As a business, there is a fantastic market opportunity on Instagram. Recent studies show that about 90% of Instagram users follow businesses, allowing you to target an interested audience without spending a massive amount of money on advertising and marketing.
We’ve put together some of the best business Instagram tips to get the most out of everything Instagram offers.
Fashion a winning profile
Instagram isn’t a place for a stuffy, boring bio filled with business and technical jargon. It’s much more casual and allows itself to humanize your brand. So, when creating a business bio, think about your ideal customers and write in a way that appeals directly to them.
Don’t get caught up in fitting everything you do into the allotted 150 characters. Focus on your unique selling points, and then use tricks like emojis and vertical spacing to help your bio stand out.
Research your target audience
A social media strategy is pointless if you don’t understand your target audience. Once you know your audience, you’re better positioned to create targeted content and captions that resonate with the people you want to reach.
Look at the audience demographics of your existing customer base on other social channels. If you’ve got an established following on Insta, you can find demographic info on your followers using Instagram Insights and other analytical tools.
Post high-quality pics
You want clear, crisp images that will catch attention when it comes to the photos you post. Don’t worry, though. You don’t need to be a professional photographer or have a fancy DSLR camera to pull it off.
Using your smartphone camera is more than adequate when incorporating a few DIY photography tips to improve photo quality.
- Use natural light advantageously. When shooting outdoors, take photos in the late afternoon or early evening when that “golden” light is hitting. If you’re indoors, open up blinds and windows to let natural light shine on your subject.
- Try to use the back camera instead of the front-facing one for higher-resolution photos. You may need to get creative with selfies, but the self-timer and a good stand are your friends.
- Avoid using the default Insta filters. Download a photo editing app to your phone and adjust the contrast, exposure, brightness, highlights, etc.
Craft some great copy
Never underestimate how powerful good copy is when writing captions for your posts. Take your time and put together copy that is attention-grabbing and simply good. The caption could easily be the difference between a single like and a thousand.
Keep in mind the captions should follow your branding strategy. Tailor the message to the brand and target audience. If your brand is uplifting and positive, write something that follows suit. If your braid is edgy, keep the copy edgy.
Give customers a peek at behind-the-scenes.
Customers are naturally curious about their products’ origins and how they’re made. If you’re selling goods, use your Insta account to show them the whole lifecycle.
This tip is especially relevant if your products are environmentally friendly or are marketed as Fair Trade. Source images from your suppliers and manufacturers to show raw materials and production steps.
Post consistently and often
Posting consistently is a great way to grow your Instagram following quickly. Analytical tools have found that highly-followed accounts post on average two to three times per day.
Schedule upcoming posts
Use scheduling platforms to your advantage! There are days you likely don’t have the time to manage an account because of other essential things. So, schedule posts ahead of time to ensure you’re consistently sharing fresh content.
Increase your reach with #hashtags
Hashtags are a tremendous advantage when using Instagram and are a fantastic way to get your post out to other users. Just make sure they’re relevant to what you’re posting.
Hashtags can be general or marketing campaign-specific. Try to use between three and five per post and play around with their placement. You can work them into the caption, add them at the end of the post, or include them in a comment.
Make sure to create a main branded hashtag (#yourbusinessname) to use across Instagram. This makes it easier for users to find your main account and related content.
Collaborate and @mention other accounts
Instagram is one of the leading channels for sharing customer success stories and highlighting collaborators.
You can collaborate with relevant influencers to expand your reach to their audience. Sometimes, this involves paying a brand to promote your service or product, but it can be incredibly effective in gaining new followers quickly. Just make sure it’s your targeted audience.
You can also do unpaid shout-outs with other brands to promote one another and increase exposure. Look for accounts with roughly the same number of followers sharing interests or lifestyle choices.
Build anticipation and offer exclusivity
Giving customers exclusive content is a great way to keep them interested in your Instagram account. Give them sneak peeks into new products, events, or services. Create teaser photos that satisfy curiosity or build anticipation about things coming down the pipeline. These previews make them feel special and keep them returning for exclusive information.
Analyze what works and build on it
To gauge whether your marking is working, you must periodically take a step back and analyze the metrics. Use social media management tools to measure changes in your follower count, engagements, and clicks. Then, you can use these reports to refine and improve your strategy.
Have a strong CTA
Your post should include a solid call to action to increase engagement. Sometimes, this is as simple as asking followers to do something, such as “double tap” to like the post or “tag a friend” below in the comments.
Other useful CTAs include directing fans to sign up for your business’ email list or browsing the company website for services or products offered.
Ready to put the best business Instagram tips into action?
For more information about the services we offer, and how to effectively utilize social media, you can call us at 1-800-485-1404 or visit readybusinesssystems.com/contact.
