61 Comments

1. 

   Miriam Klees Guidry on March 23, 2020 at 6:55 pm

   Thank you, great post! I was second guessing my scheduled posts, in light of the current situation. Now I can pivot and edit my posts for the time being.

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 9:14 am

     Wise decision 🙂

     Reply
2. 

   Edward on March 23, 2020 at 8:14 pm

   Great post, and exactly what we needed right now! Thanks for writing this.
   I’m in the home and kitchen business. Any thoughts of post ideas? Thanks again.

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 12:10 pm

     Glad it helped!
     I’m not sure where you’re based and what the situation is where you are (everyone in lockdown?), as different countries are in different situations (and therefore different customers). And not sure what services/products you are providing, so it will depend. I’m assuming you build/design homes and kitchens?

     You can do one post to acknowledge the situation (you probably already have or have ideas of what you want to say). Are you still operating? Or are you on pause? Depending on your personal situation you can say something like: “Hello everyone! Need help with your kitchen and home? [Business name] is on pause BUT it doesn’t mean we’ll stop helping you. If you have any enquiries, want to renovate your kitchen or home, our emails are still open. We can still design from our computer and send you kitchen designs directly to your inbox. Otherwise, we will be happy to help you when this corona crisis is over. Starting now, get ready for some serious inspiration, and tips and tricks to make your house a fabulous home.”

     Note: I’m not sure what you processes are, this is for you to choose how you communicate this with your audience.

     Ideas:

     – Home and kitchen inspiration photos
     – Photos/videos of past projects
     – Photos/videos of materials you work with (tag the brands you use)
     – Photos of different kitchen door handles
     – Share tips, like: “Thinking of renovating your kitchen?” Here are the first 3 things you should consider”, “Island bench or no island bench?”
     – Share your knowledge: What are your nuggets of wisdom you’ve come to learn while building/designing kitchens? The biggest mistakes you see people make? Things we leave to the last minute but should be things we should consider first? Biggest money saving tricks?

     You can do Q&As with your audience.

     Share your expert knowledge:
     – Best kitchen bench materials
     – How to choose the RIGHT color for your kitchen

     And for lockdown situation , just think of how you can combine your specialty with people being at home. What can they do? You can help people and build a community (and still show that you’re the home and kitchen expert):

     – Pantry organisation photo inspirations #kitchengoals #kitcheninspiration

     And lockdown tips:

     – How to organise your kitchen?
     – Top 3 kitchen cleaning products
     – How to clean your kitchen like a pro
     – Best kitchen cleaning tricks
     – How often should you clean your kitchen?
     – Pantry organisation tips
     – Under the sink: How to clean up the mess (isn’t it where it’s the messiest part of the kitchen for people?)
     – Fridge organisation + cleaning tips

     And even:
     – How to keep your kitchen Coronavirus FREE!
     – How to keep your HOME Coronavirus FREE!
     Because some people might not realise when you touch something that was infected, we’re spreading the virus to everything else we touch.

     Also:
     100% have a look at this blog post, I shared where to find post ideas:
     https://thepreviewapp.com/where-to-find-instagram-post-ideas/

     In the captions, you can share from time to time:
     “When this corona crisis is all over, we’d love to look after your home. Click on the link in our bio to email us”.

     Does it help?

     Reply
3. 

   Jenna on March 23, 2020 at 8:15 pm

   Thank you! As a new online business I’ll take these ideas on board and attempt to create a space where people can “escape” so to speak. With people losing their jobs left, right & centre I haven’t been able to post as I feel like an a**hole for trying to plug my online business trying to sell activewear.. People are struggling to pay their bills & are at risk of losing so much, I just feel so insensitive by posting.

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 2:10 pm

     You’re right. Sometimes the best thing we can do is just offer that space.
     At the same time, you’re a business too. If your product or service or even free content and tips can light someone’s day or is helpful to some people, don’t shy away from posting about it. You can post with good intentions, from a place of service and with a good heart. Because you and your skills could help someone in some way. Only if you feel like it though. And you’ll feel it when you want to post it.

     Reply
     • 

       Edie on March 25, 2020 at 8:09 pm

       I love this response. It’s exactly how we feel. Trying to follow our instinct with posting (rather than keeping too heavily regimented and posting just for the sake of it).

       Reply
4. 

