How to make Instagram work for you and your business! 

Discover the skills you need to help grow and connect with an engaged audience, whilst really learning to love the platform in the process. 

If you enjoy using Instagram but want to know how to really get the most out of it as a marketing tool, then this one-day intensive course can set you on the right track.

This class is taught by the lovely Kelly Twigg (@willowandtwigg) who has built an Instagram following of 60,000 people through her authentic and engaging approach to the platform.

We will help you find out exactly how to use Instagram to share your jewellery, attract customers and make sales.

In the first half of the day you will take a deep dive into the functions and workings of the app itself, making sure you are familiar with how to set up your account, the features available to you and how to use them.

We will also talk about the importance of consistency, authenticity, and how to create a strategy and posting schedule that you can maintain. 

In the afternoon session you will be guided through some practical exercises such as how to write a standout bio, how to create an on-brand aesthetic that reflects who you are, and how to create and share different types of engaging content such as carousels and reels.

There will also be lots of tips and tricks, as well as best practices and things to avoid – and a huge list of content and post topics that will give you plenty of ideas to take away!

And don’t worry if you are naturally shy and really don’t want to be ‘talking to camera’ as we will have lots of alternative suggestions and content ideas that will help you connect with your audience and potential customers without putting yourself directly in the spotlight.

Topics covered include: 

• What IS Instagram, why do people use it, and why should you?

• The differences between the types of account available 

• The layout – main page, reels tab and explore page

• The different types of posts available to you and when to use them

• How to identify your target audience and why quality is better than quantity

• Using insights to track progress

• Myth busters - the algorithm, shadow bans and going viral

• What are stories, and how to use them

• How highlights can help your account

• How to write a stand-out bio

• Creating a realistic schedule – when and how often to post

• Best practices and things to avoid doing

• Content ideas and post topics

• Making the most out of footage - getting multiple posts from one topic or reel

• Using polls and the power of a 'call to action' (CTA) to engage your followers

• Re-cycling and upcycling content and why this is worth doing

• Why audio matters

• How to actually create a good reel – equipment and editing

• Why it’s worth having a folder of ‘B-Roll’

• Other accounts worth following

Plus – other ‘behind the scenes’ features that can help you get the most out of the app such as:

• Saving content and ideas into folders

• Creating Drafts

• Setting up a ‘daily usage’ alert to monitor time spent on the app

• Security and privacy settings

• Hashtags and search engine optimisation (SEO)

• Trial Reels 

• Crossposting to Facebook and Pinterest

• Links below bio

And other apps which can help:

• ManyChat

• Planoly

• InShot

• Repost

• Edits

You will need to bring your smartphone, charger and have an Instagram account set up and ready to go (don't worry if it's not very active yet though!).