Instagram first appeared on the scene in 2010 as a platform filled with selfies, pets, and food pictures. It has transformed into an efficient marketing channel later. As a result, taking a business to the next level is possible with such a platform. In this article, we will demonstrate the fundamental steps a business needs to grow on Instagram:
Step 1: Start an Instagram business account
A business account grants access to several features and tools unavailable for personal profiles. After signing up, tap on the account setting to choose “Business Account.” Finally, choose a business category and add some relevant contact details to launch your Instagram business account officially.
Step 2: Create an Effective Instagram Marketing Strategy
First and foremost, the audience is the starting point of any social media marketing strategy. A strong Instagram marketing strategy should include the following:
Insights
Researching Instagram’s audience demographics is the key. A better understanding of what the audience posts about and engages with will leave a business owner in a better position.
Competitor Research
Understanding competitors creates an enhanced idea about the market. It involves researching major competitors to keep an eye on their products, sales, and marketing tactics.
Goals
An Instagram strategy should state the target a business is set to reach.
Content Calendar
Now that audience and goals are defined, the next step is to have a purpose when posting on Instagram. Posting when followers are online is the most important point. Moreover, a neat calendar with highlighted upcoming events creates larger engagement.
Step 3: Ensure your Instagram profile is perfectly designed
An Instagram profile is the follower’s first impression of the business presented. The following points will help any business to leave a better first impression:
Have a professional profile picture
Many international brands use their logo as an Instagram profile picture, and even a small business could do the same with the help of a logo maker. It is important to use one profile picture across social media platforms to gain recognition.
Have an Informative Bio
A business account Instagram bio is a short 150-character summary of what your business can present. In the case of accounts with less than 10.000 followers, a bio is the only place on Instagram where posting an organic clickable link is possible. Therefore, it should be short and customer-oriented.
Use CTA
A “Call To Action” urges a page’s visitors to take the next step. For example, “call us now,” “comment down below,” or “tap like if you agree.” So, an Instagram user needs a CTA to know the next step to buy a product or get a service from your page.
Add Story Highlights and Covers
When a business owner wants to keep the best content live, the choice of story highlights comes in handy. It is an effective way to organize stories into saved collections. Creating engaging story highlights and covers with an Instagram story maker will update new and old followers with your business’s latest updates.
Step 4: Share High-quality Content
Since Instagram is a photo-sharing app originally, pictures shared should always meet high-quality standards. Simple thumb-stopping pictures are the key to creating the best content. No matter how good the photos are, editing them is sometimes a must.
Luckily, free sources are available, including Instagram built-in tools.
An indication of high-quality content is not only about the consistency of posting inclusive content but also about compelling captions, for captions make pictures meaningful. Plus, Instagram followers expect high-quality content regularly. Hence, experts recommend scheduling Instagram posts with a social media management tool.
Step 5: Grow and engage your audience
The starting point for business growth on Instagram is responding to comments and mentions; it will keep users motivated and engaging.
Hashtags are another tool to grow because it helps make any content easier to find. Moreover, a branded hashtag is a source of user-generated content that encourages followers to share relevant photos and videos.
Now that a brand is ready to go viral promoting it on other channels and collaborating with influencers is the final stage.
Step 6: measure success and make adjustments
Instagram’s built-in analytics tool can present a good business insight to measure success. Yet, Instagram only tracks data for 30 days; keep that in mind to measure success perfectly.
Last but not least, the use of A/B testing to know what works: Testing various types of content to check how they perform is one of the best ways to improve results. Eventually, as what works for a specific audience becomes clear, we can achieve a refined overall strategy.
Conclusion
Instagram is the right place to promote a business, so if you plan well and take the previously-mentioned process step by step, your business will have a high growth potential.
