Instagram Marketing for Beauty Brands – 10 Best Strategies

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Beauty Brands
Beauty Brands

Ready to make your beauty brand pop on Instagram? You’re in the right place! Did you know 83% of Instagram users discover new products or services on the platform? That’s a beauty goldmine for brands like yours! In this post I’ll be sharing the ins and outs of Instagram marketing for beauty brands. From creating content that stops the scroll to using the latest features, we’ll cover it all. So grab your favourite lipstick and let’s get started!

Optimize Your Instagram Profile for Beauty Brand Success

Let me tell you, optimising your Instagram profile for a beauty brand is like getting ready for a night out. It’s all about that first impression. When I first started managing social media for a small indie cosmetics brand I thought slapping up a cute logo and a quirky bio was enough. Oh boy was I wrong!

One important step is to switch to an Instagram business account. This gives you better analytics and marketing tools which are essential for a Instagram marketing strategy.

I remember the day I realised our Instagram profile was a mess. We had a blurry logo, a bio that rambled on about our “passion for pigments” and highlight covers that looked like a toddler had designed them with a crayon. Not a good look for a beauty brand!

So I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. First things first, the bio. I learned that a good bio isn’t about cramming in everything about your brand. It’s about what makes you unique. For us it was our vegan, cruelty free formulas. I stripped our bio back to a single sentence about “guilt free glam” and added a cheeky emoji for good measure. Suddenly we were getting DMs from customers asking about our products.

Now let’s talk profile pictures. I used to think any old product shot would do. Big mistake. I spent a whole weekend testing different images until I landed on the perfect one – a flat lay of our best selling lipstick surrounded by rose petals. It was eye catching, on brand and recognisable even as a tiny thumbnail.

But here’s where I really upped our game – highlight covers. I used to think those little circles were just for show. Wrong again! I created a set of highlight covers that matched our brand colours and used icons to represent different content categories – a lipstick for product info, a camera for behind the scenes content and so on. It made our profile look professional and made it easy for followers to find the content they were looking for.

The final piece of the puzzle was the link in bio. At first we just linked to our homepage and called it a day. But then I found link in bio tools. Game changer! We started using a tool that allowed us to create a custom landing page with multiple links. Now we could direct followers to our latest product launch, our blog and our newsletter sign up all from one link. Our click through rates went through the roof!

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the importance of a call to action in your bio. Don’t just tell people who you are – tell them what to do! Whether it’s “Shop our latest collection” or “DM us for personalised skincare advice” give your followers a clear next step.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t be afraid to change it up. Your Instagram profile isn’t set in stone. I make it a habit to change our bio and highlight covers every season to keep things fresh and on brand.

Remember your Instagram profile is like the storefront of your beauty brand. It needs to be attractive, informative and instantly communicate what you do. So take the time to make it shine like your best highlighter. I promise the effort will pay off in engaged followers and sales. Now go make that profile pop!

Create Beautiful Visuals That Stop the Scroll

Oh boy creating beautiful visuals for a beauty brand on Instagram is like painting a masterpiece blindfolded – it’s hard but when you get it right, it’s magic!

When I first started managing our brand’s Instagram I thought any pretty picture would do. Big mistake. Our feed looked like a hot mess of random product shots and blurry selfies. It was as chaotic as my sock drawer after laundry day.

I’ll never forget the day I scrolled through our feed and cringed so hard I nearly dropped my phone. That was my wake up call. I realised we needed a cohesive colour palette and aesthetic that screamed “us”. So I dived headfirst into colour theory (who knew there was so much to learn about hues and tones?) and emerged with a palette that perfectly captured our brand’s fun and fresh vibe.

Now let’s talk about products. At first I thought a simple shot of a lipstick tube would do. Wrong again! I learned people want to see the product in action. So we started doing swatches – and not just on pale skin but on a diverse range of skin tones. The response was amazing! Our comments section was buzzing with people excited to see how our products would look on them.

