Instagram online training analyzes (based on 6 courses)

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Tops Pricing

1. Background

Our commitment to delivering accurate insights led us to enroll in six distinct online Instagram courses to understand the offerings of various coaches and trainers comprehensively. This endeavor also helped us assess how these offerings evolved from the previous year. Interestingly, one of these courses was a bonus from a platform we already used. The courses ranged in price from USD 107 to over USD 800, amounting to a total expenditure of over USD 2100.

The question remains: What insights did these courses yield? While they varied significantly in depth and content, even the more affordable ones provided valuable materials and tips. However, the novelty of the content compared to the previous year was minimal, with the notable inclusion of comprehensive AI-focused sections across the board.

In this article, we aim to share the insights from these courses and help readers avoid unnecessary expenses by overpaying for similar solutions. In the following sections, we'll detail these courses' content and compare it with our data analyses and empirical experience in Permanent Makeup (PMU), specifically focusing on Powder Brows.

2. Introduction to Instagram

A Unique Platform Perspective

Each course began by delving into the unique aspects of Instagram, setting it apart from other platforms like Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok. A key focus is on the difference in user intent. Unlike Google users, who often have a specific intent to purchase, Instagram and Facebook users generally browse without a directed purpose, leading to typically lower direct conversion rates.

The courses commonly pointed out Instagram's visual-centric nature and refined, polished ambiance, especially in contrast to platforms like TikTok. This often leads to discussions on "branding" — creating a distinct and recognizable business identity that connects with a specific demographic and builds brand loyalty through consistent exposure.

While the courses varied in their approach, they unanimously recognized Instagram's potential as a marketing platform. Some back their perspectives with growth statistics and comparative analyses, while others assert the ubiquity of Instagram. In the context of brow and beauty businesses, it's encouraging to note that our data confirms Instagram's role as a key marketing channel. This information is particularly reassuring for students who have invested in these courses.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

We acknowledge Instagram's significant role in evaluating the course content against reality in the brow business. However, due to recent algorithm transformations affecting organic reach, utilizing it as a channel for business has become more challenging. Specifically, the cost of acquiring new followers and reaching the number needed for organic reach to generate actual business for Powder Brows has risen dramatically compared to just 2-3 years ago.

While we recognize Instagram's importance as a visual portfolio platform, we cannot agree that its conversion cost is better than that of Facebook or Google search. Our statistical evidence, particularly for emerging artists, suggests otherwise. Many trainers advocate for Instagram's significance and superiority based on emotional assertions, such as "Do you know anyone who doesn't use Instagram?" Such statements starkly contrast the data-driven approach we employ at Powderbrows.com Research Center.

3. Universal Business Approach

This category delves into a more abstract realm, where the practical relevance varies widely among individuals. Trainers emphasize the importance of fully committing to the entrepreneurial journey to turn dreams into reality. They often share motivational anecdotes from their own experiences or those of their students, highlighting how they've navigated adversity, stress, and potential failure to achieve success through Instagram entrepreneurship. These narratives suggest that success on Instagram is inevitable and transformative.

Trainers discuss preparing for impending success, overcoming impostor syndrome, cultivating self-belief, and conquering fears. While these topics may resonate differently with each participant, they collectively underscore the psychological and emotional aspects of embarking on an entrepreneurial path, especially within the context of social media-driven businesses.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

While these narratives are engaging, their practicality can be elusive for some. In the realm of pigmentation, Powder Brows, Hairstrokes, and Microblading businesses, participants exhibit varying levels of risk tolerance. Though "mindset building" anecdotes provide captivating content, they may not always deliver concrete guidance. Notably, "Instagram coaching courses" often cater to novices unaware of the appropriate offerings to showcase on the platform, leading course creators to guide participants in selecting suitable products or services for their online presence.

This approach is risky for several reasons. Essentially, it places the onus of achieving success on Instagram upon the students of such training, allowing trainers to attribute failures to students not trying hard enough or not fully applying the learned knowledge. What's more telling is that many courses suggest failure results from having the wrong product or service. Statistically, only a fraction of course participants start earning, and unfortunately, many later blame themselves for their lack of success. However, a critical analysis often reveals that trainers profit primarily by selling online courses. Therefore, one should be highly critical of what to expect from such courses because, in the brow business and PMU, there's only a limited range of services one can offer to generate business.

4. Profile Essentials

Profile Essentials In this segment, the focus shifts to the intricacies that constitute the foundation of your Instagram presence. This entails deciphering the art of selecting a handle and username that resonates effectively, crafting a compelling "killer bio section," and oftentimes, perfecting your profile picture.

