We all know the struggle. You go to post on Instagram, trying your best to stay consistent – but do you really want to re-use that photo you just posted last week? Your well of new content is totally dry. What do you do? Hint: Don’t turn to Pinterest for fresh photos. There’s a better way.
Today, I’m sharing with you how to create more Instagram content without committing a copyright violation.
How can I generate 100s of content ideas?
Maybe your problem isn’t creating the photos + videos, but rather coming up with content ideas. My biggest piece of advice? Don’t overcomplicate things. Share content about what you’re up to, how you help your clients, and your thoughts about industry news. Followers want to see what you do each day! To get your creative juices flowing, check out these blog posts with 10 post ideas for interior designers and 10 story ideas for interior designers.
Now you’ve got the content ideas. How do you come up with the photos + videos to actually share them?
Why the answer isn’t Pinterest
Every time I see a designer post a photo from Pinterest, I cringe. Pinterest is not a stock photo site, and sharing content you do not own on Instagram can get you into serious trouble. Per Pinterest’s copyright policy, “except in unusual cases, Pinterest is not the copyright holder in the images that users pin on the site. Where necessary, you should get permission to use an image from its copyright owner.”
Does where necessary mean when posting to Instagram? Yes. Instagram’s Terms of Use state that “you can only post content to Instagram that doesn’t violate someone else’s intellectual property rights…It’s possible to infringe someone else’s copyright when you post their content on Instagram, even if you found the content available on the Internet.”
What does all this legalese mean? If a piece of content does not belong to you – meaning you did not create it or pay the photographer for the licensing of that image for social media – you can not post it to Instagram. The only exception is to get written permission from the original creator.
Can I repost other designer’s work?
Not unless you have express written permission, as you would be violating Instagram’s terms of service. Do plenty of designers do it? Yes – but that doesn’t make it right. It’s a widespread, often overlooked issue in this industry. You might never run into a problem, but you run the risk of account sanctions, suspension or outright deletion, and legal issues if the designer you stole content from wishes to take it that far.
The other, secondary issue with having a feed filled with other designer’s work is that it is very much false advertising. Regardless of how much credit you give, you are still using someone else’s skill and portfolio to market your business. This does not show off what you can do, and it does not build trust with your audience.
How to Create More Instagram Content
Now back to fun Amber 🤣 I had to get the serious stuff out of the way, because I want to protect you and your business. I’m not here to be a moodkiller! So here are my strategies for creating more Instagram content:
Invest in professional photography + videography of your projects
While the cost for professional photos + videos may feel high, being able to showcase your hard work is so worth it. Your Instagram page functions as your portfolio, and highlighting your projects is not an area you want to skimp on. You could even incorporate this expense into your design project pricing!
Look to your clients for user-generated content
Are your clients drooling over their new home? Make sure to ask them to share any photos/videos they take with you, so you can celebrate a successful project.
Repurpose content strategically
What do you do if you don’t have as many projects ready for photography? Don’t be afraid of re-using content! I recommend allowing a 3-month buffer before reposting the same piece of content, but beyond that period most people won’t remember that they’ve already seen it posted already. Same goes for videos! Get creative and repurpose with updated captions, different focuses, and watch your content stretch further for you.
Show the process
Avoid restricting yourself to only posting finished work. Potential clients will also enjoy seeing moodboards, behind the scenes, potential furniture selections, renderings, and other aspects of your design work.
Strategically incorporate stock photography
Still working on building your portfolio? Don’t be afraid to use stock photos on your Instagram to supplement your own content. While there are some free options, my go-to stock photo source is Haute Stock. They continually update their site with new collections, so you’ll never run out of fresh content. The best part for interior designers? They have plenty of content that works for your niche. You can use my code abcsmm to save 15% off your subscription!
To wrap up
While you may see many interior designers choosing to risk their accounts & businesses by posting stolen content, I urge you to take the legally (and morally) sound route and only share content you own the rights to. From client photos to professional photography to stock options, you have a variety of choices to obtain the content you need without committing a copyright violation.
Want more where that came from?
Check out these related blog posts:
- How to Be Consistent Without Burning Out
- Choose Your Content Pillars
- Your DIY Guide to Auditing Your Instagram
And don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, where every Tuesday you’ll get 3 content ideas, 2 trending audios, and 1 social media resource for further learning.
