Susan Gordon Pottery is a small batch pottery studio that started right here in Birmingham in 2013. But you can find Susan’s work in boutique retailers across the country. Susan’s team makes dinnerware, serving ware, decorative accents and handmade jewelry. Her work speaks for itself- just check out their Instagram account with over 10,000 followers! So we’re here to share Susan’s Instagram pro tips with you.
Do you have any advice on how to choose hashtags?
YES! I would do a few things: First, find accounts similar to yours and see what hashtags they use. Click to see what comes up and if it appeals to you, then most likely it will appeal to your followers. Second, keep your hashtags saved in your notes and copy and paste them on every single post. Third, only use hashtags that are relevant to your content. I have mine separated into “earring hashtags” “Dinnerware hashtags” etc. Fourth, keep your hashtags fresh…it’s good to stay abreast of what hashtags are trending. Fifth, try not to use ONLY the most simple or overly popular hashtags. You run the risk of getting your content lost in the mix. As you type your hashtags in the search box in Instagram, you can see how many posts are tagged with that hashtags. Don’t let all of yours be in the millions – use some that have been used a few thousand, a few hundred thousand, and so on.
How do you pick what time of day to post?
This is kind of a tough question. I don’t pretend to understand the Instagram algorithm that calculates which person sees what content. I can speak to my own experience and what I do know about audiences. When determining when to post I always ask myself: Who is my audience? Is my audience a college student? A mom of babies? A mom of older kids? It’s good to think about when they would most likely already be on their phones. For me, I’m a working mom of two babies. I’m usually “scrolling” on my phone first thing in the morning and at night after the babies go down. Generally Monday mornings after 8:00 aren’t the greatest. Most people are busy with work meetings or class; Friday nights and Saturday mornings tend to be good for me.
How often is too often to post on Instagram?
I try to post 3-5 times per week, sometimes more. I think once a day and then taking a breather one day a week is good practice for you and for your audience. I also try to let my stories relate back to my post. If I’m running a sale or promoting a local show, I will post twice in a day, but it’s fairly rare. That’s me. Others post more often and that works for them just fine! I think it’s best to be as authentic and organic as possible. You do you. If you are excited about a particular post and the content is time-sensitive, then go for it! Post twice in a day!
Do you partner with other Instagram accounts to cross promote? How often?
I haven’t done this a lot, but I would certainly do this for a giveaway or to promote a local art show or if a particular retailer or gallery just posted a pretty picture of their new SGP. I would limit this so that your feed remains true to who you are and what you desire to accomplish.
What’s one of your most popular posts and why do you think it was so successful?
I think the post with the most likes is one I posted not too long ago. It was one of my large vases with an arrangement of flowers sitting on my kitchen island. I think people like to see how my work can be used, in the context it was meant for (a kitchen). The roses were gorgeous, so that was a large part of it. I also think people like to see “you”. See your house, occasionally pictures of your dog or you, or your kids. Not all the time, but glimpses. It makes your audience feel connected to you and reminded that they’re following a real person and not just a feed of pretty pictures.
Here’s what we learned from Susan:
- Try to find hashtags that relate with your business but aren’t tagged millions or thousands of times!
- Think about what audience you’re targeting when posting and that can help you choose exactly what time to upload.
- Limit partnering with other accounts so you can stay true to your specific mission.
- Show your audience glimpses of your personal life!