   Alice Giani on March 23, 2020 at 9:10 pm

   Any tips for jewellery business, based in italy, with a long history. Thanks

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   • 

     Ping on March 24, 2020 at 11:36 pm

     Now might be a good time where you can talk about your brand’s history and how it came to be today. Creating stories and memorable moments that you can share with your community.

     Reply
5. 

   Mylène Gandon on March 23, 2020 at 9:30 pm

   Any tips for Herbalist E-shop – plants. Thanks

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   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 11:31 am

     Herbalist as in like traditional chinese medicine herbs?
     If so, do you do online video consultations?

     Instagram post ideas:
     – One post = one herb. Explain the beauty and power of that herb. What it is used for. How it can help.
     – Share ancient Chinese wisdom (quotes): to attract people who are already in this mindset
     – Share stories. Example: What made you become an herbalist? When did you start your business? Stories of people who felt better taking certain herbs.
     – Tips like: “When to take your herbs”, “is there a best time to take your herbs”
     – Start with a health problem: “Feeling anxious?”, “Where do you feel pain in your body?”, “What your tongue tells me”, “Feeling tightness in your chest?”

     Photo ideas:
     – Photos of you preparing herbs
     – Photos of you mixing the herbs
     – Videos of the herbs in a bowl being mixed
     – Videos of you selecting the herbs from your shelves
     – Photos of the herbs on the shelves
     – Photos of you showing one herb in a jar in your hand, with the hand going towards the camera
     – Photos of people feeling good with the glass in their hands / drinking the herbs
     – Photos of the herb in water, in a mug/glass in a lifestyle setting (like in the living room)
     – Photos of the product in its packaging in a lifestyle setting: in a garden (the backdrop can be leaves of a tree, or flowers), or on a kitchen bench.

     Putting it all together (example of a post):
     – Photos of the herbs on the shelves: “Ready to be sent. Need help choosing the right herb? Send me a message now. I have 5 free 30 minute consultations left this week”.

     Another example:
     – Video of you mixing the herbs: ”

     Another example:
     – Quote image saying “Feeling anxious with tightness in your chest?”. Caption: This symptom comes from one of your organs trying to tell you something. Let’s help your body come back to its natural state. Best herbs: {list} Send me a message now. My DMs are open. I have three 30 minute video consultations left this week.” or “Click on the link in our bio to purchase”.

     PS: I haven’t seen your e-shop, so I’m not sure how people can choose the herbs for their ailments. So I’m assuming they contact you to know which herbs to take. If they don’t need to contact you, then you can direct them to click on the link in your bio in your caption.

     I hope it helps and gives you some ideas 🙂

     Reply
6. 

   Paige McI on March 23, 2020 at 11:35 pm

   Thanks for the informative post but, unfortunately, I still feel stuck! I have been developing a range of portable, reusable play products to entertain kids when travelling or dining out. I was just entering pre-production when Covid-19 unfolded. This means that manufacturing is on hold and, given that there won’t be any travel or restaurant dining for some time, what should I do? I had just started trying to build some online awareness to get some potential customers on board for a launch later this year. What do you suggest I focus on now? All tips & advice is appreciated. Thank you!

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   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 10:35 am

     You’re a kid expert! This is the perfect time for you right now to serve parents who are “stuck” at home with their kids! It is the perfect time for you to help them and serve them. To build your community on Instagram. And then once we make it on the other side of COVID, and you resume your production, you will be on top of their mind ❤️ Continue building awareness.
     .
     You said it yourself in your comment: “Products to ENTERTAIN kids”.
     .
     You can become the “Kid Entertainment Hub”!
     .
     You can use your Instagram to share games / activities to help parents ENTERTAIN their kids at home.
     .
     Like I said in the blog post (part 1), you can do a post to acknowledge the situation and your business situation. For example:
     “Hello parents! Need some kid experts to the rescue? We had to change our launch plans due to the coronavirus BUT it doesn’t mean we can’t help you. Over the next few weeks we’re determined to share with you a bunch of fun, educational and entertaining games and activities you can do with your kids at home. Nothing hard, just a lot of easy activities you can do at home with your little ones.”

     Instagram post ideas:
     – Post kid activities ideas (photos or videos)
     – If you can create your own kid activities / crafts yourself, with materials you have at home: you can create little tutorial videos
     – Tell people to try it themselves and tag you in their post or their Instagram Stories

     Bonus:

     – You can create blog posts out of these kid activities ideas (so you can build your SEO – I bet a bunch of parents are Googling right now: “What to do at home with kids during coronavirus” or “Homemade games for kids”, etc…

     You can build your email list thanks to Instagram!!! Here’s how:
     – You can send weekly emails with weekly activities kids can do. On Instagram, you can share only the photo of the activity – but not the “HOW TO” create that activity. You can tell people in your Instagram caption: “Next week, we’ll be sharing one craft you can do with your kids with things you already have lying around at home. Keen? Send me a message with your email address and I’ll send you the email with all the fun details. Or “Click on the link in our bio to sign up to our weekly mum email club!”

