What if I told you Instagram was a game? That is, instead of just another social media app, there’s strategy involved. Would you agree? I mean, come on, everyone’s trying to get more followers, more likes and more popularity through their Insta accounts. Sounds like some type of game to me.
Maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, but try to hear me out.
The other day, one of my Instagrams didn’t hit as many likes as I anticipated. It was a quality picture that had a funny caption and wasn't posted in a weird time of day, but what was it about that particular post that didn’t generate my usual amount of double-taps?
Being the overly Instagram-obsessed person that I am, I set out to dissect the situation. I thought to myself, “Hmmm, maybe it’s because it’s a Friday morning? Are people still asleep?”, “Maybe it’s the other people in the picture…”,”Maybe it’s just a bad edit.” Sometimes I can anticipate when a picture won’t get as many likes depending on these factors, but I really could not figure out why this one wasn’t receiving any.
After my LPM’s (likes per minute, duh) weren’t a 1:1 ratio anymore, I deleted the picture.
By now you’re probably thinking, “Who is this girl? She’s crazy. No one actually cares about Instagram this much.”
To you I would say: you’re right. I am definitely a unique Instagram fanatic. But, it’s not because I care about what people are thinking of my posts, on the contrary, the game fascinates me.
To me, Instagram is an opportunity to discover the likes and dislikes of our culture; for a mind that loves marketing and branding, it is the ideal app to practice these skills. Here are a few examples of ways I channel my Insta-obsession.
In my spare time, I find bloggers’ Instagram accounts and scroll through to see which posts are generating the most feedback (likes, comments, tags, etc). From there I analyze the post and figure out why -- what in particular set that post apart from the rest. Was it the lighting? Was it the use of angles? Was it the subtle details? Whatever it is, once I find the distinction, I test it out on my own account.
I get on Pinterest and find witty quotes and sayings that I pin on my secret “Insta Captions, Yo” board. This allows me to have a handy-dandy repertoire of captions at my disposal, because often times, the caption can make or break a post. Side note: being witty can go a longgg way. Also, Pinterest is a good way to find some photo inspiration. I have a board for that too.
Now let’s talk filters. When Instagram first became popular, using the preset filters on the app was the trend. However, now users are taking advantage of new photo editing apps that have been developed (i.e. VSCO cam, Afterlight, and Fade). I found using these apps is the best way to go. The filters enhance the picture instead of just filtering them with a vintage color. Additionally, they allow you to manually change the saturation, contrast, and exposure.
Please don’t get me wrong, I am not the best Instagrammer in the world; there are users that are far better than I am. However, the thrill of discovering the preferences of people is what has made me so passionate about this particular social media.
As weird as it is to view Instagram with the mindset of it being a game, if you get to the root of what Instagram really is, its only purpose is to enhance your popularity. You post pictures so people like you. You desire more likes so followers think you are cool. And you post the pictures you post so others are jealous of your life.
After realizing the selfishness Instagram (unintentionally) promotes, one would think you should just stray from it all together. However, that is the very reason Instagram should be perceived as a “game.” Viewing it in a light that allows the user to be the “player” allows one to remove the self-centered attitude and instead enjoy the ability of analyzing your market (who your followers are), advertising to these people (choosing which picture you post based off of your market information), and then collecting the data (seeing how many likes you reach).
Granted, for some users, this analysis may seem over the top, but for anyone who enjoys marketing, creativity, advertising and even data analytics, Instagram is a real and dynamic platform for you to hone in and practice your talents.