But the real game changer? Before and after transformations. Oh my god, did those stop the scroll! I remember posting our first dramatic makeover using our new eyeshadow palette. My phone nearly exploded with notifications. People love to see the potential of a product and there’s no better way to show that than a good before and after.

Now here’s where I really had to push myself out of my comfort zone – experimenting with different content formats. I was a photo girl through and through but I knew we had to branch out. Videos were intimidating at first (I mean, have you ever tried to film a steady hand applying eyeliner? It’s like surgery!) but they allowed us to show application techniques in a way photos couldn’t.

And don’t even get me started on Reels. When Instagram first launched them I was like “nope not for us”. But curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a go. Our first Reel was a simple lipstick application set to trending music. It wasn’t perfect but it got more views in a day than our regular posts got in a week! Needless to say Reels quickly became a part of our content strategy.

Carousels were another game changer. At first I was like “who’s gonna bother swiping through multiple images?” Turns out lots of people! We started using carousels for everything from showing different shades of a new foundation to step by step skincare routines. They’re great for packing a lot of info into one post without overwhelming your feed.

But you know what really took our content to the next level? User generated content. I was hesitant to share “amateur” photos at first, worried it would make our feed look less polished. Boy was I wrong! People love seeing real customers using our products. It builds trust like nothing else. Now we feature UGC regularly and it’s some of our most engaged with content.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the power of visuals in creating engaging content. It’s not just about posting pretty pictures it’s about creating a feed that tells your brand’s story. Now I plan our content in advance making sure each post fits our aesthetic and contributes to our overall narrative.

Remember creating scroll stopping content isn’t about perfection it’s about authenticity and creativity. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try new things. And for goodness sake have fun with it! After all if you’re not excited about your content how can you expect your followers to be?

So go on get creative and create some content that’ll make your followers’ jaws drop faster than you can say “limited edition palette”. Your Instagram feed is your beauty brand’s canvas – it’s time to make it a masterpiece!

Master Instagram Stories for Beauty Brand Engagement

Oh man Instagram Stories. When they first came out I was like “great another thing to keep up with!” But let me tell you once I got the hang of them they became my secret weapon for our beauty brand’s engagement.

I remember my first Instagram Story. It was a shaky video of me holding up a new lipstick and mumbling something about the shade. Cringe-worthy doesn’t even begin to describe it. But hey we all start somewhere right?

The real game changer came when I discovered the interactive features. Polls were my gateway drug. I started simple “Which shade should we launch next? Pink or Red?” The responses flooded in and suddenly I felt like I was having a real conversation with our followers. It was like magic!

But quizzes? Oh boy that’s where the fun really began. I created a “What’s Your Skin Type?” quiz and it went viral in our little beauty community. Not only did it boost engagement but it also gave us valuable insights into our audience. Win-win! These interactive features drive engagement by creating authentic connections and making followers feel involved.

Now let’s talk about behind the scenes content. At first I was hesitant. I mean who wants to see our messy lab or the chaos of a photoshoot? Turns out everyone does! I’ll never forget the day I posted a Story of our chemist mixing up a new foundation formula. The reactions were insane! People loved seeing the “secret” side of product development.

Themed story series became my bread and butter. “Makeup Monday” and “Skincare Sunday” were obvious choices but I also threw in some wildcards like “Wellness Wednesday” where we’d share self-care tips. It gave our followers something to look forward to and helped me plan content in advance. Because let’s be real sometimes inspiration just doesn’t strike and having a theme to fall back on is a lifesaver.

But here’s where I really upped our Story game: story highlights. At first I just used them to save our best Stories. Boring! Then I had an epiphany. Why not use them to showcase our product lines and brand values? I created highlight covers that matched our aesthetic and organized our Stories into categories like “Bestsellers”, “Vegan Formulas” and “Customer Reviews”. Suddenly our profile became a one stop shop for everything a potential customer might want to know.

Of course it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There was that time I posted a personal Story to the brand account. Let’s just say our followers got an unexpected glimpse of my cat in a party hat. Oops! But you know what? That mistake actually humanized our brand. People loved it!

