A Quick Look at Instagram

Instagram started its journey in 2010 as a video-and photo-centric social media application. The creator is Kevin Systrom and got massive support from people all over the globe.

Seeing the untapped potential of Instagram, Meta (the company that runs Facebook) acquired the platform in 2012 for $1 billion in cash and stock.

Today more than 500 million people enjoy visual content over this platform and over 100 million photos are uploaded every 24 hours. Many businesses saw the opportunity to get a super-focused audience and swooped in. 

Instagram is better at high volume engagement than any other social media platform of its time. That is why it is a great place for businesses of all sizes to create an engaging customer base. 

Benefits of Instagram for Business

1. A free visual platform

We respond better with visual elements because they can remember about 80% of what they see, 20% of what they read, and 10% of what they hear. Instagram is a photo-centric platform and anyone can join. 

These two reasons alone are enough for Instagram to outperform any other social media posts. That is why Instagram has almost 1.4 billion active users, 25 million of which are businesses. They upload about 100 million photos every single day. 

Vision is the strongest of all our senses. That is why your business can take advantage of this free visual platform to get one step closer to your target audience. 

2. Purchasing power

Though people used Instagram mainly to share their lifestyles with others, you’ll be surprised to know that ⅓ of Instagram users have made at least one purchase through this platform and there are more than 1 billion monthly active Instagram users. 

That means, there are over 300 million active buyers waiting for the perfect solution to their pain point and you can be the one that provides the best solution. 

Additionally, 75% of Instagram users take action (visiting a website, clicking the CTA button) so even if they don’t purchase from your business, you can retarget them until they do.

3. Advanced targeting options

Instagram was acquired by Meta, the company that runs Facebook, in 2012 and uses Facebook’s advanced Ad Manager to target and keep track of your clients. The powerful ad management tool is the most advanced social media advertising targeting option to this day. 

Use cold targeting to create brand awareness first. Then retarget and direct them to your website and convert them into clients (repeat customers, hopefully). Don’t forget, Visitors who you retarget well are 70% more likely to buy from you. 

With Instagram, you have the option to target your clients by Instagram post engagement, customer email lists, Instagram video views, and more. They also provide a direct and specific sales funnel that helps to achieve even more results. 

4. Track and research to the fullest

Instagram also provides you with amazing trackability so that you can see a clear ROI (Return On Investment) for your business, no matter how big or small it is. With this feature, you’ll be able to track everything from link clicks to leads to conversions effortlessly.

You’ll be also able to see the cost per result on any campaign you run which will give you more control over your budget. It’s really important for business owners to keep track of the achievements they make and the cost behind them. 

Instagram also lets you break down the analytics to get more info on your potential clients like their age range, location, region, gender, and much other information that can be incredibly helpful. 

5. Advanced business profile

There are three types of Instagram accounts you can choose and they are personal, creator, and business profile. Each of them comes with a different set of features. 

A business profile will let you add a “Call to Action” button on their profile that will redirect the user to your website. You’ll also have the ability to add an identifying industry label, and your contact information so that people can contact you easily. 

Almost 50% of Insta users actively visit the profile of a business every day. Don’t miss out on such an opportunity to be present right in front of your clients when they are searching for you. Jump on the Instagram train today.

6. Get super-engaged traffic

Not only is Instagram great for showcasing your business, but it also is a great medium to get super-engaged traffic. Instagram provides multiple ways to connect to your peers and keep them engaged on your posts. 

Instagram provides you the opportunity to showcase your business right alongside the user’s family and friends. This is a great way to build a one-to-one relationship with your customer. People like to shop on Instagram and you need to be there at the right moment. 

7. Quality brand building

Unlike Facebook, Instagram can help you build your followers organically. It’s almost like a grassroots movement where the more followers you have, the more other people will start to follow you. 

On Instagram, people will follow your business just because you have a business account. Instagram will provide you organic, word-of-mouth type follower growth, which is especially beneficial for small and new businesses. 

Companies like Nike, Starbucks, IKEA, and many others have received a large number of followers just by being present online. 

