Instagram is one of the easiest ways to help get your business out there and it's never too late to join!
If you're interested in getting an Instagram account, have just created one or aren't sure how to get started, you're in luck. Here, we're going to cover all the basics, to help you get your business out there, find your customers and build your empire.
How to get started
Your profile:
There is no right or wrong way to create your profile but there are some practices you might want to consider. For example with you:
Profile photo: select a photo that represents your brand, using your company logo is the best option as it enables your customers to recognize your page.
Website: On Instagram, you can only have one clickable link on your profile. It is best practice to use your website here or if you would link more than one link you can create a link tree. Linktree enables you to create shortcuts to a number of links such as your website, other social media accounts or a contact page.
Bio: Your bio is where you will capture the attention of other users. You could include a brief about section, your slogan- whatever you think users should know about your business
Tip: make sure your profile is set to a Business account so you can see analytics and track your performance. To do this click on the three lines at the top of your page, go into Settings> Switch to Professional Account> Select a relevant category> OK.
Identify your audience
The next step to mastering Instagram is knowing who you're posting for. Who is your target audience? It's also important to consider how your post will give them value. For example, your posts need to be informative so they know what your brand is about, what you do, what you make (product or service), are there any new products etc.
What to post.
Before you post anything on Instagram we recommend you start to think about how you want your aesthetic to look like- thinking about how this will reflect your brand and your message. First start to brainstorm keywords you associate with your brand such as sleek, minimalistic, luxurious …
Once you have started to brainstorm the visual look of your page you can start to make content.
Your first post must outline the essence of your brand - this could be either through infographics or photography. You could share images of your products or use infographics to explain what your brand is all about.
If you want to increase your reach and engagement on Instagram then it's important to use a mix of content types. Consider different content types such as:
Posts
Reels (short videos)
Stories
IGTV (longer videos)
Tip: Consistency is key! Posting regularly will increase your brand visibility.
Using hashtags to spread the word
Hashtags allow Instagrammers to discover new content even if they are not already following your accounts. This can help increase your visibility and reach a wider audience.
Top Tip; niche hashtags- using relevant and niche hashtags to your brand will increase your likelihood of reaching your target audience.
Engaging with your followers
Once you begin to gain followers and customers it's important to engage with them. Community is at the heart of Instagram so try not to make your page all about sales - engage with your followers. If a customer takes the time to share their thoughts with you, it’s important to engage with them to show that you’re listening.
You can even use iterative elements within your stories such as polls and questions to encourage engagement with your followers.
Top tip; when making posts ask your followers questions - this opens up the floor for a conversation on your page and increases the community feel of your page.
We hope this blog post has helped you learn more about Instagram and how to get started. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
If you're an Instagram pro - what tips would you give someone starting out?
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