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the importance of consistency in Stories. It’s not just about posting regularly but about being consistent in look and feel. I started using the same fonts and color schemes in our Stories and it made a huge difference in how professional we looked.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t be afraid to repost your Stories to your feed. Some of our best performing posts have been Stories turned into carousel posts. It’s a great way to give your content a second life and reach followers who might have missed your Story.

Remember Instagram Stories are all about authenticity and real time engagement. They’re your chance to show the human side of your beauty brand. So don’t stress about making them perfect. A little behind the scenes chaos or a blooper here and there can actually make your brand more relatable.

So go ahead, embrace the ephemeral nature of Stories. Use them to experiment, to engage and to tell your brand’s story in a way that static posts just can’t. And who knows? You might just find that Stories become your favourite part of Instagram marketing. They did for me!

Use Instagram Reels to Show Off Your Beauty Products

Okay so let’s talk about Instagram Reels. When they first came out I was like “oh great another feature to figure out”. But let me tell you once I got the hang of them Reels became my secret weapon for showing off our beauty products.

I’ll never forget my first Reel. I was supposed to do a quick tutorial on our new liquid eyeliner. Sounds easy right? Ha! I must have filmed it a hundred times. My hand was shaking, the lighting was awful and don’t even get me started on trying to fit a whole tutorial into 15 seconds. It was a disaster. But I posted it anyway and our followers loved it! They loved the raw, unedited attempt. It taught me that perfection isn’t everything – authenticity is what connects with people.

Once I got over my initial fear I started experimenting with quick makeup tutorials and skincare routines. The key word here is ‘quick’. I learned that attention spans on Reels are shorter than a gnat’s. You’ve gotta hook ‘em fast and keep it snappy. I remember doing a “5 minute face” Reel and it went crazy. People loved seeing how our products could create a full look in no time.

To create good Reels you need to have a deep understanding of your target market. Insights into your audience demographics and online behaviour will help you craft content that resonates with your followers.

But here’s where it gets fun – showcasing product features and benefits. I used to think this meant just holding up a product and listing off its features. Boring! Then I had an idea. We had this new color changing lipstick so I made a Reel where I applied it in different lighting conditions to show off the effect. It was like magic on camera and our followers went crazy for it.

Now let’s talk about trending audio and challenges. At first I was hesitant. I mean what does the latest dance craze have to do with makeup? But then I realised – it’s not about the trend itself, it’s about putting your own spin on it. There was this trend where people were transforming to the beat drop. I used it to show a bare face transforming into a full glam look using our products. It got more views than anything we’d ever posted!

Of course it wasn’t all smooth sailing. I tried to jump on a trending audio without really understanding the context. Let’s just say our “moisturizer application” set to an audio clip from a certain adult film wasn’t quite the vibe we were going for. Oops! But you live and learn right?

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the importance of consistency with Reels. It’s not just about posting them randomly. I started doing a weekly series called “60-Second Slay” where we’d create a full look in a minute. Our followers started looking forward to it and it gave me a structure to work with.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t be afraid to show your personality in Reels. Some of our most popular ones have been when I’ve let my silly side show. Like the time I did a “How to cover up a pimple” Reel and used a googly-eyed sticker to cover the zit. It was ridiculous but it got the point across and made people laugh.

Remember Reels are all about creativity and fun. It’s your chance to show off your products in action, educate your audience and entertain them all at the same time. So don’t stress too much about making them perfect. A little behind the scenes realness or a blooper can actually make your brand more relatable.

So go ahead, get into Reels. Experiment, have fun and don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself occasionally. Your followers will appreciate the effort and you might just find Reels become your new favourite way to show off your beauty products. They have for me!

How to Implement Hashtags for Your Instagram Marketing Strategy

Oh boy, hashtags. When I first started managing social media for our beauty brand I thought hashtags were just those pound signs people stuck on the end of their posts. Little did I know they’d become the backbone of our Instagram strategy!

