I know learning a new social media platform can be uncomfortable, or something many designers don’t want to bother with. In fact, I was apprehensive about Instagram myself when it first arrived on the scene. However, its staying power has persisted and it has continued to reshape the way that consumers interact with brands and businesses. At this point, you’re only doing yourself a disservice if you are still avoiding it.    Today, we’re starting a two-parter series on the impact of Instagram on your business and how to harness its power to build your creative brand. And, if you haven’t already tuned in for my last episode about the 12 Principles of Social Media, I highly encourage you to go back and check that out as well. The principles I discuss in that episode apply across the board to all platforms, including Instagram, to give you a strong foundation for marketing with social media. Today, we are going to focus on tips specific to Instagram, which can be an incredibly valuable (and free!) tool, particularly for designers.     As creatives, everything we do is about the visual and tactile components, which is why Instagram can serve us so well. In our episode today, you’ll learn how harnessing those visual and tactile components makes engaging with your clients beneficial to your brand but also how Instagram can be a fun and exciting method of inspiration for yourself and your own creativity. It does not have to be as overwhelming as you may think! It’s all about your approach, which I am here to guide you on today.   In this episode, you will hear: Strategies to follow to make engaging with Instagram fun  Why it’s so important to blend business and personal when curating your content What to include when crafting your bio Tips for setting up a routine of impact that will gain you the most engagement   Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to our podcast? We’d love to welcome you to our creative community if you haven’t yet subscribed. We’d truly appreciate it if you drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: See my resource guide to recap the information from today’s episode:  Check out my Instagram @MelissaGalt to see these tips in action Gain some inspiration from the Instagram feeds of @trimqueen and @HatCliffConstruction For more information about The Affluent Creative, check out my website www.melissagalt.com Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @MelissaGalt and TikTok @MelissaGaltBusinessCoach   Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are  listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.