Instagram is really fun for sharing pictures of cute puppies, but it’s also a great tool for businesses to use as part of an online marketing strategy. Its visual nature makes it easy to use, and it can be a fantastic way to engage with your customers.
But don’t make the same mistakes that so many companies do when they first start on Instagram! Here are my top tips for taking your marketing campaigns to the next level with this awesome platform.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Instagram offers potent marketing potential through visual content. |
| 2. Building a complete and engaging profile is crucial for success. |
| 3. Utilize hashtags strategically to increase content visibility. |
| 4. Visual storytelling and user-generated content enhance engagement. |
| 5. Regular interaction and contests foster audience engagement. |
| 6. Instagram’s features like stories and polls can boost engagement. |
| 7. Leverage Instagram’s business tools for insights and analytics. |
| 8. Consistent branding maintains a cohesive and memorable presence. |
| 9. Collaborations and influencer partnerships can expand reach. |
| 10. Adapting to trends and updates keeps your strategy effective. |
Ignore The Naysayers. Instagram Is Where It’s At!
But you can’t have any of these things, you say? You’re a small business and Instagram is too expensive for you?
Well, good news! It’s not. If you keep your posts to under three minutes each and don’t go overboard with the hashtags (which we’ll talk more about later), then Instagram will probably be the cheapest marketing platform out there.
Instagram is also a great platform for visual content. Have you ever noticed how many people use their phone cameras now instead of their DSLRs? This is because it’s easier to use the camera on their phone, which means more photos get taken.
So if your business has something visually appealing or eye-catching, then Instagram is perfect for showcasing that off in ways that Facebook can’t offer or even Youtube sometimes does better than Facebook itself!
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Think In Terms Of Visual Content And Calls To Action
You want to keep your audience engaged and buy, so make sure your images are clear and easy to understand. Use a call to action (CTA) in the image itself, or at the end of your caption.
This can be any type of CTA that suits you, such as “Click here for more information” which will redirect them directly to another website or blog post on your site.
You can also use a CTA for social media posts by asking people what they think about something related to your brand or topic; this will encourage them to comment on their thoughts instead of simply scrolling past it without engaging with the content in any way.
Tell A Story With Your Posts
Stories are a new way of sharing images and videos on Instagram. You can also see who liked your stories and add comments to them.
Stories are visible for 24 hours, and then they disappear. You can save your story to your phone so that you can re-share it later if you want to!
To create a story:
Take several photos in a row or shoot lots of video clips with the same theme (like going out with friends on Friday night).
Create a collage of those photos or video clips by tapping ‘New Story’ at the top left corner of your feed, then selecting ‘Create New Story’ from there. Add captions to each photo/video clip as you go along – this will help tell people what’s happening in each one!
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Don’t Be An Attention Seeker
Be mindful of your audience.
As an Instagram user with a brand to promote, it’s important that you don’t come across as an attention seeker. You want people to engage with the content you share without feeling like they are being bombarded with marketing messages or spam.
This means not using too many hashtags (#) or emoji emoticons (:). And don’t be afraid of using emojis sparingly they’re great for showing emotion but can also feel like overkill if used too much.
The same goes for words: if all it takes is one word for someone to understand what’s going on in your photo then leave it out!
In addition to avoiding attention whoring, make sure that none of the hashtags within each post have more than 15 characters (including spaces).
It’s best practice not only because the platform won’t let you use any longer ones anyway but also because longer hashtags tend not to get clicked on as often by others searching through them
Engage With Other Users
When you post something, reply to comments and tag people in your posts. You can also ask for feedback and invite others to be featured on your account (you might want to pay them for this). The more engagement you have, the more likely it is that people will follow your account.
Do Some User Research
Before you start to use Instagram as a marketing tool, it’s important to do some user research. You’ll want to know what are the most popular hashtags? What are the most popular accounts? What are the most popular tags?
You should also take note of what brands and celebrities have an account on Instagram. If you’re going to use this platform as part of your online marketing strategy, then it’s always good to see who else is using it and how they’re using it before jumping in feet first.
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Run Contests To Get More Followers
Use a hashtag. Make it interesting, fun, and easy to enter. Make sure that your content is visible on your page and make it easy for people to find the entry form by including “enter here” in your caption or description.
If you want visitors from outside of Instagram (or even if you don’t), make sure the contest is easy for them to participate in too for example, by using a third-party service like Rafflecopter or Gleam (which we’ll talk about later).
Use Images On Other Social Media Channels Too. Not Just Instagram
If you’re using Instagram as a marketing tool, chances are you’re already posting images on other social media channels. If so, make sure that the photos you’re uploading to Instagram are consistent with your existing branding and visual identity.
If you have multiple products or services to promote, create separate handles for each one so that users can easily distinguish between them.
For example, @instagram_bakery and @instagram_florists would be good choices if both businesses sold baked goods and floral arrangements (respectively).
Visuals Are Key Because They Cut Through The Clutter
Nowadays, you can’t just post text on Instagram and expect people to take notice. The platform is filled with tons of other brands vying for your attention, so it’s important to always use visuals that help cut through the clutter and get your message across quickly.
