Ask Jupiter No. 8 — Should I make my IG feed a 9-grid?

Exploring what the heck a static feed is and whether or not you should create one

Hi Jupiter!

Tell me more about this 9 grid trend… I am v intrigued & just heard about it for real after seeing your post!

(Editor’s Note: for the uninitiated, a 9-grid is series of static, posts. For some reason, Substack or Meta won’t let me embed this it so see a bootleg screenshot below.)

I have a BUNCH of questions about it so feel free to answer whatever!

High-level Qs:

1. I’d love a run down, what it is, why someone uses it, how it works?

2. How do I know if I should use the method?

3. General best practices for what to include?

4. Do you have any examples of other who have done this?

5. Why are you doing a 9 grid on your account?

Specific Qs:

1. What does one (especially a type A one) do if you need to update something in one of the posts on the 9 grid?

2. What is the best way to design for cohesiveness (designers in the past have told me Canva is hard for that background flow so does this need to be Adobe, Figma, etc)

3. Can this be a good response to wanting to live your values (meta is evil) but still getting in touch w people via a platform they may still be on

4. If you’re limited on time, should you prioritize website updates or 9 grid… or is the answer both & they can influence each other?

— 9-grid curious

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Hi Curious!!

Obsessed with your list of questions here! You lowkey (okay, highkey) outlined of this piece for me LOL.

Before we get into it, I’d like to note that I am not the first or last person to use a 9-grid and the concept was popularized by Kristen Achziger from Going Ultraviolet! She offers a 9-grid toolkit on her website if you want it straight from the source.

So, what is the 9-grid format on Instagram?

A 9-grid (or sometimes 12 grid) is shorthand for a series of static posts that act as a “landing page” on IG (vs. constantly posting and updating your feed).

The posts often piece together to make a larger cohesive image (in my case, I’m planning to use one congruent gradient background).

Why would someone use the 9-grid format?

Posting on IG takes a ton of time. Especially if you’re a chronic overthinker who runs your own business. Anyone? Bueller?

What starts as a simple task at the top of your to do list—post on Instagram—becomes the reason your kitchen is spotless but your to do list remains.

Those of us pivoting our IG presence to the a more static method are waving goodbye to algorithm obsessions and “always on” growth marketing.

The nine grid is great for businesses that KNOW they need to be on IG but are not interested in using feed posts as to grow community and attract leads.

It might seem counterintuitive to keep the same nine images up on a social media platform driven by constant posting and ever-changing algorithm. However, in 2025, having a business IG is the norm, if not the expected standard.

The nine grid is perfect for those who want to exit the rat race but don’t want to give up on the platform. Plus, a cohesive series of posts looks more intentional than a graveyard of last year’s trends.

How do I know the 9-grid is right for me?

So funny you should ask this! I built a Seventeen Magazine-esque quiz for my IG post about 9-grids and turned it into an actual quiz you can take here.

9-grid or Nah Quiz

PLUS, when you get to the end, you also have the option to tell me your industry and your #1 business goal and I’ll send you my thoughts.

Side note: Shout out to Sue-Jan Noreiga for encouraging me to do this and recommending Tally forms.

What are the best practices for creating a 9-grid?

I like to think of the 9-grid as an extension of your pinned posts. What are the key points you need to hit?

For pinned posts (9-grid or not), I often encourage my clients to have (in no particular order)

1. Who you are

2. What you offer/how to reach you

3. What you believe in and why

From there, I’d consider your general content strategy. Are you trying to emphasize your thought leadership? Educate the masses? Highlight specific services?

Similar to building your website, imagine your ideal client is visiting your profile. What do you want to make sure they take away?

Here’s how I am applying this to my brand:

Aside from the who/what/why, I care that folks learn:

• I have a Substack where I answer social media questions

• I’m a skilled strategist that won’t bullshit you

• Strategy is for everyone, not just Big Business™️

• I don’t take myself or social media too seriously

I’ve built out my 9-grid accordingly. Follow me on IG to watch the roll out.