     And this way, when you launch your business, you’ll have people who trust you already on your email list.

     Extra bonus:
     If you have a blog, you could set up an Amazon Associate account and become an affiliate. You could link in your emails and blog post and Instagram 🙂 your special link to get a commission for the materials needed to create the fun games.

     These are just some ideas. You don’t have to take them all on board.
     You can pick one thing and focus on that ONE thing.

     Deep breath in.
     Take your pen and paper.
     Plan and execute. I know you’re already an entrepreneur.
     I know you’ve got this!

     Let me know if that helps. Or if you feel more confused. I’d be super happy to help!

     Reply
     • 

       Paige McI on March 26, 2020 at 2:18 am

       Thank you so much – they’re all great suggestions but I honestly don’t know where I’m going to find the time to implement any as I have my two kids – aged 3 and 5 – home 24/7. I’m homeschooling both since my eldest still needs to progress through his school curriculum but it’s so, so exhausting and relentless. I’ve had them both home until my eldest started school in January when I thought I finally had a reprieve from full-time mum duties! I’ll soldier on and try my best! 😉

       Reply
       • 

         Alexandra on March 29, 2020 at 11:19 am

         Doing your best is THE BEST ❤️You don’t need to do it all and you don’t need to do it all at once.

         And you certainly don’t have to do any of the recommendations.

         I see you’re with your kiddos 24/7.

         You can use Instagram as your personal journal.

         You could post sneak peeks of your homeschooling technique / life: this is amazing!!

         So many parents are at home right now and they are on the same boat as you.

         ou could share your experiences and create a community of mummas – once again, no pressure. Only if you feel like it and if it feels natural and right for you.

         You could share:
         – your homeschooling setup (and yes, on the ground or the living room table or wherever it is is perfect)
         – what works for you
         – what doesn’t work
         – how you manage your time
         – challenges you’re facing
         – activities your kids love

         And if you need help creating content or organizing content, feel free to reach to to some of the people in our community. We made a post just a few days ago and people offered their services: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-J_tGTDkl-/

         And if you’d like to join a community of business mummas, check out @mumswithhustle . The girl who started the community is Tracey. She knows us 🙂 you can say Alex from Preview sent you. They’re such a lovely bunch of ladies sharing their mum life.

         Reply
7. 

   Coconut Odyssey on March 24, 2020 at 12:15 am

   Hi, I am a travel blogger specialising in scuba diving and wildlife travel and I’m stuck with what to write about or post on instagram! Any ideas would be really appreciated.

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 10:21 am

     I think people are now on Instagram to escape and day dream. So your photos will be a breath of fresh air for sure. You can continue to post your travel, scuba diving and wildlife photos. And then use the caption you tell the story of the place or your experience. Example: “This photo was taken on my last trip to [country]. We woke up early, before the sunrise, to wake up with the animals. I still remember the fresh, crisp air when I breathed in. And I remember the sun rise and the light touch every plant around us” etc… Or if your personality is more witty/chilled, just be yourself and have fun with your caption.

     You can totally also post old photos again and tell the story of the adventure.

     You can also combine previous photos into a carousel (an album post). Imagine you choose 3 photos: they can be your “Top 3 memories of December 2020”

     Another carousel idea:
     3 different photos of wildlife. And ask people in the caption: Which place would you go to right now? 1, 2 or 3?

     Try to use your old photos in a new way. Either to tell stories, share an experience, get people involved by voting or choosing their favorites, or get people to guess where the photo was taken, or even for your scuba diving photos, a fun post could be: “How many fish can you see on the photo?”

     Does it help? Don’t hesitate to ask if you feel stuck 🙂 happy to continue brainstorming with you!

     Reply
     • 

       Coconut Odyssey on March 25, 2020 at 8:17 pm

       Hi Alexandra, Thank you this is really great advice and just the help I need right now! I have also been thinking of sharing some random bits of info, such as what I am doing during isolation etc but they will not necessarily be scuba/animal related so I was going to pop these into my stories just as a little insight to the girl behind the mask and support for each other. What do you think? Would I be going too off piste if I started sharing photos of my dog for example?

