Who doesn’t have a talent or passion that they would love not just to flaunt but turn into their source of income? But where do they showcase it, market it and sell it? One of the most popular social media platform in the world, Instagram, is the answer. This blog will give a walkthrough of how to use Instagram to build and grow a small business.
Why Instagram?
This is a question that might cross your mind as to why choose Instagram to promote your business and not any other social media platforms. With over 1 billion active users, Instagram holds a huge crowd that represents different dimensions of societies from all over the world, thus making it the best place to promote your business.
Its simple UI, visual appeal, and features are capable of attracting all generations into it making space for a huge marketplace. It lets you not just showcase your business but engage with your customers or prospective, making your brand familiar among the crowd. Your social media profile will not just hold pictures and videos but provides your audience with your business’s goals and missions, directing them towards you.
How Instagram promotes your small business
Now that we know why to use Instagram for businesses, let's check out a few pointers and understand how to do it.
1. Optimize your profile
Your profile should be a reflection of your brand and the products or services you offer. Start by choosing a username that's easy to remember and relevant to your business. Your profile picture should also be a recognizable symbol or logo of your brand.
Make sure to fill out your bio with a clear and concise description of your business, including what you offer and what sets you apart from competitors. Include a link to your website or a landing page where visitors can learn more about your products or services. Using a Link-in-Bio tool can do the magic.
2. Define your brand
Identify your target audience, brand values, and what makes your business unique. Use this information to create a consistent brand image and voice.
3. Create consistent engaging content
Instagram is a platform where visual appeal matters. Sharing high-quality content that aligns with your brand is important to resonate with your audience and capture their attention. Use Instagram features like Stories, Reels, and IGTV to mix up your content and keep your audience engaged. Also, consistency is the key. Regular posts and updates will leave your followers connected and updated, eventually making you a part of their lives.
4. Choose the right content
While you focus on creating visually appealing content, you shouldn’t forget your target audience. Understand the type of content they're most likely to engage with. This could include product photos, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business, user-generated content, or informative and entertaining videos.
5. Hashtags
Hashtags are a powerful tool for small businesses that helps in reaching out to the target audience on Instagram. Adding hashtags related to your product or service in your posts will increase visibility and engagement and will allow you to reach a broader audience beyond your current followers by appearing in relevant search results. Use a mix of popular and niche hashtags that relate to your business, products, or services. You can also create branded hashtags unique to your business to encourage user-generated content and build brand awareness.
6. Engage with your audience
Responding to comments and direct messages promptly will take you a long way. It gives a value proportional to your audience. Asking your users for feedback and running contests or giveaways, offering discounts and promotions, etc, will make them feel involved and encourage participation.
Liking and commenting on other users' posts and sending direct messages are other ways to connect with potential customers.
7. Utilize Instagram Stories
Instagram Stories, the most popular feature that allows you to share temporary photos and videos with your followers is a great way to showcase the best parts and day-to-day updates about your business. Using Instagram Stories you can engage with your followers by asking questions, running polls, or sharing interactive content like quizzes or challenges. Making these stories fun and engaging using Instagram's built-in features like stickers and filters will have your audience hooked to you.
8. Leverage Instagram Ads
Instagram allows the generation of the target, demographic-oriented ads that can be utilized by small business owners to promote their businesses. It allows one to create cost-effective sponsored posts or ads that will appear in their target users' feeds resulting in more visibility, increased website traffic, and building brand awareness.
9. Collaborate with others
Collaborating with other businesses or influencers in your niche can help you reach a wider audience and gain credibility. So find relevant profiles (influencers, small businesses, etc) to link up with to promote your business.
10. Analyze your performance
Use Instagram Insights to track your performance and see what content is resonating with your audience. Keeping track of the algorithm and altering your strategy and content accordingly will help to maximize engagement and growth.
Let your business boom
So that now you have the complete handbook with all the strategies that will help you build your business on Instagram, go ahead and make use of these tips and build a strong presence on Instagram and grow your small business into a big one.
