.

Now, Your Instagram Feed Is Ready To Take 2021 By Storm.

After reading this article you’ll have a better idea of what your Instagram feed should look like in 2021, and hopefully, your mind is brimming with content ideas for the year ahead.

However, if you’re still struggling with producing an engaging digital marketing plan, or you’re not sure why your social media followers aren’t turning into real customers, we’re here to help.