I remember my first time using hashtags. I just slapped #beauty on every post and called it a day. Rookie mistake. Our posts were getting lost in a sea of millions of #beauty tags. It was like shouting into the void.

That’s when I realized we needed our own branded hashtag. Coming up with one was harder than naming a new shade of lipstick! We eventually settled on #GlowGetters for our brand. At first it felt like we were the only ones using it. But as we encouraged our customers to use it when posting their looks it started to gain traction. Now scrolling through that hashtag feels like flipping through a digital lookbook of our products in action. It’s pretty cool!

But here’s where I really had to get my hands dirty – researching beauty related hashtags. It was like going down a rabbit hole. I spent hours on Instagram scrolling through, jotting down hashtags used by other brands and influencers. I even downloaded a hashtag research tool (total game changer by the way). It was mind blowing to see how many variations of #makeupaddict existed!

Engaging with trending hashtags in the beauty community was another learning curve. I used to think we had to use every trending hashtag going. Big mistake. Nothing looks more desperate than a post crammed with irrelevant trending tags. I learned to be selective, only jumping on trends that were relevant to our brand and products.

Remember the #makeuptransformation trend? That was gold for us! We created a series of before-and-after posts showcasing dramatic looks using our products. The engagement was crazy! But then there was the time I tried to jump on the #icebucketchallenge trend with a post about our “refreshing” face mist. Yeah… that didn’t quite land. You live and learn, right?

Now let’s talk about the art of mixing broad and niche hashtags. This was a real lightbulb moment for me. Using only broad tags like #makeup was getting us lost in the crowd. But using only super niche tags like #greenteainfusedlipbalm wasn’t getting us seen at all. The sweet spot? A mix of both.

I started using a combination like #makeup #beautycommunity #indiebeauty #veganmakeup. It was like casting a wide net while also speaking directly to our target audience. Our discoverability went through the roof overnight! Optimizing our Instagram posts with this mix of hashtags helped us reach a wider audience and get more bang for our buck.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is to rotate your hashtags. Using the same ones for every post can make Instagram think you’re spammy. Now I have several sets of hashtags I rotate through, always tweaking and updating based on performance.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t just use hashtags in your posts. Use them in your stories, your reels, even your bio! I started adding relevant hashtags to our stories and suddenly we were showing up in hashtag searches way more often.

Remember, hashtag strategy isn’t a set it and forget it kind of thing. It’s always evolving. What works today won’t work tomorrow. I make sure to regularly audit our hashtag performance and stay on top of new trends in the beauty community.

So don’t be afraid to try new hashtags. Try them out, track their performance and always be on the lookout for the next big trend. And for goodness sake, double check your spelling before you post! There’s nothing worse than realising you’ve been using #beatyproducts all day instead of #beautyproducts. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything…

Hashtags might seem like a small thing but trust me, they can make a big difference in your Instagram game. So go forth and hashtag away! Just maybe not #beauty. Unless you want to be a tiny fish in a very, very big pond.

Collaborate with Beauty Influencers and Micro-Influencers for User Generated Content

Oh man, influencer collaborations. When I first got into this world I thought it was all about finding the biggest names with the most followers. Boy, was I wrong!

I remember our first influencer collaboration. We reached out to this mega-influencer with millions of followers, offered her a whole bunch of free products and waited for the sales to roll in. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. Sure we got a ton of likes on her post but it didn’t translate to actual customers. It was like throwing a party where everyone shows up but nobody wants to dance.

That’s when I learned the importance of finding influencers whose audience actually aligns with our target market. It’s not about the numbers, it’s about the fit. I started digging deeper, looking at engagement rates, the kind of content they produce and most importantly how their audience interacts with them.

I’ll never forget the day I discovered micro-influencers. It was like finding a goldmine! These folks might have had smaller followings but their audiences were super engaged and often more niche. We partnered with a skincare micro-influencer who had about 10,000 followers. Her post about our new face serum generated more sales than the mega-influencer’s ever did. It was a lightbulb moment for sure.