I’ve also seen folks use the 9-grid as a webzine, and move through specific themes either quarterly or bi-annually.

TL,DR: because you are using the platform in an unintended use, you can basically do whatever you want.

The caveat of the unintended use is that IG can change literally at any time and might ruin your feed. Luckily you are a disciple of Jupiter Content Co, and you know they could unplug the internet tmrw. So no biggie!

Use the same framework to build out a new static feed in whatever new fucked up sizing IG has implemented.

Do you have any examples of a 9-grid?

I asked this question over on Threads so feel free to scroll through to see what everyone suggested.

My favorite, by Emile of Pass the Queso, though technically a 12-grid!

With the current iteration of IG dimensions, I think posts that can stand alone but connect via colors and themes is the way to go. So slay 💅

From the square dayz, Brittany of Happyland Creative did THAT.

I love the way she showcased her projects and encouraged folks to look at the archives!

I do think a lot of the OG 9-grid folks built them out via square and are now reworking with the dimension changes.

Let’s apply everything we’ve learned!

CLIENT: A very talented drummer in one of the world’s most popular bands.

PROBLEM(s):

• Wants to drum with more artists than just his current band

• Is under contract to promote the shows of his current band

• Does not know how to use a phone, let alone social media. Plus, he has no thumbs.

SOLUTION: A nine grid that highlights his work, his approach, and why someone might want to work with him.

Here is his 9-grid:

Graphic design is my passion

and here is the break down:

I am a totally sane person

Why are you, Jupiter Content Co., doing a 9-grid?

As someone who works in social media, it might seem like a Bad Call to keep my page static. However…

• Most of my leads come from word-of-mouth, Substack or Threads! I am most active on those platforms and use IG to connect with my already existing community members vs gaining new followers

• My priority is my client work. I want to spend more time helping them with their feeds than I do worrying about my own

• I plan to continue to show up in my stories and add in hidden-from-feed reels when I’m looking to grow

• I’m a strategist first and foremost. I know, for me, at this moment, the juice ain’t worth the squeeze. I am fully prepared for that to change in the future, but for now, friendship ended with constantly posting, 9-grid is my new bestie

For this next part, I am just going to rapid fire answer your questions!

What does one (especially a type A one) do if you need to update something in one of the posts on the 9 grid or the dimensions change?

Because the internet could be unplugged tomorrow, one must approach a static strategy knowing that you will have to change it. Get real zen with it.

For updating purposes, if we think of the 9 grid as numbers.. 4/5/6 are great candidates for changing, with 4 being the easiest to swap out based on whatever you want to highlight.

If you want to change multiple without redoing the whole thing, I’d lean towards swapping out an entire row.

What is the best way to design for cohesiveness?

(Designers in past have told me Canva is hard for that background flow so does this need to be Adobe, Figma, etc)

Adobe and Figma are definitely easier, but you can bootleg it in Canva by creating a canvas that is 3240 x 1350 and using a tool like Pinetools to divide the images.

I will give the caveat that your images might not export in the way you want them to so be mindful of that.

Can this be a good response to wanting to live your values (meta is evil) but still getting in touch w people via a platform they may still be on

Yes yes yes!!! Like I discussed with my last post about boycotting Meta, you don’t want to take yourself out of the town square.

Using the 9 grid keeps you in the game but does not make you as beholden to the whims of the evil empire.

If you’re limited on time, should you prioritize website updates or 9 grid… or is the answer both & they can influence each other?

1. Honestly, I’d say it depends on what you are updating. If it’s time sensitive, absolutely update both quickly.

2. If it’s more evergreen (and less important), update when you’re ready to flip the whole thing.

Still unsure if a 9-grid is right for you?

Take the quiz with an option to my professional opinion at the end

💌,

KP @ Jupiter Content Co.

Have a question for Jupiter? You can fill out the form here or DM me on IG.

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If you have made it this far, I have a gift for u 🤲 🎁

The author’s gorgeous model son with blooming tulips !!