       Reply
       • 

         Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 5:11 pm

         You can totally share stories of your life during isolation! Keep it real and be human 🙂 and who doesn’t love dogs? Go ahead!

         You can even share some non-scuba diving related Instagram posts if you feel like it.

         I just thought about this:
         A carousel post with 2 different photos. Photo #1 is you scuba diving, annd photo #2 is you at home with your dog. A spin on “Instagram VERSUS Reality” 🙂

         Reply
         • 

           Coconut Odyssey on March 30, 2020 at 11:43 pm

           Thanks again! I love the spin on “Instagram VERSUS Reality” idea! This weekend I actually combined a dog walk and scuba together! I took my dog for a quick walk in my wetsuit for laughs! The neighbours didn’t even bat an eyelid! 🙂

8. 

   Edie on March 24, 2020 at 12:59 am

   Thank you for the valuable content. I own a small jewellery brand – any post ideas would be most welcomed. .

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 10:21 am

     Do you sell locally or internationally?

     I would acknowledge the issue and just be human with my followers. It’s a tough time for many of us.

     I’m not sure what your Instagram accounts looks like right now. Are you posting photos of jewelry only? Or are you also posting photos of yourself: The brain and heart behind the jewelry.
     .
     You have 2 choices:

     1) Post only jewelry photos: and in the captions you can describe the piece. Depending on the jewelry, you can give a new meaning to each piece. One can be called “Home”, one can be “Hope”. So it resonates with people.

     Or

     2) Post jewelry photos + photos of yourself: photos of yourself can be photos of you with your jewelry pieces in your hands, or your jewelry boxes on a table around you in the background, packing the jewelry for customers.

     Bonus:

     Can you create an extra piece of jewelry that fits with the current situation? For example, a “Be strong” bracelet that friends can purchase for each other, to support each other. Just a thought 🙂

     Let me know if that helps and if you have any questions. Happy to continue brainstorming with you!

     Reply
     • 

       Edie on March 25, 2020 at 8:09 pm

       Thank you – I’m really grateful for your response. We sell internationally (although monitoring that closely).

       We are trying to do both of the above – our pieces are made to be meaningful anyway, so they actually fit with the current situation – but as others have commented on here. . . I’d hate for posts to feel exploitative of the situation so treating all copy with care.

       And yes. . we’re thinking of offering discounted ‘bundles’ so people can buy for one another – and we will post separately so that they feel connected.

       Again thank you for your time

       Reply
9. 

   Carrie Spencer on March 24, 2020 at 11:17 am

   We have/had a catering business. Of course we cannot cater, no large groups, all social distancing, weddings canceled, funerals for groups of 10 or less. It’s pretty much dead in the water. What can we do to keep people’s attention? To let them know we’re here when they get married in October instead of April?

   Reply
   • 

     Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 2:29 pm

     Hello! I’m glad you still want to keep people’s attention. This is a time to build brand awareness, trust and potentially a community.

     Have you already done a post to acknowledge the situation?

     Something like:

     “Hello everyone! Do you have to postpone your event? Your wedding? We’re postponing our services too – just for now. You can still secure a booking with us for in a few months, when things settle down. We will be happy to cater for you during your big day or night. Click on the link in our bio to book. What can you expect from us now? A whole lot of relaxing and FOOD! If you love food as much as we do, watch this space, we will be sharing with you some fun things. Stay tuned. And stay safe.”

     Definitely have a look at the ideas I shared in the “Restaurants / Nutritionists” section of the blog post.

     Other Post ideas:

     1) Post old photos / videos of your food / catering events

     2) Photos of food catering platters inspiration (you can repost from other people)

     3) Videos of you cooking at home
     Very eye-catching. People love watching sped up videos of people cooking something.
     From ingredients to plate.
     It can be super easy recipes to fancy ones.
     This way you can show your skills (and you get to eat your food too at the end 🙂

     4) “This or That” photos:
     Example: Which dessert would you choose for your wedding? Chocolate or Vanilla [dessert]? This way it’s still related to your business, and it involves people (or at least get them thinking and seeing your dishes]

     5) Answer catering Q&As
     Answer frequently asked questions (what are questions you hear all the time? Example: do you have gluten free options?)
     Share your process.
     Share tips and tricks: like “How to choose a menu for your event”.
     Have a look at this blog post to see what questions you can answer related to your industry: https://thepreviewapp.com/where-to-find-instagram-post-ideas/

     6) Fun food challenges:
     How to decorate your plate like a professional. You can show your food decorating skills or table decorating skills and challenge your followers to decorate their plate or table. That would be so fun 🙂 you can do one challenge a week. One week can be: “The Minimalist Table Decor Challenge”. Then the next week can be: “The Colorful Table Decor Challenge”. Get people to gather colorful things from around their house and decorate their table.

