Instagram has grown a lot in terms of popularity – from having two million registered users just two months after its launch to gaining over a billion by the second half of 2019 – it is no surprise that this social media platform has taken the world of business by storm. Since Instagram requires no sign up fee, brands have wasted no time in making it a crucial part of their marketing strategy. But this also means that the digital landscape is even more competitive than ever and standing out is the key to success. 

If you’re not yet convinced, a quick look at these statistics might just be what you need to get inspired and start maximizing the platform: 

• Instagram is the second most engaged social media network next to Facebook.
• 1 billion people use the platform every month.
• More than 500 million Instagram users are active every single day.
• An average of over a 100 million photos and videos are uploaded on Instagram daily.
• Instagram has 58 times more engagement per follower compared to Facebook. 

In terms of the role of Instagram for businesses, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• 75.3% of U.S. businesses will use Instagram by this year.
• 200 million Instagram users visit at least one business profile daily.
• Instagram’s potential advertising reach is 849.3 million users.
• Out of the 500 million Instagram Stories published every day, 1/3 of the most viewed are from businesses.
• Businesses post 2.5 Stories per week on average.

Add all these to the fact that the gender demographic of Instagram users are fairly even, and it makes this photo and video-sharing service a powerful marketing tool every brand should take advantage of.

If you have no idea how to start, then read on to see what you can do to effectively use Instagram as part of your social media content strategy.

The Top Instagram Trends of 2020 To Take Advantage

The Power of Videos

Two of The Big Five companies –  Facebook and Google – have announced last year that they will start prioritizing video content. Instagram, acquired by Facebook in 2012, is one of the earliest social media platforms to utilize video marketing. Starting out with Instagram stories in 2016, the social media app has come a long way from the 24-hour 15-second long video feature. Today, we have the expanded version of Stories– Instagram TV, more popularly known as IGTV.

Social media influencers from all over the world have begun using IGTV since it was first rolled out in 2016. A Youtube-like app, this new feature allows businesses to highlight products, do tutorials, or engage with users through hosting question-and-answer sessions. IGTV lets businesses create a developed community of audience- all you have to do is create compelling content, so you can boost awareness through increasing story views.

eCommerce Features

Instagram is not just a social media platform for showcasing beautifully curated photos. While that has been its vision from the beginning, the application has long improved to cater to businesses as well. Retail brands can now make use of its eCommerce capabilities. Users can now proceed with online purchases through product tags without having to leave the app. As the way it always works with Instagram, all one has to do is to make a couple of taps. Instagram creates less friction for users so that the shopping experience is as seamless as possible– a win-win situation for both users and brands.

Lengthy Captions

An image-first social media platform, it may come as a surprise that Instagram’s current winning formula is writing lengthy captions to stunning visuals. Contrary to popular belief, longer Instagram captions create stronger relationships with your audience. By telling a story through the written word, brands can demonstrate a sense of authenticity, building brand loyalty in the long run. It also has some positive impact in terms of engagement. The longer a user spends reading your caption, the better Instagram will rank your post based on its algorithm.

On-Brand Story Filters

            Today, it’s not only about having an impressive, visually-appealing Instagram feed; but more about crafting content that’s on-brand while still remaining unique, fun, and relevant to your audience. Luckily enough, Instagram has opened its doors for both brands and individuals to unleash their creative freedom through developing customized Instagram Story filters. With this kind of creative liberty, there’s no excuse to fall flat as long as you are hyperfocus on your target market and what they would find interesting.

Interactiveness

While your Instagram feed is still not able to post links unless it’s on your bio, the platform has launched a lot of features that enabled brands to directly interact with their audience. From the original hashtags and mentions, businesses can now touch base with their market through creating polls, asking questions, making quizzes, posting countdowns, and doing live chats.  With so many channels for engagement, the only thing you have to do is get creative.

Instagram Nametags

Here’s one social media trend that still feels like a well-kept secret- Instagram Nametag. 

While the feature has been out for over two years now, a lot of brands have not yet jumped on the bandwagon. When it was first launched, users were finding it to be quite similar to the QR Snapcodes of another social media video platform – Snapchat. 

However, the main benefit of Instagram Nametag is simple –  the convenience of being able to easily find and follow new accounts. Read on to find out everything you need to know on how to grow your social media community through this Instagram-exclusive feature.

What is Instagram Nametag?

An Instagram Nametag is a QR Code that’s highly customizable and designed to act as a virtual identification card. Through the Instagram app, other users can scan your Nametag and be immediately directed to your profile where they can follow you instantly, without having the need to type in your handle and search for you. This eliminates human error while also making your brand easily searchable on a digital platform as competitive as Instagram.

How to Set Up an Instagram Nametag

Setting up your Instagram Nametag is as easy as signing up to the second most popular social media platform: 

Step#1:  Begin by logging in to your Instagram account via your mobile device. 

Step#2: Click the bottom right icon to view your business profile. 

Step#3: Tap the hamburger menu located on the top right corner of your profile and a side menu will appear.

Step#4: Select “Nametag” on the available options and once you do, you will immediately see your Nametag fill the screen. 

Essentially, your Nametag is already good to go, but Instagram has provided users the liberty to customize it through colors, emojis, and a selfie. Just click the oval icon bearing the word “Color” located at the top of your screen.

Marketing Your Instagram Nametag

There are a myriad of ways to market your Instagram Nametag. This is why it’s important that you personalize it in accordance with your branding. Here are some of the best ways to put your brand out there using your Instagram Nametag.

1. Flaunt it on your Packaging

The most common and practical way to use your Instagram Nametag is to put it on your product packaging. This is particularly helpful especially to small businesses who are banking on social media following to get their brand out to the world. If you are selling tangible consumer goods, placing your Instagram Nametag on yon the product itself is a quick way to grow your fan base. 

2. Print it with The Menu

Say you just opened a restaurant or cafe in town or about to distribute a product catalog, you can conveniently include your Instagram Nametag as part of the design. Make sure you craft a good call-to-action copy so that there’s a huge chance to make them follow you. Better yet, use the rewarding system– promise them instant deals or exclusive promos for following you through your Instagram Nametag right then and there.

3. Add it to your Business Cards

For creatives who use their Instagram as their portfolio, putting your Instagram Nametag on your business cards might be the best way for them to see what your brand is all about. This is particularly helpful for marketing and design agencies that need to have their work speak for themselves. Just look at it this way – it’s like being able to showcase your portfolio without having to go through designing, printing, and physically delivering it. 

4. Use it as a Digital Business Card

Gone are the days when you feel panicked and stressed when you find yourself without a business card. Now, you can just have potential clients and partners scan your Instagram Nametag – that’s a micro-moment you just can’t find anywhere else. But do make sure that your account is set to Business Profile so that you can include an email address and a contact number for people to reach you.

5. Use it Across Your Digital Marketing Efforts

Who says you can only use QR codes on your print efforts? No one. Instagram Nametag is an online technology, so it will be fairly uncomplicated to include it on various online platforms. Make your Nametag visible on your website (be sure it’s mobile-responsive) or inject it to your email signature. Judging by the number of emails you send every day, your follower count can grow just as easily as you can send those.

Takeaway

With so much to do using Instagram Nametag, the time to get on this game-changing feature is now. Use the full potential of Instagram and see how it can take your brand to greater heights and by being even more accessible to your audience. It only makes sense because not using the second most used social media platforms to your advantage means risking to lose a significant market share. After all, effective marketing is knowing where your audience is and getting yourself out there – and at present, that’s Instagram.

About the author:

Article was written by the guest writer Aaron Chichioco.