Instagram is the hottest Social Media Network right now that all modern business owners need to be clued up on.
It is image-centric, app-based, and it attracts the attention of a variety of consumers across the world. The business types that get the best results from Instagram Marketing are in more creative fields like Interior Design, Fashion, Beauty, and Accessories.
However that isn’t to say that other business types can’t join in on the fun! With the platform set to reach 1 Billion Users globally in 2018*, Instagram is getting more competitive by the day.
The quicker you learn (and implement) these eight Instagram marketing secrets, the better.
8 Instagram Marketing Secrets Business Owners Should Know
Hashtags Are Everything
We all like to make fun of how Hashtag-obsessed millennials are these days, but on Instagram hashtags reign supreme.
It is important that each time you post a photo/video to your Instagram feed that you put 30 hashtags in the comments section directly underneath that post OR you put them in your caption.
This will ensure that your post is seen by as many Instagram users as possible.
For a full guide to Instagram Hashtags, we’ve got another helpful article for you here.
Quality Instead of Quantity
Back when Instagram first started, posting 3-4 times per day was completely okay (and kind of necessary for growth).
In 2018 and beyond it’s important that instead you focus on creating quality content instead of quantity.
We’d recommend posting to Instagram once per day, 6-7 times a week for follower growth.
Now, when you are posting content make sure that your photos are high-resolution (not grainy!) and that if you are re-posting content you’ve found elsewhere on the internet that you credit the source in your caption.
Your Instagram Bio is Important
The Instagram Bio is often overlooked, but what you write in this section can make a big impact on the success of your Instagram Marketing strategy.
For example: If you want to drive sales to your website for a particular product, you should probably mention a discount code or special offer in your bio description and make sure that the link in your bio takes people directly to the product page on your website.
Instagram Requires Commitment
Instagram isn’t the type of platform that you can post on once and expect immediate results.
Instead, if you want to get the best results out of Instagram Marketing for your business, you need to be consistent and committed.
To avoid forgetting to post for days or weeks on end, we recommend using an Instagram scheduling tool to plan out your content and schedule reminders to upload the posts to Instagram.
Community Building is Essential
Another thing to keep top of mind with Instagram is that this platform is perfect for community building.
You’re not just on Instagram to spruik your wares, you really must focus on building relationships with your followers by asking questions and seeking out other’s on Instagram to chat to.
Instagram Stories Can Convert
Instagram Stories sure looks like a whole lot of fun and games, but we can assure you that Instagram Stories can actually convert to sales for your business.
No – seriously!
All you need to do is make sure that you are sharing the right content on stories.
Take videos with your team unpacking new arrivals, create polls asking whether people want to try your new service and DM them discount counts, or better yet; get the business owner and/or founder to do a live video chatting to your community.
Focus on Story-Selling
We know it can be tempting to say ‘shop now’ and ‘get yours today’ at the end of all your Instagram captions, but trust us when we say this type of selling doesn’t work on Instagram.
If you want to get the best results out of Instagram Marketing for your business, you need to focus on story selling.
This is an Instagram Marketing secret that a lot of businesses still need to master!
We’ve written this article with some inspiration for implementing Instagram storyselling into your strategy.
Instagram Feature Accounts Can Help You
Perhaps you’ve heard of feature accounts on Instagram before.
They are essentially Instagram accounts with a clear topic (i.e. Food) that also happens to have a lot of followers. These accounts usually re-gram photos and videos from accounts that either…
- Tag them (the feature account) in their posts
- Use the feature account’s branded hashtag
- Both!
Here is a quick guide to help you find some feature accounts to suit your business.
And there you have it!
We hope that these eight Instagram Marketing tips serve you well on your journey to growing your Instagram account for your business.