     Or if you’re not into table decoration, you can do food challenges like I described in this blog post. Do one easy recipe a week. And get people to cook the same dish as you 🙂

     Note: You don’t have to do it all. You can choose one or two or three things.

     Does it help? Don’t hesitate to ask if you feel a bit confused, or want to brainstorm some more, or clarify some things, or want to plan deeper. Happy to hear your thoughts too!

     Reply
     • 

       Carrie Spencer on March 25, 2020 at 4:03 am

       ok, wow, you made me cry..lol. I’ve been trying so hard to come up with ideas, and i’m just blank. bless you and thank God I found this blog. I’m printing this off right now to share with my partner. thank you again. just what i needed.

       Reply
       • 

         Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 4:51 pm

         ?❤️

         Reply
10. 

    JamCam 360 on March 24, 2020 at 11:56 am

    Great article however I still feel stuck! I’m in the photo booth so all of our content is centered around events (weddings, parties, etc). I’m not sure how to pivot with the captions (other than posting motivational quotes). Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 24, 2020 at 2:35 pm

      Caption ideas:
      – Share wedding/parties stories – from your own events or from stories on the internet (put the source at the end of your caption – people love a good old funny, crazy party story – we’re all on Instagram to chill now so that would be fun to read – and would be pretty shareable – I could see people sending the stories to their friends or tagging each other in the comments – type on Google something like “crazy wedding stories”)
      – Can you share the story of the event?
      – Behind the scenes stories?
      – Can you share testimonials of people in your caption?
      – Or can you ask your previous customers to share their stories (see the note at the end)

      Other ideas:
      You can ask your followers to share some of THEIR own experiences. Examples:
      – Photo of a wedding. Caption: What’s the favorite memory of your wedding?
      – Have you witnessed a huge wedding disaster? Cake broken? Shoe missing? Music not playing? Bride sneezing on the groom?
      – Tag your favorite party buddies in the comments
      – Do you remember your craziest night out?

      You get the idea 🙂

      Another idea:
      You could do a “memory lane” series of post.
      Share a bunch of photos from past events.
      And in the caption:

      “Memory #1: Alex & Andrew’s Wedding. 20/10/2019. A night to remember. Number of photobooth photos taken that day: 1320”

      PS: About testimonials and stories. If you don’t have any or want some more, you can contact your customers and ask to share some. We’re all human here. We don’t know what they’re going through. So if you do it, you can be human about it. “Hello there! I hope you’re doing well and you’re safe. We’re going to be spreading positive vibes only on our Instagram page and we will be sharing some of our favorite photo booth memories. And we’d love to share your big day if that’s ok. Can you write just a few lines of what you remember about that day? A highlight? We’ll share your story in the caption, and hope it will make people smile too 🙂 If not, no hard feeling. Can’t wait to hear from you. ”

      Does it help?

      Reply
11. 

    Karen on March 24, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Amazing tips! Thank you. I am a Virtual Personal Assistant. I have been feeling completely overwhelmed by all of this and worried (as we all are) about my business over the coming months.
    I am in the process of pulling together useful links that people may benefit from but any other ideas you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again

    Reply
12. 

    Grace on March 24, 2020 at 5:36 pm

    Hi! Thanks for writing this, it is so well thought out and informative! I was wondering if you have any ideas of what kind of content a travel blogger could be posting right now. Most places have travel bans in place so it seems insensitive to be posting some of the beautiful locations around the world – however this does allow for some escapism I guess. What are your thoughts?

    Reply
13. 

    Asma on March 24, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    Hello

    Thankyou for this helpful
    Post :
    I recently launched my business and it’s about personalized gifts . Mugs apparel wall decal

    Reply
14. 

