Instagram For Business: 10 Ways You Can Use It For Your Brand

Intro

With more than 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms out there. Meta-owned platform allows you to to capture and share moments through visual media. Users can share photos and videos, comment on other users' posts, and follow other users.

With its simple interface and focus on visuals, Instagram makes it easy for people to share content and engage with others. That’s the reason 30.94% of the world's 4.48 billion active social media users access Instagram regularly.This presents an immense opportunity for brands to reach and engage with audiences.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how you can use Instagram to accomplish core business goals like driving awareness, generating leads, increasing sales, and improving customer service. Let’s get started!

Why is Instagram important for businesses?

There are several key reasons why Instagram is an important marketing channel for businesses today:

• Highly Engaged Users

Instagram has one of the highest user engagement rates of any social media platform. On average, 70% of Instagram users are open to seeing ads when watching video on the platform. In addition, 62.3% of Instagram users say they use the platform to follow or research brands and products.

Not only that, but Instagram users are highly engaged. 60% use Instagram daily and 35% use it multiple times per day. This frequent usage means more eyeballs on your content and brand on a regular basis. Instagrammers also love to interact - 75% of users take action, like visiting a website, after seeing an Instagram post.

• Visually Appealing

As a visually-focused platform, Instagram is ideal for showcasing products and sharing stories through compelling photos and videos. This makes marketing more memorable. Users are also more likely to share user-generated visual content.

In fact, posts with images receive up to 179% more engagement than text-only posts. And video posts see even higher engagement at 200-300% more than image posts. Instagram was made for visuals, so take advantage by posting high-quality photos and videos that capture attention.

• Allows Audience Targeting

Instagram’s advertising platform includes detailed targeting options to help you reach your ideal customers. You can target users by location, interests, behaviors and more to ensure your ads resonate.

You can even target based on what accounts a user follows or posts they've engaged with. Use Instagram's plethora of targeting factors like age, gender, language, education, interests and behaviors to hone in on exactly who you want to reach. This ensures maximal impact from your ad spend.

• Drives Website Traffic

Over 50% of Instagram users say they have visited a website to make a purchase after seeing a company's product on Instagram. Utilizing Instagram can help drive traffic to your site.

Instagram posts with "Link in Bio" or website links in Stories see 25-40% higher engagement. Add swipe up or clickable links to make it seamless for users to visit your site from Instagram. Directing traffic to targeted landing pages related to your post topic helps capture contacts and leads.

• Boosts SEO

Instagram posts can improve your SEO if you optimize them properly. This includes using relevant keywords in captions, strategic hashtags, location tags, etc. Proper optimization makes it easier for your content to be found on Instagram and other search engines.

Optimizing with hashtags and captions also helps the post content be found in Instagram Search, increasing discovery beyond just your followers. Additionally, properly tagged User Generated Content on Instagram may even appear in Google Search and boost your brand awareness.

• Measurable Results

Instagram’s analytics tools make it easy to track important metrics like impressions, reach, engagement. This data can inform your strategy and help refine what works. You can also track conversions from Instagram to understand its impact.

Instagram Insights provides data on your followers, engagement, reach, clicks, impressions and more. You can even connect your Instagram to Facebook Ads Manager to track conversions from ads. Analyze what posts, formats and filters result in the highest engagement to optimize your approach.

Instagram Business Marketing in 2023: 10 Proven Techniques

Having discussed why Instagram is crucial marketing tool, here are 10 most effective tips to get the most from your Instagram marketing efforts in 2023:

1. Optimize Your Business Profile

Complete your bio with important info like your industry, location and contact details.Also, make a great impression on your customers by avoiding common copywriting mistakes in your Instagram bio. Use a recognizable, professional profile picture and logo. This gives visitors context right when they land on your page.

Also make sure your handle is related to your brand name and easy to find. Add captions to your highlights that explain what each one contains. Fill out contact options like email and phone number so users can easily get in touch.

2. Be Consistent with Posting

Post consistently, at least once per day, to stay top of mind. Use Instagram Stories to share behind-the-scenes content, polls and casual updates daily. Consistency keeps followers engaged.

Post the same day and time weekly to set audience expectations. Include a mix of photo types - product shots, user generated content, behind the scenes, infographics, etc. Consistency and variety together builds trust and authority. While you can also boost a brand's credibility by purchasing Instagram likes.

3. Leverage Instagram Ads

Use Instagram's advertising tools to promote posts, target specific demographics and analyze performance. Choose objective-based ads - like traffic, conversions or brand awareness - to meet goals.

Test different types of ads like photo, video, carousel, collection, story to determine what drives action. Create lookalike audiences to reach new potential customers who share traits with your current followers.

4. Build Brand Awareness

Use Instagram to give followers a peek into your brand's personality, values and visual identity. Share user-generated content, company culture photos, etc. This creates familiarity and connection.

Let customers and employees take over your account for a day to provide perspective from real people. Use Instagram stories for behind-the-scenes content that shows your brand personality in action. Respond to comments and engage with customers to form relationships. In addition, boosting Instagram followers also improves brand awareness.

5. Hashtag Strategically

Include a mix of popular and niche hashtags to increase discoverability. Identify hashtags used by your target audience and competitors to join relevant conversations.

Research related hashtags with high volume but low competition for the best results. Create your own branded hashtag for user generated content. Try new hashtags and monitor performance to see which work best.

6. Cross-Promote with Other Channels

Drive Instagram traffic by promoting your account and posts on your website, email newsletters, Facebook ads and more. Make it easy for existing contacts to follow you.

Add Instagram follow buttons to your site and emails. Share snippets and links to Instagram content in newsletters. Run retargeting ads on Facebook/Google that promote your Instagram profile. Cross-promotion brings new visitors from existing channels.

7. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers in your industry to tap into their engaged follower base. Negotiate sponsored posts, takeovers or product mentions to gain credibility.

Look for micro or nano-influencers with highly targeted audiences in your niche. Offer free products to relevant influencers to organically integrate your brand into their content. Ensure their values and content align with your brand image.

8. Run Contests and Giveaways

Contests are a proven way to quickly gain followers and engagement. Require entrants to follow you, like your post or share a post. Offer compelling prizes.

Require contest entries on Instagram as well as an additional entry on Facebook or by email to cross-promote. Give away your own products, experiences related to your brand, or gift cards. Creative contests like photo contests also encourage user generated content.

9. Use Action-Driving Captions

Write clear call-to-action captions to provide followers direction, like "Link in bio", "Shop this look" or "Sign up today". This converts scrollers into active engagers.

Ask a question or encourage discussion in captions to spark comments and dialogue. Emojis and personality help captions stand out too. Test different caption strategies - storytelling, behind the scenes, humor, etc - to see what your audience responds to best.

10. Analyze and Refine Your Efforts

Use Instagram Insights to identify your best-performing content. Double down on what drives engagement and conversions. Test different post types, captions and filters to improve.

Pay attention to when your followers are most active and adjust your posting cadence to match. Look at your follower demographics like age, gender and location to inform content topics and styles. Consistently refine your approach based on data to attract maximum visitors towards your ecommerce store.

Final Words

Instagram has tremendous potential to help you reach new audiences, build brand awareness, engage followers and promote products. By consistently applying the best practices outlined, you can develop a successful Instagram marketing strategy for your brand.

Focus on visual storytelling, leveraging data and using various tactics like influencer collaborations, contests and cross-promotion. With strategic and creative Instagram marketing, you can achieve your business goals on one of the world's most influential social platforms.