Instagram Takeovers: Everything You Need To Know

With over 1 million people logging in regularly on the platform, Instagram offers a vast and engaged audience., making it an ideal platform to expand your reach, connect with new audiences, and maintain relationships with the existing ones.

While there are several ways to promote your brand on Instagram such as running Instagram ads, sponsored posts, but takeovers are one of the most effective ways to grow your brand’s presence and attract new audiences.

Brands are lining up to pay influencers hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a single post for mentioning their products and services on the story and posts that will help them reach their goals.

In this blog, we’re going over everything you need to know about Instagram takeovers, including what they are, how they work and its types. Let’s read further.

What Is An Instagram Takeover?

Instagram takeover happens when you partner with someone that can be a brand or an influencer, to take control of your account for a short period of time. 

In the takeover process the guest introduces themselves to your audience and starts posting content and posts updates for a specified time. This host can be anyone, an employee, influencer, social worker, industrialist or business owner.

However, why should you allow Instagram Takeovers? Well, for the starters it will help you increase your reach and awareness of your brand to a new audience. Also, it will elevate your brand’s presence  by showcasing key products or differentiators to customers. 

This collaboration provides a unique opportunity for the takeover user to gather eyeballs of a new audience and showcase their creativity to them. 

In this case, some users will share a single post, and then feature Stories from the user taking over the account, while some may share several in-feed posts that are uploaded in short succession.

However, let’s know how it works in detail!

How Do Instagram Takeovers Work?

The host of the takeover account typically announces the takeover, whether with a brand or influencer, to its followers in advance. It then invites the takeover user to share their content, engage with followers and promote their own personal brand or business.

For example, Hyundai launched a unique campaign for the 2024 Santa Fe SUV, to celebrate the football’s game, where they handed over their Instagram account to 22 different brands.

Which included Weber Grills, the Los Angeles Rams and Mint Mobile to create over 100 pieces of content to showcase the importance of conquering weekends in ways that were relevant to the brand and included highlights of the Santa Fe's key features.

Takeovers doesn’t mean you have to give access or full control of your account to other influencers, the host of Instagram takeover can publish the content sent to them by the influencer in prior.

Takeovers typically last around a day or two as per the deal and are promoted by both parties for increased visibility and more reach of audience. Often the best results are when you give the host takeover creative license to ensure the content shared is genuine and recognizable of the takeover brand.

Who Can Host An Instagram Takeover?

Various individuals and entities can host an Instagram takeover, including influencers, brands, employees, customers, industry experts, artists, and other departments within an organization.

Additionally, user-generated content campaigns, events, and conferences can also be showcased through a takeover. Even social media contest winners can be given the opportunity to host a takeover as a prize.

Ultimately, anyone with a unique perspective and content to share can be a great candidate to host an Instagram takeover. Now let’s learn about the 8 types of flawless Instagram Takeovers-

8 Types Of Instagram Takeovers

With a variety of takeover options to pick from, you can personalize your strategy to your marketing aims and objectives.

By selecting the appropriate type of takeover for your brand, you can provide a memorable and impactful experience for your followers, raise brand awareness, and increase website traffic and sales.

Whether you're a small business or a huge brand, Instagram takeovers can be an effective part of your marketing plan.

There are various types of takeovers to consider for your brand, each with its own benefits and goals. 

1. Influencer Takeover

An influencer takeover involves partnering with a relevant influencer who resonates with your brand requirement. They share their own content, experiences and perspectives, expanding your reach and bringing new audiences.

2. Employee Takeover

Employee takeover involves inviting an employee to showcase their projects, work, company experiences, humanizing your brand and providing an insider’s perspective.

3. Celebrity Takeover

Collaborate with a celebrity to take over your account, sharing their experiences, products preferences, tapping into their massive following.

4. Customer Takeover

Invite a satisfied customer to share their story, showcasing benefits of your products and how it affected them, build trust and social proof among your audience.

5. Community Member Takeover

Collaborate with a member of your online community to share their content, experiences of personal perspective, gaining more engagement and inclusivity.

6. Event Takeover

Document an event, conference or any product launching show by taking over your instagram account, providing real-time updates and exclusive behind the scenes.

7. Product Launch Takeover

Create a buzz around a new project or product launch by dedicating your account to its launch, demos, sharing features and exclusive deals and offers.

8. Charity Takeover

Collaborate with a charity or non-profit organization to raise awareness and funds, sharing their stories, work and mission.

Each takeover offers its unique benefits, such as gaining new audiences, providing fresh content and increased engagement. Choose the one that resonates with your brand goals and objectives.

Also follow the Instagram takeover guidelines, to host one hassle-free.

Why Run An Instagram Takeover?

