Are you looking for ways to grow your small business? If so, Instagram may be the perfect platform for you. Instagram is a social media site that allows users to share photos and videos with their followers. It is a great way to connect with customers and promote your brand. This article will discuss some of the best Instagram marketing tips for small businesses.
1. Start by Creating A Business Profile
When you join Instagram, you will have the option to create a personal or business account. If you want to use Instagram for marketing purposes, you should create a business account. This will give you access to valuable features such as analytics and the ability to promote your posts with paid ads.
Creating a business profile is easy and only takes a few minutes. Simply click on the “gear” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the app and select “Switch to Business Profile.” From there, you will be prompted to enter your business name, contact information, and category. Once you have completed these steps, your business profile will be created.
2. Set Up a Compelling Bio
You have 150 characters to make a good first impression with your bio. This is your chance to tell potential customers who you are, what you do, and why they should follow you. Make sure to include keywords and hashtags that describe your business, as this will help users find you when they are searching for relevant topics.
It is also a good idea to include a call to action in your bio. For example, you could invite users to visit your website or sign up for your newsletter. By including a CTA, you will be more likely to convert followers into customers.
3. Establish a Visual Identity for Your Brand
Instagram is all about visuals, so your profile should reflect your brand’s aesthetic. Choose a profile picture that is on-brand and easy to recognize. This could be your company logo or a photo of your product.
Your posts should also be visually appealing and consistent with your brand identity. Think about the colors, filters, and overall style you want to use for your photos and videos. When in doubt, it is always better to err on the side of simplicity.
4. Get Inspiration from Your Competition
If you aren’t really sure where to start with your Instagram marketing, take a look at what your competition is doing. See what kinds of posts they are sharing and how they are engaging with their followers. This can give you some great ideas for your own content strategy.
Just be sure not to copy your competition too closely. Instead, it would be best to emulate strategies that work well for them while also putting your own unique spin on things.
5. Create a Content Plan
Succeeding on Instagram takes planning and dedication. To grow your account, you need to be posting high-quality content regularly. The best way to do this is to create a content plan.
Start by brainstorming a list of topics that you want to post about that are relevant to your audience. Then, create a posting schedule and make sure to stick to it. If you need help staying organized, try using a tool like Hootsuite to help you plan and schedule your posts.
5. Use Hashtags to Increase Exposure
Hashtags are a great way to increase the reach of your posts and help you connect with new users. Hashtags are a way to group posts by topic. When a user searches for a specific hashtag, all the posts that use that hashtag will appear in the results.
It is important to use relevant and popular hashtags specific to your niche. For example, if you sell handcrafted jewelry, you could use hashtags like #handmadejewelry #jewelrydesigner #bohojewelry.
Instagram allows for up to 30 hashtags, and research shows that the more hashtags you use, the more engagement you will get. In fact, one test showed that using the same account, a post with 30 hashtags got 80 likes, whereas a post with seven hashtags received 56 likes [1].
So, don’t be afraid to use as many hashtags as possible! Just be sure to mix things up and use various hashtags each time you post. Luckily, you can now test how effective your hashtag strategy is thanks to a new Instagram feature showing that many people discovered your posts via hashtags.
6. Connect with Other Businesses and Individuals On Instagram
One great way to grow your brand on Instagram is to connect with other businesses and influencers in your niche. By tagging other companies or users in your posts, you will increase their chances of seeing and engaging with your content.
You can also collaborate with other businesses or influencers by hosting giveaways or creating joint content. This is a great way to reach new audiences and grow your following.
7. Use Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories is a feature that allows you to share photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours. They appear in a separate section on the app, above the main feed.
Stories are a great way to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. You can use them to show off your products, give sneak peeks of new collections, or take your followers on a tour of your office or factory.
You can also use Stories to run quick polls, ask questions, and host giveaways. This is a great way to increase engagement and get feedback from your followers.
To use Instagram Stories, simply click the “Add to Story” button when posting a photo or video. You can also add text, stickers, and other effects to your Stories.
8. Post Videos
Instagram isn’t just for still images. Videos are a great way to engage your followers and show off your products or services. And they’re definitely more fun than photos.
On Instagram, you have multiple options to post videos. You can post 60-second clips on your feed or multiple 15-second clips on Instagram Stories. IGTV is a new feature that allows you to post videos up to one hour long.
When posting videos, make sure they are high quality and offer value to your followers. For example, you could post a video tour of your office or an introduction to your team. You could also post product demonstrations or how-to videos.
9. Be Active
If you want to grow your brand on Instagram, you need to post regularly. You also need to engage with your followers by liking and commenting on their posts and responding to their comments on your own posts. The more active you are, the more likely that your followers will stay engaged with your brand.
Also, make sure to engage with other accounts in your niche. The more people see your brand name, the more likely they will remember it and follow you.
Instagram is a great way to connect with your customers and grow your brand. Following these tips should help you increase exposure for your small business and grow your brand on Instagram. Just remember to be patient and consistent, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new strategies. With a little effort, you’ll be sure to see results.
[1] https://www.agorapulse.com/social-media-lab/30-hashtags-on-instagram-posts-yes-or-no/