If you’ve read any of my other posts on social media advertising, you probably noticed that I love Instagram. As a strictly visual platform, it’s a great place to post images of your products and services to encourage engagement with your brand.
However, organic growth on Instagram is notoriously difficult. It can take weeks or months for one of your posts to climb the algorithmically-created ranks and reach its maximum potential audience before the algorithm switches up again.
That’s why using paid strategies like ads is so important: they help you bypass all the noise and get straight to the people who are most likely to engage with your content.
In this guide, we’ll cover how advertising works on Instagram, how much it costs, and how you can start using ads in your own campaigns today.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Instagram offers a visually-rich platform for advertising. |
| 2. Instagram’s user base includes a diverse and engaged audience. |
| 3. Advertising on Instagram can enhance brand visibility. |
| 4. Targeted ads on Instagram can lead to higher conversion rates. |
| 5. Instagram ads enable businesses to tell compelling stories. |
| 6. Instagram provides various ad formats for creative campaigns. |
| 7. Leveraging Instagram influencers can amplify ad effectiveness. |
| 8. Analyzing ad performance helps optimize marketing strategies. |
| 9. Instagram ads can yield a strong return on investment (ROI). |
| 10. Incorporating Instagram ads can boost overall marketing impact. |
Create Quality Content
While you may have heard the phrase “quality over quantity,” it’s important to remember that this is a philosophy that applies to more than just your Instagram account.
Quality content on Instagram will help you gain followers and likes, but it will also help you get more engagement with other accounts.
Remember that what you post matters just as much as how many people see it. Don’t post just because you think it might be funny or something that’ll get attention; rather, think about what would be useful for others based on their needs!
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Use Quality Images
If you want to engage your audience, you need to use quality images. When it comes to Instagram advertising, this means using high-quality images that are relevant to your content and easy to see.
- Keep it simple: Don’t clutter up the background with too many elements. Too much going on can make an image feel busy and distracting for viewers and nobody likes a cluttered screen!
- Use light colors: Dark backgrounds can make text hard to read, so stick with lighter shades like white or yellow when designing ads for Instagram.
- Think about size: Avoid using images that are too big or too small for your ad space as they will look strange and might even get rejected by the platform’s ad guidelines!
Consider Video Content
Video content is a great way to engage customers and show them how your product or service can help them. Plus, video pages have better click-through rates than normal images, which makes them even more effective at driving traffic back to your site.
Also keep in mind that Instagram lets you post videos up to 60 seconds long (as opposed to the standard one minute), so if you have an especially engaging video that needs more time, this feature will come in handy for you!
If you’re looking for ways to use video on Instagram, here are some ideas:
Show off how a customer uses your product or service or make it funny! This could be anything from showing someone using it as intended (like putting on makeup).
Or something silly like dancing with their dog while wearing the item (which would probably get more views than anything else).
Either way, showcasing real people doing real things gives potential customers a better idea of what owning something from you will look like in their own lives.
You could also record yourself using it with an explanation of why it works best this way this is especially helpful if there are any special features involved that set yours apart from other similar products on the market.”
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Get Featured On Instagram Influencers
Another perk of influencer marketing is that you can get featured on Instagram influencers. This will help you reach a wider audience, get more engagement and exposure, build your brand name, and most importantly get more followers which in turn means sales!
Working with an influencer means that they’ll promote the business through their account or blog or social media channels. You could also consider collaborating with them by including them in your content (e.g. doing a joint video).
Think About Instagram Advertising
If you’re a small business owner, it’s important to get your message out there. Instagram advertising is a great way to do so, as it’s cost-effective, easy to set up and track, and even easier to optimize.
Cost-effectiveness: Instagram ads are one of the most cost-effective ways for small businesses to market their products or services. You pay only when someone clicks on your ad or impression (the number of times an ad appears in someone’s feed).
Ease of use: With Instagram’s self-serve platform, you can create an ad campaign with only three steps: choose your objective (like driving traffic to your website).
Write copy for your image(s) or video(s), then select where those images or videos will appear on the platform based on demographics like age range, location and gender and voila!
Your ads are ready to run! You don’t need any design skills because everything is already preloaded into the toolkit that comes with each campaign; just plug in what works best for you! Oh, and did I mention how easy it is?
