Teacher Instagram, or teachergrams, have exploded over the last couple of years! Teachers of all areas are using Instagram for a variety of reasons and maybe you’re thinking of joining the crew. Pinterest for teacher ideas has been put on the back burner while teachergram has taken center stage! Teachers are using teacher instas to find and share ideas, connect with fellow teachers across the nation and even the world, and to get some awesome teacher resources. Another major benefit of teachergram is the positivity that helps to keep us going because Lord knows, what we do is so hard.
So maybe you’ve already considered these things and you’re ready to take the leap. You are ready to create your very own teachergram! No matter your reason for why, here are 5 MUST DOS for creating a teacher Instagram!
1) picking the right name
Picking your name can be very hard but it is an important step! Your Instagram (IG) handle is the first thing people or potential followers will see. You will want it to tell a bit about you or what you are planning to share on Instagram. Your name could potentially make people curious, leading them to click on and check out your profile for more information. Although it is important for your name to tell a bit about who you are and/or what you represent, you want to be careful not to be too limited by your name. A good rule of thumb is to avoid using names that involve grade levels and last names. You never know where life will take you and it’s harder to rebrand with a new name after establishing yourself.
My blog post, Picking a Teachergram Name: How the Art of FUNology Got Its Start!, is allll about picking the perfect teachergram name for you! In the blog, I share how I became the Art of FUNology and what I considered before settling on my name. Check it out for more details on selecting the perfect IG handle!
2) create a “telling” bio
Your teachergram name attracted new followers and the very next thing they’re likely to look at your bio! The bio is the section of your Instagram profile directly under your picture that gives more information about you and/or what you plan to share on Instagram. This area of the profile is so important because it tells those that may follow you what they should expect to see on your profile. When filling this area out, ask yourself, “What do I want people to know before following me?”
There is no right way to create your bio, but there is a wrong way! The wrong way would be to have nothing at all or information that does not relate to what you share on your IG. Things you may consider posting could include:
- the grade(s) you teach
- years you’ve been teaching
- subject(s) you teach
- your teaching passions
- 3-5 key things you plan to share
- a fun but descriptive fact about yourself
- the area you live in
- other platforms you share information on- TPT, Youtube Channel, Podcast, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Here is a picture of my Instagram description. Because of the character limit, you have to be sure to only pick the information that is the most relevant to sharing who you are with those that come across your profile. In my bio, I tell followers what grade I teach and how long I’ve been teaching. I also included other grades that I have taught so those that follow me know that I may share information about those grade levels or that they can ask me questions about those grade levels.
Next, I added where I live. This allows my followers to connect with me if they live in the area and provides others with background for why I may post some of the things that I post. After that, I have my Teachers Pay Teachers store name because I want to drive traffic to my TPT store. Lastly, I have a fun fact about my Alma Mater to connect with other fellow UGA dawgs out there!
3) post your first post…and then post more!
You have the perfect name and the perfect bio, now it’s time to post your first post!! Similar to your bio, there is no one “right” first Instagram post. Your first post is a great opportunity to introduce yourself or what you plan to post on your profile. You have shared a little about yourself in your description, but your first post reiterates that by adding an image to back it up. The picture could be a headshot, a picture of you doing what you love, or you in action! There’s many ways, but what’s most important is that you are authentic and doing what is true to you!
Remember that Instagram is a visual platform! When posting, you want to ensure that your picture quality is clear with good lighting. This is not only visually appealing for those that might engage with the post, but the IG algorithm favors high quality pictures and content!
Another way to ensure that your post is being seen by people that may or may not follow you is to use hashtags! Hashtags can be so valuable when starting and growing your teacher Instagram! When just starting out, avoid the huge hashtags and shoot for the smaller ones. In short, the huge hashtags come with HUGE competition. Many others are using those same hashtags and the algorithm does not favor smaller and new accounts. I will dive deeper into the right and wrong ways to hashtag in the next blog post so be sure to look out for that post to get a few tips on how to use hashtags to grow on Instagram!
4) follow hashtags
Did you know that you can follow hashtags? Many know that you can use hashtags to push your posts, but following hashtags can be so beneficial. Following hashtags allows you to see content based around that hashtag, even if you do not follow those accounts. For example, if I am interested in accounts sharing about fifth-grade math, I may follow the hashtag #fifthgrademath to see other accounts or posts that are all about fifth-grade math.
Following hashtags can also help you find new accounts to follow. You may come across other accounts that are sharing content that resonates with you. They also allow you to see what kinds of content is being shared within your niche. This can help you plan ideas for what you want to post and gain insight on what your potential audience would like to see. All of these things also lead to one of the best parts of Instagram which is building connections with others. This leads me to the last point…
5) stay connected!!
The biggest benefit of teacher Instagram is the community! Teaching is so hard and it is amazing to have an awesome community of teachers to support you and build you back up when you are feeling low. There is no way to grow or have success on Instagram without this vital step! Social media is about being social so don’t be afraid to follow accounts, like posts, and comment when you feel called to do so. When your followers comment or DM (direct message) you, respond back in a timely manner to not only build those connections but increase your engagement! Share other’s posts in your stories and engage whenever you can. The algorithm favors accounts that engage with others because that means you are making the most out of the platform! Also, what you put out will come back to you tenfold if you are engaging organically.
in conclusion…
These are 5 MUST DOs for getting started on teacher insta! If you are looking to take the next steps toward growing your teachergram, be sure to stop by and check out my next blog post with 5 tips and tricks for growing your teachergram! In the meantime, please comment below if this blog post was helpful or if you have any other questions! Feel free to follow me and reach out to me on my teachergram, @theartoffunology, to get connected or ask me questions!
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