One of the most powerful marketing tools marketers have today is social media. From Facebook posts to tweets on Twitter, sharing your products or services on social networks platforms is an excellent way to increase brand awareness, engagement, sales and leads.
Nevertheless, many individuals are left scratching their heads when it comes to marketing with Instagram.
A lot of us use Instagram as a personal account to post images of our household, good friends, getaways and food - but how can it tie into organization? And should it?
With the speed of which Instagram is growing, don't ignore its worth to improve your brand and marketing efforts.
It has grown into an incredibly valuable marketing platform and even though the 18-29 year old's are still widespread users, the greater age are capturing on and catching up fast.
Some 2018 Instagram statistics from Sprout Social are informing:
• 7 out of 10 hashtags on Instagram are branded
• 80% of users follow a service on Instagram
• 65% of top-performing Instagram posts include items
If you feel wayfair coupon code the pull to explore Instagram as part of your social media marketing strategy, check out these initial guidelines to help you get going:
1. Usage Hashtags Wisely
You don't need to stuff every hashtag you can think of in one post, but you do require at least a few.
A hashtag is the # sign followed by detailed words about your image as in this example, I used #marketing and #ctaconf, which was the conference I was attending at the time.
When a user clicks/taps on a hashtag or types a hashtag into the search box, it brings up all images that use that hashtag. The user can even sign up for continue to follow that hashtag.
The hope is the user will see your picture, head to your profile and best-case scenario, follow you and get engaged with more of your posts!
Nevertheless, when hashtags are very popular, the competitors to appear in the results is fierce. Similar to SEO keywords, the more popular a term is, the more difficult it is to remain at the top of the search results. Thus, my example of using #marketing actually was futile if I wished to get any traction from that post.
You wish to make your hashtags relevant to your company and place, however likewise engaging enough that a user would type them into Instagram's search box.
For example:
• Say you have a pizza joint in Vancouver. You post a photo of your Pepperoni pizza with the hashtags #VancouversBestPizza #NicolosRestaurant #DeliciousDeepDish
• Or you're a Toronto wedding event coordinator. You post an image of a groom and bride's first dance with the hashtags #TorontoWeddingPlanner #LoveWins #WinterWedding
Holidays and special occasions are an exceptional time to promote your business and gain Instagram followers. Whether it's a sale on Black Friday, a Thanksgiving-related use for your product or a product shout-out on National Dog Day, they are all ideal opportunities to showcase your organization brand name in a non-salesy method.
2. Thank Your Audience for Showing Up
You do not just post a lot of pictures and hashtags and wait for the likes to roll in.
To gain Instagram fans, engage with your audience and grow sales or leads, you need to put in the time.
See an example here from video expert Michele Moreno where she reacts back to each of the comments left on her video post.
If somebody leaves a comment or concern on one of your posts, take the time to reply and thank them/answer their question.
Have a look at their profile, and if you like what you see, follow them.
Organizations frequently follow commenters initially, in the hopes that they may return the favour.
You can also look for people who may be thinking about your product, then discuss their photos and/or follow them, but do not spam them with an ask to follow you right away.
3. Communicate with the Right Influencers
Influencers are Instagram users who can affect your target market since of their appeal and/or social networks following.
Danielle Bernstein is a good example of an influencer who worked with a brand. You might not recognize her name, however the 1.8 million fans of her Instagram account WeWoreWhat do.
Bernstein and FIJI Water collaborated to develop BodyWoreWhat, a marketing project offering 8-minute exercise videos with her and her personal trainer.
That may be a severe example, and unless you have deep pockets you probably will not have the ability to draw in an influencer with almost two million followers.
Do not despair. From mommy bloggers to local foodies, you can constantly find somebody who your target audience follows, likes or appreciates. Maybe they 'd want to examine your item or take a picture using it - use your creativity!
4. Do Not Just Shill Your Products
Instagram is not the location to simply share item shots all the time. Think about the experience people have using what you're offering, or the benefits it offers individuals.
Even much better, reveal real-examples. Requesting user-generated material from your audience is one method to do this. That indicates that users share their pictures using a hashtag you offer.
The online furnishings store Wayfair.com does user-generated material very well. They have a user-generated campaign that lets clients share pictures of their elegant Wayfair-filled houses utilizing the hashtag #WayfairAtHome.
Be sure to let individuals understand that their images might be featured on your page and you can increase your Instagram material huge time - totally free!
No matter how you utilize Instagram for your service, be genuine and real to your brand name. It's what the platform is all about, and it's going to help you grow your organization, gain Instagram followers and bring in sales or leads.