1. Quotes are always popular
Inspiring quotes appeal to people of all ages and backgrounds. They create a sense of connection, help in tough times and boost self-esteem. People apply the thought to their own life and feel a bit happier. That feeling attracts users.
2. Eyes and faces
Content with faces gets about 38% more positive reaction than similar content without. Eyes and faces create a real personal connection with your brand. This tactic costs nothing and, used regularly and in the right place, fits your promotion strategy well.
3. Beautiful landscapes
Many Instagram users live in urban "concrete jungles". When they see a golden forest, a stunning sunset or a tropical coast, the emotional response is strong. It doesn't matter if your brand has anything to do with nature—strong landscapes attract attention and make people stay.
4. Food
Food content works on Instagram in a similar way: it triggers emotions and engagement. Whether your brand is about food or not, appealing food shots attract attention and get people to stop scrolling. Use them when they fit your niche.
5. History
Historical photos trigger different emotions—quiet sadness, nostalgia, pride, surprise. They take us back to events we know from books or family stories. It's like a trip back in time. Respected brands like Boss Hunting have long used this approach.
6. User-generated content
GoPro is a master at this. They've built a context where customers are happy to promote the brand. User photos and videos get huge views and grow an already large audience. This works on a smaller scale too. Try it.
7. Animals
Everyone loves cats and reposts them at the first chance. Such photos and videos often go viral, on any platform. Other animals attract just as much attention. Bright, positive emotions from this content literally hook people. National Geographic is a standout in this niche.
8. The keyhole effect
Real situations, behind-the-scenes, a glimpse of something hidden—all of this intrigues. People also relate better to other people than to abstract brands. So photos and videos of your team, office, production or packaging can attract and keep clients better than expensive ads. See how pros do it—e.g. Golden State Warriors or Gap.
9. Hot trends
Trend-based content often has a short lifespan—a couple of months. But in that time it can significantly boost audience engagement. Sometimes growth is explosively unpredictable, like the #pokemongo hashtag with over 7 million posts on Instagram alone.
10. Stories in video format
Static images are gradually giving way to video. Useful, fun or simply interesting videos break view records on every platform—Facebook, Snapchat, Vine, Periscope. On Instagram the trend is clear too. For example, one short Birchbox video quickly got over 42k views—a notable number for an account where top photos get around 1.5k likes.
Don't forget that text is an important part of your content. It should be well written and meaningful. It's not always easy to write good captions yourself, especially when you're busy. That's why we created "Content by Bridgit"—so you always have strong text for your photos.