    Lisa Fox on March 24, 2020 at 6:29 pm

    Thank you amazing post and really good ideas! I do feel stuck with my business though! My business is a laser hair removal clinic and it’s still a relatively new business (3 months) so I don’t have any before and after photos to share. It’s not really that visual like other beauty and aesthetics businesses anyway, and they can’t do it themselves at home from a tutorial! So I’m really at a loss as to what to post to stay connected with my clients. There’s only so many inspirational quotes or working from home pics I can post I think. Any advice greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    • 

      Diane on March 25, 2020 at 12:41 am

      Maybe post memes of how clients are right now without your service. Maybe hairy memes (counting the days till this is over so I can get my next hair removal session) post what to expect from your services- how long will it take before seeing results, how long do results last, how to take care of yourself during laser hair removal session, how is the prepping before. Post what clients are ideal for laser removal. Post how good it feels when all the hair is gone (photos of smooth legs, photos of smooth skin in a bikini, lingerie. Post videos could be funny of trying to shave but then realizing you dont need to anymore. Video throwing away all your razors. Photos providing info of how every other removal method is not as good as laser.

      Reply
15. 

    victoriagab on March 24, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    Many thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
    Any idea for a digital magazine focused on honest motherhood?
    Best,

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 4:51 pm

      My pleasure!

      I think that’s a perfect timing for you to support your community.

      I just read today an Instagram post from a lovely girl who is pregnant with her first baby and she is feeling very so sad / confused / emotional about the current situation. She knows that when baby is born, none of her family will be able to visit her because they don’t live nearby and borders are closed. Her husband might not even be allowed to be in the birthing room with her when she gives birth 🙁

      So I truly think this is a time for mummas to support each other even more.

      Ideas:

      1. Collect stories:
      – You could ask mummas to share their stories. What they are doing and how they are coping with the changes in their countries and at home with their families. What activities they are doing at home to keep their kiddos entertained. #keepingitreal
      – You could ask first time mums to share their stories

      2. Collect top tips:
      What tips could you share with the community?
      At-home games?
      Health tips to keep the kiddos safe?
      Homeschooling resources?
      Working from home with kids?
      Mental health tips for kiddos and mummas?
      Share a collection of your favorite reads or videos from around the internet? Example: “Favorite of the week”

      3. Quotes
      It could be inspiring/motivational/raw motherhood quotes OR quotes you take from the stories people send OR comments on your posts (great for community building 🙂

      4. Start conversations:
      Ask people in the comments to share how they’re going. Let them share their own tips.
      You could ask things like: “What would you tell a fellow mumma at home, in lockdown with kids right now?”

      5. Instagram Lives
      Could you do play dates?
      Or maybe mummy dates? To bring your honest mummas together to chill when the kids are asleep?

      Also: for all Instagram posts, you can direct people to read the rest of the story/tips/resources in your digital magazine.

      Does it help? 🙂

      Reply
      • 

        victoriagab on March 28, 2020 at 7:35 pm

        Of course it helps, Alexandra. Have a nice day! Many thanks and regards,
        V

        Reply
        • 

          Alexandra on March 29, 2020 at 11:30 am

          Have a nice day too! Stay safe ?❤️

          Reply
16. 

    Rebecca on March 24, 2020 at 8:07 pm

    Thank you. This is what I needed as I’ve been in such a bad place the last couple of days. I love your ideas. I make breastmilk and DNA jewellery and sell breastfeeding supportive products. Any extra post ideas are always welcomed and much appreciated. I’m located in Qld Australia

    Reply
17. 

    Ashley risbara on March 24, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Thank you for this! What would you recommend for a construction company in Maine who specializes in residential commercial and earthwork. Our office is closed however we still have some guys in the field working.

    Reply
    • 

      Ping on March 24, 2020 at 11:36 pm

      Perhaps healthy tips/practices for those still out in the workplace. Ways they can stay safe while working such as limiting exposure to others, frequently washing hands, etc.

      Reply
      • 

        Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 4:09 pm

        Thanks for helping out! I really appreciate it 🙂

        Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      In addition to what Ping suggested:

      – Update people on your business situation: “Yes, we are still operating and have some of our guys in the field. Give us a call now to book …. ”

      – Share photos/videos of your current projects to show that you are still operating

      – Infographic / text image showing what you’re doing to keep staff and clients safe and healthy

      – Share photos of past projects

      – Share before and after photos of past projects (if you have some)

      – Share stories about some of your past projects (behind the scenes):
      From your processes to designing to starting construction to how long it took, the teams involved, the brands involved, the steps involved to get the job done.

      For many companies right now, it’s a time to become more human, so don’t hesitate to switch up the types of posts you share on Instagram if you feel like it’s a good fit for your brand and a good strategy for you guys.

