Are you ready for your views, engagement, and sales to skyrocket on Instagram in 2023?
Currently, with over 2 billion active users, Instagram is among the Top 5 global social networking platforms – in fact, its monthly active user base is equivalent to the populations of both North America and the EU combined. So it’s no wonder that business on Instagram is booming, and the competition is ferocious.
If you want to stay competitive on the platform, here are some of the latest trends you’ll want to incorporate into your marketing and activity on IG:
1. Instagram Shopping
According to Instagram’s own data, hundreds of millions of users tap tags in shopping posts every month, and their 2022 Trend Report indicates that more young adults and tends are shopping more through social media than big-box retailers.
Make sure your account is optimized for Instagram Shopping so you can create a customized immersive online storefront experience through your images and videos.
2. Niche Influencers 
It used to be, if you wanted to create a successful brand presence on Instagram, you tried to amass a large following – 10,000 followers was the magic number to unlock special Instagram features deemed essential and grant you clout.
However, the platform is evolving and in 2023, quality will matter more than quantity. After all, it doesn’t matter if you have 100,000 followers if only a handful every buy from you. So, instead of focusing on the number of followers, focus instead on building a small niche community that will engage with your posts and purchase your products or services.
3. User-Generated Content
One of the hottest trends of 2022 that will undoubtedly persist and probably expand in 2023 is UGC (user generated content).
Not only is user-generated content excellent for your budget (because its content you don’t have to create), it’s instant credibility as it shows off your business from a previous customer’s perspective. Just make sure to be choosy about the user-generated content you feature: be sure it portrays your brand style and essence accurately. Bonus if it highlights benefits and notable features of your offers.
4. Authenticity 
Curated feeds used to be all the rage, especially on a platform as visually oriented as Instagram. In fact, many influencers treated their profile layout like they were editing a high-end magazine. But at a deep level, human beings crave honesty and genuine connection – and in 2023, authentic relatability will trump phony “perfection” every time.
Don’t let your brand be faceless and corporate. Instead, infuse a sense of personality, and focus on the people behind the business. Ditch the filters so you can showcase real stories and real images that show it like it is, flaws and all. #filterdrop
5. Memes
As memes have increased in popularity on Instagram, savvy brands have begun to incorporate them into their content marketing strategies.
While you might want to hop on the zeitgeist and share popular memes that relate to your brand values, the best strategy if you can pull it off is to produce your own creative memes with a potential to go viral. If you can be relevant, relatable, and funny, it could garner you a massive increase in audience engagement.
6. Short-Form Content
As Instagram battles to compete with TikTok, the algorithm will continue to prioritize short-form content in 2023.
While it remains an open question if photography is dead on Instagram, the rise in popularity of short-form video across social media means user expectations are changing and attention spans are just getting shorter. While this may mean long-form content will someday see a resurgence in order to bring some balance, in the near-term: shorter will probably be better.
Curious how you can utilize these strategies -and more(!) – to level up your brand’s social media marketing on Instagram in 2023? Not every strategy is applicable to every business, and it helps to partner with an expert who can leverage the latest trends and tech, but in a highly customized way for your unique brand.
That’s what we do here at JXT Group! As a boutique agency, we provide a high-touch service to meet the specific digital marketing needs of your business. To find out more, call us at 718-690-7302, or reach out via our website inquiry form.
