1. Planoly [Free, with paid option]

Planoly is the number one app that I recommend to clients and fellow small business owners simply because it makes such a tremendous difference when it comes to your everyday Instagram management.

In simple terms, Planoly enables you to plan your grid in advance. But in reality, it offers so much more than that. The free version allows you to upload up to 30 images a month, which you can then drag and drop to plan an Instagram grid that reflects you and your small business. You can then draft your captions, organise your hashtags into relevant groups and even schedule out your Instagram posts in advance. 

A note here – I do recommend posting live when you can, it means that you’re going to be able to engage with your audience that much more effectively.

2. Lightroom [Free on mobile, with paid option]

Lightroom is part of the Adobe family but it needn’t be as intimidating as its siblings. In fact, Lightroom is my favourite tool when it comes to editing my images on the fly. Whether you’ve snapped some shots on your phone or are looking for a more efficient way to edit your photos from your camera, Lightroom is a fantastic option.

Its simple sliders enable you to easily adjust exposure, contrast, colour mixes and so on, and you can even save your favourite edits into your very own preset. And believe me – having your edits saved make photo editing wayyyy quicker!

Don’t worry, you don’t need to become a professional photographer overnight but a few simple edits really do make a huge impact when it comes to making your images stand out in your followers’ feeds.

3. VSCO [Free, with paid option]

VSCO is very similar to Lightroom in that it’s another photo editing app. What makes it different, however, is that it comes in with a tonne of preset filters built in. If you’re looking to make the first move in ditching Instagram’s own filters for something with more personality, then this is a great option for you.

I often use VSCO for editing my stories posts as it’s quick and easy, whilst its paid option enables you to edit video straight from your phone which is very handy when the lighting wasn’t quite right in your Insta story!

4. Stories Edit [Free]

Stories Edit is a new app, recently launched by the folks behind Planoly (can you tell I love them?!) which really does what it says on the tin – enables you to edit your stories. The app comes with a whole host of pre-built templates which help take your stories a step beyond the classic single image shot.

Stories Edit offers something a little different to its main competitor – Unfold – with more templates and collections organised by industry type or post purpose, which is fantastic for small businesses like you!

5. Pixaloop [Free, with paid option]

Now, this might sound like an unexpected recommendation but I really think that Pixaloop has a lot of power when it comes to helping your small business but together some slightly different Instagram posts – without going to too much hassle.

Pixaloop enables you to easily animate aspects of still photos, as you can see in my example below. This means you can create simple videos that add a new dynamic to your posts.

A great example would be if you were an activity company, showing the water move on an image. Or perhaps if you run a café and you want to show the motion of the steam rising from a hot cup of morning coffee. Adding a little extra element to your posts in this way is going to be a great way to showcase your small business’s personality on Instagram, whilst encouraging those scrolling thumbs to pause and pay attention!

Pin for later: