Instagram Marketing is an important topic in 2021. It is obvious that the use of Instagram is no longer only about sharing your workout stories from the gym anymore.
According to statista.com “As of January 2020, Instagram ranks second after Facebook in terms of leading social media platforms used by marketers, leaving other social media outlets such as Snapchat, and YouTube behind”.
Your Instagram business account is your gate to success in Instagram marketing.
To start using Instagram marketing, you will have to create an “Instagram Business” account.
If you already have a personal Instagram account, you can switch to a professional one in the Instagram app.
Instagram marketing might be very competitive; however, you still can find your own glow within the crowd.
Here are 5 tips to help you start your Instagram marketing journey :
- Plan your content ahead
- Choosing the perfect posting time
- Active engagement
- Set your shop on Instagram business account
- Don’t forget the hashtags
#Plan your content ahead
The best way to start your Instagram marketing journey is to start by planning your marketing content ahead.
Therefore, you must first study your target audience before analyzing what your competitors are publishing. Then decide what type of content you want to publish.
Plan your posts at least weekly, if not for several weeks at a time. Posting on a regular basis helps to keep your followers engaged.
People currently prefer Instagram Reels, particularly how-to tutorial videos. Start creating some of those and track their performance and engagement.
You can also read our article for some winter content ideas.
Use the Instagram explore button, to observe and collect ideas from different types of business accounts.
The content at the explore button is organized into main topics like photography, cooking, business, etc. so you can focus on an area of your interest.
Related articles: 3 Instagram updates to consider when building your content strategy for 2021
#Choose the perfect posting time
According to This Sprout Social Study, midday engagement during weekdays became even denser with top times throughout the 11 a.m.–2 p.m. range, and evenings and weekend times showed increased opportunities for engagement.
However, it depends on your region and time zone, so make sure to do your research. However, try to avoid posting on Instagram after 6 pm when people have already finished their workday.
Don’t forget to add your contact number and a professional email. This step embraces trust and accessibility.
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#Instgram Marketing tip no.3: Active engagement
It is encouraged to perceive your followers and customers as your big family. Being active at your Instagram business account is important because it promotes trust and warmth connection with your followers.
Interaction spreads the vibe that you care about their opinions, and you are willing to satisfy their desires.
Here are 3 ideas for active engagement practices:
- Use Polls in Instagram stories: you can let your followers choose between different products. (This might give an insight which product to focus on more)
- Make sure to reply to comments and DMs in a timely manner.
- Repost and highlight your customer's reviews of your products.
Related articles: How to make social media work for your business
Set your shop on Instagram Business account
Instagram Shopping is a set of features that allow people to easily shop your brand's photos and videos across Instagram.
Follow these 7 steps to create a shop on Instagram:
- Step 1: Confirm eligibility
- Step 2: Convert to a business account
- Step 3: Connect your Facebook Page
- Step 4: Upload a product catalog
- Step 5: Complete account review
- Step 6: Turn on Shopping
- Step 7: Make content actionable
Check Your A to Z guide to sell on Instagram
Or easily create an online E-store with GoDaddy and sell around the world.
Hashtags are an effective Instagram Marketing tool
Hashtags are an important tool when it comes to Instagram marketing because it helps you increase your exposure and discoverability to your potential followers.
When you click on any hashtag on Instagram, it leads you to a gallery of both the top posts and latest posts that used the hashtag. Therefore, it helps you to track other competitors’ content who uses the same hashtags.
You can use up to 30 hashtags in one post.
A study from SocialFresh in 2014 found that 7 hashtags generated the most engagement. Don’t spam your post copy, and make sure that you use relevant hashtags to your post.
You can check this 2021 Instagram Hashtag Guide to get more reach.
Lastly, don't forget to be unique and to stand out among the crowd!