Reigning Pinterest and Instagram – Content Powering “Superiority”

Can anyone question the importance of content in the current social media frenzy? Even two of the most popular social networks revolving around visual content, have not ben spared from this. While there is not much data about what content performs best in these platforms as both Instagram and Pinterest revolve around visual (not textual) content and their performance indicators are difficult to measure, making it challenging to research these channels.

But if something is difficult doesn’t mean its impossible. Researching rigorously I managed to side out eight actionable data points to help you use Instagram and Pinterest to their maximum in the inbound marketing efforts.

1. Infographic style content for Pinterest
On web, taller images are more comfortable to see and interpret than wider ones, don’t you think it is much easier to scroll vertically than horizontally. Apply the same concept to Pinterest also, for taller images containing more content tend to get more repins than shorter images.

2. Description within 200 to 300 characters
Pinterest and Instagram have allowed creators to put textual content such as descriptions or captions alongside visual content, now that has facilitated both search engines and humans to get the crux of the matter and increase engagement.

3. Hashtags with posts on Instagram
Well hashtags has been popular since Instagram that approves a key non-visual feature in the text accompanying a photo. Infact photos with hashtags had a far high like to follower ratio than posts without hashtags.

4. Relate hit hashtags with Content
The most powerful hashtags on Instagram is led by reciprocal – behavior indicators hashtags such as “#FollowForFollow,” “#LikeForLike,” “#F4F,” “#L4L,” representing the sociability of the site though not quite sure about the high quality followers. Other hashtags featuring in the hit list are “#Nature,” “#Sky”, “#Sun,” “#Sunset.”

5. Images pleasing both Strangers and Friends alike
Examining hashtags delivered some interesting results too. Some of the least liked hashtags were those related to the person who took it and posted it, for instance – “#LoveHim, “#BestFriend.” Comparatively hashtags common to all users like”#Sunset,” “#Sun” tend to create more clicks.

6. Try out with images representing what people Want or Aspire To Be
Pinterest proves of how experimenting with words can show related analytics. Words like “love”, “favorite” and “like” represent a positive attachment to the images posted. The rest of the list is full of words indicating aspirational imagery such as “home”, “DIY”, “recipes” and “inspiration”.

7. List down DIY activities capturing audience Interests
The list dominating here is recipes and cooking tricks like “recipe,” “chicken” and “bake”, these are not only the words pinned most but also garnering the maximum repins. Your aim is to create viral, visual content so do not limit yourself to only food items go beyond and find images that represents to create things.

8. Plan action that stimulates – Discussions or Sharing
Comparing action leading to “likes” seems to have more powerful correlation with “repin” however the connection seems to deem between “repins” and “comment”. Its simple people like to comment on controversial topics but hesitate to share the same with their friends and colleagues.
Though it is hard to predict human behavior and reaction though social media has been successful to capture some of the essence, so apply the same and enjoy its benefits.
Sources:

http://www.esalesdata.com
http://blog.hubspot.com