Let’s get real: Instagram as you knew it is dead.
What was once a cute side-project-type digital gallery for influencers and aesthetics is now a full-fledged engine of strategy, sales, and scroll-stopping content. If your brand is still relying on filters and witty captions, you’re already way behind the curve.
Even if you’re posting the same thing as your competitors.
And no, it’s not just a stroke of luck.
That account you keep side-eyeing has hired an Instagram marketing agency that knows things you didn’t until now. Allow us to pull back the curtain.
1. Your bio isn’t just a bio anymore. It’s now a landing page.
If your Instagram profile were a shop window, would anyone walk in?
Marketing agencies know the answer lies in your bio and your top 9 posts. That’s why we write it like your landing page—including every bit of information your audience needs to know: who you are, what you offer, who it’s for, and why they should care.
Here’s the checklist that sees the highest rate of success:
- Name and username: Keep it clear and searchable.
- Bio: Use it to spell out who you help and how. Carleigh Bodrug (@plantyou) nails it while keeping it simple: “💖Plant + Zero Waste Food & Fun”.
- Links. You’re allowed to link up to five different channels—make them count.
2. It’s not about likes. It’s about connection.
Chasing likes is killing your brand.
We’ve been conditioned to measure success by the number of comments and followers we have, but these metrics don’t build trust or reflect impact. Real success comes from cultivating meaningful relationships with your audience, and one way to create that sense of community is through broadcast, one-to-many channels.
Here are a few ways you can use it to your advantage:
- Create polls to determine what excites your audience the most, then curate a feed that directly addresses their interests, questions, desires, and goals.
- Publish exclusive content—if you’re a creator, you can even place it behind a paywall (Instagram Subscriptions) to earn additional income.
- Share information about upcoming sales and product launches.
- Utilise links to direct high-quality traffic to other social media channels.
This approach keeps you relevant and top of mind, so when you do make an offer, it feels less like a pitch and more like the logical next step.
3. Still all about the video
Full-screen, mobile-first, and algorithm-friendly, videos are designed to stop the scroll. With users spending half their time on the platform watching this content format, they are—hands down—the easiest way to boost reach, IF you know how to use them right.
Here’s what a top-performing Instagram marketing agency doubles down on:
- Shorter IS better. Videos under 90 seconds hold attention more effectively, with an average viewer retention rate of 50%. That’s huge when attention is the currency.
- How-to tutorials and bite-sized tips build trust fast by showing your expertise in action. Just look at Joe Wicks (@thebodycoach) and Nikkie (@nikkietutorials).
- Unintentionally hilarious skits are having a moment. Sylvanian Drama with anthropomorphic felt dolls (yes, the one that got sued) is a prime example.
Got an idea but don’t know if it’ll stick? Try trial reels. They reach people who don’t follow your accounts, allowing you to gauge how it’ll perform with your audience.
4. Instagram now works like SEO.
All the rumours are true. Search has gone social. Google is no longer the go-to search engine for young people—yeah, the demographic that makes up the 1.2 billion-strong crowd. Instead, they’re turning to platforms where real people share honest reviews, recommendations, and experiences, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit.
But how do you optimise for native search? Here’s what’s worked (so far):
- Use keywords in your captions. Use niche terms that mirror search queries.
- Add descriptive alt text—especially to your carousels and infographics. It’ll help with both accessibility and discoverability.
- Leverage pinned comments to answer common queries and concerns. Or to drop a random lore to prompt user engagement. All organic, of course.
- Geotag your posts and stories to bring more traffic to your physical store.
- Use relevant, targeted hashtags to boost your brand’s presence and visibility.
Most importantly, stick to a theme and post consistently. It helps Instagram determine what your account is about so that it can put your content in front of the right people.
5. Personal intros are making a comeback
92% of consumers say they trust brands more when they share authentic—real, raw, and personal stories from their founders or team. So don’t hide behind your products and services—show up, share your story, and let people see the people and principles behind the brand.
Here’s a look at the content that performs best in this scenario:
- Behind-the-scenes moments
- Day-in-the-life style vlogs
- AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions
- Before and after transformation stories
- POV (point of view) campaigns
Of course, how you do it matters.
The key is to keep things conversational, like you’re just chatting with a friend over FaceTime. Look at Marianna Moore (@mariannas_pantry) for inspiration!
6. Longer carousels keep people hooked.
Instagram quietly doubled carousel space. You can now stack up to 20 photos and videos at once. Know what this means? That’s more room to tell immersive stories, teach something meaningful, share event highlights, and display products.
But how do you hijack their attention?
We’ve gone from a 12-second attention span in the 2000s to 8.25 seconds today, which can make things a little tricky. But here’s the catch: people still do pay attention when it’s something they care about. You just have to earn their interest.
Wondering how it’s done? These tried-and-true tips always deliver.
- Start strong. Treat the first image the same way as “above the fold” content.
- Keep things short and sweet. Don’t cram multiple sentences on one slide.
- Use a visual cue to nudge them toward the next slide. And the slide after that.
- Structure the slides episodically. Make sure it can stand out on its own.
Keep your fonts, colours, filters, and presets consistent throughout, as Inconsistency creates confusion, weakens your brand identity, and chips away at your credibility.
Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Growing?
Now that you’re familiar with the moves a result-driven Instagram marketing agency keeps close to the chest, it’s time to put them into action. If you’re looking to build some serious momentum for your brand, without the smoke and mirrors, contact the seasoned team at GlobalInfo on 03 86912796 or schedule a free consultation.
We’ll show you what’s working, what’s not, and how to move forward with a hands-on strategy that uses AI and automation—so you get more work done with less effort.