Now, let’s talk about long term partnerships. At first I was all about one off collaborations. Send some products, get a post, rinse and repeat. But it felt… inauthentic. That changed when we started building relationships with a select group of influencers. We’d send them products regularly, get their feedback and even involve them in product development. It was amazing to see how their genuine enthusiasm for our brand shone through in their content.

But here’s where it gets tricky – tracking performance. I used to just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Then I discovered the magic of unique discount codes. We’d give each influencer their own code (like GLOWWITHJEN10) and suddenly we could see exactly how many sales each collaboration was generating. It was like having x-ray vision into our marketing efforts!

Of course it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There was the time an influencer accidentally used the wrong discount code in their post and sent their followers to our competitor’s site instead of ours. Oops! But you know what? It taught us the importance of clear communication and double checking everything before it goes live.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the power of letting influencers create honest reviews and tutorials. At first I was tempted to micromanage every collaboration, send over scripts and strict guidelines. But the content always felt forced. When we loosened the reins and let the influencers be honest about their experience with our products – good and bad – the authenticity shone through. And guess what? Their followers loved the honesty which actually built more trust in our brand.

Instagram captions are also key in influencer posts. They can make or break engagement and communication and make the content more relatable and effective.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t overlook nano-influencers. These are folks with even smaller followings than micro-influencers, often under 5,000. But their engagement rates can be crazy! We’ve had some of our most successful collaborations with passionate nano-influencers in very specific niches.

Remember, influencer marketing isn’t about getting the most eyes on your product. It’s about getting the right eyes on your product. It’s about building relationships, not just with influencers but with their audience too.

So don’t be afraid to think outside the box with your collaborations. Maybe it’s a series of Instagram Lives where an influencer shows how to use your products in real-time. Or a behind the scenes look at how they incorporate your brand into their daily routine. The options are endless!

At the end of the day successful influencer collaborations are all about authenticity, alignment and mutual benefit. It’s not just about what the influencer can do for you but what you can do for them too. So go forth and collaborate! Just maybe double check those discount codes before you hit publish.

Instagram Shopping for Beauty Products

Okay let’s talk about Instagram Shopping features. When these first came out I was like a kid in a candy store – excited but totally overwhelmed! I mean turning our Instagram into a virtual storefront? It sounded too good to be true.

I remember setting up Instagram Shopping for the first time. It was like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. There were so many steps and requirements I thought I’d need a degree in rocket science to figure it out. But once I got it up and running? Game changer, folks!

The first time I tagged a product in a post I felt like a social media wizard. It was our best selling lipstick nestled in a flatlay with some roses and a vintage mirror. I hit publish and waited. Within minutes we had our first sale from Instagram. I nearly fell off my chair!

But here’s where it gets tricky – creating shoppable posts that don’t scream “BUY THIS NOW!” It’s a delicate balance you know? You want to showcase your products without turning your feed into a catalog. I learned this the hard way when I went on a tagging spree and our engagement took a nosedive. Turns out people don’t love it when every single post feels like an ad. Who knew?

So I started experimenting with more subtle ways to blend content and commerce. Like showing a full makeup look and tagging all the products used or sharing skincare tips and tagging the relevant products. It was like hiding vegetables in a kid’s meal – the sales pitch was there but it didn’t overwhelm the content.

Now let’s talk about product stickers in stories. Oh boy these were a game changer! I remember the first time I used one. It was for a limited edition highlighter we’d just launched. I did a quick swatching video, added the product sticker and boom! Sales started rolling in faster than I could keep up with. It was like magic!

The Instagram app has e-commerce features like Instagram Shopping where users can select and purchase products within the app. An Instagram Shop is a brand’s customizable storefront where a market is ready to buy tangible products directly within the app rather than being redirected to an external website.

