Posted January 12, 2016
How to Run a Successful Instagram Takeover + Grow your Followers
Feel like your Instagram is full of the same old content on repeat? Freshen up your feed with a new voice by handing your account to a customer or influencer.
Read on to find out how we at Blinds.com have used Instagram takeovers to create unique and engaging content and grow our follower numbers.
We’ve gathered together some of our best practices for running a successful Instagram Takeover:
1. Choose your takeover partner wisely
When deciding who to partner with for an Instagram takeover, find someone who is influential and has a voice and aesthetic that compliments your own. Because the goal of takeovers is to gain followers, choose someone who has larger follower numbers than you, or reaches a niche audience that you don’t currently.
2. Be organized + start coordinating early.
Begin communicating with your influencer at least a few weeks before you plan to host the takeover. This allows you time to send them the product they’ll be featuring in the takeover and for them to create the content.
3. Don’t have the influencer post “live”
In order to maintain control over the content posted under your name and to ensure future account security, don’t hand over your account’s password to the influencer. Have the influencer send the photos and captions over to you a few days before the takeover. That way you can send any feedback and retain editorial control.
4. Have a posting schedule
When you’ve both agreed on the content and a posting schedule, your social media managers can post the photos live on the day of the takeover, or use an instagram scheduling tool like Soldsie. Be sure that your posting schedule includes a preview post from both of your accounts the day before the takeover. The influencer should also be responsible for posting from their account several times throughout the takeover to remind their followers to head over to your account.
5. Tell a story
Be sure that your influencer’s posts are telling a compelling narrative. Whether it allows followers to see a room come together over the course of a day, or follow the influencer as they browse a flea market, you need a story that will draw people in. We’ve found success with having influencers cover a project or event.
A photo posted by Blinds.com (@blindsdotcom) on
6. Use a hashtag
Be sure that all posts associated with the takeover are using one hashtag. This will allow followers who come in late to go back and see all the posts associated with the campaign in one place. We like using a hashtag that incorporates both of our account names in some way.
7. Give people a reason to follow
The goal of most takeovers is to gain followers from the other’s audience. This is a benefit to both parties participating. When structuring the takeover, give users an incentive to follow you. We’ve found it most successful to pair the takeover with a small giveaway where you must follow both accounts and comment
Even though the influencer will not be posting live, they should be checking in to instagram to reply to commenters and post reminders from their personal account.
8. Post extra content on your site
Another goal of the takeover should be to bring instagram followers to your site. Give new and existing followers a reason to click over to your site during the takeover. Host an interview with the influencer, guest post or more photos of the project on your blog or website. Link to this content in your Instagram profile. Be sure to track clicks by putting a tracking code in the link or shortening the link with bit.ly.
Read this post: Our Chat with Kinfolk Magazine Co-Founder Amanda Jane Jones.
9. Measure follower growth
If you don’t use an instagram analytics tool that charts your follower growth, be sure to make a note of your follower count at the beginning and end of the takeover.
10. Engage your employees
Was one of your employees involved in serving this customer? When we have a Blinds.com designer who has assisted an influencer and is socially inclined, we encourage them to interact with commenters and answer questions throughout the campaign. The influencer will occasionally mention their role in the ordering process in a caption and tag their personal account.
11. Network for future takeovers
Hosting a takeover is the best advertising for finding future partners. The influencer likely has followers with similar styles and big audiences. See who’s engaging with your posts and take a look at their profile. If you think they’d be a good fit, reach out and let them know that the opportunity is available.
12. Cross Promote
Don’t just keep your takeover on Instagram. This special event is a perfect way to bring followers from other networks over to Instagram. Share from your other social properties and have your influencer do the same from theirs.
PARTY! Our @maryellenskye #takeover is gorgeous today – check it for chances to #win: https://t.co/O1pgyw4qRD #decor pic.twitter.com/1ddsqA169C
— Blinds.com (@BlindsDotCom) October 24, 2015
Take a Closer Look at Our Latest Takeovers
Abigail Mary Green #AMGxBlinds
It’s not all about Instagram super stars – We also let employees take over our Instagram! Learn more.
What’s your experience with Instagram takeovers?
Share your tips + join the discussion with us on Twitter @BlindsDotCom.