      Examples:

      – Story behind the construction company.
      Who started it, when, how many employees do you have now? What is the story of your first project ever? How many projects have you done to date? Story of the employees (they can say hello, introduce themselves and explain what they do, how long they’ve been here, one of their favorite projects they’ve worked on).

      – Behind the scenes photos/videos

      These all contribute to building your brand awareness and letting people into your world and your passion. Frankly, you can just have fun with it. These types of posts will be worth it in the long run, when we make it on the other side of this crisis.

      BONUS: If you have a blog, feel free to share these posts on your blog too. Because once everything comes back to normal, and people will start Googling and checking which construction company in Maine to choose, you guys will have a lot of content and have posts that makes us trust you and shows that you’re an expert.

      Once again though, it really depends on your brand. Luxurious? Laid back? Chill? Fun? Traditional? So some of these post ideas could work great, and others not so much.

      I hope it gives you some ideas? Let me know your thoughts. Happy to continue brainstorming with you.

      Reply
18. 

    Laura on March 24, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    Mask selfie!? …Really!? I hope you realise that you need to edit out that part.

    There has been so much talk on the news about how the public shouldn’t be buying out, hoarding and using these masks as they are needed for risk groups and critical care staff. Suggesting that Instagram bloggers go buy masks just to take mask selfies, could easily be interpreted as tone deaf and a sure fire way to get instagrammers in trouble with their followers.

    Reply
19. 

    Ping on March 24, 2020 at 11:36 pm

    Great post. As s swimwear business owner these are definitely difficult times. I’ve been trying to figure out what to post and not overwhelm people with travel posts when no one can travel and we want to encourage people to stay indoors. I’m still figuring it out but any tips would be much appreciated!

    Reply
20. 

    Anđelka Valentić on March 24, 2020 at 11:58 pm

    Great post and ideas as always! Any tips for handmade bags, backpacks based in Croatia.

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      Very happy the tips are helpful.

      There are 2 ways to go about it:

      1) Show and Sell: Share photos of your final products only.

      or

      2) Get personal and Build a Personal Brand at the same time: Share photos of your products + other more ‘personal’ posts.
      Examples:
      – Story of your business (how you started, what you love about it, your favorite creation so far)
      – Videos of you making a bag
      – Share the story behind a bag: why you chose this fabric, how do you come up with the design, how do you choose the color, how long does it take to create it from scratch
      – Nice photos of you with the bags next to you, all around you. Or photos of you making the bags (I always think of @laurenastondesigns when I think of fun product photos. Check her out if you’d like some ideas)

      Business idea (I don’t know about the current situation of your business and I don’t know what kind of bags you create, so these are just some ideas in case they can help):

      – Partner with other handmade business owners do create a bundle (with other handmade business owners that match your brand and style = more exposure for your brand + fun for followers to get their hands to multiple compatible products. It’s like a little Christmas during a rough time 🙂

      And if you need to pivot:

      – Create custom bags or custom backpacks

      – Create bags that suits the current situation: what kind of bags would be fun or useful to people right now? Examples: shopping bags, or bags for kids staying at home to put their at-home school gear or toys or crafts.

      I hope this gives you some ideas.

      Reply
      • 

        Anđelka Valentić on March 30, 2020 at 4:36 pm

        THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Some of ideas already used and/or using but still very helpful. Love your blogs and text. Please keep on 🙂

        Reply
21. 

    Alex Harris on March 25, 2020 at 12:41 am

    A lot of great tips here! Do you have some ideas specifically for photographers?

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 3:54 pm

      Hello! Yes. I actually just wrote another fellow photographer 🙂

      Here are some ideas:

      Business ideas:

      1. You could offer to edit the photos/videos for fellow Instagrammers and bloggers. A lot of people are now online, posting a lot, taking their brand more seriously or want to revamp, so I can see people definitely wanting to get help editing nice photos

      2. Sell some of your presets or create new presets to sell them.

      Instagram related:

      You can take this time to have fun building your brand awareness and sharing your story.

      Instagram post ideas:

      – Share photos from previous photoshoots
      – Introduce yourself (you can do a series of videos or Instagram posts: how you got started being a fitness and wellness photographer, your first gear, story of your first gig, etc…)
      – Do Q&As (answering frequently asked questions, or check on Google what people are searching when typing things related to your industry)
      – Share your story (increases trust + a sense of community 🙂
      – Share stories behind the photoshoots / behind the scenes
      – Introduce your process (shows you’re your an expert)
      – Introduce your gear (expert)
      – Show how you edit! (it could be a video time lapse if you want a quick OR you can make a long video where you talk over your steps. Bonus: sell presets)
      – Before and After photos
      – Share photography tips / what you’ve learned / tricks

      Does it help? Let me know if you want to brainstorm more.

