How to Plan Your Instagram Feed with Canva + Free Template
Do you struggle with planning your Instagram content in advance? Even with a new collection of brand photos, clients share that it’s still a challenge to plan ahead!
My best tip is as soon as you batch create your content, whether you’re working with a photographer or DIYing, is to plan your content as soon as possible. If it’s too overwhelming to plan a month ahead, try a week ahead. It’ll save you so much time trying to come up with an idea, creating the content, coming up with a caption and posting it same day.
That’s likely an hour out of your day, and if you’re busy with client work, it can get stressful quickly and lead to burnout and resentment. Ask me how I know!
If you don’t have content ready to go, consider creating your own headshots, photos and videos of you working, incorporate on-brand stock photos and create graphics like infographics, motivational quotes/thought leadership. Line up enough content for at least a week to start. Check out this post from Later on what’s trending with aesthetics on Instagram in 2022.
Incorporate your brand colors in your content for brand recognition and consistency.
Source: ColorJoy Stock
If you’re stumped on what you should actually say in the caption, try this:
Upload your most recent 6 favorite images to your grid planner, and move them around the grid until they visually flow. I love Canva for this!
Then alternate each post as a carousel (recommend at least 2-3 slides), infographic/promo graphic and reels cover. You can create them for the correct dimensions in Canva.
Then, write your captions. I’m visuals first, words second so this helps me and may help you too.
Stick to a theme for the week for a focused train of thought.
If you aren’t currently using a grid planner, download my free IG grid planner to get started. It’s easy peasy if you have a Canva account (works for a free account as well.)
Simply, upload your visuals to Canva and drag them over to the squares in the template. Move the visuals around the grid until they flow. Again, recommend alternating between carousels, graphics and Reels. Use some of your photos as Reels covers!
Boom! Content is ready to go.
Have any questions about planning your IG grid? Leave them in the comments below.
