My Approach to the Static 9 Grid on Instagram

Have you heard people talking about something called a static 9 grid over on Instagram? I first heard about it when I recorded a series all about breaking the rules of social media.

I talked with Kristen over at Going Ultra Violet and I couldn’t wait to really dive into this idea and see what I came up with!

I put up my own static 9 grid back in September of 2022.

Since then, I’ve made a handful for clients. It’s quickly becoming my favorite project to work on with entrepreneurs who are ready to get clear about what they offer, stop feeling pressure to show up every single day on social media, and give potential clients clear and concise directions on how to learn more about what they offer and work with them.

The Static 9 Grid + Why You Might Want One

It’s the idea that you create 9 Instagram posts that you will leave up permanently (or until your want to change them). I like the idea of creating as many as you want.

As you can see above, my first version had 12 posts. But usually, 9 is enough for my clients to highlight the things they want to. And just like I say for everything in business, you get to decide what works for you! There’s no ONE right way to do things!

I like to treat the static grid like I used to treat making a mixed tape for a friend back in the day. Remember choosing the most important songs and then making sure they were arranged in a certain way? With an ebb and flow to take the listener on a journey?

Each song could stand on it’s own, but as a collection… it was an unstoppable work of art. A hand-picked collections of the best songs in the world at that time.

That’s what your static 9 grid should feel like to the person who stumbles upon it over on Instagram. [cue the song Dream Weaver like that scene in Wayne’s World] 🤣 ✨ 💖 Ok, all reminiscing and jokes aside, let’s get down to business…

What should you include in your Static 9 Grid?

An Introduction Post

I think the first one in the top left should always introduce you. Choose your favorite headshot and write a caption that really sounds like you! I also like to address the fact that you only have a handful of posts, and why that is.

• Maybe you want to run your business with a more anti-hustle approach
• Maybe you love showing up on TikTok or Linkedin or on another platform entirely
• Maybe you really love making Instagram Reels, so you’re gonna hang out there

Just mention that you are aware that you only have a few posts, explain why, and invite them to read through them to get a feel for you and how you can help them.

Think of this first post as an extension of your Instagram bio where you have WAY more words to work with!

An Invitation to Follow

If you’re planning on still showing up in Instagram Reels and/or Stories, I recommend that the second post let the viewer know that. You can use a little arrow in your design to point to the reels tab and let them know to go check out your reels!

Some people might not even know that there’s a reels tab there, so it’s super important to point it out and let them know so they don’t miss your newest content.

Other than position #1 and possible #2 if you’re doing reels, the rest of these things can be in whatever order you want. Like I said, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to things in business. When I work with clients I help them map all this out in a way that works with their own customer journey, and the offers and resources they have to share with potential visitors to their Instagram grid.

But you should also include…

Your Most Valuable Opt-In

Think about what that might be, a quiz, a PDF, a free course. It looks different for everyone, but you’ll want to highlight your best one or two in your static 9 grid so that you can get people on your email list! That the real golden ticket because you own your list. So whatever opt-in you have should get their own square for sure.

Your Main Offers

The whole point of having a business is to sell your ish, right? So don’t be shy about telling people what you offer. You’ll want to include your main offers. If you sell a signature course, that needs it’s own square. If you have a membership, or do custom work, those will each need a square.

Like I said, it’s different for everyone, but you’ll want to highlight your main offers. Let’s say you have a lot of small workshops. I would create one carousel post about your workshops, and then have them swipe through your most popular ones, with the last slide telling them to click the link in your bio to learn more.

I absolutely LOVE adding carousel posts into a static 9 grid because it’s like little hidden doorways into more information. And, let’s be real: not all people are going to read your captions, so the more you can give them visually, the better!

Your Podcast or Podcasts You’ve Guested On

If you have a podcast, you’re going to want to dedicate a square to that. And if you don’t have a podcast, but you’ve guested on podcasts, I recommend making a square to shout out your podcast guesting spots. You can link to a Spotify playlist in your bio (like this one) so they can go listen to all your interviews in one easy place.

If you have a podcast AND you’ve been on some, I’d think about making a square for each. It’s authority-building gold! And you can turn both of these posts into carousel posts. You can add up to 9 more slides highlighting the shows you’ve been on, or your favorite episodes of your own podcast.

Like these:

Client Testimonials

Another opportunity for a carousel post to show off your skills and build some serious clout is in your client testimonials! Gather up all your best quotes from happy clients and create a carousel post that new visitors can easily swipe through to see how amazing your work is.

For the last slide on this one, I love adding a call-to-action for them to book a call with you. I mean, we’re trying to take things to the next level.

One thing I really love about the static 9 grid is that you only have 9(ish) squares so there’s no need to be shy, just tell them how you can help them, and how they can learn more.

Talk About What Makes You Different

I like helping my clients add at least one square to talk about what makes them different. Odds are, there are other people out there offering the same services as you. So how do you do it differently?

It’s a great place to talk about your frameworks, things you disagree with in your industry, the main pillars of your program, basically… how you do what you do differently than others in your field.

One More Chance To Connect

I like to usually add one more photo of my clients to the last square. Although that isn’t ALWAYS the case. Like I said, everyone’s mission and business, and style is different.

Regardless of whether there’s a photo of you or not in the last square, it’s important to #1 thank the visitor for reading your posts, and #2 remind them where you’ll be in they’d like to connect more.

If you’ll be in reels and stories, remind them again. If you’d like them to hop on your email list, or go find you on TikTok, Linkedin, Substack, or wherever you hang out. Tell them again so hopefully they’ll go find you!

Your Static 9 Grid Graphics Have to Be AWESOME

When you only have a handful of squares to impress someone, they better be good. Ya feel me? When people stumble upon your 9 grid and it looks like nothing they’ve seen before they’re going to stop and take a few extra beats to see what’s up.

It’s a disruptor to all the things they see everyday on social media while they’re scrolling.

When you land on a beautiful static 9 grid it shakes things up and you stop to look. Hopefully they start poking around. Swiping through your carousel posts. Reading your captions. And by the end you’ll have a true fan.

A successful static 9 grid is just as much about repelling your non-fit clients as it is attracting your perfect-fit clients. And I think when you use a template that looks like all the other things they’re seeing everyday, it’s hard to do either of those. It just ends up being one more Instagram page in a sea of templates.

As you can see, all my clients have very different styles. But they all commit to really pushing the envelope and being bold when it comes to their static 9 grids.

So what do you think? Is this something you could see yourself doing in your business? If you’re not ready yet, getting strategic about your 3 pinned posts is a great place to start. And I can help you with that too!

You can learn more about working with me, or set up a call here. I’d love to learn more about you and your business!