Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social media in the world today. It allows users to create profiles, share videos and photos, and post Instagram stories. This has provided a wonderful platform for business people to showcase their products and increase their market base.
Recent research has shown that products and services suitable for people aged 14-35 recorded the highest sales due to Instagram marketing in 2017. For Instagram marketing to work well for you, here are some do and don’t.
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The Do’s
Optimize your bio
The bio is your first impression of your network. Ensure it is well articulated, presentable, and relevant to your brand. Make use of this space to promote your blogs about your products. Bio-on Instagram also provides space for you to include links. You can also have your website or link to your Facebook page and Twitter handles here. This increases your network, and your business will grow faster after a short time.
Consistent posting
Instagram marketing requires consistency in posting for your brand to remain relevant. You don’t want your network to forget about your products and services! You can choose a posting rhythm, e.g., once a day, thrice a week, and so on. Studies have shown that 1-3 daily posts are ideal for businesses. It might be best to keep it that way.
Active interaction
This is the best way to engage your audience. You can ask questions or ask for opinions about your products. You should never get discouraged, even if you do not get answers promptly. Always remember to reply to every comment and direct message (DMs). This kind of engagement is what keeps your business alive online.
Enlarge your circle
Remember that you don’t just create an Instagram account and find an audience waiting for you! You have to build your network as well. It is advisable to have your friends on board so that they can help you enlarge your network. You should also follow hashtags, send follow requests, or even join in trending conversations relevant to your business.
Try to get as many followers as you can. Sites like socialgrand.com can help you to grow your followers.
Have a unique brand or signature look.
This is very important, although it might initially be a bit tricky. However, the unique look will stand out and be a reference point for your business after some time. This is made possible by using specific appropriate filters, specific colors, consistent tone on photos, and high-quality images.
Be creative
Your creativity will distinguish your brand from others with the same products. This comes in handy during the formulation of captions and hashtags. Your caption should be eye-catching and remain relevant to your business. You ought to use business hashtags that the search engines will easily find. While editing your photos and videos, give it your best or hire experts if you cannot.
Occasionally post behind-the-scenes content.
This should only be done occasionally, e.g., you can share a video of your brand receiving an award or your desk operations. Such posts will make your audience know you are a person and not a boring robot! People who see you winning awards will pay more attention to your products.
Measure your performance and progress
Business and marketing require measuring to determine progress. In Instagram marketing, advancement can be traced to the number of followers acquired, feedback received, and the number of sales done. At first, the progress might be slow, but it picks up later. This, of course, happens when you are consistent and patient.
The Don’ts
Do not over post
Over-posting leads to clogging your followers’ feeds and gives a non-professional impression. For a business, 1-3 posts daily are ideal. More than that will be annoying, and you might even lose followers.
Do not use your business account to post personal stuff.
Let your business Instagram profile be for business only. If you need to post your personal life or feelings, kindly create a personal profile. Although you can add some fun to your business account, it should be done professionally. Mixing business and personal profiles might confuse the audience.
Don’t use low-quality photographs.
Low-quality pictures normally get pixelated when they are uploaded online. Avoid using screenshots and low-quality cameras if you want your brand to stand out on Instagram.
Do not post explicit photos.
Always remember to caption your photos and videos. Be creative and relevant. Captions give a clear and simple description of the image; hence the audience can get your intentions.
Instagram marketing might be understated, but the potential it carries is beyond measure in a real sense. The above dos and don’ts will help you start your Instagram business profile and reap the maximum benefits.
