If you’ve ever felt the pressure to constantly post on Instagram, you’re not alone. While we will be the first to tell you that whether we like it or not, social media marketing is important for small business owners—but that doesn’t mean that you need to be creating graphics and reels all of the time. After all, there’s a reason social media manager is a full-time job. 

Today, we are going to share all about the new 9-grid Instagram marketing strategy—a creative approach that can help you maintain a visually cohesive (and intentional) profile without the constant grind. If you’ve ever wanted to throw your hands up in the air because it’s just not worth it anymore, this social marketing strategy might just be the tall drink of water you’ve been looking for.

Don’t worry, we’re going to cover:

• WTF even is a 9-grid marketing strategy?
• 4 Tips for planning yours out
• How to keep active and drive sales without the pressure to post

What’s the 9-Grid Instagram Marketing Strategy?

First, the 9-grid strategy is exactly what it sounds like: posting 9 times with the intention that these posts will sit at the top of your grid for anyone new that stumbles across your profile. You can choose to archive your old posts, or you can leave them below since 9 (or 12) posts will typically take up a phone’s entire screen. This ends up leaving you with a carefully curated Instagram profile that (ideally) tells your brand's story and highlights your key messages. These nine posts create a visually appealing grid that stays put on your profile and gives visitors a quick snapshot of your brand.

From there you have choices: you can leave these 9 posts for a few months and focus on stories and engaging with other accounts or simply do your planning with this 9-post approach at the pace you can keep up with over time.

This trend is perfect for small businesses looking to make a strong impression without the stress of frequent posting. It lets you be intentional with your content while freeing up time for other parts of your business. People will search for your brand on social media, and this is a great way to “be there” without actually being there.

How to Plan Your 9-Grid Instagram Marketing Strategy

Sounds pretty good, right? Ready to create your 9-grid strategy? Here are some tips to get started:

1. Make It Look Intentional

A 9-grid strategy doesn’t mean your last nine posts are good enough and now you can ghost your audience. Instead, your 9-grid should make it pretty obvious that you don’t frequently post (but that you have everything they might need there). Plan each post so they work together visually and thematically. Stick to a consistent color palette, font, and style to create a look that's completely branded. 

While we are usually not a fan of over curated grids (partly because it’s so hard to maintain), for a 9-grid layout, it really works. Consider having the most “changeable” elements (like your services or portfolio) at the top so that you can switch them out if you want without needing to redo the whole design.

2. Mix Up Your Content

The posts you create should also be bingeable and bite-sized. You’ll want to keep things interesting and informative by including a variety of content (because most people who stumble across your profile will likely look at them all at once). 

Here are a few ideas for what to include:

• Who You Are/Your Values: Show off your brand's story, mission, and values. This is huge if you're trying to attract Gen Z especially—they’ve proven that they really care about (and want to support) companies and people that are authentic and transparent about their values. Check out our guide on marketing to Gen Z.
• Services/Products: What you’re selling needs to be a big part of your 9-grid marketing strategy. Spotlight what you're offering. Use your very best images and descriptions that show what you offer and make people want to learn more.
• Case Studies/Testimonials: If you’re not going to be posting, you need to find other ways to make people trust your brand. Let your happy customers do the talking. Share their success stories to build trust and show you know your stuff (and display those kind words proudly).
• Personality: This probably goes without saying, but let your brand’s personality shine through. There’s always a lot of emphasis on the visual aspect of marketing, but don’t forget that your brand voice matters too. In terms of content, give a peek behind the scenes, highlight your team, or share some fun facts about your business.
• Freebies or Ways to Connect: Give visitors a reason to stick around. Promote free stuff, downloads, or ways to connect - like signing up for your newsletter, grabbing a free resource, or joining a webinar.

3. Keep It Fresh with Reels and Stories

Worried the 9-grid might make you look inactive? What if you do want to post sometimes, but just don’t want the constant hustle? In this case, Reels (that you don’t pin to your feed) and Stories are your ticket to staying active without disrupting your carefully curated grid. Use them to share timely content, quick updates, and those behind-the-scenes peeks that show off your brand's personality. This mix keeps your profile fresh and engaging without the pressure of posting daily.

A 9-Grid Layout Example

Need some inspiration? While every small business is different, here's an example 9-grid template for how you might structure your grid:

1. Top Row:some text
   • Brand intro (The face behind the name)
   • Highlight of your core values (What you stand for)
   • Showcase your top product or service
2. Middle Row:some text
   • Promo for a freebie or resource (Give 'em something good)
   • A glowing customer review, case study or testimonial 
   • Your mission or brand story
3. Bottom Row:some text
   • Fun fact or personal touch (Show your personality!)
   • Team or workspace snapshot 
   • Clear call-to-action (How to connect with you)

Arrange your posts like this, and you'll have a grid that tells your brand story at a glance that stays relevant over time. Think of it like your mini-website right on Instagram!

Make Your 9-Grid Instagram Strategy Happen with Enji

Wondering how your 9-grid Instagram strategy fits into the bigger marketing picture? That's where Enji comes in. After a quick quiz, we’ll create a marketing strategy for you in minutes. Whether you want to market your business on Instagram or not, good marketing never requires you to post 24/7. With a solid plan and the right tools, you'll be ready to market your business effectively without burning out.