Social media has cemented itself as a powerful marketing tool for small businesses and big corporations alike. Instagram is just one of the many platforms people use to reach out to a wider audience. A write-up on Forbes reveals that Instagram has a user base of over 1 billion people and is third only to Facebook and YouTube. So when businesses maximize the app’s potential, it will help them expand their reach and solidify their brand.
Content creator and strategist Lauren Umpenhour emphasizes that a business’ brand on social media is everything. It will help you stand out amongst the competition and help create a bigger impact. Instagram is the perfect platform to help you build your following. Many companies are using it to reach their audience in a meaningful way. So if you want to do the same, here are tips on how to use the platform like the businesses that are doing it right:
Do collaborations
In the age of influencers, collaboration is becoming an important marketing tool and Instagram is famous for being the perfect platform to use. Entrepreneur Christina-Lauren Pollack talks about how and why these partnerships are so effective: People often trust products and services that are recommended by trustworthy sources (which includes influencers). It also widens the target audience, including the target demographic of the influencer. Brands like SugarBearHair, Morphe, and Romwe have been using this tactic for years and are all continuing to grow. If you are using Instagram to grow your business, consider collaborating with an online personality for your next campaign as it will work wonders in creating new sales.
Appeal to your audience’s emotions
Emotions are a huge driving force that will help you build your brand. When people associate your company with certain emotions, they will become more invested. So use your platform to tell stories that connect with your audience. A trending article on AskMoney highlights how using the “show don’t tell” rule of storytelling allows businesses to generate a connection with users. By doing this, it will help you create a more impactful presence and help you stand out.
When you do this, always remember to consider what emotions you want to appeal to and what content you can create related to your company that connects to these feelings? Knowing your demographic will help you answer these two questions. Always’ #LikeAGirl campaign encouraged feelings of empowerment and confidence, showing that this strategy is effective. Feelings are a powerful mechanism and can be just the thing that strengthens your Instagram brand.
Post consistently
The Instagram algorithm has changed over the years and posting consistently has become more important when it comes to trying to reach your audience. A post written on Medium explains that consistency helps build a good rapport with your audience. Instagram also has a tendency to stop showing your content to people the less you post, which defeats the purpose of marketing on the platform in the first place.
This is why it is important to post regularly. Victoria’s Secret, one of the most followed brands, often posts twice a day. Though the level of frequency may vary from company to company, this shows just how important it is for you to upload content as consistently as possible.
When used correctly, Instagram marketing can become an important asset to your business. Be sure to use these proven strategies to help you utilize the platform and use it to its full potential. For more articles on marketing and how to do it effectively, be sure to check out the latest marketing articles on CEO Medium.
