Instagram Inspiration: Happy New Year

Many top brands were eager to help consumers ring in the new year. Overall, I noticed that brands posted more GIFs and short videos this year, which signals progress. Last year’s round up included only three posts and this year’s list includes three categories to help marketers with content development on Instagram.

I hope you’ll bookmark this for future reference and maybe even print it in colour to discuss at your next brainstorm meeting!

Inspiration for Small Businesses

While evaluating posts in my feed, I looked for simple posts that small business owners can learn from and treat as templates for future holiday posts. With the right stock photo and some text overlay in a program like Adobe Photoshop, a post that looks like this one from Aroma is fairly easy to create.

Inspiration for Fortune 500 Brands

Large brands hire more staff to play with props and have the budget to hire models. Estée Lauder was able to strike a balance and share an engaging photo that can increase sales of a skincare product.

American Apparel has a reputation for selling wardrobe essentials like the leggings I wore on New Year’s Eve; however, they chose to share a glamorous look. Notice how they conveyed their collection’s range of products in the photo with a lanky model in a fitted black frock. Happy Flashback Friday!

McDonald’s chose to share a photo without any food. Their Times Square franchise next to Taylor Swift’s stage in Times Square is unrivaled real estate and Ryan Seacrest’s countdown offered their logo tons of exposure. The chain is already a destination for hungover masses, so it makes sense that they chose the playful route for their Instagram post.

Inspiration for Luxury Brands

Ralph Lauren’s Instagram post illustrates how luxury brands aiming to reach affluent and preppy consumers can join the conversation on holidays like New Year’s Eve. The photo looks exactly like something you’d see in a friend’s dining room where you’re invited for an exquisite dinner party. The candle creates a sense of warmth and sets a positive tone for the image. The two champagne glasses are essential for anyone who wants to make a toast. Meanwhile, the brand’s clothing is displayed in a shiny and snazzy picture frame that ties it all together.