But of course there were hiccups along the way. Like the time I accidentally tagged the wrong product in a story about our new face mask. Suddenly we were getting orders for a body lotion we’d discontinued months ago. Whoops! Lesson learned: always double check your tags before you hit share.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the power of Instagram Shopping collections. At first I thought they were just another way to organize products. But then I started creating themed collections – “Summer Glow Essentials”, “5-Minute Face Must-Haves” that sort of thing. It was like curating little boutiques within our Instagram shop. Our followers loved it and it made shopping our feed so much easier.

And here’s a pro tip: use Instagram Shopping features in your influencer collaborations. We started asking our influencer partners to tag our products in their content and it was like opening up a whole new sales channel. Just make sure you’re clear about disclosure rules – nobody likes a sneaky ad!

Remember Instagram Shopping isn’t just about making sales (although that’s a nice bonus). It’s about creating a seamless experience for your followers. It’s about going from “Ooh I like that” to “It’s on its way” in a few taps.

So don’t be afraid to play around with these features. Try different types of shoppable content, experiment with your collections and always always keep an eye on what’s performing well. And for goodness sake make sure your inventory is up to date! There’s nothing worse than getting excited orders for a product you can’t deliver.

Instagram Shopping has changed how we sell our beauty products online. It’s turned our feed into a shoppable lookbook. So go forth and tag those products! Just maybe not every single one in every single post. Trust me on that one.

Analyze Your Instagram Performance and Adjust Strategies

Oh man analyzing Instagram performance. When I first started I thought it was all about the likes. More likes = better performance right? Ha! If only it were that simple.

I remember the day I discovered Instagram Insights. It was like someone had handed me the keys to a secret kingdom. Suddenly I had access to all these numbers and charts. Engagement rate, reach, impressions – it was overwhelming! I felt like I needed a degree in data science just to make sense of it all.

At first I was like a kid in a candy store, checking our stats every 5 minutes. “Oh look we got 10 new followers!” But then I realized I was missing the forest for the trees. It wasn’t about individual metrics – it was about understanding the bigger picture of our performance.

That’s when I started really digging into our engagement rate. I noticed our carefully curated product shots were getting tons of likes but hardly any comments. Meanwhile our behind the scenes content was sparking conversations left and right. It was a real eye opener.

Then came the adventure of A/B testing. Oh boy was that a rollercoaster! I’d spend hours crafting the perfect post only to have it flop spectacularly. Meanwhile a quick snap of our messy product development lab would go viral. It was humbling to say the least. But it taught me a valuable lesson – you never know what’s going to resonate with your audience until you try.

Effective marketing strategies are key to optimizing Instagram performance. Defining your target audience and aligning those strategies with what you’re already doing ensures consistency to your potential customers.

Posting times were another puzzle to solve. I used to think posting at 9am sharp every day was the key to success. Then I looked at our data and realized our engagement peaked at 9pm when people were winding down for the day. Who knew our followers were night owls?

Now let’s talk about monitoring competitor strategies. At first I felt a bit like a creepy stalker, constantly checking out what other beauty brands were up to. But then I realized it wasn’t about copying them – it was about understanding the bigger industry trends and finding our unique angle.

I once saw all our competitors jumping on a new video trend and I freaked out and created something similar. The result? A cringey video that felt totally off brand. Lesson learned: it’s okay to sit out a trend if it doesn’t authentically fit your brand.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is the importance of looking beyond vanity metrics. Sure it feels good to get a ton of likes. But are those likes translating to website visits? Product sales? That’s when I started paying more attention to our conversion rates and really understanding the customer journey from Instagram post to purchase.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t just analyze your wins – learn from your losses too. Some of our biggest strategic improvements came from dissecting why certain posts or campaigns didn’t perform as well as we’d hoped.

Remember analyzing your Instagram performance isn’t about obsessing over numbers. It’s about understanding your audience, refining your strategy and ultimately creating content that resonates. It’s an ongoing process of learning and adapting.

