As social media managers, we want to do everything we can to increase activity on our social platforms. A popular way to move the needle and inspire engagement is to implement a “takeover” on your Instagram account. Instagram Takeovers have been a staple on the platform for the past few years and there’s a reason why they continue to be popular — they work.
How can you leverage the concept of Instagram takeovers to increase the buzz surrounding your brand? Here’s a step-by-step guide:
What Is an Instagram Takeover?
Simply put, an Instagram takeover is when someone associated with your organization “takes over” your brand’s Instagram account for a given period of time and posts photos, Stories, and other content, usually around a unifying theme or a specific purpose.
How to Choose the Right Person for the Takeover
Depending on the nature of your organization, the person performing the takeover can be one of many different stakeholders. While there is no perfect formula for determining who might make for the best takeover, here are a few examples to get you thinking:
Internal Employees: If you’re a social media manager who runs all of the accounts for your brand, consider inviting another employee to complete a takeover that will show people what “a day in the life” at your workplace is like. Another great option is to have a leader of your organization (such as your CEO or President) take over the account to give your followers exclusive access.
Influencer: If the main goal of your takeover is to sell a product or promote a service, consider reaching out to an influencer to do an unboxing of the product or show them using the service. This helps to give added “third-person credibility” to your brand, rather than having the message come directly from you.
Performer: If the focus of your organization is on the performing arts, ask one of the actors in your next production to do your takeover. A behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal process and how they prepare for a show is content your followers will likely want to see, as we have experienced with Scooter Media client The Carnegie.
These are just a few examples though — the sky’s the limit for you who can ask to do a takeover!
How to Start the Takeover
After securing your ideal person to perform the Instagram takeover, the next step is to set a date that works best for them (and you!). If you can, select a date when you aren’t slammed with meetings so that you can be available for questions and troubleshooting if the person performing the takeover encounters any issues.
You’ll also want to lay out some ground rules on what content you want to see, as well as any content to stay away from. Are your social media channels family- friendly? If so, be sure to let them know they need to watch their language. Want your product to be shown in a specific way? Spell it out for them.
When the time for the takeover comes, send over the login information so the person performing the takeover can log in to your Instagram account.
How to Make Your Takeover Stand Out
Encourage the person doing the takeover to use interactive elements on Instagram like polls, locations, and countdown stickers. The Q&A sticker is a particularly popular option to utilize during a takeover, as it provides a great way to interact with followers and see what they really want to know.
How to Wrap Up Your Takeover
When the time for ending your takeover has arrived, the first thing you’ll want to do is thank the person for completing the takeover, then change the password for your Instagram account for added security.
Another nice touch is to save all the Instagram Stories completed as part of the takeover in their own highlight, like Krystan and Shannan’s in the example below. That way, if someone missed the takeover while it was happening, your followers can still go back and experience it first-hand.
Then, you can breathe a sigh of relief … your Instagram Takeover is now complete. Don’t forget to take a look at how your account performed during the takeover — chances are, you’ll find valuable discoveries and insights that will make your next Instagram takeover even better!
Searching for more Instagram tips? Head over to our “How To: Creating Cover Images for Instagram Stories Highlights” post, then check out our “3 Steps for Promoting Your Blog Content on Instagram.”
