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If you're considering using Instagram to boost your brand, you're onto a winning formula. According to a recent study, Instagram ad revenue reached $50.58 billion in 2023. In-feed ads were the major contributors to this phenomenal figure.
Meanwhile, Instagram Stories ads comprised 26.7% of the social platform's ad revenue. I think you'll agree these are pretty convincing numbers if you're looking to toughen up your digital marketing strategy.
It got me thinking. Why are only some brands tapping into the potential of Instagram as a matter of necessity? With over a billion active users a month, it's clear that Instagram is a powerhouse platform for increasing brand visibility.
But how do you harness the full potential of Instagram and get the best return on your investment? In this article, I give you ten actionable Instagram marketing tips. Use all or some of these pointers and see your brand's visibility skyrocket.
While Instagram is heavy on pretty pictures and captivating videos, beneath the aesthetics lies a powerful and dynamic platform. Used well, Instagram allows brands to make meaningful connections with their audience.
Whether you're a small startup or a global corporation, Instagram marketing can play a pivotal role in your digital marketing strategy. From optimizing your profile to engaging with your followers, every step you take can significantly impact your brand's influence and reach.
When it comes to visuals, Instagram reigns supreme over other social media platforms. It's a highly effective and versatile way to showcase your products or services in an eye-catching and persuasive way.
How many times have you been captivated by an ad when scrolling? When created correctly, Instagram ads demand attention and stop users in their tracks. What's more, Instagram offers a wide range of media options, from Reels and Stories to IGTV and Shopping. Whether you want to drive traffic to your website or online store, Instagram puts you in the driving seat.
So, now that you know what the "gram" can do, let's get you started on leveraging its power.
Your Instagram profile is usually the first point of contact potential followers will have with your brand, so making a great first impression is vital. Here are the basics to creating a good profile and bio (what you say about your brand):
Tip: Check out how Nike uses their bio to promote their latest campaign while maintaining brand consistency.
Twitter used the first hashtag in 2009. Since then, this unassuming symbol has been used on every social media platform to group similar messages and make posts easy for users to find. Hashtags are a powerful tool that can increase your content's discoverability, especially if you can get your hashtags trending.
Example: National Geographic uses a mix of specific (#wildlifephotography) and broad (#nature) hashtags to maximize their reach.
Consistency is everything on Instagram, especially once you've built a following and need to keep your audience engaged and growing. Irregular posting can lead to stagnation.
You could use one of the many scheduling platforms available to ensure you get the timing right and stick to your schedule consistently. Buffer and Hootsuite are two examples of these tools. Both offer automatic submission and a dashboard that lets you easily see and manage your scheduled posts and content calendar.
Inspiration: Starbucks maintains a consistent posting schedule, ensuring its followers always have fresh content to engage with.
Instagram Stories might be short and sweet (60 seconds or less) but they can be very impactful. They are a great way to share personal, behind-the-scenes content that expires and disappears within 24 hours. From announcing limited-time special offers to showing how you make a product, you can put Stories to good use in many ways.
Example: I love how Airbnb uses Stories to showcase unique stays and travel tips. They then save them as Highlights for lasting impact.
How often have you browsed a brand's social media and seen unanswered questions from potential customers? I see it all the time. These leads, often asking a simple question about product features, pricing, or delivery times, are left hanging when a quick reply could turn them into a paying customer. What a waste. Engagement is critical when building a loyal Instagram following.
If you're too busy building your brand and running your business to respond to all messages, consider hiring a social media manager. They can respond to all messages in your brand voice and ensure that no message is left unread or acknowledged.
Inspiration: Glossier actively engages with its followers by responding to comments about their products and sharing user-generated content.
One of the best ways to build credibility is to collaborate with influencers who can extend your reach to their own followers and advocate for your brand. But take care. I see a lot of brands collaborating with just anybody for the sake of likes and followers. This could damage your brand and reputation in the long run. Successful collaborations depend on several factors.
When managed right, collaborations can be highly beneficial to both parties. You should aim to attract more followers, likes, and orders for your product. Influencers, on the other hand, get to try new products and boost their channels.
To find relevant influencers to work with, use Instagram's search features. Look for hashtags that are similar to the ones you use on your channel, for example. A simple direct message could be all it takes to set up that successful collaboration.
Example: Daniel Wellington, a world-renowned watch brand, collaborates with influencers worldwide, leveraging their lowers to raise brand awareness.
Everybody loves a competition or giveaway. It's an excellent way to engage with your audience and attract new followers. Whether you're giving away a product or service, freebies can help you gain more visibility and traction.
Inspiration: Lush Cosmetics frequently hosts giveaways to encourage followers to engage and share their posts, expanding their reach.
I've mentioned using Instagram Reels, Stories, and Highlights. Let's now focus on the advertising options available on the platform. The beauty of Instagram advertising is that you can turn posts into ads with a successful click. If you have a post that has blown up with likes and follows, you can capitalize on its appeal by using it as a ready-made advert for your brand.
Harness the features in Instagram's Ad Manager to take your ads to the next level. It's designed to manage multiple campaigns across multiple platforms.
I hope these Instagram marketing tips have given you a good insight into the multiple ways you can boost your brand power on Instagram. The most critical aspect of managing your brand on Instagram is looking after your followers. That means providing relevant, quality content, responding to their questions and comments, and giving them the best experience of your brand possible. Get that right and watch your brand's visibility and reputation soar.
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