      Reply
22. 

    Diane on March 25, 2020 at 12:41 am

    Great post! Loved all the tips. They are very helpful. We are a store that sells high end apparel. We have started giving customers discounts, and are trying our best to keep relevance through out our content. We are also doing in person one on one appointments with our stylists, but many people are too scared to book any time at the store. Thinking of switching to virtual video shopping??‍♀️ Any recommendations for apparel stores?

    Reply
23. 

    Kinga Izabela Lipiec on March 25, 2020 at 1:43 am

    Super useful post! Thank you!

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 3:54 pm

      Super happy it’s helpful. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
24. 

    teetrips on March 25, 2020 at 2:17 am

    Hey there! Great post. Loved the many many examples. Now I am seeking advice for travel agency + travel group business moves and posts. Please advise. 🙂

    Reply
25. 

    Patricia on March 25, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Hi! I am a photographer who primarily shoots fitness and wellness pros. Any suggestions to help me pivot during this time? Thank you!

    Reply
    • 

      Alexandra on March 28, 2020 at 3:50 pm

      Hello!

      Business ideas:

      1. You could offer to edit the photos/videos of fitness bloggers. A lot of fitness bloggers or even fitness enthusiasts on Instagram are offering more and more free fitness workout ideas etc… You could contact them and offer your photo editing services.

      2. Sell presets!

      Instagram related:

      Have fun building your awareness and sharing your story!

      Instagram post ideas:

      – Share photos from previous photoshoots
      – Introduce yourself (you can do a series of videos or Instagram posts: how you got started being a fitness and wellness photographer, your first gear, story of your first gig, etc…)
      – Do Q&As (answering frequently asked questions, or check on Google what people are searching when typing things related to your industry)
      – Share your story (increases trust + a sense of community 🙂
      – Introduce your process (shows you’re your an expert)
      – Introduce your gear (expert)
      – Show how you edit! (it could be a video time lapse if you want a quick OR you can make a long video where you talk over your steps. Bonus: sell presets)
      – Before and Afters
      – Share tips: Pose ideas for fitness pros + Lighting + How to make your abs pop (lol, I’m making things up, but I guess people would want this right???)
      – Share stories of photoshoots / behind the scenes
      – Share some of your favorite fitness / wellness photos from other photographers

      Does it help? Let me know if you want to brainstorm more.

      Reply
26. 

    Jennifer on March 30, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    Thank-you for the amazing post! As a new business specializing in event
    stationery, I still feel at a loss on what to post, as many events
    across the industry have been cancelled or postponed. Unfortunately, I
    am yet to have a lot of ‘past’ projects to post upon or utilize, and am
    struggling now to gain that exposure. Any post ideas would be most welcome!

    Reply
27. 

    Asmaa on April 5, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    Hi! This is a really helpful post! I’m a henna artist and I’ve been feeling a bit stuck on what to post on my Instagram. What would people want to see in this situation? How can I relate that to henna?

    Reply
28. 

    Casa Etnia on April 10, 2020 at 9:35 am

    Hello! I do need help on what to post right now. My small business is an online store. We sell mexican crafts and fine arts. We were going to launch one launch the site two weeks ago. We can do delivery and shipping but we do not feel like people want to buy right now. What would you recommend us to do? Thank you!

    Reply
29. 

    Happy on April 15, 2020 at 11:16 am

    Hi,
    thanks for the awesome post. I am in an interesting situation because I just started putting together my casual and formal wear e-commerce business before the COVID 19 situation.
    I had no idea what to post or talk about until I read this post.
    Thanks for inspiring me with new ideas. But am still open to more so if you have tips for a fashion business such as mine, am all ears!
    Have a fun filled day.

    Reply
30. 

    Luciana De Araujo Gil on May 16, 2020 at 8:03 am

    I really liked your post thanks a lot ! I am starting and my play in to promote my course of consumer behavior online ! But not knowing how to edit a video ( add boxes with words etc) how to space/ paragraph on instagram/ and why other people can write more into their bio than me ….. it is really pissing me off 😢….. and I am getting very discouraged @lu_gil

    Reply