Tracking capabilities: The performance metrics offered by Instagram provide insight into how well each element within an ad campaign performs relative to all others within that same campaign.
Or even related campaigns across multiple channels if needed–allowing marketers greater control over-optimizing their investments by making informed decisions about what works best based off real data rather than guesswork.”
Know What Hashtags Are Trending
It’s important to realize that hashtags can be used in several different ways. For example, you could use them to:
Identify and engage with potential customers who are interested in your industry or niche.
Get a sense of what content resonates most with your target audience. This is especially useful if you’re trying to create an image campaign and want to know which posts have been getting the most engagement on Instagram.
Find out what people are saying about competitors or other businesses in the same space as yours (and then craft witty responses).
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Pay Attention To Your Customer’s Comments
You should always respond to comments on your Instagram page. Even if you are not able to make an immediate response, it will be beneficial for you to get in the habit of checking out their profile and responding whenever possible.
When replying to a customer’s comments or questions, make sure that your response is polite and helpful. You do not want any negative reviews because of how you have responded in the past!
Focus On Your Captions
When it comes to Instagram captions, there are many different ways you can stand out.
Call to action: A call-to-action (CTA) is an instruction that tells the viewer what you want them to do next.
If you want people to subscribe or download an app, use a CTA such as “Click here.” If you want fans to buy something in-store or online, try “Come see us.”
If there’s a survey they need to fill out and submit by a certain date, let them know with a CTA like “Fill out this survey by [date].”
You’ll have more success if your caption leads somewhere specific rather than just saying something vague like “Click now!”
Emojis: Emojis are tiny pictures that convey emotion or feelings. They’re fun and easy ways for teams at brands with diverse audiences (like everyone!) who otherwise couldn’t communicate on their terms even if they don’t speak English fluently!
There are hundreds of emoji options available now within Instagram itself so no matter which way someone feels about using them (or not), chances are good there will be one that works well for whatever feeling/message needs conveying at any given time.
Research The Competition And Make Sure You’re Different From Them
When you’re trying to figure out how to advertise on Instagram, it’s important to know your competition. Who are the other businesses in your industry? What do they do well or poorly? Are there any glaring holes in their product lineup or marketing strategy?
Once you’ve done some research into your competitors, consider what makes them successful and how that can be applied to your own business. Let’s say a competitor has a strong social media presence with an engaged audience;
This could help inform how you structure your Instagram account. If another company is doing something that seems off-brand or doesn’t align with its aesthetic (like posting memes), take note of that as well so that it doesn’t happen on your account!
Focus On A Niche Audience
One of the keys to getting a good return on your Instagram advertising is to focus on a niche audience.
When it comes to Facebook, you have scope for reaching very large numbers of people with your adverts.
But on Instagram, your audience is smaller; in fact, it’s much more specific than on Facebook. This means that you can have better control over whom you reach out to and what they see.
Here are some things that you should consider when targeting your niche audience:
Focus on interests rather than demographics “Women aged 18-24 who like photography but don’t follow any photographers” is better than “Women aged 18-24″ (but not as specific as “women aged 18-24 who also like photography).
By doing this, you can target users who are most likely interested in buying from your business – even if they don’t necessarily fit into traditional marketing categories!
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Stay Consistent With Your Posts, Especially When It Comes To The Number Of Times You Post Each Day And Week
You should also be consistent with your posts, especially when it comes to the number of times you post each day and week.
Posting too many times can be annoying for people who follow your account; posting too few times may not result in enough engagement for you to see a return on investment.
This can lead to a decrease in organic reach, which is detrimental because it means that fewer people will see your content.
Keep an eye on how often you’re posting, especially when it comes to Instagram stories. As mentioned earlier, they disappear after 24 hours so don’t worry about them having as much staying power as photos do (though they do still appear in the order they were posted).
The more often you post stories, the more likely people will forget what happened last time so if something exciting happens at one point during their viewing experience they won’t know about it unless they scroll back through every single story since then!
Use Customer Photos When Possible Or Appropriate
The best thing about Instagram is that it’s a visual platform. You have the opportunity to showcase your brand, products, and services in a way that can’t be done with other social media platforms.
