15c/52 Unique Photos for Unique Platforms: an engaging showcase

KEY CONCEPT:  The photos used on each social media platform must reflect its unique strengths. By tailoring your photo content to match the platform, you can maximise its impact. Instagram thrives on visual aesthetics, LinkedIn focuses on professionalism, Twitter is great for quick updates, Pinterest loves design-centric content, and TikTok celebrates creativity. By understanding what works best on each platform and staying authentic, you can create content that resonates with your audience and strengthens your brand’s online presence.

This is part 3 of the 15th of 52 articles about what business owners can do to grow their businesses.

What started out as research into using behind-the-scenes (BTS) photographs in social media posts for micro and small business owners has grown into a three-part article. The previous two parts are:

15A Snap, Share, Grow: Boost Your Business with BTS Photos. Here Published at 09:22 on 17/04/2025.

15B Social Media Photos – Brilliant Tips and Tricks. Here Published at 20:02 on 18/04/2025.

Introduction

Each social media platform has its own community vibe, and the types of photos that work best can vary depending on the audience and the platform’s unique features. After a few general tips, a breakdown of what kinds of photos work best on each platform follows.

General Guidelines and Dos and Don’ts

1. Ignoring Proper Image Dimensions

Did you know that each social media platform has specific image size requirements? Ignore these at your peril!  Failing to optimise photos for these dimensions can lead to poor display, distortion or awkward cropping issues, negatively impacting the visual appeal of your posts. Have you ever scrolled on by a post because the pic was all wrong (more of a turn off and no engagement)? [1]
 Fix it: Use platform-specific dimensions (e.g., square for Instagram feed, vertical for Stories, horizontal for Facebook/Twitter).

2. Use Motion or Carousels

Even simple animations or sliding carousels make content feel more dynamic, interesting, and engaging.

 Try: “Swipe to see the transformation” or use a before/after photo sequence.

3. Use Interactive Features (in Stories/Reels)

Use polls, quizzes, sliders, and question boxes on platforms like Instagram. Even a photo in a poll format gets more clicks than a static image. Interactive features encourage viewers to respond to your post.

4. Overcrowding Designs

Filling every inch of space with text or graphics can make photos look cluttered and overwhelming. Keep designs clean and balanced to maintain their visual appeal. [1]

5. Utilise Social Media Features

Use platform-specific tools like Instagram Stories’ stickers (polls, questions) or TikTok’s duet feature to make photo-based posts more interactive and engaging. [2] [3]

Specific Guidelines for Each Platform

1. Instagram

Instagram thrives on visual content, especially high-quality, polished images and short-form videos like Reels and Stories. Here’s what works best:

• Behind-the-Scenes Product Shots
  Show your product in action, being made, or used in a real-world setting.
  Tip: Use Instagram Stories to post behind-the-scenes clips, and Reels for fun, quick shots of the process.
• Team & Office Moments
  Share candid shots of your team working together, brainstorming, or enjoying a break. These moments humanise your brand and encourage connection.
  Tip: Use the carousel feature to show “before” and “after” images of a project.
• Before-and-After Shots
  Perfect for businesses that offer services like design, construction, or beauty. A side-by-side comparison works wonders.
  Tip: Use Instagram’s “before and after” swipe feature to showcase transformation.
• Events & Milestones
  Whether it’s a product launch or an office celebration, showcase the special moments.
  Tip: Increase visibility by using relevant hashtags (#behindthescenes, #BTS, #teamwork) and geo-tags.

2. Facebook

Facebook has a wider age demographic and tends to be more conversational and community-oriented. Here’s what works:

• Event Coverage
  If you host or attend an event, Facebook is great for longer-form posts with multiple photos. It allows you to write a more extended caption to give context or share a story.
  Tip: Use albums to showcase full event galleries, like “Behind-the-Scenes at Our Annual Meeting” or “Launching Our Latest Product.”
• Customer Testimonials/Interactions
  Candid shots of happy customers or clients interacting with your products are great here. Pair them with customer reviews or a testimonial to create a story.
  Tip: Ask followers to share their own BTS moments with your products in the comments.
• Employee Spotlights
  Share individual team members working on projects or talking about their roles. People love to connect with real people behind the brand.
  Tip: Create a regular “Employee of the Month” or “Behind-the-Scenes” series.

3. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is more professional, so photos here should highlight the business side of your brand:

• Team Collaborations & Office Work
  Share images of your team brainstorming, attending meetings, or working on projects. This shows the professional side of your business.
  Tip: Post images that show thought leadership moments, like team discussions, workshops, or strategy meetings.
• Milestones & Achievements
  Highlight significant business milestones, like product launches, awards, or new hires. This is a more formal but still engaging way to show success.
  Tip: Share photos of team celebrations when hitting milestones – but keep the tone professional.
• Industry Events or Conferences
  Post photos from business events or industry conferences where you or your team spoke, attended, or networked.
  Tip: Share insights or takeaways from the event to provide value to your LinkedIn audience.

4. X (formerly Twitter)

On X, it’s all about quick, engaging content and conversations. Here’s what works:

• Quick Shots/Clips
  X is great for short, spontaneous behind-the-scenes content. Share quick photos of your team in action, on a break, or during brainstorming sessions.
  Tip: Add relevant hashtags like #MondayMotivation, #BehindTheScenes, or #WorkLife.
• Progress Updates
  Share photos showing a project’s progress over time. People love to follow along with ongoing work, especially when they know something exciting is coming.
  Tip: Tweet with a series of photos showing different stages, such as from “concept” to “completion.”
• Fun, Casual Moments
  X is often casual and humorous, so feel free to share light-hearted, candid moments from the office or team-building events.
  Tip: Pair these photos with witty or playful captions to show off your company’s personality.
• PS If you don’t like X, consider using BlueSky instead.

5. Pinterest

Pinterest is all about visuals, especially when it comes to lifestyle, DIY, and design. Here’s what works best:

• Styled Behind-the-Scenes Photos
  Pinterest users love beautiful, aspirational content. Showcase your work, process, or environment in a way that’s visually appealing.
  Tip: Make sure the images are visually polished and focus on design, whether workspace organisation, products, or creative processes.
• Step-by-Step Visuals
  Pinterest is perfect for sharing how-to-style content. Post a step-by-step guide or a tutorial with images showing how something is made or how your process works.
  Tip: Use vertical photos and ensure they’re easy to pin.
• Inspiration or Idea Boards
  Show how your products or services inspire creativity or innovation. It could be your design process, event planning, or office décor.
  Tip: Create boards like “Behind-the-Scenes of Product Design” or “Creative Office Spaces.”

6. TikTok

TikTok is all about short, fun, engaging videos, so behind-the-scenes content here should be creative and quick:

• Fun BTS Videos
  TikTok is made for quick, engaging video content. Create time-lapses, quick behind-the-scenes moments, or humorous clips of your workday or team activities.
  Tip: Use trending sounds or popular challenges to make your BTS videos more discoverable.
• Process Videos
  If you offer a service or product, film a fast-paced video showing the process from start to finish.
  Tip: Make the videos fast and dynamic, like a time-lapse of assembling your product or an office setup.
• Team Challenges or Behind-the-Scenes Fun
  Share light-hearted, fun moments from your team – TikTok is all about personality and authenticity.
  Tip: Do a “day in the life” type video to show the fun side of your business culture.

In conclusion

Be consistent (where have you seen that before in my writing?), authentic (real, genuine) and engage with your audience.

• Consistency is Key: Whatever platform you’re posting on, maintain a consistent visual style (colour scheme, filter, branding) across your photos to create a unified, professional look.
• Be Authentic: Genuine behind-the-scenes content works best. Show real moments – people appreciate raw, unfiltered content.
• Engage with Your Audience: Don’t just post and forget. Respond to comments, encourage followers to tag friends, and keep the conversation going!

If you give the platform what its algorithms seek, it will return the favour and give you what you desire – business growth.

#HaywardHub #MakeADifference #ChangeOneThing #BusinessGrowth #UniquePhotos #BuildBetterBusiness

To learn more about what we do at the Hayward Hub, visit the website here, or follow me on LinkedIn or Facebook.

References

[1] https://reckless.agency/blog/social-media-mistakes-to-avoid/

[2] https://www.hypotenuse.ai/blog/interactive-posts-for-social-media

[3] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-can-you-use-photos-drive-engagement-social-media