Running an Instagram takeover is a strategic marketing move that can improve your brand's online presence, engage your target audience, and drive commercial outcomes. Invite a guest to take control of your Instagram account and refresh your posts. 

Let’s understand the reasons to run Instagram takeovers.

1. Improve Reputation

Running an Instagram takeover can improve your brand’s reputation by showcasing your brand's value and personality, demonstrating your commitment to transparency and highlighting expertise.

By sharing behind-the-scenes content on your profile, you can build trust with your audience, giving them a look into your brand’s inner workings. Additionally partnering with influencers can enhance brand’s image, showcase unique voice, values and mission of your brand.

2. Spark Curiosity

Instagram can spark your curiosity by sharing exclusive content, offering a fresh perspective through new viewpoints and encouraging audience engagement and conversation. By creating interest, you can drive traffic to your account and increase brand awareness.

Sharing exclusive content can spike interest and will keep your audience engaged. This approach not only keeps your account fresh but keeps your audience invested in your brand’s next move.

3. Capture Attention

By running an Instagram takeover, you can capture attention in a crowded feed by showcasing engaging and unique content. Leveraging the takeover’s guest existing audience and influence can expand your reach into new segments.

Ultimately, a well-executed takeover creates a memorable and impactful lasting impression on your audience. This can lead to increased loyalty, advocacy, and drive business results.

Whether you're looking to improve your reputation, spark curiosity, or capture attention, an Instagram takeover can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal, helping you achieve your goals and take your Instagram marketing to the next level.

How Do Businesses Benefit From Instagram Takeovers?

Instagram takeovers provide a unique chance for brands to reinvigorate their content, reach a larger audience, and increase interaction.

Companies that collaborate with influencers, employees, or other firms can gain access to new viewpoints, knowledge, and audiences, resulting in a variety of benefits. Listing 5 benefits of Instagram takeovers below-

1. Opportunity To Reach New Audience

Instagram takeovers allows you to tap into the audience of the influencer you are partnering with, which will expand your reach to the new audience.

You can make it part of the takeover deal that the person taking over your account will promote it on their account through stories and posts. This can funnel some of their audience over to you to check out the content.

2. Ability To Build Trust And Credibility

Takeovers can help build your brand as an industry authority by demonstrating expertise, thought leadership, and social responsibility.

Working with other accounts in your niche might help your business create its own credibility. People will trust you more when someone they know vouches for you, let alone has a branded association with your account, even if it is only for a day.

3. Improved Post And Account Engagement

Fresh viewpoints and new information can raise your posts' likes, comments, and saves while also attracting new followers and increasing account interaction.

It's exciting to try something new and different, you can encourage more user-generated content.

4. Increased Traffic And Sales Boost

Businesses may use Instagram takeovers to boost visitors to their websites and online stores, increasing conversions, sales, and revenue.

Takeovers allow you to promote products, services, or events while also leveraging Instagram's shopping and affiliate marketing features. They can easily link their e-commerce operations with their takeover strategy, resulting in a streamlined and productive sales funnel.

5. Chance To Create Additional Content

By hosting an Instagram takeover, businesses can increase their chances of creating additional content by taking content ideas and inspiration from the takeover partner's unique perspective.

The takeover content can also be repurposed for other marketing channels, including blog articles, social media posts, and email newsletters to increase its reach and impact.

What Is The Best Time For Hosting An Instagram Takeover?

The best time for hosting an Instagram takeover depends on your target audience and their schedules like at what time they are mostly online.

But here are some general guidelines you can follow to host a Instagram takeover-

1. Peak hours: 12 pm - 4 pm EST (lunch break and early afternoon)

2. High engagement: 7 pm - 9 pm EST (post-work hours)

3. Consistent engagement: 10 am - 3 pm EST (work hours)

To follow the general guidelines, you first need to consider the following factors:

1. Time zone: If your audience is global, consider the time zones of your primary audience.

2. Day of the week: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays tend to have higher engagement.

3. Avoid: Hosting takeovers during major events, holidays, or late nights when engagement is low.

4. Consistency: Choose a time that works for your brand and audience, and stick to it.

Remember, these are general guidelines. Experiment and analyze your audience's engagement patterns to determine the best time for your Instagram takeover.

Final Thoughts

Instagram takeovers are a strong tool for businesses and the collaborator to diversify their account content, enhance interaction, and reach new consumers. There are several options to collaborate with micro-influencers, tiny brands, and even your own team.

With a little planning, creativity and setting goals of Instagram Takeover you can harness the power of flawless Instagram takeovers to elevate your brand and achieve your marketing goals.

So why not give it a try? Choose a takeover type that aligns with your goals, partner with a talented host, and watch your Instagram feed come alive! Get creative with your takeover and have fun!