So you’ve joined Instagram and … when you open your profile there’s the sound of crickets. Sure you know some friends and the friend-finder function can help. But that’s not going to help your business take off.
But fear not: We’ve compiled some sure-fire ways you can increase your Instagram reach today!
Your profile
Some tips on perfecting your profile
- Use your company’s name and logo in your profile name. Let there be no doubt from the start.
- Use the same name on all platforms where possible to make linking posts easy and logical.
- You have 150 words for your bio, so make them count. Remember a link to your website and your identifier hashtag if you have one.
- Remember to link your account to your other social networks.
- You can edit your bio as often as you like, so keep it relevant and reflecting your current situation.
Prettify your products
Showing your products off in cool and funky ways is another plus of Instagram. You can be playful while still being professional on this platform. Make sure that people are able to identify your company instantly when they see a post, even if your name isn’t featured anywhere.
Examples would be a fashion label showing off a relatable model having fun on the beach while wearing the clothes in the range instead of individual shots of the clothing on a flat surface. By showing how the fabrics moves and drapes, and by making it personal with a real just-like-you person wearing it, the first shots are immediately more relatable and therefore more attractive.
If your product lends itself to it, you can also use humour and funky photography techniques to attract the viewer. Other tools to enhance engagement is using filters and making short video clips.
Social media marketing is the process of reaching prospects and customers, and acquiring traffic and visibility through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many others. By utilizing the social aspect of the web, social media marketing is able to connect and interact on a much more personalized and dynamic level than through traditional marketing.
Make it personal
Instagram is one of the best platforms to give people a sneak peek into what goes on behind the scenes at your business.
By sharing more personal content, you create an emotional link – and if people feel emotionally connected to your brand, they will choose you over your competition. Make sure you post real images of real situations taken by real people.
Sharing “the people behind the brand” posts can include pictures of setting up an event or prepping a new office, showing chefs in action in the restaurant’s kitchen, funny outtakes if you’re in the film/media industry, a selfie video just before giving an important presentation or accepting an award – the point is that people feel like they have been given special access to something personal. And the personal touch matters.
Instagram is a fun social media platform where you can really engage with customers and followers in a more personal, relaxed manner. We hope you find these tips useful. In Part 2 of this blog, we’ll look at how you can use your posts to win friends and gain customers for life.