The first three posts on your Instagram grid used to be based on what you’d posted most recently. But now, you have a choice; You can select up to three pinned posts to save at the top of your feed, no matter what you last shared. In today’s blog I’m going to break down why you should care about these three spots, and how to choose what to share.
Why Should I Even Bother With Pinned Posts?
Pinned posts are one of the main changes I recommend my clients make when we do an Instagram audit (P.S. want to DIY your audit? Check out this blog post!)
If you let the order of your grid be dictated by what you’ve shared most recently, you risk someone new coming across your page when important information is further down than you’d like. For example, you might be in the middle of a launch, and your most recent introduction post is a few weeks back. Or as you’re launching, the post explaining the program is three rows down. What if you could decide what people see?
With pinned posts, you can. Save three posts to the top of your grid so they won’t change even as more posts go up (and you can always change them out if you need to down the road!)
What Should I Save as my Pinned Posts?
Your next question is probably, what should I make my pinned posts? Unless you’re in the middle of a launch, I recommend making these three posts a strong introduction to you and your brand. In general, they should cover: who you are, why you do what you do, and an example of your work. Below are a couple industry-specific guidelines:
If you’re an interior designer…
You should have the following pinned posts:
- An introduction to you
- The project you’re proudest of
- And who you work with
If you’re an AirBNB host…
You should put the following on the top of your grid:
- An introduction to your property
- A guest review
- A showcase of what guests can do when they visit
And if you’re an online service provider…
You should have the following pinned posts:
- A carousel breaking down your services
- An introduction or thought-leadership post
- A client spotlight or insight into your process
Do Pinned Posts Matter That Much?
No one piece of Instagram will make or break your business. Having the “wrong” pinned posts or the “right” ones won’t be the only determining factor in your success.
However, I have found them to have a positive impact on lead generation, client nurturing, and sales. It gets the most important information in front of them as soon as they land on my profile, and ensures they have what they need to make a decision about moving forward.
Want more where that came from?
Check out these related blog posts:
- Steal This Instagram Checklist for Busy Business Owners
- 3 Mistakes That Are Costing You Clients
- My Guide to Completing Your Own Instagram Audit
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