Why Curated Instagram Feeds Aren’t Dead

Since the rise of TikTok, social media trends have shifted towards authenticity and organic content. I’ve seen some people say that super polished, curated Instagram feeds are going out of style. In this article I explore why I think there is still a place for curated feeds that are visually cohesive, but don’t sacrifice authenticity. When done right, a well-curated feed can be visually appealing, professional, and HELP you be organically prolific on socials.

Highly Organic vs. Highly Curated Feeds

Highly organic feeds prioritize real-time, unfiltered content, embracing spontaneity and authenticity. They often lack visual consistency and focus more on capturing genuine moments. While they offer authenticity and relatability, they may appear disjointed, have less control over branding, and don’t demonstrate clear value.

In contrast, highly curated feeds are carefully planned for a visually cohesive and aesthetically pleasing experience. They emphasize visual consistency and often feature edited and polished content aligned with a specific theme or color palette. Highly curated feeds provide visual appeal, brand consistency, and professionalism, but may sacrifice spontaneity and be perceived as less authentic.

How do we find the happy medium between both styles?

Demonstrate Value With titles

Demonstrate the immediate value of your content by using clear titles. A concise, value-driven title grabs attention in a crowded feed, prompting users to engage. It sets expectations and communicates the benefits of the content, increasing the likelihood of likes, comments, and shares. This applies both on the explore page and on your profile. If your feed demonstrates clear value when someone visits your profile, users are much more likely to follow you.

Finding that Happy Medium

The key to creating a successful curated feed is striking a balance between curated and organic content. One way to achieve this is by using consistent titles, color, and graphic elements to create a visual connection among the posts in your feed. I essentially treat these elements as “stickers” and can throw them on top of any image to maintain visual cohesion.

Curating your feed doesn’t have to be super complicated, and definitely shouldn’t hold you back from posting. With the example above, I made really simple templates with consistent title styling, colors, and graphic elements to create a feed that catches users’ attention and packs a whole lot of personality.

This can be a creative and effective strategy, allowing you to add your own unique touch and personality to your content. With branded templates like those above, you can easily create a quick title element and throw it on your organic content. Ultimately, tying your posts together without sacrificing authenticity.

The Best Strategy is the One you Will Use Consistently

While my style of curation might not be realistic for every brand, what is most important is showing up consistently and staying true to your brand’s values. If posting on a whim with highly organic content is working for you, KEEP GOING! Whats most important is that you are showing up, regardless of how it’s done. However, keeping these things in mind might just help you expand your reach!

Key takeaways:

✅ You need more than nice photos to truly stand out
✅ Try to curate a unique brand experience
✅ Use attention-grabbing titles with cohesive styling
✅ Get clear on what value you are providing