With more than 500 million users, Instagram is a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world. Becoming active on Instagram means you will be ahead of your competition, since the majority of small businesses only have Facebook accounts with Instagram marketing not being used enough. However, statistics from January 2017 show that Instagram has 5,000,000 monthly active Australian users, which means you will target a wide range of customers by communicating on this social network, so that is why we have compiled these Instagram Marketing Tips for you.
Here are our 6 Instagram Marketing tips that will help you grow your brand for free using the successful photo-sharing application and social network:
1. Fill out your “Bio” section
Because Instagram has a simpler interface, some businesses fall into the trap of keeping their account too simple as well. Fact is, no matter on what network you engage in social media marketing you need to tell your audience who you are. The easiest way to communicate your brand is having the “Bio” section complete. It takes at most half an hour to fill out and it can make a great difference to your profile.
2. Instagram tools for business
Take advantage of free Instagram tools for your business profile, which heavily mirror Facebook’s business profiles. For instance, you can add a visible call-to-action button on your profile allowing users to email, call, or text the business. Another tool provided by Instagram is access to analytics, allowing business owners to see how their campaigns are performing in real time.
3. Cross promote Instagram posts to other social platforms
Since Instagram has a lower adoption level compared to other social networks, you’d worry that the messages you post there may possibly never reach a part of the audience. This is not the case though because you can share your Instagram posts to other social platforms. It’s a win-win situation. Instagram attracts more people on their website, and you have more potential customers seeing your Instagram posts.
4. Interact with followers to spark growth
No piece of social media marketing advice will help you advance your business if you don’t engage in professional yet informal interactions with your customers. On Instagram, like on any social network, your company needs to communicate like a person and not like a cold, distant business and be able to entertain and inform audiences at the same time.
5. Create an interactive hashtag
This is a very simple yet highly effective strategy. Creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product or service they have just purchased. Customers feel a part of your brand story and by encouraging the creation of user-generated content your company enjoys publicity for free. Posts that use at least one hashtag on average have 12.6% more engagement than posts that don’t. So get hashtagging!
6. Don’t overwhelm your audience
The world today suffers from an abundance of photos. Visual messages are everywhere and have consequently started to lose their effectiveness because the human brain has a filter for images, enabling people to survive in the visual flood we experience nowadays. The solution is not represented by more photos on the contrary; it is advised to post less and in a regular manner and to choose photos that can really have an impact on your audience. If your messages are meaningful, the audience will look forward to your next post!
These are the most effective Instagram Marketing tips that will enable you to promote and grow your brand on the social service and attract more customers. The best thing about them is you don’t need to spend any money to implement them, so why not start today!
With over 39 years’ experience in Print Media, Sales and Marketing, Online Services & Marketing plus Financial Service industries. John brings a wealth of knowledge to Visual Marketing Australia. As a Certified Google Partner, his Digital Marketing knowledge includes: Web Design & Development, SEO, Mobile App. Development, Online Marketing, Online Video Marketing and Email Marketing Solutions. With 12 years experience in using Zoho CRM it is a natural progression to become and Authorised Consulting Partner so we can now add Sales and Marketing Automation to the list.
