Get Inspired with the Best Brands to Follow on Instagram.
Need a little inspiration for your Instagram feed?
It’s not always easy finding new and interesting content for social media … especially if you’re a small business.
If social media is just one of a hundred jobs you have to do each day posting even a single daily picture to Instagram can seem like a chore.
Since we’ve previously looked at 8 Simple Ways to Use Instagram for your Business, today we’re going a step furthr and looking at some real life examples.
In particular I want to share some examples of how big brands are solving the ‘new content’ issue. Examples which I hope will give you a little inspiration as to how you can fill your Instagram account and reach your customers.
1. Paperchase
15k followers
Why follow? Colour.
While I’m a little biased about anything that involves stationery, it’s the colours that really draw me into the Paperchase Instagram feed. Instagram posts are a great way to show off your design aesthetic and Paperchase do this brilliantly. Even their most minimal posts are bursting with bright, rainbow colours, fitting their brand aesthetic perfectly.
2. Harrods
640k followers.
Why follow? Luxury.
If you want to convey the quality of your brand and products then you really need to follow Harrods. Their Instagram feed oozes the luxury lifestyle and is a perfect example of how elegant images and styling can elevate your products.
3. Sharpie
114k followers
Why follow? Customer Participation.
Sharpie’s Instagram account has done a great job of building a community around their products. With a simple “grab a Sharpie & start something” tagline they encourage customers to use their product and share the result. A great way to build a loyal fan base.
4. Starbucks
4.8m followers.
Why follow? Imagination.
Starbucks are a great brand to follow on Instagram if you’re not sure how to show off your products. While coffee might be an everyday product and Starbucks are seemingly on every street corner their Instagram feed is not everyday. The posts bring imagination to their offer, showcasing their products in fun and inventive ways; a must if you don’t want to bore your customers.
5. Naturebox
36.9k followers.
Why follow? Lifestyle.
If a picture really does paint a thousand words then Instagram is a great way to communicate the lifestyle that your products offer. Naturebox’s Instagram feed is an ideal example of how you can use pictures to hint at the lifestyle and philosophy behind your products and business.
6. Topshop
4.4m followers.
Why follow? Variety.
The Topshop Instagram is a great example of how a variety of posts can add interest to your Instagram feed. Their account features product shots, model shots, magazine covers, celebrity pics, street shots and more. Adding variety to your Instagram feed is a good way to prevent yourself and your followers getting bored.
7. Moo
35.6k followers
Why follow? Topical.
Alongside a whole variety of product pictures and customer showcases I like the topical updates from Moo. The printers have added topical updates covering the Royal Baby, Earth Day, The Oscars and many more, which is a great way to keep their feed fresh and relevant.
8. Oreo
554k followers.
Why follow? Fun.
Your Instagram feed is a great way to inspire and entertain your audience and Oreo are great at adding fun to the platform. Their account is a great one to follow if you want inspiration on how you can bring your personality into Instagram marketing.
9. Nike
16.7m followers
Why follow? Short, Sharp Slogans.
Nike are one of the biggest brands on Instagram so they’re definitely a brand to follow and take notes on. All of their posts promote the Nike values and lifestyle but my favourite element is the short, sharp slogans that brilliantly caption each photograph.
10. Innocent
42.6k followers
Why follow? Behind the Scenes.
The Innocent Instagram page is a great example of a brand showcasing what happens behind the scenes. Mixing in sneak peeks at the people behind the company is a great way to stop yourself from posting the same old product pictures.
11. Forever 21
7m followers.
Why follow? How to Wear.
Forever 21’s Instagram feed is a great example of showcasing how customers might use your products. Posts regularly share different looks from shoe and bag pairings to complete outfits.
1.9m followers.
Why follow? Quote Posts.
Benefit Cosmetics are brilliant at showcasing their brand and the lifestyle you can associate with their products. The way they use quote posts is really amazing. Even though the graphics are incredibly simple and easy to replicate they tap into what their customer wants perfectly. Recently a “but first, lipstick” quote got 40.8k likes and 571 comments … not bad for 3 words.
13. Birchbox
310k followers.
Why follow? Composition.
Birchbox is a subscription service for beauty products and they do a great job of showing off their products. Products are arranged in eye-catching compositions, turning what could be a run-of-the-mill product picture into something fun and appealing.
