Are you using Instagram to promote your business? With approximately 400 million active users each day, it’s one of the world’s most popular social media networks. While it still falls short of Facebook in terms of traffic, Instagram makes up for it by achieving a higher rate of the coveted millennial demographic. So, how can you use it to promote your business?
Create an Informative Bio
One of the first steps after signing up for an Instagram account is completing your bio. Found below the network’s “Follow” link, this should describe your business and what it’s about. You only have a finite amount of space to create a bio, however, so choose your words wisely.
Follow Your Followers
When someone follows you on Instagram, return the favor by following them back. This creates a mutual relationship in which you help the other user, and he or she helps you.
Embed Video in Your Website
Did you know that you can embed Instagram videos directly in a website? After uploading and sharing a video to your Instagram account, grab the embed code and add it to your website or blog for additional traffic and exposure.
Use Filters
One of the perks of using Instagram to share photos is the ability to add a filter. Instagram offers dozens of filters, each of which alters photos in a different manner. According to a study conducted by SimplyMeasured, however, some of the most popular Instagram filters are Lo-fi, Valencia, Rise, Amaro, Hudson, Sierra, X-pRo II, and Hefe. Experiment with different filters such as these to see which ones yield the strongest level of engagement from your followers.
Reward Your Followers
Of course, you should also reward users for following you. American Express, for instance, offers its followers exclusive access to news, rewards and experiences. Another idea is to offer your followers special discounts and/or promo codes.
Use #Hashtags
Arguably, one of the most important tips to maximize your Instagram marketing efforts is to use #hashtags. Whether you’re uploading a video or image, you should add a few relevant and meaningful hashtags so users can find it more easily. As you may already know, hashtags are words without spaces prefixed with the # sign. When added to a social media post, they curate it under the respective hashtag, allowing users to find it through the network’s search function. Long story short, including hashtags in your Instagram posts increase its visibility while generating additional exposure for your business.
