Instagram is definitely one of the most popular marketing platforms right now, because it’s working very well for many businesses who have taken a strategic approach to attract their ideal followers.
Disclaimer: You need to put some effort into your strategy and commit to socializing with your audience. ~ Keep in mind that posting and then ignoring your followers or failing to interact with them, limits the impact of your content and dilutes the potential of your campaigns.
Spruce Up Your Instagram Account…
The entire basis of Instagram is visual impact, so make sure that your account does not have ugly images. This is no place for amateur hour – You are running a business – Post accordingly. Aim for quality images, with great lighting and appealing pops of color.
- Your Profile Image: If you interact directly with your customers/clients on a face-to-face basis, then your audience is going to want to see your face. Otherwise, if your business is a product focused brand or is more of a collaborative-experience/team-centric service, then your company logo may be more appropriate. With either option the image should be professional, eye catching and evoke a higher quality impression than your competition.
- Your Overall Image Aesthetic: Choose images that best highlight your products and services, but don’t forget to inject some personality into your Instagram Feed. Stick to a common visual thread or color scheme if possible. Try out creative positioning of your images, such as alternating rows, a checkerboard, or a connective series of images that forms a collective theme.
Tackle The Text Elements…
The written sections need some TLC too. Make sure your writing isn’t redundant, isn’t misspelled and isn’t confusing. Be clear on what things you want viewers to know, and direct them to a solid Call-To-Action in your Bio Area.
- Utilize Your Bio Appropriately: Include a brief but expressive description of your business. Don’t waste space with cheesy quotes or ambiguous mantras. Tell your audience what you offer {services, products, both?} and if your business is more identity based, add your tittle {CEO, Director, etc.} Add the URL to your website – and this does not mean it has to be your homepage. It often makes more sense to create an a specifically set up for incoming Instagram traffic, where they can easily find access to the products, service packages or blog posts they saw on your Instagram feed.
- Use Hashtags In Your Posts: This is the best way to expose your content and gain relevant followers on Instagram because they search via hashtags centered around their interests. Be careful not to go overboard with excessive hashtags, since it tends to look spammy. Choose relevant hashtags that your target audience actually uses, and avoid #longandlamesentencesthatarehashtags.
- Be Genuine In Your Interactions: You can’t expect to grab anyone’s attention with bland quips or boring phrases. You also can’t solely rely on hashtags. Write a real sentence that complements your post and respond to a reasonable number of comments from your audience – especially if they ask any questions on a given post.
Go Make Some Friends…
The entire point of social media is to socialize and in marketing we are using that to our advantage, but there is a specific way to do it.
- Search Your Hashtags: Search one at a time, repeating the process for at least five of the hashtags used on your individual post.
- Like Photos Under Each Hashtag: Aim for at least 50-75 photos per hashtag, but avoid breaching the 150 likes per hour limit imposed by Instagram.
- Leave Genuine Comments: Aim for at least 25 authentic comments per hashtag.
- Rinse & Repeat: It’s time consuming, but it flatters users to receive comments from others who seem genuinely interested in their posts, and in turn they are far more likely to follow your account if they feel you or your business shares a kindred appreciation of a topic.
