How to Create a Powerful Social Media Marketing Strategy on Instagram
Instagram for Your Business – Dumpor One of the most powerful marketing tools that marketers have today is social media. From Facebook posts to Twitter tweets, sharing your products or services on social media platforms is a great way to increase brand awareness, engagement, sales, and leads.
However, many people are left confused when it comes to Instagram marketing.
Many of us use Instagram as a personal account to post pictures of our family, friends, holidays and food – but how does that relate to work? It should?
With the speed at which Instagram is growing, do not underestimate its value in promoting your brand and marketing efforts.
It has become an incredibly valuable marketing platform, and while 18-29-year-olds are still the dominant users, higher age groups are catching up and catching up quickly. – Hjdh
Some Instagram 2018 stats from Sprout Social say:
- 7 out of 10 Instagram hashtags are branded
- 80% of users follow a business on Instagram
- 65% of top-performing Instagram posts feature products
If you want to explore Instagram as part of your social media marketing strategy, check out these starter tips to get you started:
1. Use hashtags wisely
You don’t need to cram every hashtag you can think of into a post, but you do need at least a few.
The hashtag is # followed by descriptive words about your photo, as in this example I used #marketing and #ctaconf, the conference I was attending at the time.
When a user clicks/clicks on a hashtag or types a hashtag in the search box, all images using that hashtag are displayed. The user can subscribe to continue following this tag.
The hope is that the user will see your photo, go to your profile, and best scenario, follow you and interact with more of your posts!
However, when hashtags are extremely popular, the competition to appear in the results is fierce. Similar to SEO keywords, the more popular a term is, the harder it is to stay at the top of search results. So the example I used of using #marketing was really useless if I wanted to get any effect from this post.
You want to make your hashtags relevant to your business and site, but you also want to engage enough of the user to type them into the Instagram search box. Instagram for Your Business
For example:
• Let’s say you own a pizzeria in Vancouver. Post a picture of your pepperoni pizza with the hashtags #VancouversBestPizza #NicolosRestaurant #DeliciousDeepDish Instagram for Your Business
• Or you are a wedding planner in Toronto. She posts a photo of the bride and groom’s first dance using the hashtag #TorontoWeddingPlanner #LoveWins #WinterWedding
Holidays and special occasions are a great time to promote your business and gain followers on Instagram. Whether it’s a Black Friday sale, a Thanksgiving-related use of your product, or a promotion for a National Dog Day product, they are all perfect opportunities to showcase your brand in a non-commercial way. Instagram for Your Business
2. Thank your audience for attending
You are not just posting a bunch of photos and hashtags and waiting for likes to appear.
To gain followers on Instagram, interact with your audience, and increase sales or leads, you need to make time.
Watch an example here from video expert Michelle Moreno as she responds to each of the remaining comments on her video post.
So if someone leaves a comment or question on one of your posts, please take the time to respond and thank/answer the question.
Take a look at their profile and if you like what you see, follow them.
Companies often follow reviewers first, hoping they can return the favor.
You can also search for people who might be interested in your product, comment on their photos, and/or follow them, but don’t send spam asking them to follow you right away. Instagram for Your Business
3. Interact with the right influencers
Influencers are Instagram users who can influence their target audience due to their popularity and/or following on social media.
Daniel Bernstein is a good example of an influencer who has worked with a brand. You may not recognize her name, but the 1.8 million followers of her WeWoreWhat Instagram account do.
Bernstein and FIJI Water worked together to create BodyWoreWhat, a marketing campaign featuring 8-minute exercise videos featuring her and her personal trainer.
From mom bloggers to local foodies, you can always find someone your target audience will follow, like, or admire. They might be willing to review your product or take a photo with it – use your imagination!
4. Don’t just play with your products
Instagram is not the place to share product photos all the time. Think about the experience of people using what you offer or the benefits it offers people.
Better yet, show real examples. One way to do this is to request user-generated content from your audience. This means that users share their photos using the hashtag you provide.
Wayfair.com’s online furniture store does user-generated content very well. They have a user-generated campaign that allows customers to share photos of their full stylish homes on Wayfair using the hashtag #WayfairAtHome.
Make sure to let people know that your photos can be displayed on your page and you can grow your Instagram content exponentially – for free!
No matter how you use Instagram for your business, be real and true to your brand. This is what the platform is all about and it will help you grow your business, gain Instagram followers and attract sales or leads.
Susan Friesen, award-winning eVision Media web development and digital marketing founder, is a web expert, and business and marketing consultant. a. She works with entrepreneurs who lack the knowledge, skill, and support needed to build their online business presence.
We recently launched a program designed for business owners who want to double their online marketing efforts called AMPLIFY! Business Academy. Practical Social Media and Digital Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs. It’s a great group working together and the collaborative and friendly environment is the best place to learn and explore what social media and online marketing can really do to help build your business. To learn more and to register visit: (https://www.hjdh.in)