You know that Instagram is a powerful tool for reaching your audience and growing your brand. But with millions of posts competing for attention in a sea of endless scrolling, how do you make your content stand out and deliver your message effectively?
The key lies not just in what you say, but how you present it. Standing out requires more than just great products or services. It’s about crafting posts that are scroll-stopping, visually appealing and easy to read and understand.
So let’s dive into our essential design tips to step up your IG game and create posts that are visual magnets and information goldmines rolled into one. These aren’t just fleeting tricks – they’re the building blocks of a strategy that will make your feed stand out in the crowded Instagram landscape.
1. Embrace the 4:5 Aspect Ratio
Gone are the days of the iconic Instagram square! The 4:5 format for IG posts has been a superior choice ever since its introduction, and here’s why:
- More screen real estate: The 4:5 format occupies more vertical space on a user’s screen compared to the traditional 1:1 square. This increased visibility gives your content a better chance of catching a viewer’s attention as they scroll through their feed.
- Improved readability: With more vertical space, you have more room to showcase your product, include text, or tell a visual story without feeling cramped. This extra space can significantly improve the readability and overall impact of your post.
- Versatility across platforms: The 4:5 ratio works well not just on Instagram but also on other platforms like Facebook, making it easier to repurpose your content across different social media channels.
By adopting the 4:5 aspect ratio, you’re not just following a trend – you’re optimising your content for better visibility and engagement on the platform. This simple change in your posting strategy can lead to significant improvements in how your audience interacts with your Instagram content.
To make the most of this aspect ratio, ensure your key visual elements and text are centred in the frame, as the top and bottom portions might be cropped in certain views (currently the feed view). Also, always preview your post before publishing to ensure all crucial elements are visible and impactful.
And if you’re still not convinced, recent Instagram updates have made it clear that the platform is once and for all moving away from the square ratio, announcing that it’s testing a rectangular grid. To avoid having IG automatically adjust your posts, it’s essential to switch to the 4:5 rectangle format. This change is not just a suggestion—it’s becoming a necessity for those who want to maintain control over how their content is displayed.
2. Choose Simple, Legible Fonts
Typography plays a crucial role in your Instagram designs. Opt for clean, simple fonts that are easy to read at a glance.
Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Roboto are excellent choices for readability. Avoid overly decorative or stylised typefaces that might look appealing but can be challenging to decipher, especially on smaller screens.
Remember, clarity trumps creativity when it comes to conveying your message effectively.
3. Be Mindful of the Font Size
When it comes to text size on Instagram, bigger is often better.
Remember that many users will be viewing your posts on mobile devices, so ensure your text is large enough to be read comfortably without zooming in.
It’s a good idea to use larger text for headlines and key points to create a hierarchy of information.
When designing, view your post at different zoom levels to simulate how it might appear on various devices. If you can read it clearly on your design canvas when zoomed out, it’s likely to be legible for most users.
4. Maintain Good Contrast for Clarity
High contrast between your text and background is crucial for readability. Dark text on a light background or light text on a dark background will make your message pop.
Avoid placing text over busy patterns or images without a contrasting overlay. If you must place text over an image, consider using a semi-transparent overlay or a drop shadow to enhance readability.
5. Give Your Design Room to Breathe
White space (or negative space) is your friend in design. Don’t be afraid to leave some empty areas in your composition. Adequate spacing between lines of text, letters, and design elements prevents your post from looking cluttered and overwhelming.
This approach improves readability and gives your design a clean, professional look. Aim for a balance between content and white space to create visually appealing posts.
6. Left-Align Your Text for Easy Reading
When dealing with multiple lines of text, align them to the left. Left-aligned text is easier for the eye to follow, as it provides a consistent starting point for each line. This alignment reduces unnecessary eye movement and makes your content more accessible, especially for longer captions or text-heavy posts.
While centred text can work for short headlines, stick to left-alignment for body text to enhance readability.
7. Use Less Text Effects
While it might be tempting to add shadows, glows, or other text effects to make your post “pop,” these can often do more harm than good.
Stick to clean, unembellished text for maximum readability. If you must use effects, do so sparingly and ensure they enhance rather than hinder legibility.
Remember, the goal is to communicate your message clearly, not to showcase design skills at the expense of readability.
8. Highlight Key Information
Guide your audience’s attention by emphasising the most important parts of your message.
Use bold text, different colours, or slightly larger font sizes to make key points stand out. This technique helps viewers quickly grasp the main idea of your post, even if they’re just scrolling through their feed.
Be strategic with your highlights – overusing them can diminish their effectiveness.
9. Keep It Consistent
Developing a consistent visual style for your IG posts is key to establishing a strong and memorable brand that stands out.
Use a cohesive colour palette, consistent fonts, and similar layouts across your content.
This approach makes your feed look more professional and curated and helps build brand recognition among your followers.
To save time, create a style guide for your Instagram content and ensure consistency across all posts.
10. Optimise Your Colour Palette
Colors play a crucial role in attracting attention and conveying mood.
Choose a colour scheme that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your target audience. Be mindful of colour psychology and how different hues can affect emotions and perceptions.
Limit your palette to 2-3 main colors for consistency, and ensure that your chosen colors work well together and maintain good contrast for readability.
11. Use Templates Wisely
Templates can be a great starting point for creating consistent, professional-looking posts, especially if you’re not a designer by trade.
Many tools like Canva offer Instagram-specific templates. However, customise these templates to fit your brand identity and stand out from the crowd. Don’t be afraid to tweak colours, fonts, and layouts to make them uniquely yours. After all, templates should be a starting point, not a final product.
Wrap-up
Mastering Instagram design isn’t rocket science, but it does take some thought and practice.
Use these tips to create posts that look great and get your message across clearly. The goal is to make your content so appealing and easy to understand that your followers can’t help but engage with it.
As you start using these strategies, keep an eye on how your audience responds. You might be surprised at how small design tweaks can lead to bigger engagement. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your brand and your followers.
Ultimately, better design means better communication with your audience. And in the world of small business, that connection is gold.