With these 9 tips you’ll increase your followers and develop an Instagram marketing strategy
In this day and age, almost all customers search for various products and services online before they make a purchase. According to the research conducted by Dimensional Research, an overwhelming 90 percent of the respondents who recalled reading online reviews claimed that positive online reviews influenced buying decisions, while 86 percent said buying decisions were influenced by negative online reviews.
In order for businesses to survive in a tough market, their marketing strategies must be strong. This is the reason why small and big businesses ensure that they embrace social media marketing to its fullest. Aside from Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, Instagram is now being used by these businesses to reach more consumers from places all over the world, to sell online, as well as to grow their number of followers and leads. Many businesses dare not let themselves get behind the trend. They want to keep themselves on track. Thus, they are turning to Instagram to reach younger demographics.
Here are ways businesses are using images and videos to enhance their customers’ experiences and boost their online marketing presence:
1. Create Your Brand
Instagram, really is a way to showcase who you are and your brand’s story. It’s where you can showcase your brand even without selling. Younger users tend to get irritated with over-promotion. It’s better to create your own online brand image and focus on how the world can perceive your uniqueness. Come up with creative photos captioned with your own business hashtags.
2. Add Personal Touch
Customized photos and videos with text combinations open doors of businesses to more customers. These “memes” make the business and its products and services more appealing to customers. Moreover, it shows that they care about their public image.
3. Give A “Behind The Scenes” Look
Get a little bit personal with your followers. Give them a sneak peak of what is happening behind those doors, their upcoming events, as well as other happenings. Take for example, the fashion brand Burberry which shares photos of what is happening behind the scenes during their photo shoots and fashion shows. Those candid images definitely help personalize your brand.
4. Use relevant hashtags for more traffic
Attach popular keywords and hashtags to names or descriptions of your images. This leads to more visitor traffic, awareness, as well as engagement.
5. Showcase A Lifestyle
Instagram really lets you show how great your new product or service is without directly selling. Make customers feel excited by showing photos or short video clips of it in action and in real time. For instance, Vans – a famous shoe company, posts photos and videos of its shoes in action which are usually user submitted. It brings more interest to other customers and reinforces your brand’s persona in a very effective manner.
6. Attempt To Host an Instagram Photo Contest
Instagram users are excited about contests. In hosting a contest, use a hashtag that identifies your brand and defines what the contest is all about. This lets you reach more people in your niche. It’s a win-win situation to be fair.
7. Focus On Your Followers
Take time to engage and acknowledge your followers on Instagram. You can like and comment on their photos, reply to their comments on your posts, and @mention them as well. What is more, Instagram also allows you to embed photos on your website. If there’s a really cool image from your followers that you want to showcase on your blog or website, then do it. Just make sure to ask permission first. This creates a more personal connection between you and your followers.
8. Post Consistently
Just like any social media site, it really pays to be always consistent. This gets your brand to be seen regularly by your followers. By keeping your Instagram page fresh and updated, you will get to stay in front of your followers, and they will be more apt to becoming actual customers.
9. Integrate Your Other Social Media Platforms
Connect your website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest accounts so your posts will be displayed on all of your other pages as well. This strategy will give your other social media pages valuable original content, and it even helps co-brand your social media presence.
Clearly, there’s more to just marketing on Instagram than these strategies. Try them out and see how visual marketing can bring success to your social marketing strategy as well as to your business in general. Now, jump on board and go take some great photos and capture videos! Ready to use Instagram in your online business marketing strategy? Do the challenge now!