Drawing from our extensive exposure to numerous programs over the years, it's evident that these recommendations hold basic principle merit. For instance, favoring a concise handle that aligns with your offerings outshines a lengthy, cryptic string of symbols or numbers. Similarly, constructing a clear, concise bio incorporating a call to action yields better results than inundating it with an extensive block of text that few will read. Presenting a professional profile picture that distinctly features your face triumphs over utilizing a snapshot marred by a cluttered background.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Applying these principles to the brow business and considering numerous accounts we've reviewed, it's clear that such modifications significantly impact when an account has already gained some traction. For new artists starting their Instagram journey, these tips offer benefits. While these changes won't catapult an account to instant fame, they are essential building blocks, guiding your initial trajectory toward success.

It's crucial to recognize that these aspects aren't game-changers. A high-quality professional profile picture makes the brow artist appear more professional, and an easy-to-understand handle is preferable to a long and cryptic one. However, these technical aspects have a marginal influence in the broader context of the brow artist's brand, online and offline marketing, and account content, especially in the initial phase. Additionally, some aspects can only be tweaked to a certain degree. For instance, a professional brow artist in her 50s will have different criteria for an "attractive" profile picture compared to a model in her 20s showcasing her fitness.

Our observation from the courses was the trainers' emphasis on idiosyncratic observations about growing their accounts and the influence of the bio, profile picture, or handle on this growth. These factors are highly individual and must be considered in the specific context of when they were used. Therefore, all advice should be taken with a grain of salt, realizing that for a starting artist, mastering the "science" of crafting a "killer bio" has marginal influence on gaining a following. This has been substantiated by much current and more up-to-date research.

5. Technical skills

Technical skills for producing Reels, Stories, and Highlights

This section ventures into a wide array of topics - from cinematic creation and photography to the proficient use of content editing applications. Most courses comprehensively cover the proper lighting setup, highlighting the benefits of natural light or strategic use of ring lights.

They provide insights into capturing professional video content, frequently demonstrating the powerful capabilities of smartphones, and guide participants through editing using tools like Canva, Lightroom, or Adobe applications. Essentially, these modules serve as mini crash courses, guiding participants through the nuances of filming, photography, and post-production refinement. This multifaceted approach equips users with the technical skills to produce engaging and professional-looking Reels, Stories, and Highlights on Instagram.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Amid the diverse tapestry of the brow business landscape, a critical takeaway emerges - one that can be readily implemented. Many trainers emphasize the importance of a cautious start, highlighting the value of not excessively investing in recording equipment, camera lenses, or elaborate lighting setups initially. A modern smartphone suffices for the essentials of content creation in the early stages, making advanced gadgets and tools a consideration for later in your growth journey. This is one of the most sensible takeaways; many starting artists over-invest in equipment, mistakenly believing it will significantly improve their content quality. Often, it does not. Thus, trainers advocating for prudence are indeed correct, and we concur.

However, one aspect generally underemphasized by trainers is the investment of time and energy required for content production, both photos and videos. The examples they present are often cherry-picked, with nearly ideal raw content, and they employ effects suited specifically to this content from numerous options. For the average student, creating reels and stories of similar quality is an endeavor that initially takes much more time and energy.

We've observed that students of such courses often anticipate easy victories—methods that promise quick success. This leads many to hastily replicate the same steps with significantly lower-quality raw content, spending minimal time comparing effects and designing their visuals. This approach results in a proliferation of unprofessional content produced using the same steps but with far less effort and expertise. Our extensive research data on the effectiveness of such content indicates that while it may make an author's feed more interesting, it generally does not translate into considerable growth in followers or business. The unfortunate and unpopular truth that trainers of these courses rarely acknowledge is that there are no easy solutions.

6. Carving out unique selling points

This section delves into the crucial concept of unique selling propositions, often a central theme in many courses designed to cater to diverse participants with varied backgrounds. However, due to the topic's broad nature, it's sometimes only covered superficially. The focus is usually on developing uniqueness and leveraging these distinct factors in sales strategies.

