Bobby here, from Mad Marketing, and today, I want to share with you some Instagram post layouts. I manage multiple Instagram accounts, and in doing so, you tend to pick up on things. So, I'm assuming you're here because you've decided to either refresh your Instagram page or craft a strategy to plan out your brand's new Instagram account.

It's no jive that having a welcoming and well-thought-out Instagram post design can help your sales, brand loyalty, and increase engagement. So, the goal of this post is to share some popular Instagram post templates and even share some insights that could put you on route to creating your layout.

Make sure you read until the end to get your free downloadable 3x9 grid. I created a PSD File that you can download and open up in photoshop. This way, when it comes time to placing images, you can make sure they're the right size and put them; however, you want within Photoshop before actually posting anything! I hope you like these Instagram post strategies and my Instagram post template!

Zig Zag Creative InstagramLayout

The zig post layout or the zig-zag format is self-explained. Design your plan to post in a zig-zag motion. My favorite way to visualize this kind of Instagram layout, and many others, is by assigning design or post styles to shapes and placing the forms in order. Below I illustrate the Zig post format. Although it isn't the prettiest looking grid, actual images will make this grid look a lot better!

Vertical Post Layout

The Vertical Instagram format is a visually appealing one yet simple to create. As there are three columns on Instagram, you will choose one of the columns to be different from the other two. It doesn't matter which column you want, as long as the other two columns are aesthetically similar. You can use the vertical column that you've chosen for the most amazing images, and it can also be something more simple, like a spiral - making your Instagram look like a spiral-bound journal. However, remember that whichever column you choose to be the differentiator will be the first thing to catch the eye of your audience!

Tiles

Although not often seen, this Instagram formatting layout will quickly give you a consistent look and feel. Below is a visual representation, but I'll try to explain it in words for you here. For simplicity, let's take two different post ideas, quotes, and selfies. Next, let's get the pattern in for tiles. It goes something like this:

Selfie, Quote, Selfie

Quote, Selfie, Quote

Selfie, Quote, Selfie

View the grid below to get an idea of the Tiles Instagram formatting layout. If you're looking for help on creative Instagram grids and designs, you can read my blog on the Top 10 apps for managing social media accounts

Pattern Post

The pattern post has a variety of names like overlay, or overlap, and others, but to keep it simple, we'll go with the Pattern Post name for this Instagram post layout strategy. You should know that this is one of the more complicated layout strategies. That pattern post strategy consists of an image or multiple images that follow no rules what so ever. Other than the fact that you'd want to have some consistency in your fonts, or colors to suit your brand better, this strategy takes no prisoners!

You can think of this layout as a collage spread out across your feed. The best way to explain this one is with an image from @simplywhytedesign. Check it out:

Diclaimer: There are White borders, because the shot was taken from a desktop device This is not the case on mobile. Will update soon!

Rainbow Post

The Rainbow posting strategy allows you to choose more than one or two main colors to work with, and in a very unique and creative way, it's complete. Your goal of using the Rainbow format is first to select the colors of the rainbow or any colors that you want. Then post images where your main color(s), or the color that pops, is the first color of your rainbow. When you're ready to move on to the next color, start posting images where the first color works with hints of the second color. This Instagram formatting style is aesthetically pleasing, as it prepares your audience for the color change, and gets them wanting more! This way, you aren't limited to what one or two colors for your Instagram page. Instead, you'll have a wide range of colors from which to choose!

Thematic Post

Thematic posts, simply put, is sticking to a theme. Whether that be the colors you choose for your page or the colors for your brand. It could work either way. What's important is that you stick to a pattern. This way, your layout looks clean and organized rather than all over the place. What I like to do is draw a tic tac toe board and insert circles, triangles, and squares in it. Once you assign each shape a color, or type of content, then you can fill in the tic tac toe board with the form (design) you want, and lay them out in a pattern. The example below is from Peter Mckinnon's Instagram, an insanely awesome photographer. He's excellent in Lightroom, and here is the result of sticking to a theme:

Wide Screen or 3's

In this section, we have two different Instagram post strategies. What's makes the widescreen or 3's Instagram format great is that there are so many variations to it. It'll be almost impossible for your feed to get old!

Let's go over some of these variations:

Variation 1: Each time you post, post three images that are similar to each other but not the same. For example, if you were at a photoshoot, you could post three images from that photoshoot if they're at the same location. They could be different poses or different angles, but they need to be similar enough, so your audience knows they're from the same time.

Variation 2: Post a single image that's cut up to fit only into three horizontal squares. You can do this every time you post, or after every few posts.

Variation 3: This one's a little different from previous, but it's the one that will give you that widescreen effect. It'll also give your Instagram page a cinematic look, and a little breathability. Take one image and cut it up to fit into three horizontal squares. Then add a black rectangle to the bottom and top of each image. To make this easier, and make sure each black rectangle are the same size, add the shape across the entire top and bottom before slicing or cropping the image.

That's your 3 variation's for widescreen or 3's Instagram post format; I guess you can say we're sharing more than 10 Instagram layouts!

White Space

This Instagram format is pretty straight forward, and there aren't any rules or templates necessary. It's merely a white border around every single post. The thickness of the edges don't need to be uniform; however, I feel uniformity could create a sweet photography studio vibe. Still, they can look presentable with a random thickness on each post. It depends on the vibe you want to get out of your feed.

This Instagram format will make your Instagram page breath. The White borders will act as negative space between images, so keep that in mind as you create your posts. I try to create nine at a time, to save time, and to get an idea of what they will look like pieced together.

Also, feel free to bend some of the rules here. Your borders don't necessarily have to be White. I've seen instances where this Instagram layout strategy is used with off White colors. So create, to your heart's desire!

3x3 layout

The 3x3 Instagram design layout is straight forward. It's one image sliced into nine equal parts. Which will enlarge your photo and give your audience a much grander visual of your page without having to click into individual posts. There are a few things you should note when using this layout design.

First, you want to make sure that your images or graphics are super clean. This way, when someone does click on your post, to get a closer look at a particular section, to comment, or like the post, they still get a clean and neat visual.

Second, you need to include in your caption the image number. For example, when you post your second image of you 3x3, you want to add, "Image 2 of 9". Including the post number, is especially important because people may come across your image on the discover tab of Instagram, or within a hashtag chain.

If your visual is clean, this could push people to visit your profile to see the full image, and if they like what you post, it could lead to more followers!

Infinite Scroll

Finally, the infinite scroll Instagram post layout. This posting strategy is, in my opinion, one of the most creative arrangements I have ever seen, and I have only seen one person utilizing this method. I will try to find them again and link them here. This strategy requires a mix of a few of the posting formats mentioned above. You'll be using thematic formatting, along with 3x3, and even a little bit of the rainbow post layout. Sounds intense? Well, the great thing about this is that it becomes relatively simple with the right amount of creativity.

I call it the infinite scroll because it's a never-ending image! However, there is the primary image within the 3x3 block. And within the top and bottom 3 of the image, it seamlessly leads into the next picture.

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