Visuals are key because they help you:
- Stand out from the crowd
- Get your message across quickly
- Communicate in an engaging way
Optimize Your Pics For Small Mobile Screens By Using Simple, Eye-Catching Designs That Are Easy To Read And Understand Quickly
When you upload an image to Instagram, the platform will automatically shrink it to fit a small screen. If your photo isn’t optimized for this size, it may look pixelated or out of focus and have poor resolution.
A good photo editing app can help fix these issues so that when the app resizes your image for mobile, it still looks great!
To optimize for small screens and make sure that your images are always clear and readable by potential customers, follow these tips:
- Use simple designs with strong colors that stand out from their backgrounds;
- Make sure your text is easy to read;
- Choose a high resolution;
- Use bright colors so they’re not washed out by shadowing in darker environments (e.g., nighttime)
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Use Hashtags Wisely, But Don’t Overdo Them
Once you’ve figured out the type of content you want to create, it’s time to think about how you can use hashtags effectively. Hashtags are a great way to categorize your posts and connect with your audience.
They also help people find your content and help boost engagement. Here are some tips on how to use hashtags:
Don’t overdo them using too many hashtags will seem like spamming and could even hurt your brand image if people perceive it as such.
So just choose one or two that make sense for the post at hand (for example, if I’m posting a photo of food from my favorite restaurant in Brooklyn with two locations on Flatbush Ave., then maybe I would add #foodie or #brooklyn).
Use up-to-date ones. If there is a popular event happening in town at this moment (like Coachella), then make sure that one of these trending topics appears in all of your posts so that more people will see them!
Make Sure Your Thread Of Images Is Visually Consistent, Or It May Confuse Or Annoy Users Who Follow You
When you’re creating a thread of images, the look and feel of your Instagram feed should be consistent. This will help ensure that followers can recognize it as your work by looking at the first image they see.
If you want your feed to feel cohesive, use similar filters on all of your photos, take shots from the same angle(s), and make sure the color palette is consistent throughout (i.e., if one photo has a blue filter, all photos should have blue filters).
Keep backgrounds relatively similar (or change them in predictable ways), shoot in locations that look similar when viewed together (say from different angles), and don’t forget props!
You can also use people for example, if one photo features a friend dressed as an avocado slice or another with eyeshadow on their face.
Don’t Spam With Your Links! No One Wants This!
Don’t overdo it. If you are posting too many links, people will become annoyed and stop following you. That is the last thing you want!
Don’t use too many hashtags. Try to keep it under 15-20, but no more than 30. If you go above 30, Instagram will not allow your post to be published and give an error message saying “Sorry for any inconvenience, but no more than 20 hashtags can be used per post.”
Don’t link directly in your caption or bio unless it’s an event page or website dedicated only to that particular topic (i.e., http://www/thesocialmediabook)
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Instagram Is A Great Way For Businesses To Use Visual Marketing, As Long As You Do It Right!
Instagram is a great way for businesses to use visual marketing, as long as you do it right! But what does that mean? It means that you need to be consistent and purposeful with your approach.
At the end of the day, you want people to interact with your content and engage with it. The most effective way to do this is by promoting meaningful content that matches your brand image.
Here are some tips on how you can use Instagram effectively:
Conclusion
So, there you have it our guide to using Instagram for marketing. As we’ve seen, this powerful social media platform is a great way to build your brand and connect with potential customers.
But only if you do it right! There are plenty of bad habits when it comes to Instagram use that can turn people off your business.
These include spamming them with links, posting images that don’t represent your brand well or consistently enough and neglecting to engage with other users. If you avoid these pitfalls and follow our tips instead, we’re sure you’ll be able to make Instagram work for you!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further exploring the topic of using Instagram as a marketing tool:
UniversalClass – Using Instagram as a Marketing Tool A comprehensive guide on leveraging Instagram’s potential for effective marketing and brand promotion.
ThriveHive – How to Use Instagram as a Marketing Tool Discover actionable tips and strategies to utilize Instagram as a powerful marketing tool for your business.
HubSpot – Instagram Marketing: The Ultimate Guide HubSpot’s comprehensive guide covering various aspects of Instagram marketing, including audience engagement and growth.
FAQs
What are the key benefits of using Instagram for marketing?
Instagram offers a visually appealing platform that allows businesses to showcase products, connect with audiences, and build brand awareness.
How can I optimize my Instagram profile for marketing purposes?
Ensure your profile is complete and visually consistent, use relevant hashtags, and engage with your audience through compelling captions and stories.
What types of content perform well on Instagram?
Visual content such as high-quality images, videos, stories, and user-generated content tend to resonate well with Instagram audiences.
How can I effectively engage with my followers on Instagram?
Regularly interact with your followers by responding to comments, running contests, using interactive features like polls, and sharing behind-the-scenes content.
What role do hashtags play in Instagram marketing?
Hashtags help increase discoverability and reach on Instagram by categorizing your content. Using relevant and trending hashtags can expand your content’s reach to a wider audience.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.