Instagram has exploded in popularity. The only issue with a platform with over 1 billion active users is ensuring that your posts are found by people who are interested in what you have to say (or sell) – think needles and haystacks! The days of adding a few random hashtags to a post are long gone; it's now more of an art than a science. As a result, you must devise a strategy. Here are my top Instagram tips for business.
1. Make it clear what you do
Create a proper profile. Make sure your Instagram handle immediately conveys what you do, and don't forget to include your website URL!
Make a good bio. Rather than being too bland and corporate, try to show some personality. Try to incorporate a few key phrases that will assist anyone looking for the products or services you provide.
2. Give your posts a distinct appearance.
Instagram is an extremely visual site, so take advantage of it. Using the same characteristic filter and photographic style will give your posts a consistent look, which will assist to make them readily recognized.
Whenever possible, attempt to mirror your brand's visual design by using the same colors, typefaces, and picture style as your website, so that your brand's experience is consistent from one communication channel to the next.
3. Get moving
Liking posts at random isn't going to go you very far. However, if you do your homework, you may make likes work extremely effectively for your business.
Examine what your competitors are doing on Instagram, and more importantly, who is commenting on their posts. They are most likely your target market. As a result, it makes sense to interact with and follow them.
In this manner, you can begin to cultivate an audience that is really interested in what your company has to offer.
4. Instagram's signposts are hashtags
Hashtags assist users in sorting through millions of postings to locate what is relevant or of interest to them. According to research, using 10+ hashtags is beneficial, but don't go overboard – too many seem spammy, and less is more absolutely applies here!
It's worthwhile to examine successful Instagram accounts, particularly those of competitors with a lot of traction. Learn how they use hashtags and mimic or alter what they do for your own needs. Make sure the hashtags you use are appropriate for your company and the audience you want to attract.
You might not receive it right away, but if you can locate hashtags that are both popular and relevant to your brand, you'll have fast access to a receptive audience. Some hashtags have spawned virtual forums – specialized communities that will be interested in you.
5. Use special hashtags with caution
To grow your following, I propose using a few unique hashtags. • #L4L stands for ‘like for like,' which indicates that if you like me, I'll like your posts in return.
- #follow and #followme are simple and straightforward requests.
6. Hashtags can appear sloppy
Including these at the end of your post keeps things organized. Better still, keep your post clean and post them right away in the first comment.
7. Make your life easier for yourself
Using the usual notes app on your smartphone, save common hashtags for your business (most smartphones have one).
It makes it much easier to prepare your hashtags and post them consistently and effortlessly.
8. Customize your hashtags
Remember to include your company's name as one of the hashtags. Utilize 4-5 essential hashtags that describe your business and use them consistently.
9. Add captions to your photographs and videos
Also, add some personality. I don't mean uploading a photo of what you had for dinner last night! Every post should be relevant to your company, and you should look for ways to add value to your postings. So consider what comment you may make to urge people to like and repost it. If your followers believe they have something to gain by following your account, growth might happen quickly.
10. Quality control is essential
Make sure your photos are stunning. Be brutal in your editing; delete anything that looks bad or is fuzzy due to camera shake. To make publishing easier, keep things basic and shoot right from your smartphone.
11. Make use of layout and angles
The Instagram Layout app (for iPhone or Android) is excellent for making unique montages, especially if you want to upload a series of photographs or demonstrate a step-by-step guide. Canva is a fantastic free tool for creating your own unique Instagram Stories.
12. Make use of Instagram extensions
Instagram Extension is the second desktop version of Instagram aimed to help marketers make better use of Instagram throughout the day. It is one of the most useful Chrome extensions, with capabilities such as instant direct download and uploading.
That is an excellent starting point for any businesses to manage their Instagram accounts using the Instagram plugin. It contains a wealth of tools and features to provide you with a more efficient Instagram kit than the Instagram mobile app. Remember that Instagram marketing is not an easy task to complete with a phone that may lack additional and comprehensive functionality. Install the best Instagram extensions for chrome and get posting.
13. Spread the love
Growth on Instagram is partially dependent on demonstrating that you are active with your specific Instagram community. It's a good idea to designate business partners, relevant membership organizations, industry associations, and accounts you want to cultivate.
14. Request a response
Instagram is a two-way conversation, so encourage your followers to comment on your posts. Of course, you must then respond to any comments. It's all about active participation, not just a passive following.
15. Identify the people who are making a difference in your community
Determine who on Instagram has a significant influence in your niche market. Investigate how you can collaborate with them to boost your Instagram visibility.
16. Schedule your posts
It makes sense to plan your Instagram activity, just as you would a blog. Create a rolling three-month content plan for all of your social media platforms, and set aside time to curate images, captions, and hashtags.
17. Make use of scheduling tools
There are many choices available, but the ones I like to use the most are Hootsuite, Buffer, Sked Social, and Later. Each of them comes with their own set of benefits and drawbacks; the best option for you is the one that you feel most comfortable with.
18. Keep track of what works
Google Analytics will show you how much traffic and conversions you get from Instagram. Instagram Insights, which reveal how effective your posts are, are available if you have an Instagram Business Account. Socialbakers, Sprout Social, Union Metrics, and Squarelovin are some other tools to examine.
19. Instagram advertisements boost visibility
Instagram advertising is quite effective for businesses. Whatever your marketing budget is, it's worth dipping your toe in and seeing what traction you can gain for your firm. There are four forms to select from, ranging from a single image to a 60-second video, and with a variety of banners for your call to action, getting started couldn't be easier.
20. Incorporate an Instagram image stream into your website.
Don't just link to them; embed them. Now that you have a method for building your Instagram following directly from your website, don't be tempted to do it with all of your Instagram photographs – make a sample.
21. Make use of links and landing pages
You're probably using your Instagram posts to get your followers to do something, like read your latest blog post, discover your new ebook, enter a competition, or sign up for your email newsletter. Whatever you do, make sure your website has a suitable landing page that encourages people to continue the task. You can get around the restriction of just including one link in your bio. Check out Linktree, a tool that allows you to create a single bio link that will direct your followers to wherever you want them to go.