Showcase your customers, preferably using their photos. This can be as simple as asking them to take one of their favorite items and post it on their feed or tagging the business when they do so on theirs (if you want to be more involved).
You could also ask them for permission to repost any photos they take at events or in-store where you sell their products. If you have an Insta-worthy team behind the scenes making everything happen, why not show them off?
Showcase your brand by posting photos that are representative of what makes it unique is there anything special about how things are made?
Are there any interesting company traditions? Do people love working there because they care about growing personally too much not just professionally? Whatever creates an experience worth celebrating will help define who you are as a business in ways both big and small.
Don’t Ask For Too Much Involvement From Followers In The Caption Section
While you do want to get people involved in your feed, it can also be overwhelming if you ask too many questions in the caption. Try to keep things simple and don’t ask for too much involvement from followers in the caption section.
Don’t ask for too many likes or comments on your posts, either this will help ensure that people take time out of their day to watch and engage with what you have posted on Instagram.
Finally, keep in mind that Instagram is not an investment opportunity;
It’s a social network that allows brands and influencers alike some exposure to each other’s lives in a more intimate way than other platforms such as Facebook or Twitter have done so far (although even those platforms are trying).
Giveaways, Contests, And Discounts Are Great Ways To Engage With Customers And Broaden Your Reach On Instagram
Instagram’s user stories are a great way to engage with customers on a more personal level. They also allow you to promote your business in a fun and engaging way.
For example, if you’re running an Instagram giveaway, you can use user stories to showcase past winners and encourage people who haven’t entered yet to enter the contest.
User stories are also a good way for businesses that are looking for new followers or customers to reach out directly via Instagram through private messaging or direct messages (DMs).
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Make Use Of User Stories When Relevant!
User stories are a great way to engage with customers and show them what goes on behind the scenes of your business. They allow you to show what it’s like working at your company and build empathy with your audience by giving them an inside look at how things work.
For example, if you run a coffee shop, user stories could include photos of employees making lattes or doing inventory management; if you run an animal shelter, they could include photos of pets being adopted; if you run a gym, they could include shots of trainers exercising their clients.
User stories can also be used as an opportunity for self-promotion by providing useful information about products or services offered by your company. For example: “We offer free wifi! Come visit us in person today :)”
Conclusion
Instagram is a great social media platform for businesses to advertise on. It offers many benefits, such as having an audience that’s mostly comprised of millennials – this demographic makes up over 70% of its user base.
In addition, there are very few barriers between brands and their customer’s thanks to Instagram’s direct messaging feature which allows for an easy way to communicate with each other and build relationships.
This article has provided some tips on how companies can best use Instagram advertising as part of their marketing strategy so they can get the most out of it!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to dive deeper into Instagram advertising:
Why Advertise on Instagram? Short Description: Explore the compelling reasons behind advertising on Instagram and how it can benefit your business.
5 Benefits of Instagram Ads You Should Know Right Now Short Description: Discover five key advantages of using Instagram ads to enhance your marketing efforts.
4 Benefits of Advertising on Instagram Short Description: Learn about four significant benefits that come with advertising on Instagram and how they can impact your business.
FAQs
How does Instagram advertising differ from other social platforms?
Instagram advertising offers a visually-driven platform that allows businesses to showcase their products and services through engaging images and videos. This unique visual approach sets it apart from other social platforms that may rely more on text-based content.
What types of businesses can benefit from Instagram advertising?
Instagram advertising can benefit a wide range of businesses, including e-commerce stores, fashion brands, lifestyle influencers, travel agencies, and more. The key is to have visually appealing content that resonates with the platform’s audience.
How can Instagram ads help increase brand visibility?
Instagram ads can help increase brand visibility by exposing your products and services to a larger, targeted audience. With the right ad campaigns, your brand can reach users who are more likely to engage with your content and become potential customers.
Are Instagram ads suitable for small businesses?
Yes, Instagram ads can be highly effective for small businesses. The platform’s precise targeting options allow small businesses to reach their ideal customers without overspending. It’s essential to tailor your ads to resonate with your specific audience.
What ad formats are available on Instagram?
Instagram offers various ad formats, including photo ads, video ads, carousel ads (multiple images in a single ad), Stories ads, and more. Each format caters to different objectives and allows for creative and interactive marketing campaigns.
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.