I started a food Instagram last semester called _foodiefriend_. Originally, I intended for it to be a way to edit my food pictures and share them with a small group of friends. After one long day, I decided to take a stab at being a successful food-stagrammer. Given my great taste in food and good photography skills, I thought my account would become popular within weeks. However, months later, I can officially call _foodiefriend_ a failure.
I hope some of you will learn from my mistakes and maybe be more successful than I was. Here are 7 tips I came up with to help you avoid food-stagram fiascos.
1. Post for looks, not taste
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ and @infatuation on Instagram
When choosing a picture to post, how good it tastes is basically negligible. Successful food Instagrammers post colorful and bright photos. It is important to consider the background of your picture and the angle. Typically a close-up is most effective.
2. Make clever, informative captions
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ (left) and @new_fork_city (right) on Instagram
Not just emojis. It is very tempting to use the animated version of the food you posted, but that does not catch a follower’s attention. Make sure your caption explains what the food is in your photograph. Also, being clever and funny is always good, and you can even put the emoji at the end if you truly feel the need. You can, however, consistently use the same emoji as a kind of trademark.
3. Do not post every day
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ on Instagram
Or 50 times in a day. I unfortunately made this mistake. Only major food Instagrams have the right to post every day, otherwise your followers may get annoyed. Only post when you have a good picture, rather than just because you feel like it.
4. Customize your hashtags for each post and tag within the picture
Photo courtesy of @fomofood on Instagram
And do it right away to get to the top of the hashtag page. Hashtags are very tedious to make, but so important in order to get more followers. Make sure your hashtags and photo tags really do apply to your picture.
5. Stick with one location or one theme
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ (both) on Instagram
People like following food Instagrams from a city they are in or focusing on a food they like. If you are posting a fancy cake in Amsterdam one day and a pork belly slider in LA the next, it’s hard to keep followers. To tell people what your Instagram is about, have a good and informative bio.
6. Follow other food accounts and like their pictures
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ on Instagram
Loyalty is a two-way street. Even on personal Instagrams, people typically only follow you back or like your pictures if you do the same for them.
7. Have an original name
Photo courtesy of @_foodiefriend_ on Instagram
There are about 16 other “foodiefriend” accounts on Instagram. Try to find a unique name so that you don’t get lost in the crowd.
7 ½. Write an article about your food Instagram
Photo courtesy of @pizzeriavetri on Instagram
Everyone follow @ _foodiefriend_ ! Food Instagramming can be just for fun. But, if you are looking to make yourself big, consider these tips to help you become the next Infatuation.