This year has been anything but normal—with the effects of the pandemic still affecting our country and countries across the globe, people are spending more time on social media than ever before. With this trend continuing for the foreseeable future, you’re going to want to keep your brand in front of your customers by spending time where they like to hang out. Use the ten tips below to make the most out of your digital marketing strategy and your Instagram profile in particular.
Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Instagram Marketing
1. Post Consistently with Help from a Content Calendar
Posting consistently is important on Instagram when a user’s feed is constantly being refreshed with new content. We recommend planning your content calendar two weeks to a month in advance to help you stay on track with your posting and engagement goals.
2. Experiment with IGTV and Live Streams
In 2020, videos are where it’s at! According to a study by Optinmonster, video marketers get 66% more qualified leads and increase brand awareness by 54%. Use Instagram’s video features such as IGTV and live streams to get in front of your customers and give them an engaging way to learn about your company.
3. Use Your Bio to Your Advantage
“Link in bio!” is a classic call to action that all the top Instagram influencers use to drive customers to their website. While you can’t post links directly in Instagram captions, you can direct users to your profile’s biography section, where you can direct them online to close the sale.
4. Don’t Forget about Stories
500 million people use Instagram stories every day, Hootsuite found in a recent study that 1/3 of the most-viewed stories are from businesses! Like Instagram bios, stories are a great way to get users from your social profile to your website. Give your followers a quick “good morning!” or a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of your workday, then direct them to your website so you can seal the deal.
5. Use Relevant Hashtags
Just like stories and live streams, you can leverage #hashtags to help your posts show up in more users’ feeds. Look into trending hashtags that are relevant to your industry, and be sure to include them in the caption of your Instagram posts!
6. Engage with Your Followers
With the lack of social interaction these days, social media users are longing to connect with others. Be sure to engage with your followers, be it through responding to direct messages (DMs), replying to comments on your posts, and even liking their content! Everyone on social media enjoys positive attention, and it will help current and future customers recognize and appreciate your brand.
7. Gain More Followers with Ads
Instagram’s potential advertising reach is a whopping 849.3 million users. Devoting a section of your marketing budget to Instagram ads could have significant payout when it comes to increasing the monthly revenue and reach of your company’s brand.
8. Host a Contest to Engage Your Community
One thing that never fails to engage new customers is free stuff. It doesn’t have to be extravagant—you can give away something as small as a gift card to a local coffee shop. As long as you’re engaging your followers with an incentive they can be excited about, you’re doing something right. Don’t forget to ask contestants to tag a friend on the raffle post to get your brand in front of even more users.
9. Pay Attention to Your Metrics
Keep a close eye on your Instagram metrics. Did your IGTV bring five new customers to your website? Did a raffle post boost engagement significantly? Capitalize on your success and run with ideas that have gone well in the past.
10. Collab with Other Local Businesses
Remember that coffee shop gift card you raffled off in Tip #8? Instead of buying gift cards, trade with other local companies. They can host a similar giveaway with their customers and raffle off your gift card, increasing your brand awareness and supporting small businesses in your town.
Need Instagram Assistance?
Do you need ideas or support for your Instagram strategy? We’re more than happy to help. Get in touch with our social media team today to learn how we can help you optimize, persuade, and profit from your social media marketing efforts. Click here for a free, no-obligation social media consultation from our experts!