Instagram is one of the most utilized photo-and-video sharing platforms with more than 700 million active users each month. And to think that this number keeps on rising every year! Research shows 80% of Instagram users follow one or more business accounts on the application. This makes the platform a great place for small business owners to target their audience, reach customers, and build clientele.
Instagram is an easy application that doesn’t require much work to understand or use. In fact, once you get the hang of it, many are surprised with how easy it is to use as a marketing tool. Given its popularity, it is time to jump on the bandwagon and start promoting your products and services on the platform.
Here are five things every business owner should do for successful Instagram posts:
Use Targeted Geographic Locations
Whenever you post a video or picture on Instagram, make sure to add in your location. You can do this by tagging the picture with the location where it was photographed. Pictures, videos, and any posts that include your company location will display your name and address directly above the picture. When users on Instagram view your post, they can click on the location name and view:
Where you are located on the map.
Photos and videos that have been tagged similarly, as well as any business information that you may have.
Any photos and videos that your customers have tagged of your business.
Adding a location to the posts is incredibly easy. All you have to do is keep an eye out for the “Add Location” option when uploading a new picture. If your business is listed, it will show up in the recommendations. Tagging targeted areas is also a great idea to have a more impactful reach. You can tag the town your business is located in, neighborhood, or an area you look to gain more traction in.
Be True to Your Brand
Instead of solely focusing on the things you sell, focus on how these things will change the lives of your customers. If you can add value to your products, your customers will be more drawn to them. The aesthetic is everything. This means that you need to work on how you want your brand to look on Instagram.
In case you run a service-oriented business, you can make things more interesting by showing your followers a little “behind-the-scenes.” The more the followers know about your business, its culture, and the process that goes behind making your products, the more faith they are likely to have, and the more customers you are likely to build.
Use Hashtags
Wondering what hashtags are? These are phrases that are preceded by the “#” sign. On social platforms like Instagram, hashtags help categorize products and services. If you’re looking for ways to increase your Instagram following, your customers, and your reviews, making use of the appropriate hashtags will take you a long way.
Think about it this way. A customer is looking for inspiration for acrylic paintings. They have no idea where to look or which website would help satisfy their needs. They go on Instagram and search the #AcrylicPainting hashtag. Instantly, they will be presented with millions of search results, all of which have used the above hashtag. Similarly, anyone looking to buy some kitchen accessories will search the hashtag #KitchenAccessories and will be provided with loads of options to choose from.
If you are a business owner looking to reach more people, you should use hashtags that are applicable to your business, for example:
Post a hashtag of your specialized field, (#Art, #Remodeling, or #Construction)
Post a hashtag of the products you are selling, (#Paintings, #SwimmingPools, or #HouseholdAppliances)
Post a hashtag that describes these products, such as #Imported, #Handmade, or #LocallyMade.
Websites like Best Hashtags and Daily Purpose are great tools to find popular options.
Thoughtful Captions
When posting a picture or video on your Instagram page, give your caption some thought. Creating thoughtful, insightful, and thought-provoking captions will help generate a conversation. The more people your caption reaches, the more likely more people are to share it and learn about your business.
When people comment, share, and like your Instagram post, you have more chances of reaching a wider market. So get writing! Writing not your thing? You can hire content creators to do the job for you.
Share Other Businesses/Collaborators
Instagram is a great networking platform. This strong social media channel can help you collaborate with like-minded and interesting people that you may never have previously heard of! Look for brands and pages that align with your brand values and mindset. Instead of simply using hashtags to get attention, you can also tag a business account on your post. This is a guaranteed way to get noticed.
Need some inspiration and how to get started? Reach out to our team at Local Image Co. in Portland, Maine! We have experience creating meaningful social media content for local businesses, resulting in more traffic and sales.