Do you want to find new customers for your business? This article will show you how to do just that!
What started as a photo-sharing mobile app has evolved into a diverse social media application. Instagram is a visual platform that lets you showcase your moments through photos and videos. Today, many companies use it for product promotion as they're able to better interact with their customers, leading to more brand loyalty over time. With over a billion users - around 60% of whom use the app every day - Instagram is the perfect platform for growing your audience and building brand awareness.
To get started on Instagram, follow these tips:
Make an Instagram Business or Creator account. Using a business or creator account, you can access additional insights, analysis, advertising capabilities, and special profile advantages (such as contact information).
Optimize your personal information. Optimize your profile for people to easily find you in searches and understand your business by looking at your profile. Consider the following to optimize your profile:
● Use a recognizable profile picture
● Has a searchable username and name
● Choose the right category for your business
● Write a fascinating and descriptive biography
● Including website and contact information
Use hashtags to get your posts found by more people. They’re easy to search on Instagram, and there are plenty of free list generators available online that will give you a head start on finding the right hashtags. Decide which hashtags to use for the post. Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags on each post which can help increase your followers and popularity. The more hashtags you use, the better chance you have of getting your posts seen by other users.
Edit your photos! Even if you’ve taken a great shot, it will be even better with some slight editing! Use filters, cropping tools, and other creative ways of enhancing your photo, so it stands out.
Become familiar with the types of posts on Instagram.
The world of social media has become a transforming way for people to connect and interact. To stand out in this crowded digital environment, it's necessary to create original content that will resonate with your audience. You can share posts on Instagram and attract audiences in a variety of ways:
● Grid. Your grid displays the photos and videos that appear on your profile. Your posts can have captions up to 2,200 characters long. Note that the first two lines of your signature will appear before the "Read More" prompt. Write the first two lines to generate interest.
● Story. Stories are videos or photos that vanish after 24 hours unless added to your profile's highlights. This feature allows you to post frequently and share behind the scenes of your business with your audience.
● IGTV. Instagram has finally launched IGTV to provide a video hosting service for clients and agencies to post longer videos up to 60 minutes in length.
● Reels. Instagram Reels are 15-30 seconds vertical video clips that you can share in your stories as well. This is a great way to engage your current audience.
Instagram is an excellent platform for businesses. The platform has a unique way of making the user feel like they are entering a visual story of the brand, giving them the opportunity to understand what your business is about. It’s essential to be aware of what you are doing on Instagram and how it can affect your business.
A Business' success on Instagram depends on three keys:
- A Story Worth Telling
- Authenticity
- Community
All three need to be present for a business to succeed on Instagram. The story should be captivating and unique. The authenticity of the content should reflect the tone of the brand's identity to make it memorable for its audience. And finally, the community that is created by this business should show off its best qualities and attract even more followers.
Types of content to post on Instagram:
Behind the scenes. Post to demonstrate to your followers what's behind your company.
Tell stories. This type of content tells the story of your brand. Although it is a story, there should be lessons. Storytelling content can increase visibility and attract potential clientele.
Inspirational. Plan shareable inspiring quotes that are consistent with your brand values and resonate with your audience. Add your company's brand to reference the pictures you posted on social media!
Tutorial. Tutorials and how-to’s guide your customers to solve specific challenges. Tutorials are good examples of targeted marketing because you know that potential customers who use the tutorials are interested in solving definite problems. This form of content allows you to provide your company as a solution to their problem.
Video. You can add videos to Instagram in many ways, including Instagram stories, 60-second grid videos, 15-30 second reels, or IGTV.
Case studies and recommendations. This type of content uses real stories to show followers your products or services. Through real customer stories, you can show that you understand your customers' pain points.
User-generated content (UGC). Sharing posts from your followers (UGC) is a great way to build relationships with these followers, interact with other followers, and quickly fill up your content calendar!
One of the best ways to achieve many goals, including expanding your reach, connecting with customers, and introducing them to your business, is by balancing high-quality content that satisfies a wide variety of customer personas. This can be accomplished by focusing on quality over quantity and utilizing a diverse range of content that is tailored for a particular audience.
Conclusion
The platform is now used as a marketing tool, as many companies use it for product promotion. The qualities of Instagram make it an excellent channel for developing and growing your brand. The tight, tailored headline and caption for each picture and highly visual content provide a sleek venue for businesses. The platform has a unique way of making the user feel like they are entering a visual story of the brand, giving them the opportunity to understand what your business is about.
Building an audience is tough. That's why we've designed a free training to educate entrepreneurs like you on how to grow your following and generate leads. Our "Business 101: Building a Strong Foundation" webinar shows you how to use your business model to attract customers, identify your target audience, and measure success. You'll walk away with the skills needed to start building your own business today.
