Who would have thought that a social media platform for posting pictures could make such an impact on the world of business? Nowadays, we have brands that focus solely on Instagram and for a good reason. In 2018, Instagram reached one billion monthly active users and is expected to continue to grow.
Next year, brands that can use the latest trends will be on their way to success. If you use the right tactics, you too can benefit from the power of Instagram. The following content marketing strategies will teach you how to turn this platform into an effective marketing tool.
1. Show the value of your product
Instagram is a visual platform so it’s a perfect place to show what application your products and services have. Just consider that 60% of people say that they have learned about a product or service on Instagram.
It is obvious that people inquire about the products on this platform so why not take advantage of it?
Present your products through videos or images. What you can share is:
- How-to videos
- Tutorials
- Brands stories
- Product unboxing
- Customers’ testimonials
Once the customer has a chance to see how the product actually works, it will be much easier for them to make a purchasing decision.
Use Instagram TV (IGTV) for posting longer videos. It allows you to post videos that even last for one hour. Marketers love this option since it lets them present the product in more detail.
2. Use storytelling principles
Pictures and videos can tell stories. Use this to engage customers with your products.
Stories can help you to add some emotion to your posts and connect with the audience. When people are emotionally triggered, they are more likely to trust the brand and make a purchase.
Tell a story about your team members, your business, your product’s progress, or anything that comes to your mind.
For example, post an old picture of yourself from the company’s beginning and tell them how it all started.
Another interesting idea is to post about a different team member each week. Share their picture along with a story about who they are, what they mean to your company, and some fun facts about that person. Your audience will love this!
3. Leverage user-generated content
People trust other consumers more than ads. Unfortunately, businesses often tend to exaggerate or mask the truth in order to sell. That is why you need social proof.
Share customers’ reviews and testimonials on your page. Better yet, reach out to satisfied customers and ask them if they are willing to post a picture with your product. Repost those photos and show other users that people truly love your brand.
Such posts will make your brand look friendly and open to communication with the audience.
4. Schedule your posts
Like any other social media platform, Instagram also states the best times for posting in terms of views and engagement. According to Sprout Social, the best times to post on Instagram are Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Friday at 10–11 a.m.
Source: Sprout Social
However, as a busy business owner or marketer, you probably don’t have the time to look at the clock. That is why you should use scheduling tools.
All you have to do is create a content plan and follow it by using automation tools. You will never have to worry again whether you’ll forget to post.
5. Be consistent
There is a ton of content on Instagram. If you want people to see your posts on their feed, post a few times a day. In case this doesn’t resonate with the nature of your business, try to post at least once a day.
This is a key part of your strategy because your followers will forget about you if you aren’t serious about posting.
Consistency is very important but if you keep publishing the same or similar content it won’t have any effect. Remember that you need to keep your audience interested by posting different types of content (photos, videos, stories, streams).
6. Use Instagram ads
Promote your posts through your Instagram business profile or use the ad creation feature on Facebook.
The best part is that Instagram allows you to set the following:
- the target audience
- the ad’s duration
- the money you are willing to spend
There are no worries about how it will all turn out or will this investment fit your budget. You get to customize it all.
If you want to create a clever, high-quality ad, you need to team up with best writing services and professionals that are capable of providing you with creative slogans that depict your business’ personality.
7. Tag products to make shoppable posts
Allow your audience to buy products directly from Instagram. By doing this, you will make the shopping experience more approachable and convenient for your customers.
Some users can lose interest if they conclude that the purchase process will take some time. That is why you need to have shoppable posts.
The process of setting up shopping on Instagram is extremely simple. Just follow this guide by Facebook.
It is amazing how people want something as soon as they see it. If you don’t act in that moment of urgency you can lose a customer. That is why shoppable posts are extremely beneficial for marketers.
8. Add location tags
Local shoppers tend to be the most loyal ones. That is why marketers focus on local marketing. When you combine local marketing and Instagram, what you get is location tagging.
Geotagging has become essential for local businesses. It narrows down the customer’s search and directs them to your business.
Start by going to Facebook’s “Create the Location” setting. Then just create a new post, click “Check In”, and simply enter your brand’s name. Try to use the same-named location as much as you can to raise awareness.
Another useful tactic is to use the “Location” sticker when you publish your Instagram stories.
9. Partner with micro-influencers
Influencer marketing has proved its effectiveness and the fact that it grew by 198% in 2017 backs up that claim.
While influencer marketing is nothing new, micro-influencers are new trendsetters. What makes them appealing to the business owners is that they are easier to work with and they bring results.
Not to mention that collaboration with micro-influencers will look more natural to the audience.
Find your influencers by searching for hashtags related to your niche. For example, if you sell exercise equipment, your influencer should be an advocate for a healthy lifestyle.
10. Track your best-performing content
Tracking your metrics is a must if you want to lead a successful Instagram marketing campaign.
Think about it. How will you know whether you are heading in the right direction if you don’t analyze your actions?
For this purpose, Instagram has created a free analytics tool called Instagram Insights. It will provide you information on your profile’s performance, the audience’s demographics, your posts’ engagement, and so on.
You can also use other brands’ experience but still, you should always analyze your results. In this way, you will learn the “formula” of content that works best for you.
Over to you
Now that you know these ten content marketing strategies, there is no doubt that your Instagram game will improve. As you will see, all of these tips are easily applicable but they bring amazing results. All that is left for you to do is invest some time and energy in the process and watch how your business grows.