An important but sometimes overlooked aspect is how customers perceive these unique attributes. The effectiveness of these selling points largely depends on their relevance and usefulness to the customer. Understanding that having an interesting hobbyist, artist, or composer background doesn't necessarily equate to success in unrelated fields like fitness coaching or brow artistry is vital. The key is identifying and highlighting unique aspects that directly benefit and appeal to your target audience, ensuring your unique selling points genuinely resonate with potential customers.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Transitioning to brow businesses, the effort to build a brand, establish associations with academies, and navigate the complexities of branding and business strategy extends beyond what conventional Instagram courses typically cover. While the prevalent advice isn't inherently flawed—such as identifying unique strengths, carving out a niche, addressing customer pain points, articulating values, and explaining the motivation behind the business—the unique challenges of the brow business require a deeper approach. The questions facing a budding brow artist go far beyond the surface-level insights offered by Instagram courses, making the journey into Powder Brows, Hairstrokes, or Microblading much more intricate.

One aspect is understanding that differentiation is key, but practically implementing it is another challenge altogether. Today, nearly anyone can have their portfolio pictures tuned and retouched for a modest fee, often resulting in flawless, magazine-quality images. Consequently, even the quality of portfolio pictures cannot be considered a reliable criterion for differentiation. A potential differentiator could be a memorable and professional brand name, possibly generated with tools like brandsnap.ai.

Additionally, and perhaps less encouragingly, to differentiate based on competence and professionalism, these qualities must be established before presentation. Unfortunately, there are few shortcuts to achieving this; it typically requires considerable hard work. Therefore, while Instagram course trainers are right in emphasizing the importance of differentiation, the general factors they offer are often not directly applicable or significant in the brow and pigmentation business. Regarding the world of pigmentation, one needs to develop these differences with a more field-specific approach and diligent effort.

7. Crafting compelling content

Ideas and Strategies for Content Production

In most courses, the approach to content production is predominantly technical, covering optimal posting times, maintaining a consistent content schedule (often suggesting more than five posts a week), and using hashtags strategically. Common recommendations for generating content include adopting successful ideas from competitors, keeping up with TikTok trends, and creating content that engages users. Over the years, the core advice in this section hasn't changed much, except for the recent addition of AI tools to aid in content planning and, occasionally, using AI-powered chatbots for content ideation.

However, a noticeable shift has occurred in how posting frequency is perceived. Moving away from the old mantra of constant posting, trainers now acknowledge that simply flooding feeds isn't effective. The focus has shifted to quality over quantity — emphasizing the importance of producing fewer but more meaningful posts rather than overwhelming followers with "digital trash" that doesn't add value. This recognition marks a significant transformation in content strategy, highlighting the importance of thoughtful, well-crafted posts in making a real impact.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Regarding strategies for account growth, the landscape has shifted significantly, especially after the recent Meta update and subsequent reach reductions, necessitating a recalibration of tactics. The formerly prevalent strategy of constant posting to drive account growth now requires an impracticably high frequency, particularly in the brow business context. The essential takeaway is to focus on creating fewer but more impactful posts, emphasizing quality over quantity.

The conclusions from these courses are clear: you need to produce relevant content that addresses followers' needs and occasionally add entertaining and visually appealing material. While this is correct and universally applicable, the major challenge is generating this content. Unfortunately, most brow artists struggle here. They often produce very little original content that truly resonates with readers. They might start with easy content like before-and-after photos, procedure restrictions, or displaying their certificates but soon hit a creative block, facing the "empty page syndrome" with no good or relevant post ideas. This issue can't be resolved with Instagram courses. While sections on crafting great posts might lead to students producing less "digital trash," they don't address the fundamental problem of generating original, relevant ideas.

8. Additional Tools

Leveraging Tools: Analytics, Autoposting, and Reposting

This course section emphasizes practicality, especially for those with a growing account ready for in-depth analysis. Various tools, such as Iconosquare and similar platforms, are highlighted for their ability to provide insights beyond Instagram's native analytics. Autoposting tools like Buffer are noted for their efficiency in managing and scheduling content, assuming a ready supply of posts.

Among the strategies discussed, one particularly interesting approach is the creation of a repository of around 300 posts for repeated reposting. This is based on the idea that audiences are unlikely to remember older posts, allowing for the reuse of content that has previously performed well. While this might initially seem unconventional, the strategy is grounded in logically understanding audience behavior and content consumption patterns.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

When it comes to all such tools, the primary takeaway is that they only become relevant when there are enough followers and data to analyze. Without this, data analysis is not feasible due to the lack of precision, as attributing false causes to "trends" on the account can easily skew the results. Therefore, one should critically acknowledge that such analyses don't make sense for small accounts with just a few thousand followers, where any random event can significantly impact the statistics.