Pictures, videos, and reels about what it’s like in your company will give your peers a personalized connection, making them more interested in your company. 

8. Better relationships through UGC

User-generated Content (UGC) is the single most effective way to grow relevant traffic and sales over Instagram. The basic idea is to take images and videos from your clients and use them for your own branding. 

Not only is UGC the most popular way to get relevant leads, but it can also help you to create a better brand-follower relationship. This is a great way to get free content and make your clients feel that they are a part of your brand. 

This can also help you to reach more people through your clients using your hashtag on their photos. Use Instagram insights to find out the photo that got the most engagement and use that to promote yourself. 

9. Personal connection with your customer base

Instagram doesn’t allow any business pages to be private, meaning you can even check your competition out and vice versa. Additionally, Instagram allows you to research your clients via public profiles. 

You can surf among Insta accounts of your clients to pick up what they like and what they don’t. Find out more personal information and use that information to bring them closer to your brand. Instagram is an amazing tool to learn the ever-changing likes/dislikes of your peers.

For example, if most of your clients like pets then a cute pet-related post will get much more engagement. This will help you to build a valuable personal connection with your client.

10. Easy collaboration

One of the biggest advantages of Instagram is that you can not only gather information about your clients but also can take the information and use it across all of your other marketing projects. 

This process is called “Cross-platform marketing” and is a great way to keep your peers more engaged with your content across different platforms. Newsjacking, which means making content on the topics that are trendy on other platforms can also help you to stay relevant for longer. 

Extend the reach of your brand and encourage your existing followers to stay engaged with your brand on other platforms. Remember, the more touchpoints you have with a consumer, the more likely they are to purchase from you. 

Check out other social platforms like Facebook, Reddit, Buzzsumo, and Twitter to find trendy topics. Then make content and share them across all your marketing platforms. 

11. Ability to get creative

We’re visual creatures, so contents like images, videos, and gifs are much more effective in grabbing our attention. Additionally, virtually there is no limit on how creative you can get with your posts on Instagram. 

This is a great platform to make your peers fall in love with your creative and aesthetically pleasing posts. You can put links on your stories, set up an Instagram shop, set quick replies, and use the “branded content” feature to creatively present your business to your clients. 

12. User-friendly

Instagram is amazingly user-friendly. Contrary to what many people believe, Instagram isn’t only a platform for youngsters to share cool pictures. You can take full advantage of this handy, user-friendly, and powerful platform to grab your peer’s attention. 

The versatility of an amazing photo-centric platform like Instagram, paired with the mighty ad manager from Facebook, can be the perfect way to build a strong connection between your clients and your company. 

Another thing, Instagram is a mobile-based app so most of its users are from mobile devices. That’s why it is crucial to make your website optimized for mobile. Make sure your peers can contact you with just a few taps on their screen. 

How the Instagram Algorithm Works

Newsfeed and stories

It uses a set of signals to provide related content to the clients based on their recent activities. If you comment and react to someone’s post frequently, their post will rank higher among your newsfeed and stories. 

On the other hand, if you scroll through anyone’s post without engaging, their post is less likely to make it to your news feed. The signals that control what posts you’ll see in your home feed and stories include: 

Explore

This segment works similarly to the newsfeed and stories. It uses similar signals to determine what to post, and where.

However, The main difference is, there is a chance that you are less likely to find the pages you’ve already liked in the explore section. 

The “Explore” part of Instagram’s search engine evaluates the posts you’ve interacted with in the past and recommends similar content so you can like and follow them. It can also depend on what other people like you engage with. 

Reels

The signals that control Instagram’s reel system are similar to the newsfeed signals. Insta will take information about your reel and like the music and the popularity of the video to suggest similar reels to your clients. 

With Instagram, providing the right content at the right time is the key. Luckily for you, you can take help of FB’s powerful ad manager to optimize your Instagram business profile to the fullest.

Why Instagram Converts

Visual resonance with human emotion

At the core level, we are mainly driven by our vision. We look at beautiful things longer and try to showcase the best moments of their life like the perfect sunset, a yummy-looking dish, or new clothes. 

