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Why use Instagram to market your business?  

Instagram Marketing Tips for Business

Today, most digital businesses use Twitter and Facebook to increase their reach across the web. They are considered crucial social media platforms for small and large businesses alike. In recent years, Instagram has become an effective platform for business marketing and driving online sales. Its demographic is 18 to 34-year-olds. It allows users to share pictures and short 60-second videos (or in the case of Instagram Stories, 15 second videos).

You know Instagram can be a game-changer for your small business. With over 1 billion monthly active users scrolling and double-tapping their way through posts, Instagram presents a huge opportunity to get in front of potential new customers and grow your brand. But where do you start? How do you make sure your posts are seen and drive real results like sales, followers, and engagement? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We talked to the experts and compiled a list of growth hacks—some straightforward, some a bit sneaky—that’ll supersize your Instagram success and have you gaining followers and making sales in no time. Whether you’re new to Instagram marketing or looking to take your profile to the next level, these pro tips are sure to help your small business thrive on Instagram. Let’s dive in!

Optimize Your Instagram Profile for Maximum Impact

To make a stellar first impression, you need an optimized Instagram profile.

•Choose an eye-catching profile photo that shows your brand personality. A logo, product shot or smiling founder pic all work great.

•Craft a compelling bio that tells people exactly what you do in 150 characters or less. Mention your business name, location and a call to action like “Shop now!” or “Learn more!”.

•Use strategic hashtags to make your content more discoverable. Aim for a mix of popular tags with 500K+ posts and niche tags with 50K-500K posts. Check what your competitors and influencers in your industry are using for inspiration.

•Post high-quality photos that capture your brand esthetic and products. If you sell clothing or food, close-up shots and styled product photos resonate best. For services, share behind-the-scenes, lifestyle and portrait shots of your team.

•Engage with your followers by replying to their comments and messages. Like and comment on posts from influencers and media outlets in your niche. Collaborate with them for extra exposure.

•Run contests and giveaways to increase engagement and gain new followers. Offer product discounts, bundles or service trials as prizes.

•Use Instagram Stories and IGTV to give followers a “day in the life” look at your business. Post mini tutorials, Q&As, event coverage and new product announcements.

With a stunning profile, share-worthy content, influencer outreach and promotions, your small business will gain new followers and paying customers on Instagram in no time. Now get out there and start optimizing!

Create Visually Appealing and Engaging Content

To drive engagement and sales on Instagram, you need to create visual content that grabs attention.

Post eye-catching photos

Photos are key on Instagram, so post high-quality images that show off your products or services. Get creative with angles, lighting, and staging. Use props and lifestyle shots to help people visualize how they can use what you offer.

Keep videos short and sweet

Posting short video clips, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes footage is a great way to boost engagement. Keep videos under 60 seconds since people have short attention spans on social media. Show how your product works or give quick tips and tricks.

Use Instagram Stories and Live Video

Instagram Stories and Live Video are popular features that allow you to post casual, in-the-moment videos. Share discount codes, run contests, offer sneak peeks at new products, or broadcast live from events. Viewers can comment and ask questions in real time.

Optimize your bio and profile

Your Instagram bio and profile are the first things people see, so make a good first impression. Include a brief but compelling description of your business, products, and services. Choose a profile photo that represents your brand. Link to your website and any other social media profiles.

Use relevant hashtags

Hashtags make your content more discoverable. Include a mix of popular hashtags (like #smallbusiness) along with more specific ones related to your industry, location, and products. Aim for 5 to 10 hashtags per post, and be sure to use them strategically in your photo captions and Stories.

With visually stunning and engaging content, you’ll attract new followers, increase traffic to your website, and drive more sales through Instagram. Consistency is key, so post new content on a regular schedule to keep people coming back to your profile.

Utilize Instagram Ads and Paid Partnerships for Targeted Reach

Instagram ads and paid partnerships are effective ways to get your products and services in front of targeted new audiences.

Use Instagram Ads for Targeted Reach

Instagram ads allow you to promote your posts or profile to new potential customers based on their interests and behaviors. You can choose to boost existing posts or create ads from scratch, then target them to specific locations, ages, interests and more. For example, if you sell handcrafted jewelry, you might target women aged 25-45 who have recently engaged with fashion and style-related content.

