How to Design a Cohesive Instagram Page:

Instagram shouldn’t be just a platform when it comes to a business’ social media. We like to refer to it as a “digital business card”. It should be something you’re proud to share with people you meet when networking. Designing a cohesive page is mandatory in this day-and-age to build trust, gain attention, and maintain meaningful connections with your audience. Consistency is key. Here’s how we ensure our Instagram feeds communicate clearly and beautifully.

Photography-Forward Feeds: The Art of Editing

For Instagram pages driven by photography, editing consistency is crucial. We recommend:

• Choosing a Signature Preset: Develop or consistently use a Lightroom or VSCO preset that works with your brand identity. Applying the same two-three presets on every photo maintains consistent colors, brightness, and tone.
• Keep Uniform Lighting: Stick to a consistent lighting style, such as bright and airy, or moody and dramatic. Natural, indirect light often works best in general.
• Balance Your Grid: Alternate between close-ups, wide-angle shots, and detailed images. Planning your feed using apps like Illustrator or Later can help visualize it ahead of time.

Graphic-Centric Feeds: Consistency is Key

For Instagram pages focused on graphics or illustrations, cohesion comes from consistency in design elements:

• Color Consistency: Establish (and stick to) a defined color palette (from your brand guidelines). Limit colors to three-five core shades to avoid visual clutter.
• Typography Rules: Define clear typography rules (usually a heading, subheading, and body font) and use them consistently across all graphics.
• Texture and Patterns: If you use textures, keep them consistent across posts, stories and reels (if you can animate them, all the better).
• Measure Twice, Cut Once: Lay out multiple posts side-by-side in Illustrator/Canva to preview how they’ll appear on your feed before exporting each individually.

50/50 Photos and Graphics

If you’re able to use consistent photography and graphic design, first give yourself a big pat on the back, and then know that bridging the two styles is very satisfying but takes some strategic thinking:

• Unified Color Treatment: Edit photos and graphics using a consistent color scheme or tonal adjustments as mentioned above.
• Spacing and Layout: Keep spacing consistent, especially in graphic elements surrounding photographs. A balanced negative space provides visual breathing room.
• Content Rhythm: Alternate content types to create visual rhythm and keep breathing room.

Pro Tips from Amor Marketing

• Preview Your Grid: Regularly preview your upcoming posts in a grid layout. We often use a standing file to add to as needed to keep everything cohesive.
• Story-tell Through Design: Each post should tell a piece of your brand’s broader story. Use your visual identity to reinforce your brand values.
• Engage with Authenticity: While aesthetics matter, genuine connection wins. Use your visuals along with an authentic messaging to truly resonate.

Creating a cohesive Instagram page is both an art and a strategy. By committing to consistency in your editing, colors, typography use, and overall layout, your Instagram will not only look professional, but truly effectively communicate your unique brand personality. Happy posting!

With love,
The Amor Marketing Team