Introduction

Social media is a no-brainer when it comes to marketing your business and driving sales. After all, more than half of the general population uses social networks daily to keep in touch with friends and family, and more than 80 percent of consumers check these sites before purchasing a product or service. But that doesn’t mean choosing the right platform is always intuitive. Learn how to effectively use Instagram marketing to boost your business.

Quite a few business owners struggle to understand which social media channels are worth their time and money. Fortunately, that confusion ends here because we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll explain how to market your business using Instagram and get the most from this popular photo-based social network. 

What Is Instagram Marketing?

Instagram is a social network that lets users post images and video snippets to their profiles. Instagram is primarily used for sharing aesthetic images and videos, you can also use it to share links to your website and blog posts, as well as business content (e.g., your blog’s articles, e-books, and more). Users can also use Instagram to follow hashtags and browse collections of related images known as “feeds,” which lets you easily search for and locate specific topics and images.

When a business owner starts using Instagram for marketing their brand, they’re essentially using this network to attract and engage with existing and potential customers through visual content. You can do this with photos, videos, or both. You can also post photos and videos containing text, which is helpful for marketing and communication with your audience.

 How to Use Instagram for Business

Unlike many other social networks, Instagram is primarily a visual network. Thus, before starting your journey toward Instagram marketing, it’s crucial to understand that you’re not going to be posting countless blogs, articles, and e-books on this network. Instead, you’re going to be creating visual content that most Instagram users will find both exciting and valuable.

We’ve compiled a list of Instagram marketing strategies to help you grow your business through this popular network to get you started. Start by setting up your Instagram account. It is the quickest and easiest step, ensuring an account is set up on the network.

Once you have an account, you can add your business information to your profile. It can include your company’s logo, website address, and other relevant details. You can also add a short bio about yourself and your company. It will help new followers learn more about your brand and make it easier for them to find you in the search results.

Next, you’ll want to add a few relevant images to your profile. You can post your images or find free images on Pinterest, Google Images, or other websites. Once your profile is set up, it’s time to start creating content.

Why Would You Use Instagram in Marketing?

One of the best qualities of Instagram is that both consumers and business owners use it. Your target market will already be familiar with it, making it a low-risk, high-return marketing platform. That being said, Instagram isn’t just for personal use — it’s also an excellent platform for businesses to grow their customer base.

First, let’s examine why Instagram is an effective marketing channel. When you use Instagram for marketing, you essentially use this network to attract and engage with existing and potential customers through visual content. You can do this with photos, videos, or both.

You can also post photos and videos containing text, which is helpful for marketing and communication with your audience. To take your marketing strategy a step further, you can use hashtags and other relevant tools to help you track results and reach your desired audience.

It’s an app that connects people with brands. B2C companies always post on Instagram, but B2-B companies don’t post as often as they should because it’s not yet “pushing” marketing for them.

It’s engaging. You don’t have to be witty or funny; simply posting photos or videos that show what your business can help engage followers and make them feel like they are part of your brand community.

Use Hashtags for Flexibility and Trackability

There’s a misconception within the marketing world that using a single, specific hashtag is the best way to grow your business on Instagram. While this might be true for some businesses, there are several benefits to using a more versatile hashtag. First, using a more flexible hashtag will make it easier for you to find specific images in the hashtag feed.

Next, using a more versatile hashtag will make it easier for you to repost and share your posts outside of Instagram. Reposting your posts outside of Instagram will give your audience another option to view your content, which will help you reach new potential customers. 

4 Types of Instagram Accounts you can have for marketing your business

When you start marketing on Instagram, you’ll want to set up several different accounts to help you build a large and diverse following. You can use these Instagram accounts to help grow your business and build brand awareness.

Personal/Vlog – A personal/vlog account is an excellent option for both consumers and businesses. This type of account is perfect for those who want to connect with a specific audience through visual storytelling and vlogging. Thus, a personal/vlog account is ideal for brands that want to be more authentic and personal.

Business/Corporate – Using a more professional, business-like Instagram account can benefit your brand. First, a more professional Instagram account will help you stand out in the crowd, which is essential for both consumers and business owners. Second, a more professional Instagram account will help boost your business’s brand and reputation.

Private/Family – Another great option is to create a private/family Instagram profile. It is an excellent option for those looking to share content with family members and close friends while maintaining the account’s security.

Public/Play – Finally, those looking to grow their following on Instagram should consider creating a public account. You can use these accounts to publicly share images and videos while appearing in search results for those interested in finding content from this page. A public account can help you reach a wider audience and boost your Instagram following.

Tips for Successful Instagram Marketing

 Find Your Niche – Before investing too much time in Instagram marketing, you should determine your niche. Once you’ve figured this out, you can use this information to help you choose a specific type of Instagram account to help you grow your audience.

Be Authentic – To truly engage with your followers, you need to be authentic, genuine, and relatable. It will help you stand out in the crowd and build a strong connection with your target market.

Be Creative – When creating Instagram content, don’t be afraid to be creative. You can incorporate visual storytelling and creative imagery to help you stand out from the crowd while also helping you attract new customers and followers.

Use Tools to Automate Your Growth – Once you’ve mastered the art of Instagram marketing.  You can take your growth to the next level by using tools to automate your growth.

Post photos that reflect your brand. If you run a clothing store, for example, you might post pictures of customers wearing items from your store or models wearing outfits similar to those sold at your store.

Post photos that reflect the season. Suppose you run a seasonal business, such as an amusement park, and post photos that fit the season. For example, if it’s springtime and people are thinking about going on vacation, they’ll want to see images of beautiful beaches — not snow-covered mountains.

Leverage User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) refers to any content created by people who aren’t employed by your company — in other words; it’s stuff like photos and videos taken by customers or fans of your brand. It’s a great way to show how much people love your brand and what they do with it!

For example, suppose a customer posts a photo of themselves wearing your clothing line or using one of your products on Instagram. In that case, you could repost it on your profile with an accompanying caption thanking them for their support.

Run Social Media Contests, Offers, and Giveaways

Running a contest on Instagram is an excellent way to engage with your followers and increase brand awareness. You can run a game by asking them to post photos or stories with your hashtags.  This kind of contest will help you get more followers and drive traffic to your website.

Conclusion

 By following the steps prepared above, you can actively grow your Instagram fan base. Use it as a marketing tool for your business. Remember to be true to yourself, focus on quality rather than quantity, and maintain top-notch customer service (both to existing clients and potential customers). Your Instagram marketing efforts should yield excellent results.

My name is Muhammad Hussain; I am from Pakistan. I am an expert in content writing and graphic designing. If you need a freelancer for these services, you can hire me.

I have written over 100 articles on topics such as Copywriting, SEO copywriting, Social Media Marketing, and Content Writing.

I have worked with many clients from different industries in different countries across the globe. My main focus is to provide quality work to my clients by dealing with their business requirements and expectations.

My main goal is to help others achieve their goals through my work. I am working on content writing, graphic designing or social media marketing to make myself professional. 

Why should hire me as social media marketing expert for your business? I’m a social media marketing expert. I’ve worked with dozens of small businesses to grow their social following, improve engagement rates and create more loyal customers.

Here are some ways I can help you:

Analyze your social media strategy and make recommendations based on your goals.

Identify new audiences and make them part of your strategy.

Create content that works well on social media.

Get started today by scheduling a free consultation.