Creating a Instagram Feature Account & Why Themes Accounts Grow Fast

Social media algorithms are always changing and causing me (and a lot of others) headaches. One way you can see major growth pretty consistently is with Instagram Feature Accounts.

Below, we’ll look at how to start a feature account on Instagram, theme ideas, and tips to being successful with it.

What is an Instagram Feature Account?

Instagram Feature Accounts are user-created, curated accounts that focus on one topic or community. These theme accounts allow people interested in the topic to find beautiful content all in one place.

The creators share the best quality images and content in their niche, and the content is curated and credited from other Instagram accounts.

Why Should a Brand Use a Themed Account on Instagram?

Theme accounts help brands attract a larger audience, get in front of their ideal clients, and convert followers into leads and clients through cross-promotion.

If you choose a theme that relates to your business, you’ll be able to integrate your personal brand into your content and gain more exposure to your audience. You can include a tag to your profile, a link in the bio, or even do a call-to-action type post!

Other Benefits of Instagram Theme Accounts

So you might be saying, I run my own brand – why would I create a themed account?

The couple benefits of creating a feature account on Instagram are:

build a community of likeminded people
users know what to expect and this can help you grow the account faster
not having to create your own photos and captions (just credit the original user)
the ability to link to your personal Instagram account as needed
offers another revenue stream

Theme Ideas for Instagram Accounts

You really want to choose something that relates to your personal brand. The main thing is, you want to niche down your idea until it’s super specific.

For example, if you’re a health and fitness coach you may feature low impact home workouts under 30 minutes.

Highlighting your city’s best restaurants or food trucks would be a great account for a realtor.

If you’re a family-friendly food blogger, you might pick family dinner recipes that can be created in under 30 minutes.

Good Instagram Account Theme Ideas

You can choose any theme you’d like – popular Instagram account themes right now are fashion, humor, inspiration, food, and decor. You can get as creative and specific as you want!

Examples of Instagram Feature Accounts

There is also big money in large feature accounts.

Along with the benefits above, you can also monetize theme accounts by working with similar brands in the niche. An example of this would be a local restaurant partnering with the Nashville realtor to share one of their happy hour specials.

Another example would be Chewy reaching out to a dog-based feature account to showcase their 2-day shipping promotion.

When I was researching this, one influencer told me that a following of 370k on Instagram could be up to a $50,000 paycheck just for doing a sponsored post!

At about 8k, we receive $50-100!

How many Instagram Theme Accounts Should You Create?

You can create as many as you can come up with and manage. Some influencers have up to 10 feature accounts plus their own Instagram!

Since Instagram Feature Accounts are curated, they can be easier to publish content to and manage. You could even hire someone off Fiverr, Upwork or another virtual assistant program to maintain the account.

Another option would be to use a scheduling tool like Planoly and just schedule content 1x a week or month.

How to Start a Feature Account on Instagram

Starting a feature account on Instagram is the same as setting up any account. You just sign up and get started on Instagram.

You may find that a Creator Account works best for you because of the extra benefits, features, and analytics.

1. Decide Your Focus

As you start your themed account, you’ll need to decide your focus. Once you have it, you’ll want to choose a name that shares that focus.

For example, if your focus is fun things to do in Nashville you may choose something like @thenashvilleguide.

You want your username to tell people very quickly what the theme is.

2. Write Your Bio

Now, you’ll want to include a description of what you will be sharing, as well as, your city, and a way to contact you.

We also recommend choosing a hashtag that people can use in order to be featured. For example, uses @thenashvilleguide. the hashtag #thenashvilleguide.

If you do choose a hashtag, Google and search for it on Instagram to see if it’s being used.

3. Create a Logo

On a personal brand account, we always recommend using your face. With that said, an Instagram theme account can be a logo. It should be clear, easy to read, and tie into your theme or color scheme.

4. Start Sharing Content

Now, you’re ready to start sharing content! As you get started, you’ll want to research hashtags and locations relating to your theme. As you see pictures and captions you like – DM those people and ask if you can feature their post. Screenshot the post, add a caption (or use theirs) and tag them in the photo and caption! Repeat.

You can also use these tools to share others content – but we just usually screenshot once we have permission.

Where Do You Find Content?

You can find high-quality content to feature throughout Instagram. You can look through the Explore page, your hashtag, hashtags on your theme, and your tagged photos.

Do You Have to Ask Permission to Repost Content?

Some social media leaders say you don’t have to ask once you have a large following as long as you credit the original poster. Their thought is that the original poster is getting a shout out from a large account, and who wouldn’t love that?!

But Instagram’s policies do say to ask before reposting. So if you want to be on the up-and-up, it’s better to ask – especially when you’re just starting to grow the account and don’t have many followers.

Growing Your Instagram Theme Account

Now that we understand why brands use themed accounts and how to start one, we need to look at how we get eyeballs on that profile!

1. Choose a Theme

Yes, you’ve absolutely picked a topic or theme to focus on, but that’s not where it ends. Your photos should also have a theme to them. For example, if you’re focused on fun things in Nashville, you may showcase a restaurant, an event, and then a piece of art of cityscape.

Your photos should also keep to the same color tones as well to create a cohesive brand.

2. Choose Great Images

As we mentioned above – it’s important to feature images in the same theme as your account. You should also look for either vertical or square images to gain the most space on Instagram’s feeds. Horizontal pictures don’t do as well.

3. Be Consistent

We recommend posting on your personal account 1x per day, but with a featured account you can post more often. Successful Instagram theme accounts post anywhere from 3-6 photos per day.

If you’re not sure what number to shoot for each day, start with 3 and be consistent with it. Then you can always add in a more and make that consistent.

We also recommend posting at the same times each day so maybe morning, noon, and evening.

You can also use a scheduler like Planoly to make it easier as well. There you can upload pictures, write captions and schedule the posts. The app will then alert you when it’s time to post, and you just copy and paste from there to Instagram.

4. Always Give Credit

You always want to tag the person whose picture you are showcasing. You also can add in a line about how others can be showcased by using your branded hashtag in the caption.

5. Use Hashtags

You can use up to 30 hashtags per photo; however, right now we’re personally seeing better reach with just 10-15.

We am for 3 large hashtags (over 1 million), 3 medium hashtags (500k-1 million), and 3-4 smaller hashtags (under 500k).

You also want to mix up your hashtags often – if you don’t it can lead to shadow banning.

6. Engage With Others

Following and commenting on other accounts really can make all the difference on this type of account and gaining followers on your personal Instagram too! Spend 10-15 minutes per day (or 10-15 minutes each time you post if you can) interacting with others in the same field or using similar hashtags.

7. Share to Your Stories

Anytime you can use stories on your profile, you can see an increase in reach. Check out our guide to getting your stories in front of people here.

Monetizing Your Instagram Themed Account

As your feature account grows, you’ll be able to monetize it in a few ways including promoting products with affiliate links, sponsored posts with brands, and selling merchandise.

You could use all 3 monetization tools, or focus on one that you really enjoy. If you want brands to contact you – make sure to put a way to contact you (not just DM) in your bio as well.

Do you run an Instagram Feature Account? If so – what is it?

Tell us in the comments!