However, a valuable insight we agree with, based on our research, is cultivating a different approach to managing Instagram accounts. While none of the trainers explicitly stated it, the underlying idea of using such tools is related to treating Instagram accounts as instrumental means to acquire business, not as ends in themselves. Thus, these should be seen as tools rather than the ultimate goals. One might manage multiple accounts, post identical content to local and international accounts, have accounts for their brow brands, and even accounts with thousands of fake followers. All these strategies promote the brand rather than treating one account as the sole focus or "the baby" of the artist. A shift in this approach and the internal attitude of the artist has proven to be very beneficial from a business standpoint.

9. Collaboration and account cultivation

Forging Connections in a Saturated Space

Almost every course includes a section dedicated to building collaborations with fellow creators, influencers, brands, and artists for content sharing and mutual promotion. Statistically, it's clear that while these approaches were effective in the past, the current landscape often equates these outreach efforts to solicit donations or sponsorships.

The saturation of the market and the frequency of such requests have altered how these overtures are perceived, making it more challenging to forge genuine connections and partnerships.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Translating these dynamics to the context of brow businesses reveals a notable challenge - novice artists often struggle with limited offerings to propose in collaborations. Established account owners tend to disregard these requests or perform a superficial evaluation, usually revealing an imbalance heavily favoring the well-established account.

Nevertheless, the foundational principles are valid. The key lesson from these scenarios is the wisdom of identifying account owners with strong organic followings and offering them complimentary brow treatments in exchange for modeling. However, the chance occurrence of finding an influencer in need of better brows remains, unfortunately, quite rare nowadays.

This doesn't imply one shouldn't attempt such strategies. While the courses articulate the model clearly and demonstrate how such cooperation can theoretically boost following, most trainers fail to emphasize that many account owners with large followings are already well-versed in "mutually beneficial" proposals and have become largely unresponsive. Essentially, proposing such cooperation is akin to asking strangers for money.

A more successful approach in the brow business involves considering the potential partner's perspective and offering them something genuinely appealing. For example, creating high-quality, well-designed physical gift cards with a substantial value (like USD 300 or 500) and offering them to a professional service provider like a photographer in exchange for their services. The photographer can use these cards as prizes in campaigns to attract more followers, making them more likely to accept the offer. That sort of cooperation model is more sophisticated and will result in the growth of the account in a more indirect way and over a longer period of time because of additional attention and more professional artist branding visuals.

Therefore, while the principles taught in Instagram courses are generally sound, the specific approaches they suggest for the brow business are often overly simplistic and unlikely to yield responses in most cases.What helps the accounts grow are wiser strategies where the causal chain of events between an action and the result is longer and more indirect.

10. The Role of AI

Content Generation and Strategic Planning

Venturing into uncharted territories, integrating AI in content ideation and strategic blueprinting was a novel addition across trainers' curricula. Yet, while this segment demonstrated novelty, the implementations often ventured into exaggeration. Employing AI to generate Instagram post ideas and captions or automate posting schedules isn't groundbreaking.

Additionally, many trainers overemphasized AI's capabilities, suggesting that relying on "flawless prompts" from tools like ChatGPT could single-handedly solve content creation challenges or significantly reduce workload (some suggested that it could even save one day out of a 5-day work week). Unfortunately, this depiction sometimes veers into unrealistic or misleading territory. While AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool, it's crucial to maintain realistic expectations about its role and capabilities in content strategy and creation.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Within the brow business domain, where visual content is paramount, many concepts that seemed engaging in promotional materials proved challenging to implement effectively, resulting in minimal usable content.

For example, consider creating multiple AI-generated "identities" to facilitate complex discussions for optimal strategies or analyses for the account owner. While these tactics might initially intrigue novices in the language model realm, they often yield average and "safe" content, similar to what one might find through a basic online search. The value of AI is unquestionable, but the idea that it can entirely replace human effort is an overstatement.

At Powderbrows.com Research Center, we have experimented with various such methods. Our main finding is as follows: AI can generally assist in generating content ideas if you are not an expert in the field, possibly providing more insights than you possess. However, if you are a professional in Powder Brows or Hairstrokes, the likelihood that AI knows more about the specifics of the field than you do is minimal.

Therefore, the approach of many Instagram training courses regarding AI should be reconsidered. While many courses suggest using AI to generate ideas and topics for content, with artists then expanding and detailing those, our research indicates that the opposite is more effective (assuming the artist is professional and competent). The artist should determine the topics and main content ideas, and AI can then assist in elaborating the content and translating posts. This method has proven highly effective with many artists we have monitored.

