Before and after posts are a classic and easy way to showcase your work on Instagram. They display your services and talent so potential clients can see how you can transform an outdoor space for them. You want them to be as impactful as possible.

Let’s take the example of posts published by @hansenottawa to see why they are effective and how we can enhance them even more.

What makes these posts effective?

• The company takes before and after photos from a similar vantage point to effectively illustrate the full transformation.
• The first slide of their carousel posts are consistent, using the same font and layout to improve brand recognition.
• They are published regularly. Repetition is key. This helps Instagram’s algorithm understand what your posts are about and refine which users see them in their feeds.

Enhance the experience:

• Don’t be afraid to write a long caption detailing what the client wanted, the challenges encountered and what made you particularly proud. On Instagram, you have 2,200 characters to tell a story.
• Tag suppliers. Brands will appreciate the support and might reshare your post. Plus, homeowners and professionals love to know exactly what products you used.
• Take a few in-progress videos to share on your stories alongside your post. You can also make a Reel out of them.
• Include a picture of your team, the designer or someone special involved in the project to add a human element.
• You can now add up to 15 pictures per carousel post, which is a series of images users can swipe to view. Share in-progress pictures as well or a short video that you took during the build.
• Make sure the second picture of your carousel is just as carefully picked as the first one: Instagram shows your carousel posts twice to your audience: once with the first image, then again with the second image.
• Instagram allows you to upload carousels that are 1350x1080 pixels in size — a bit taller than the typical square one. This allows your post to occupy more space on your audience’s screen and gives you a better chance of catching their attention.

 

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