How to succeed on Instagram? Instagram is one of the biggest giants in the world of social media. Together with Facebook, it basks in the spotlight of social network popularity. What new features did last year bring to the world of Instagram? And how can you maintain a successful profile this year as well?
Tips for a successful Instagram in 2026
Instagram is visited daily by more than 400 million users, and the numbers keep growing. It is used not only by individuals to beat boredom and find inspiration, but also by companies that use it to promote the sale of their services or products. Everyday users, influencers, and online marketers all strive every day to gain as much support from their followers as possible. How do you do it?
1. Photo quality plays an important role
Instagram originally started as a platform for sharing photos with friends and creating galleries of memories. It is no wonder, then, that photo quality takes center stage here. You don’t necessarily need to buy the latest DSLR camera, but nice, clean, and sharp photos will achieve greater success than blurry, dark, or overexposed shots.
Fortunately, a quality smartphone today serves this purpose very well and can produce beautiful photos. All you need to know are a few basic rules of photography (which we recommend studying) and you can get started in practice.
2. What will the theme of your profile be?
One day you post a photo of your dog, then a coffee at your favorite café, the third day you show off a trip to the Tatras, and then a new addition to your wardrobe? Then don’t expect a large crowd of followers. They simply won’t know what the theme of your profile is, and the mix of content will only overwhelm them.
Think about which topic you want to focus on in your profile and what you will dedicate yourself to. A combination of two to three topics represents an ideal ratio. Of course, as you and your followers evolve, you’ll drop some topics and add others, but that initial focus will attract the right followers to your profile.
3. A unified feed looks appealing
The quality of your photos is also related to how they harmonize with your Instagram feed. You can choose a color theme, alternate between color and black-and-white photography, or create columns. The more you play with the styling of your profile, the better it will look in its overall aesthetic.
4. Apps that will help you with Instagram
With feed styling, as well as many other features, various apps can help you. For scheduling posts, you can try Planoly; for playing with filters and colors, you’ll most often turn to Lightroom or Snapseed. You can also remove various imperfections from your photos there. If you plan to focus on video content, you can try the Filmr app for light editing, speed adjustments, and more. For a cohesive feed, we recommend the Preview app, where you can test out how your gallery will look after adding more posts.
5. Don’t be afraid of individuality
Distinctive and authentic profiles attract the most followers. Don’t be afraid to add a human touch to your Instagram. You can use video, live broadcasts, or stories to achieve this. Share your everyday struggles and joys, and stay true to yourself. Copying others has never saved anyone. Originality is what it’s all about.
Keep up with the times — What new features did last year bring?
Something is always happening on social media. New features arrive every month in the form of new functions, stickers, or GIFs. What new features appeared on Instagram in 2020?
Last year, Instagram introduced a successful counterpart to TikTok with its short videos called Reels. People quickly fell in love with them. Every day, users add so much content that it’s impossible to keep up with. In Reels, you can mix your own sound and use a so-called voice-over. For greater creator protection, Instagram added the option to add a watermark to Reels.
In stories, we also saw a new feature in the form of the Photo-booth function, which takes multiple shots with a single press. You can then choose the best and highest-quality one from among them. Instagram is rolling out this feature to its users gradually. It is therefore possible that you don’t see it on your profile yet, but don’t worry — your turn will come.
Instagram users were also surprised last year by a change in the user interface. Features have changed their positions and can be found in different places than we are used to. This is happening mainly on business profiles, as it is again a gradual change.
Let us know how you used our tips on your own Instagram. We look forward to new posts.
Tools to support your Instagram can be found here
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Michal Záruba is a digital marketing specialist and a consultant in social media and SEO. For more than 8 years, Michal has been helping brands grow online through strategic content, search engine optimisation and effective communication on platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
On the blog, Michal shares practical tips on how to combine SEO, social media and brand building into one working strategy, focusing on how companies can use modern tools and algorithms so that their brand gains not only reach but also trust.
Alongside creating content, Michal lectures on digital marketing, trains teams and follows new trends in AI and search.