In December 2016, 600 million people were using Instagram. Since then, that figure has only grown. However, there are still many businesses failing to make the most out of the social media platform.
For those keeping a regular digital marketing strategy that doesn’t include Instagram, you could be making a big mistake – especially if you’re a small and local business.
You can increase brand awareness, grow your customer base and reach a more diverse audience by simply setting up a profile and getting started. If these sound like benefits your business could use, you should get to know your quirky angles and vintage filters.
To get your business off to a good start, follow these essential tips for killing it on Instagram.
1. Start your story
If you’re already on Instagram, you’ll probably know all about the success of Instagram Stories. When you log in to the mobile platform, these are the circles at the top of the page you can see – and they’re pretty powerful for those looking to create a strategy.
In a format stolen straight from Snapchat, Instagram Stories allow users to document their day in a snapshot that will last just 24 hours. You can post as many stories as you want and your followers are welcome to swipe through at their own leisure.
If you want to begin an Instagram strategy, Stories are a must.
These will allow your followers insight into your company to see what you get up to on a daily basis, and it will help them decide if you’re a business they can get on board with.
2. Quality over quantity
When you first set up the account, it can be tempting to post as much as possible to fill up that very empty looking profile. However, what you should instead do is focus on posting high-quality pics, rather than plenty of shoddy ones.
One a day will be a good amount when you want to build a decent-sized following. Otherwise, you run the risk of driving away followers by coming across as ‘spammy’.
There are plenty of tips and tricks out there to taking the perfect Instagram photo, but the real key is to know your lighting. Natural light is your best friend for Instagram pics, so make the most of your early mornings. You can even invest in a fancy phone light that mimics natural light for those times when you’re not ready to head outdoors.
3. Influence
Influencer marketing is one of the huge pulls of Instagram for businesses. Every celebrity you can think of will have taken part in some kind of influence, whether for their favourite make up product or for a charity they advocate.
Even though you’re a small business, don’t overlook the potential of this type of strategy. You can comment and interact with those in an influential position who you feel have goals in line with your business. Who knows, you may get a follow from them!
4. Have an angle
All too often businesses post a picture on Instagram with a half thought through caption and surprise, it doesn’t perform well.
While Instagram is primarily a picture platform, it’s also one for stories. Users love to hear about what inspired you to post a picture, or what mission you’re currently working on and why the picture is relevant.
Grammar and a structured caption will be key in winning round followers, so stay consistent and get a second opinion if you need to. A meaningful caption alongside a captivating image will keep customers keen.
5. Make yourself discoverable
You could have the best pictures and captions of any business, but fail to be discoverable and you’ll be wasting your time.
The discover feature on Instagram is where users head to when they’re looking for someone new and interesting to follow – or if they want to search a specific hashtag. So, if you’d thought hashtags were just for Twitter, you were wrong.
Adding hashtags to your post can boost its visibility so many more users can view it. As long as hashtags are relevant and you don’t inundate every caption with a hundred, they can be a great way to increase your visibility to your target audience.
6. Keep on top of features
Finally, make sure you keep on your toes. Social media platforms are in constant competition to have the latest new feature that will have yet more users flocking to their platform.
With features added monthly, it’s important you make the most out of them and see how they can help you increase your brand awareness. Whether you sign up to their mailing list or simply keep checking out for changes, don’t let yourself be overtaken by the competition when it comes to reaching customers in a new way.
Do you need a hand getting your Instagram on the right track? Get in touch with our team to see what our social media experts can do for you and your Instagram account.