So go ahead and dive into those analytics. Try out different content types, experiment with posting times and always keep an eye on what’s happening in your industry. Just maybe don’t check your stats every 5 minutes like I used to. Trust me your sanity will thank you!

And hey if you ever feel overwhelmed by all the data just remember – behind every number is a real person engaging with your brand. That’s pretty cool when you think about it. So go ahead and analyze! Just don’t forget to come up for air once in a while.

Stay Up to Date with Instagram’s Latest Features for Beauty Brands

Okay let’s talk about staying up to date with Instagram’s latest features. It’s like trying to keep up with the latest beauty trends – just when you think you’ve got it figured out something new comes along!

I remember when Instagram first introduced Stories. I was like “Seriously? Another thing to manage?” But boy was I wrong to be skeptical. I decided to give it a shot and posted a quick behind the scenes clip of our team brainstorming new product names. To my surprise it got more engagement than our regular posts! That’s when I realized the importance of jumping on new features early.

Now whenever Instagram rolls out something new I’m all over it like a new shade of lipstick. Take Instagram Guides for example. When they first launched I was scratching my head trying to figure out how to use them for our beauty brand. But then it hit me – we could create step by step skincare routines or curate product collections for different skin types. Our followers loved it! It was like giving them a personal beauty consultation right in the app.

Of course it’s not always smooth sailing. I got a little too excited about a new feature and posted our entire product catalog as a series of Reels. Let’s just say our followers weren’t thrilled about their feeds being flooded with product demos. Oops! Lesson learned: moderation is key even with shiny new toys.

Now let’s talk about algorithm changes. Oh boy those can really throw you for a loop! I woke up one day to find our engagement had plummeted overnight. Panic mode activated! But instead of throwing in the towel I dived into research mode. I scoured every social media blog I could find to try to understand what had changed and how we could adapt.

That’s when I learned to follow Instagram’s business blog. It’s like having a direct line to the Instagram gods! They often give heads up on upcoming changes or tips on how to use new features. Now checking that blog is as much a part of my routine as my morning coffee.

But here’s where it gets really cool – beta testing opportunities. When I got an email to beta test a new shopping feature I nearly fell out of my chair! It was like being invited to an exclusive beauty launch party. We got to play with the feature before anyone else and provide feedback. Not only was it cool to have that insider access but it also gave us a head start on incorporating the feature into our strategy.

Instagram ads are another way to attract new customers and grow your business. Using Instagram’s massive user base can supercharge your social media marketing and get you more results in 2024.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier is it’s okay to take a beat before jumping on every single new feature. In the early days I’d try to use everything, even if it wasn’t a good fit for our brand. Now I take a more measured approach. I ask myself “How can this actually add value for our followers?” If I can’t answer that we sit it out.

And here’s a pro tip: don’t just focus on the shiny new features. Sometimes small updates to existing features can make a big impact. Like when Instagram added more options for Story stickers. Suddenly we had new ways to engage our audience with quizzes and polls about their beauty preferences.

Remember, keeping up with Instagram’s features isn’t about being trendy for the sake of it. It’s about finding new ways to connect with your audience and show off your brand. It’s about being flexible and creative in a constantly changing digital world.

So go ahead and experiment! Try that new feature, play with different content formats and always be ready to pivot when the algorithm throws you a curveball. Just don’t bet the farm on any one feature or strategy. In the world of Instagram the only constant is change!

And hey if you ever feel overwhelmed by all the updates and changes just remember we’re all in this together. Even the biggest beauty brands are figuring it out as they go along. So take a deep breath, maybe apply a fresh coat of your favorite lipstick for confidence and dive in. Who knows the next big Instagram feature might be the perfect fit for your brand’s glow up!

That’s it – your 2024 guide to Instagram for beauty brands! By following these tips you’ll be on your way to building an Instagram presence that showcases your products and a community of beauty lovers. Remember consistency is key and don’t be afraid to let your brand’s personality show. Now go ahead and put these into action and watch your beauty brand glow up on Instagram. Ready to dazzle your audience? Let’s get Insta-magic!