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Instagram has been a major player on the social media scene for a while now. More than 65 million monthly active users, 10 billion photos and one of the most iconic logos out there make it an essential marketing platform for small businesses — if they know how to use it.
As the photo-sharing platform continues to grow, so does its influence on its users buying habits. You can use Instagram to not only share photos but also to find new customers.
To help you succeed on Instagram as a small business owner, we’ve gathered the best tactics and advice from successful SMBs. Here are seven proven ways to use Instagram as a marketing tool.
1. Create engaging emoji captions
Engaging with your followers is easy when you use emojis. A picture is worth a thousand pictures, and hashtags can be funny or different. You can use them together to add creativity.
Emojis are a great way to add personality and personality to your Instagram posts. You can use the same type of emoji for different occasions. Or you can change the colors and style of your message every time.
Related: 15 Ways to Optimize Your Instagram
2. 2. Be original
Your captions on Instagram are a magnet for original content. There are thousands upon thousands of similar posts, so you need to stand out.
You should have a unique perspective or angle that your followers will enjoy. You don’t want your followers to think you are just sharing what’s happening in their lives. It’s easy to find the right user with unlimited Instagram followers. If you want your post noticed, stand out from the crowd and create something that is memorable for them.
3. Use hashtags with care
Use hashtags on Instagram to check out how they perform. It’s a good idea to do a search for your own specific hashtag and see what happens when you include it in your posts.
Although it is impossible to guarantee that your hashtag will be seen, there are several factors that can influence its performance. Some hashtags are more popular than others. Others perform better when used less often.
The best performing hashtags have between 8-10 characters. Make sure your hashtags make it easy to read. You should use a variety of hashtags instead of focusing on one or two.
Related: Why You Actually Should Share Your Instagram Post on Your Instagram Story
4. Move beyond Instagram
You can get more Instagram followers by taking advantage of other opportunities. You could promote your account on Twitter or Facebook ads. These sites allow users to advertise their products or pages, so if you have growth goals, consider using this feature.
5. Post regularly
It’s always good to post regularly, but you want to make sure what you post is engaging. This is an opportunity to showcase your brand personality and connect with followers on a more personal level, so don’t waste it by posting bad content! Instagram stories are another way for brands to keep their content fresh. This is done by creating short clips that are easy to consume and act as an extension to the account in a way that is consistent with their brand image. This is definitely worth a try!
6. Attractive Instagram feed
It makes sense to have your Instagram profile match your well-designed feed. These images will be the first to be seen by new followers, so make sure they are engaging and appealing enough to get them to continue exploring your feed. If you’re using a mobile device, then this is particularly important, as you only have a small area in which to catch their attention.
While many people already know this, there are still some businesses out there that don’t: Instagram is now an algorithm-based feed. That means that it doesn’t follow the chronological order of posts. This is a big change for those who had used it primarily as content curation and suddenly realized they didn’t have visibility when their posts weren’t directly engaging or being liked.
Use the algorithm to adjust your posting times, and find the best time slots for you. While there’s no magic formula for this, you can base it on the following:
- What kind of content are you posting?It is best to start with lighter, more digestible content. Images that are bolder and more graphic-heavy will be better later in the day.
- How much time do your bank accounts take up?If you spend less time on it than an hour per week, then consider the early hours. This is because more people are online during these hours so posts from this time will be seen first.
- Where are you from? Different markets have different smartphone usage habits.
To avoid disappointment and ensure that your content gets the attention it deserves, time your posts accordingly.
Related: 4 Reasons Why You Need to Be Making Instagram Reels in 2021
