A Quick Start Guide to Instagram Marketing

Did you know there are now 1.074 billion Instagram users? Instagram is no longer a social media platform but more a way of life. But do you know how your business can benefit?

Instagram marketing is extremely rewarding but can be daunting to begin with. Read on as we give our must-know guide to Instagram marketing.

Know Your Goals

The first step is to know why you are on Instagram. It is not enough to be on there because you feel you should, or everyone else is. Just like any facet of business and marketing, you need to have clear, defined goals.

One of the broadest objectives is to raise brand awareness. This is about getting the name of your company and its goals out there. Content should be focused on your mission, showcasing who you are, what you do, and how you do it.

Some people use it purely as an eCommerce tool. In this case, your Instagram marketing strategy and goals should be about displaying your products in the best light and using it to increase sales and conversions.

In a similar vein, some people use it to showcase the services they perform. It could be everything from DJ entertainment to someone doing nail art. In this case, you need to post content that shows off the product and how good it is.

Use a Business Account

When you open an Instagram account, make sure you do it as a business account. A business account gives you access to features that are not available on normal profiles. Many of them are extremely useful.

Start by downloading the Instagram app. Open the app and create an account in the normal way. You will be asked to sign up with an email or phone number, then choose a username.

Once you have the account set up, tap the icon in the upper right corner. In settings, you can choose the account and switch it to a professional account. All you then need to do is find the category for your business, and you can begin.

Find Your Target Audience

Instagram is being used more and more by a wider range of people. However, it does still have some very specific demographics that could help your campaign.

However, what this does not show is that Instagram has a lot of very active sub-niches. If you can find your target market, you can create posts and use hashtags that hone in on this target group.

Start by looking at your current audience. See who is using your product. What are their ages, interests, and where are they located?

Then check out some of your competitors. What are the demographics of the people engaging with their social media?

Finally, if you have other social media channels, check them. See who the people are that are talking to you and engaging. From here, you can begin to develop a picture of the people you should be targeting.

Build Engagement

Engagement is defined as the number of likes and comments your Instagram posts get. Building engagement on Instagram is not easy, but it is extremely rewarding. It starts by talking to others, commenting and liking their posts, and following people in relevant niches.

How to market on Instagram is about building a snowball effect. The algorithms on the platform promote content that is getting more engagement. This promotion, in turn, brings more engagement itself, snowballing the popularity of your post.

The aim is to build enough engagement momentum to get posted higher up their rankings. There are several other techniques people use to build engagement, such a buying likes.

Some people may advise against it, but it all comes down to buying real vs fake Instagram likes. If you can find a quality service that provides you with real likes from engaged profiles, then it could be a boost to your credentials. If you’re after high-quality Instagram likes, then Social Ninja is your best call to make

Create an Instagram Marketing Content Calendar

One of the best Instagram marketing tips is to build a content calendar. This keeps you on track and makes you post regularly. You can plan the content, relevant hashtags and configure optimum posting times in advance.

It also allows you to pencil in events that may be coming up. For example, a specific day may be dedicated to your industry which you may wish to celebrate. Perhaps birthdays and holidays need special content which may need to be planned out.

Instagram Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a great tool to build followers and engagement. It is particularly useful if you are promoting or selling a product.

Start by looking at influencers who already occupy your niche or general area of interest. You may already have these people within the follower list of your own customer base. Reach out to these people and ask about what they would want to promote your products.

Try to aim for people who have a very engaged yet small following. These people are called micro-influencers. They have fewer followers but ones that are more dedicated, resulting in a better return on investment.

Stay Consistent

In summary, stay consistent. Post relevant content, engage with others and know your goals. Eventually, you will start to build a loyal following from your Instagram marketing that will eventually transfer to sales.