To be blunt, most of the content uploaded on Instagram is aesthetically pleasing and shows us the things we wish we had in our life. Many people spend a lot of time and effort to make their insta posts as visually aesthetic as possible.

This method is scientifically proven. Research from Georgia Tech and Yahoo Labs shows that pictures with faces get 38% more likes and 32% more comments on Instagram. They also found out that if you use the right filter, you can increase likes by 21% and comments by 45%.

Getting the lifestyle we want is far from what we’ve got. Additionally, you can’t just hijack people’s lifestyles. What we can do is to buy aesthetically pleasing stuff and that’s where Instagram rules. 

Helps to build trust

User-Generated Content (UGC) is the single best way to build trust between you and your client. Not only will you get a bunch of new content for free, but your clients will also feel like a part of your brand and resonate more. 

Many clients also want to check photos and videos specifically from past customers before they make their purchasing decision. 

Content from your past buyers will influence new shoppers’ mindset and that can gain you more trust. Even giving a peek into your brand’s everyday life will make you look more reliable. 

Repurpose content materials

Another great reason Instagram is so much superior in marketing than any other social media platform is the ability to effortlessly repurpose your content material across a wide range of platforms. 

You can put an Instagram gallery on your website and link your website to your Instagram business account. That way, not only those who follow you will be able to visit your website, but those who come to your website from other platforms can join your Instagram community. 

Additionally, you can also use the retargeting feature from the powerful meta ad manager to regain the trust of potential clients who have at least visited your website a couple of times. 

Best Instagram Marketing Strategies

Optimize your bio

With a business account, you are allowed to provide a bit more information than any personal account. Use that additional space to provide a clear and concise message about who you are and what you do. 

Don’t start bragging about your brand right from the start. Address your client’s pain points and how you can solve them. A good template can look something like this: 

“I help [target audience] solve [irritating problems they have] by [your solution]. Learn more at [your website].”

Don’t forget to add a strong and compelling call to action with a trackable link to your website, a landing page, or a product you sell. Get creative and make your bio attention-grabbing and smooth. Make the bio as benefit-driven as possible.

Develop a brand plan

Marketing is a game of survival. The more time you can stay relevant, the more you’ll grow. That’s why you’ll need to think ahead. If your target clients aren’t active on Instagram, give it a try to see if you get any sales. 

Your money and effort will be much more fruitful in a platform they are active on. 

If you want to build an audience on Instagram that will resonate with you or create a system that will turn strangers into fans, and fans into customers; you need to have a clear plan.  

Unfortunately, most business owners miss this crucial step. Don’t forget, your goal is to resonate with your clients and stand out. Many brands take different approaches to captivate their audience. Your unique plan needs to be effective, scalable, and sustainable. 

Use feed, DMs, and stories

Use all the tools you’ve got in your arsenal. Try to understand how the Instagram search engine works and use that to guide your photos, reels, and stories towards creating a personal experience for your audience. 

Get creative with your presentation. It doesn’t always have to be a cool photo. Story storm your peers with concise videos, make live Q&A sessions, use stickers, put links in your stories, share relevant content, and share inside updates to build a strong and sustainable connection. 

Don’t forget to add a compelling Call To Action (CTA) to make your peers more engaged. Hook them up with the type of content they enjoy, and add a concise call to action like making a simple choice, tagging someone, or double-tapping your photos/videos. 

Hashtag strategy

Hashtags are crucial to creating and maintaining a successful Instagram business. Many people use a set of pre-defined hashtags only and most of them are super competitive. 

If you use a hashtag that is used around a million times every day, no matter how good your post is, it will get buried by all the new posts being uploaded using the same hashtags. This is not good for your brand. 

Use 4-20 relevant hashtags in your posts that are relatively low in competition. Never use hashtags in the comment. Follow the hashtags your competitors use and make sure your posts stay visible for as long as possible. 

Use Micro influencer

Influence marketing is booming within Instagram. Each business on average generates $6.5 in revenue for each $1 they invest in Influence marketing. Influencers that are specific to your niche and posts on topics relevant to your business should be your primary target. 

