Instagram is one of the most exciting social media channels on which to build a brand for your business. The platform is very visual and growing at a tremendous pace.
“By 2017, an estimated 51.8% of social network users will use Instagram and By 2019, nearly two-thirds of all millennial smartphone users will use Instagram". (Source)
According to this report, the platform has 300 million daily active users in 2016.
Instagram’s per-follower engagement rate for top brands is 58 times higher than on Facebook and 120 times greater than on Twitter.
Here are some essential tips that you can use to build an impressive brand presence on Instagram:
1. Create a Profile
You need to create a separate business profile on Instagram which posts content that is relevant to your business.
Adding a call to action along with a link in the bio is helpful in getting your target to visit your website, your landing page, or a contact page. You need to showcase the core value proposition of your business in the profile bio.
Using searched keywords or hashtags in the bio is optional since these are not considered in Instagram search results. Here is an example:
2. Link to Other Social Accounts
You can repost your Instagram posts to other social accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Foursquare. You can link these accounts to your Instagram account and get more reach on your Instagram posts with simplified sharing on these accounts.
3. Be Regular
Like any other social media platform, you need to post to Instagram on a daily basis to ensure your followers can engage with your business, actively. You can also promote your Instagram account on other channels like Facebook and Twitter to get more followers on it.
4. Influencer Outreach
This is one of the most popular strategies for promoting your business on Instagram. You need to search for influencer accounts on the platform which have a larger number of followers. Make sure these people belong to your business niche. You need to contact them to check whether they will be willing to ‘shout-out’ your business on their profile. They may do this without a cost depending on the number of followers they have. You could also end up with a barter deal where you promote their account in return.
Here is a list of some of the top global Instagram influencers in 2016.
5. Using Hashtags
Hashtags are the best way to obtain search traffic on Instagram. You need to use a maximum of 3-5 hashtags in your post caption to improve the visibility of your posts. You can find some popular hashtags on Websta, but use them only if they are relevant to your business. Add relevant keyphrases to the tool to find their popularity and then make a wise choice. Here is an example:
6. Professional Images
Instagram is a visual medium and the quality of your images plays a vital role in developing your brand’s desired reputation. You could hire a professional photographer while sharing product images on your Instagram page. Tasteful stock images, such as those from Unsplash, can also be used to share engaging posts relevant to your business. Use Instagram image filters to make your pictures look trendy. You can look at competitor posts to understand which filters work best. The standard square image size for posting on Instagram is 1080px by 1080px.
7. Getting More Followers
You can get more targeted followers on your Instagram account by engaging with them. You need to look for accounts in your niche. These could be those who are following your competitors, or just prospects. You need to follow these accounts, like and comment on their posts and tag them in your posts.
8. Organize Contests
Instagram contests are a useful way to improve the level of interactivity among your followers. You need to create a contest hashtag and then ask prospective participants to upload eye-catching images using the hashtag along with a unique caption. Pick a few winners and give away prizes that they would like. These could be goodies like your company branded coffee mugs, gadgets or anything that the target group will find useful. Here is an example:
9. Use Geo-Tagging
Instagram allows you to add the location of your images to your posts. You can use this feature to tag the site of an event your business is participating in or organizing. The feature also helps in showcasing the location of your business. You can also get your contest participants to use this feature in the case of contests that are organized in your business location.
Continue reading %25 Tips for Building Your Brand on Instagram%
by Abhishek Talreja via SitePoint
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