Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion active monthly users. Yet, as a business owner or manager, you may not have considered adding an Instagram account to your arsenal for outreach and marketing purposes. However, if you are looking for a platform that has high engagement rates and great potential for organic growth via follower acquisition, then it’s time to put Instagram on your radar.
Instagram offers many features that can help you engage with customers in new ways. For example, with hashtags and geolocation tags, businesses can create posts intended to be seen by customers in specific regions or neighborhoods. You can also offer deals exclusive only to followers who are following your page on Instagram.
If you are a new or an existing business owner who wants to take advantage of Instagram to grow your business, here are the simple steps on how you can introduce your business on this powerful social media platform.
7 Steps to Introduce Your Business on Instagram
Set up a business account.
A business account on Instagram functions much like a Facebook Page – but better! More than just posting pictures, a business account provides users with several features that are not available to personal accounts. Some of these features include
- the capability to boost posts to reach more audience;
- add links to your stories if you have more than 10,000 followers to direct customers to the product page;
- get insights from the native analytics feature of the app;
- shoppable posts, where you can even start selling directly from your followers’ feeds;
- create an additional layer of brands that only exist to promote content on your behalf;
- clickable CTAs to drive traffic to your page.
Setting up a business account on Instagram is quick and easy. Just follow the steps below.
- Sign up for a personal account to get started.
- On your profile page, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Next, click “Setting” and then select “Account” from the options.
- From the menu, click on “Switch to Professional Account.” You will then be asked what describes your account. Choose Business among the available options.
- Fill in all the required fields, and your business account will be good to go.
Make your business logo your display photo.
If you want your business to stand out from the competition, create a remarkable logo and set it as your display photo. A logo can be a powerful marketing tool for communicating what your business has to offer. When people see a particular brand’s logo, they instantly know what to expect from the company without reading any words. A logo can also help people remember your business better, and it will give them more of an emotional connection with your company.
Put up a catchy bio.
You can have the best-looking profile in the world, but if your bio isn’t up to par, you’re going to lose out on business opportunities. That is why it is vital that you properly think about the bio you will be putting in your business profile.
There are many benefits of using bio for marketing purposes. These include showing off your vision and mission statement, telling potential clients what makes you different from other like-minded businesses, or even sharing personal content with followers who may not know much about your business.
Upload high-quality content consistently.
A business might be successful if they consistently upload high-quality content to their Instagram account. This will increase the company’s visibility, which will lead to more followers and possible clients.
You can also upload photos relevant to other users who might be interested in your products and services. This way, you will be able to expand your business account’s reach. If you’re not sure what kind of photos should go up on your business account, there’s an easy way to find out: just ask people! Let those who follow or like your page know which type of photo they would like next and see if they respond with anything in particular.
Whatever it may be, take note because their feedback is valuable information that could lead you to a whole new path where success awaits. You can also use the analytics feature of your business account to check which of your posts gain attention the most and plan your next posts based on the data.
Take advantage of the power of hashtags.
Using hashtags is also one of the most effective ways to widen the reach of your business account on Instagram. When users click on a hashtag, they will see similar posts that other accounts have posted in that same tag. Hashtags allow you to connect with people who haven’t followed your business account yet and have more post engagements.
Engage your followers.
In business, the goal of any company is to grow and thrive. One way to do this is by establishing good relationships with your customers and followers. If you don’t have a good relationship with them, they won’t listen to what you say, which means no sales or money for your business! That’s why companies must know how to engage their followers so they can build these positive relationships.
When you respond to comments and DMs from your followers, they will feel that the company is hearing them. Conversely, it allows you to see what people are saying about the company. Responding promptly can help mitigate any criticism or negative sentiment towards the business. However, you shouldn’t just answer questions either! Put out content such as pictures of new products, surveys, or polls so that customers feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
Reach out to potential customers.
If you are looking for a way to reach out to your customer base, sending them direct messages is the best option. This will allow you to connect with them personally, and it also allows them to get what they want from your company. Many advantages come along with this strategy, but one of the most important things is making customers feel like your business cares about their needs because you took time out of your day to contact them directly. It’s even better if you can offer something in return, such as discounts or coupons!
If you’re looking for a reliable social media marketing agency, look no further! Red Rag Marketing offers all of our social media marketing services, such as Facebook Marketing Training, Facebook Marketing, Instagram Marketing, and LinkedIn Marketing, to interested businesses across the country. Contact us today!