You can either use the “Share 4 Share” method or paid shoutouts to reach influencers and help each other. They’ll help you get many new followers and you can do the same, send free products, or simply pay the influencer in return. 

Targeting specific niche-based and local influencers instead of the giants is called micro influencing. This can help you to grab the attention of your local clients much faster. Use Fb Insights to find strategic partners/influencers on Instagram. 

Utilize UGC

Content is king, and the customer is always right — User Generated Content (UGC) is the perfect fusion of those two proverbs. Brands like Nike, Starbucks, and IKEA use content from their followers to get more engagement and have fun. 

Use the power of your audience by offering a reward they simply can’t resist and get some exposure out of it. Even if people aren’t engaging with your post, they are seeing and that also helps. 

Create something people want to talk about and let them use the content they already have. You’ll also be able to leverage the contents across marketing materials. 

Timing Matters

No matter what part of the globe you are from. There is a sweet spot in time that ensures the most engagement. That particular time depends on your niche and followers. Find that sweet spot and schedule your posts around that time frame. 

Spotting blind will not do you any good. Usually, people are more on Instagram, in the evening (3-5 PM), in the night (7-9 PM), and during the holidays. 

Be consistent

You don’t have to post every single day, but consistency in uploading posts helps Instagram to identify you as a sincere and reliable account. Maintain a consistent interval between your content and reach a lot more people as Instagram gets more and more familiar with your brand.

Use planner tools to schedule your posts ahead of time. Maintain consistency in your presentation too. Even if you only post on Monday, don’t lose that consistency. 

Take advantage of the paid promotion

Also known as “Shoutouts”, Instagram’s paid promotion system is remarkable. Additionally, Instagram offers super-focused client groups that are more likely to click on your paid promotions.

In fact, 75% of Instagram users respond to some kind of call to action after looking at an Insta ad. Be creative with your ads as the more you stand out, the more attention you’re going to grab. 

Try out different ad formats to find out what works the best for you. This platform may be a bit costlier than its alternatives, but it provides a huge value for your money. Work on a trial and error basis to find the sweet combination that generates the most conversions for you. 

Do intensive research

Research is the single most important part of an effective marketing strategy. Instagram helps you to conduct intensive research on both your clients and your competitors. Use this amazing platform to know everything there is to know about your clients and competition. 

Do not rely on the demographic from the ad manager alone. Combine that knowledge with your personal research and find out the best possible ways to minimize your competition and become one step closer to your audience. 

Find out what your clients and competitors love, what they dislike, and what you can use to your advantage. Use that information in your next campaign and prepare to be amazed. You can also do extensive research on the leading brands in your niche and try to find strategic partners.

Build personal connection

This is the greatest way to create and grow your brand. Connect with your peers on a personal level. Share something most of them can personally relate to and is relevant to your business. 

Arrange shoutouts, giveaways, photo contests to engage with your audience better. Make them feel like they are a part of your brand. If you can do this right, your followers will become your marketers and bring more leads. 

FAQs

1. What are the most successful Instagram accounts?

Ans: Here are the top 10 Instagram profiles with the most number of followers. This list is up to date till February 2022. 

• Instagram (441M)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (366M)
• Kylie Jenner (281M)
• Lionel Messi (281M)
• Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (278M)
• Ariana Grande (275M)
• Selena Gomez (272M)
• Kim Kardashian (263M)
• Beyoncé (217M)
• Justin Bieber (202M)

2. Where can you learn Instagram marketing?

Ans: The best way to keep up to date with Instagram’s ever-changing mechanism is to go through the latest ebooks and blog articles. Instagram also provides its own knowledge hub so that you can stay updated about the latest trends and updates. 

3. What are the best tools for Instagram marketing?

Ans: Here are the most prominent 10 tools that every Instagram marketer needs: 

• SocialPilot
• Blog2Social
• Iconosquare
• Later
• Kicksta
• Awario
• Socialinsider
• Buffer
• Agorapulse
• Smartly.io