In this digital age, hundreds of millions of individuals turn to social media to share their experiences in the form of photos, videos, reels, stories, etc. Well, one of the most popular platforms for this form of engagement is Instagram and as we all know, where there are masses that can get your attention, there is an opportunity for business. Unfortunately, most people think it is just about creating a profile and posting what you have to offer. However, the reality begs to differ. In this read, we are going to provide several simple and free tips to grow your audience and Instagram likes when running your business on Instagram.
- Know Why You’re Using Insta Business
When it comes to using any platform to market your products or services, it’s imperative to have clear goals in mind. Well, Instagram even as a social media platform at a glance, is no exception to this rule. If you are going to spend your time and resources on Instagram marketing, then you need to be clear and concise regarding on what you wish to achieve.
Typical Insta business objectives include the following:
-Build a community
-Increase brand awareness
-Sell goods or services
-Show your company’s values and culture
Create a list of your marketing goals and ensure you keep track of them. This not only reminds you of where you are headed but encourages your team to be more deliberate with the content you post. That’s because you can always refer back to ascertain that everything you publish aligns with your goals.
- Find Your Visual Aesthetic
When it comes to sharing content on Instagram, it is all about visuals. However, what works for another brand may not necessarily work for you. As such, you will want to find and implement the right aesthetic for your brand on Instagram. To ascertain consistency, consider creating branding guidelines and take note of your color scheme. If you take a closer look at some of the most popular Instagram pages, they use a specific color palette for all their posts. This helps create a distinct style that makes you recognizable on the platform.
- Optimize Your Profile
Think of your Instagram profile as your homepage, especially if you are utilizing it for business reasons. You only have a single link and several action buttons to entice your audience and so, you’ll want to make the most of them.
Begin by switching to an Instagram business profile. These accounts are advantageous in that they provide additional features that help you track your content’s performance, sell on the platform and even expand your profile.
Next, you’ll want to make an appealing Instagram biography. In the profile, ensure you include:
-A link
-A brief description of your business
-Your industry or category
-Contact information (location, phone, and email address)
Given that the bio section is the only place to share a clickable link on the platform, you will want to make the most of it. You can include a static link to your website or change it on the regular to match your current content. Also, you can consider link-in-bio tools to help you utilize the link in a more strategic manner such as changing it into a resources catalog.
IG business accounts can also make use of action buttons. These are extra clickable buttons to specific CTAs like Book Now, View Shop, Contact us, etc. Action buttons are extremely helpful when it comes to adding extra links to your IG profile. By doing this, you will make it easier for the fans or customers to engage and interact with your brand.
Lastly, do not forget about the grid. When people come to your profile, they’ll see a grid of your most recent posts. Consider making this space appealing and avoid positing visually similar photos back to back.
- Engage With the Community
Using IG for business does not mean posting sales pitches non-stop. This is a social media platform and so, you should learn to interact with the rest. Regardless of what you sell, engaging with the audience can take your business to the next level.
When a fan or customer takes their time to share their sentiments, it’s vital that you respond and show that you are paying attention. Responding to comments on the site is an excellent way to build a robust community that follows you on a regular. Consider using tools like Buffer to respond to replies directly. This makes the process smoother.
Engagement prompts are also a great way to encourage interaction. So, try out interactive stickers like sliding scale rankings, questions, polls, etc.