  • Set a budget and run ads for at least a week to get the best results. Even $5 to $10 a day can go a long way.
  • Include eye-catching photos and a clear call-to-action like “Shop now” or “Learn more.”
  • Track your ad performance to see impressions, reach, and engagement. Then make changes to improve your results.

Partner with Influencers for Increased Visibility

Collaborating with influencers who have an engaged following in your niche is a great way to tap into new audiences. In exchange for product or a commission, influencers will promote your brand to their followers.

  • Find influencers with 5,000 to 100,000 followers who are a great match for your brand. Engagement and authenticity matter more than just the number of followers.
  • Provide the influencer with product samples, promotional codes or affiliate links to share. Be open to negotiating the terms of your partnership.
  • Ask influencers to post about your product in their own words and style. Their followers will appreciate the authentic recommendation from someone they trust.

Using a combination of Instagram ads and influencer partnerships is an effective way for small businesses to gain more exposure and drive sales on Instagram. With some trial and error, you’ll find the strategies that work best for your unique brand. Focus on high-quality content, clear messaging and collaborating with partners who share your values. In no time, you’ll be growing your Instagram following and bottom line.

Instagram success is all about persona

More Instagram business marketing tips and best practices 

  • Work with Instagram influencers. They will sponsor you and promote your business in return for a free product or service.
  • Connect your website to a shoppable storefront such as Have2Have.It, which will send visitors to your e-commerce site via your Instagram profile. Do some research as the list is growing.
  • You can also create a free online shop using Inselly. Add the hashtag #inselly to your posts. This allows Instagram to identify your content as shoppable. You could use it to push some of your discounted or discontinued stock.
  • Add music to your Instagram content to make it more appealing.
  • Be creative. Post a variety of images and videos. Only 20% of your posts should consist of hard-selling your business.
  • Run and track your Instagram ads through Facebook’s Ad Manager.
  • Run Instagram contests to connect with followers and sell your product. Try out some contest tools, e.g. Gleam or WooBox.
  • Use iconosquare.com to monitor your analytics and help manage contests.
  • Create a series of posts with Instagram Stories.
  • Upload videos to IGTV that showcase your products. Here, you can add links to your website. Don’t forget to include a call-to-action.
  • Make use of inspirational or motivational captions.
  • Add pictures of your followers with your products in your Instagram posts. Remember to get their permission first.
  • Provide a link to your website in your bio and a keyword-rich description.
  • Give your followers exclusive previews of your products. You can showcase a new product using Instagram’s Marquee features.
  • Like your followers’ posts.
  • Ask your followers to tag their friends.
  • Photos should be high-resolution. You can edit photos directly from your phone. There are several mobile apps you can use with additional editing features.
  • Add a touch of personal branding. Your posts can include photos of yourself and your employees at work gatherings.
  • Increase your reach through hashtags. Use popular hashtags in your video and picture descriptions. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, the more hashtags you use, the further your Instagram reach. Aim for 11 hashtags per post. (30 is the limit).
  • Remember, you do not need to post every day.
  • To make your photos more accessible, ensure that you have added Alt text.
  • Ensure that you include a relevant call-to-action in your post, e.g. “download”.
  • You can schedule your Instagram posts through social media management platforms such as Hootsuite and Alt text.
  • Do not download pictures from the internet and try to pass them off as your own.

You’ve learned a few tricks to boost your small business’s Instagram following and engagement. Now it’s time to implement them. Start posting high-quality photos, share behind-the-scenes content, use relevant hashtags, engage with your followers, run contests, and collaborate with influencers. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Growing an Instagram following takes time and consistency. Stay active in the community, keep optimizing your content and strategy, and your hard work will pay off. Before you know it, your Instagram will be driving sales, building brand awareness, and creating new opportunities to connect with your customers. Keep learning, keep creating, and keep engaging – you’ve got this! With the right approach, Instagram can be an incredibly powerful tool for any small business. Now go crush it!