Use Instagram for Business: How to Build Your Brand and Connect with Customers
Instagram is one of the most effective social media tools for businesses and brands. Because of its visual nature, users can easily like, share, and comment on photos. In fact, the platform now has over 1 billion monthly active users, which is more than double the number of Twitter users. So, if you want to grow your business, using Instagram as a marketing channel can be extremely beneficial.
Whether you are an e-commerce store or a brick-and-mortar business, the insights below will help you use Instagram to help your business grow organically. These pointers cover the fundamentals of setting up an Instagram account for business and some best practices for when you’re ready to delve deeper into the world of visual marketing.
#1 – Create a Compelling Instagram Profile
Your Instagram account matters. A lot. The images and text on your Instagram profile will entice users to follow you and engage with you regularly. Your profile also has an impact on your click-through and conversion rates.
So, what makes a good Instagram profile?
Your Instagram profile is the only place where you can display critical brand information such as your mission, values, and other key information. Thus, your profile should clearly communicate your brand’s identity and core messaging. It should also showcase your brand’s visual aesthetic.
More importantly, your Instagram profile should be a representation of your company, not of yourself. For instance, if you own a restaurant, your Instagram should reflect your restaurant’s tone and style, not your personal preferences on food.
#2 – Add Rich Media to your Posts
Instagram is a visual platform by nature. While text within posts can be useful in some cases (for example, showing a coupon code or linking to more content on your website), it’s best to keep most of your Instagram content image-only. For example, if you want to share a recipe, you can easily post a photo of the dish along with the ingredients and directions for making it.
Instagram also has some features that allow you to add additional information to your posts. You can include hashtags, a location, a website URL, and a website address. You can add product information such as price, size, color, and more if you want to showcase products from your e-commerce store.
#3 – Showcase your Products on Instagram
Product-based businesses can benefit greatly from using Instagram. The best approach is to share what inspires you while also showcasing your products. If you’re a photographer, for example, you can share photos of your work and everyday moments and photos of your favorite places. If you own a clothing store, you can display your current products and favorite outfits from the past. Instagram is an excellent platform for combining multiple product images into a single post. If you’re sharing a product photo, you can use the app’s “Multiple Posts” feature to show different angles of the same product. This gives your followers a clear grasp of the item.
#4 – Use Instagram Ads to Grow your Audience
Brands frequently spend money on paid social media campaigns. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your Instagram audience. You can choose between image and video ads when running Instagram ads. Image ads are your best bet if you want to showcase a product in a single post. Customers who see a single product can click the “Learn More” button to go directly to your website.
Instagram ads are an excellent way to increase your brand’s online visibility without feeling forced or unnatural. Video ads, on the other hand, allow you to include a short clip (15 seconds maximum) that explains what your company does and why people should care. You can add a website URL, a call-to-action button, and a caption to image ads.
Summary
Instagram is a great platform for all kinds of businesses. You can share photos, videos, and behind-the-scenes footage, among other things. You must be creative with how you use the platform if you want to build your brand and engage customers.
But remember to be authentic and genuine when posting content. Make the most of your creativity and don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of Instagram! Customers can detect inauthenticity a mile away and will unfollow or disengage with your content without hesitation.