Instagram recorded an impressive 2 billion monthly active users. Such a successful platform can and should be used as a sales-generating tool for businesses in various niches with a professional Instagram account.
We are talking about a visual platform, with a lot of emphasis on quality images, where authentic photography sells. Starting from this truth, we must build an Instagram promotion strategy - appropriate, effective, and in step with the times. What's more, Instagram's algorithms now take into account relevance, a metric based on the audience's interaction with that content, above all else. The more interesting and engaging your content is, the more visible you will be on the platform.
Types of content available on Instagram
Image content — product photos, team posts, quotes on a brand template, infographics, and lifestyle photos — all have their place on the Instagram platform. You can add up to 10 images in a single post.
The recommended dimensions for the images would be 2:
- square: 1080 x 1080 px;
- portrait: 1080 x 1350 px.
Video content - Instagram Stories, feed videos, and Reels.
Here's what you need to know about the video content supported by the platform:
- Videos in the feed are limited to 60 minutes.
- Reels allow you to create short videos from 15 to 60 seconds.
- Video Instagram Stories are up to 15 seconds long.
- Lives on Instagram are limited to 60 minutes.
Instagram Stories are images or videos that disappear in 24 hours, but they have much higher visibility than any other content available here. The best stories are recommended to be saved in Highlights, so they will not be lost after 24 hours. You can add buttons with the text "Swipe up" or "Shop now" that appear at the bottom of the image.
Bio, colors, suitable style - the secrets of marketing on Instagram
Bio is a short description of your business. From the first sentence of this section, it should be painfully clear what the business does. Also here you can add a single external link to a very important business resource, such as your website. This link can be modified as needed (for promotional campaigns, or to send people to a specific newly written article on your blog).
The shades used would be most appropriate to be from the color palette that belongs to your branding. It is also highly recommended to embrace a personal style and have a few pre-set post templates where you use the logo placed in the same place, which is consistent with the brand personality but also corresponds to a pre-set tone of voice.
Moreover, once you understand what types of posts bring the best engagement, we suggest you keep the same content line.
How to grow your Instagram? Storytelling and brand content
The more organically your product or service fits into the life of a target audience, the less you will have to "sell". However, no one wants to be sold to him. And in this context, lifestyle pictures are very helpful for various commercial brands. On Instagram, it is important to build a stable image and tell an authentic brand story.
Make use (and don't abuse) of hashtags
Hashtags group photos into hubs linked by keywords and help you appear in searches whenever someone searches for content on that topic. The recommendation is to place a few hashtags that match exactly the topic of the post. This way you can reach different communities with different interests.
Be a 'social' brand
The secret on Instagram is to post neither too often nor too rarely. It is not recommended to crowd the feed, but also to publish only sporadic pictures. Aim for your audience to hear from you 1-2 times a day. It would be best to have an editorial plan drawn up in advance.
And if you are mentioned by customers in posts or stories, be sure to thank them and share the pictures on your profile. It will certainly be easier for you to promote yourself through user-generated content, which has more stickiness among potential customers.
Another way to interact on a win-win basis with your audience is to offer them bonuses and special offers because they are dedicated to you and attentive to your messages.
Another way to be a "sociable" brand is to create content with other brands: tag and mention other businesses, but without being pushy or disrespecting someone. Just make sure to mention the brands you've turned to or started joint campaigns with.
Call on nano-influencers
Now the accents have changed. Today brands are no longer turning to macro-influencers, whose credibility has dropped considerably this year, and brands have focused their efforts on brand ambassadors with smaller but more niche followings. In addition, you can have barter deals with them.
What types of content create engagement?
In addition to clear and quality images (without kitsch), you can use surveys, stickers, interactive questions, short reels with useful tips, etc. Your goal is to become a center of gravity in your niche: an inspiration, an authority, and a brand with expertise.
About Instagram results
The Instagram Insights feature provides data on your account growth and is available from your business profile. This feature helps you identify past posts that have had the most engagement and can give you an understanding of the type of content that works best for your target audience.
Advertise on Instagram
You can sponsor your content on Instagram through the Business Manager which is also common on Facebook.
Available ad types:
- Static pictures
- Videos
- Carousels.
What happens after we start the advertising?
- Review phase
- Learning phase
- The actual running.
Instagram Promotions is a feature that allows you to convert Instagram posts, stories, or highlights into sponsored ones for a fee.
Promote your account
You can always attract followers from other backgrounds as well. Promote your account everywhere, as you may already be used to mentioning your website: on other social networks, on your website, in your signature, as a widget on your website.
Also, don't forget to add calls to action for your audience, such as: purchasing products, visiting your site, or writing a direct message. This can increase conversions noticeably.
Do you need SMM services? Contact us now at +373 69809235 or info{@}seolitte.com and we will help you become one of the brands with visibility and reputation on social networks!