11. Account growth

Growing follower base and Crafting a Sales Funnel

Every course included a section dedicated to the principles of account growth, gaining initial traction, and increasing followers. While some courses marketed these segments as containing novel, "hidden" growth strategies, the advice was generally along expected lines.

Many trainers suggested following active accounts, monitoring followers, and engaging with meaningful comments to foster growth and build a sales funnel. Despite the purported novelty, these strategies often align with common social media growth practices.

Course content vs. reality in brow business

Undoubtedly, these strategies have some merit when starting a fresh account. However, evolving an account into an effective sales channel in the brow business introduces complexities. While these tips are valuable for established businesses, applying them effectively during an account's early stages often presents challenges, particularly when contending with an initial lack of traction. Our analysis of course content in 2023 indicated that crucial segments were significantly outdated, especially regarding Instagram algorithms. It's clear that strategies such as "follow back" initiatives and leveraging comments for growth have diminished effectiveness.

Despite these strategies becoming less effective, creating intriguing posts on compelling topics that present a favorable view on one side of an issue has proven beneficial. For instance, if a major pigment producer is criticized, producing a quick, comprehensive, and well-founded analysis defending them might result in the brand or its ambassadors sharing the content of even lesser-known artists, thereby spotlighting the post. Quality is more important than quantity.

Starting artists should remember that they have virtually nothing to lose at the career's onset. Moreover, engaging with divisive, intriguing topics can attract followers more effectively than focusing on producing irrelevant content in isolation.

12. What general conclusions we drew

The primary focus of these courses is on the technical aspects of growing an Instagram account. However, they often neglect a fundamental question crucial for anyone aspiring to transition from a conventional "9-to-5" job to achieving "financial freedom" and "passive income" through Instagram entrepreneurship. This question is about the core of the business: having a viable business concept and the ability to deliver in-demand value. Simply mastering Instagram's technicalities is not enough without a solid business idea.

In simple terms, these courses can assist you if you already have a viable business with demand, but they certainly won't create that business for you.

Enrolling in these courses to discover a business concept often leads to motivation without direction, leaving participants with high aspirations but no clear value proposition for potential customers. For Instagram coaches, the business model is clear: they provide technical guidance to their clients and get paid for their services. For the students, the challenge is much greater, involving developing and implementing a viable business model from scratch.

An MLM Warning - “Become a coach schemes”

While these training programs can be beneficial for gaining foundational Instagram knowledge, they should be approached cautiously. Most trainers are congenial and have clear visions for their businesses. However, many additionally suggest a "mentor's career" path, reminiscent of multi-level marketing systems, where students are encouraged to become Instagram coaches if they lack a solid business plan.

This model is mathematically dubious (basically, you can read: “impossible”), often leading to more trainers than demand can support. Research has shown these models to be questionable, with little empirical evidence of long-term success for trainers or students. Many students invest significant sums (USD 5000 - 10 000) to "become a mentor or coach" themselves, often without recouping their investments. This is hardly surprising, considering the basic math of capital and sales distribution.

13. Conclusions

Our thorough evaluation of Instagram courses has identified ten essential categories, each offering key insights:

1) Understanding Instagram's unique platform dynamics and features;

2) Creating innovative business models aimed at escaping the traditional 9-to-5 and generating "passive income";

3) Enhancing account aesthetics, including username, bio, profile picture, and more;

4) Gaining proficiency in technical aspects of creating reels, stories, and posts;

5) Developing a distinctive brand identity that appeals to a specific clientele and offers unique value;

6) Planning content posting schedules and continuously generating compelling content ideas;

7) Analyzing growth metrics, mastering basic data analysis, and tracking progress;

8) Initiating partnerships and collaborations to drive traffic and engagement;

9) Leveraging AI for efficient content generation;

10) Transforming an account into an active sales funnel for effective conversions.

However, certain gaps become apparent when applying these strategies to a Powder Brows, Hairstrokes, or Microblading business. This discrepancy isn't necessarily due to the trainers or their courses but rather the broad scope of topics they attempt to cover. Considering the variety of businesses, expecting detailed coverage for each niche is unrealistic.

In conclusion, our analysis suggests that while these courses provide the technical knowledge needed to understand the work involved, realizing this knowledge requires a team of content creators, designers, copywriters, videographers, and more. The importance of robust content posting strategies is clear, yet content creation is the main challenge. What these courses often omit in their marketing is that while they provide the tools and understanding to gain technical proficiency, the substantial task of diligently cultivating the accounts for growth remains with the students.