As a small business owner, you may be wondering how you can leverage Instagram to reach more customers and grow your business. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to get started with Instagram marketing.
The platform has around 1 billion active users, and over 200 million business accounts. You can easily reach the top of that list by implementing the right marketing strategies. We managed to filter them out for you in the following article.
Make Use of Growth Tools
There are a number of ways to gain followers on Instagram, but one of the most effective is to make use of growth tools. In general, they help you automate some of the processes involved in gaining followers, such as following and unfollowing users, liking and commenting on posts, and more.
As a small business, you need real Instagram followers, so make sure that you’re investing in the right growth tools. You don’t want fake follower numbers on your account, as they can never convert into paying and loyal customers. This is the time when quantity doesn’t matter, and even fewer, real customers win over thousands of fake profiles.
Use Hashtags to Reach New Audiences
As a small business, you have your own target group that you’re trying to reach. Depending on their age, gender, and habits, you need to post the appropriate content, at a certain time of the day. But, one other thing that can benefit you on Instagram is hashtags.
When you use hashtags, your content is more likely to appear in users’ search results. This means that people who are interested in your product or service are more likely to find your business on Instagram. Use them sparingly and make sure they are always relevant to the post. Too many random hashtags can be seen as spammy behavior that will get you banned from the platform.
Use Attractive Visuals
Instagram is a visual platform, so it’s important to use high-quality visuals in your posts. This could mean using professional photos or creating attractive graphics. Whatever you choose, make sure your visuals are eye-catching and relevant to your brand.
Over the years, Instagram kept changing and improving, and today you have new, interesting ways to post creative content while promoting your business. Make use of Reels, Instagram Stories, and live videos, and post multiple pictures. The list goes on and on, and once you start getting creative, you’ll see what attracts the most views and followers.
Engaging Content
Not only do you need to post creative content, but it needs to be engaging as well. Posting your products might not do much for your page, but asking followers to rate, comment, and share their thoughts on it will do wonders.
Apart from posting already existing products, ask your followers for feedback and any ideas they have. Maybe you have the solution to their problem. They’ll share you with others, and if they’re interested, your network will grow more.
Share Behind-The-Scenes Content
People love getting a peek behind the scenes of businesses they follow on Instagram. Sharing this type of content humanizes your brand and gives customers a look at the people and processes that run your business.
So, next time you’re creating your product, take your camera with you. You can film the whole process or parts of it, explaining or simply enjoying the process. The filming process is fun, and you’ll want to do it again sometime soon. Not to mention that your followers will request it again.
Run Promotions and Giveaways
Promotions and giveaways are a great way to increase engagement on your Instagram account. They also give you an opportunity to collect user-generated content, which you can repost on your feed or use in future marketing campaigns.
You can do them by yourself or by collaborating with famous influencers or businesses on the platform. You’ll reach more people that way, and not to mention that both parties will benefit from it. Make sure that you stay true to your word and send the gift to the winner. Some companies earn a bad reputation for not sending out the giveaway present.
Bottom Line
Instagram is a growing platform that currently has over 1 billion active users. Surely, some of them belong to your target group, you just need the right marketing strategy to reach out to them. Thanks to this article, you’ll be one step closer to building the ultimate social media presence, starting now.