I've designed templates for hundreds of small businesses, and I keep seeing the same 3 mistakes over and over.

1. Too much text on graphics

Your Instagram post isn't a blog. If someone has to squint to read it, they're scrolling past. Rule of thumb: if it doesn't fit in 8 words or less, put the rest in the caption.

2. Inconsistent brand colors

One post is blue, the next is orange, the next has a random gradient. Your audience can't recognize you in their feed. Pick 2-3 colors and stick with them across every single post.

3. Ignoring negative space

Cramming every pixel with content makes your designs look amateur. The best-performing posts have breathing room. White space isn't wasted space — it's what makes your message pop.

Fix these three things and your engagement rate will jump. I built TemplateKit specifically to solve all of these — every template follows these principles out of the box.