Instagram for business is a rising trend. Here’s how to use the platform to connect with your audience in a personal way.
Recent research on social media use shows that 66% of brands now use Instagram. It’s the second-most used platform by businesses, up from fourth in 2017.
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If you’re considering using Instagram for your business, which you should be, here are some tips for getting started.
How to use Instagram for business: 10 tips
1) Be authentic
Brands often fall into the trap of using stock photography and images or overly staged promotional pictures. The ethos of Instagram is all about authenticity and personality. Let your audience get an up close and personal glimpse into your company’s culture.
2) Go live
Live video is the “it” trend in social media marketing, with 61% of marketers reporting that they plan on adding it to their overall strategy. Audiences love real-time content, and it lets them feel a genuine, human connection — the creation of which sometimes poses a challenge for B2B marketers.
3) Keep up the pace
Instagram is one of the easiest social media platforms to post on. That means you can quickly snap photos wherever you are — say, at a conference or event, or even on your way into the office — and publish it instantly. This is great for reaching the coveted millennial audience, which seems to have an unquenchable thirst for consuming content, particularly images and graphics.
4) Get in the “in crowd”
As with every social media channel, what you post is important. But it’s just as important that you participate in the wider conversation going on within your industry. This means replying to your community when they leave responses and interacting with peer businesses and influencers’ posts.
5) Use the link in your bio
A frequent challenge for new Instagram users is that the platform doesn’t allow you to link from the captions of posts. You get once chance to link, and it’s in your bio. You can vary the link as you promote specific content or product offers, and you can even use tools like Linktree to create a custom link that includes a page with additional links.
6) Be a storyteller
Instagram is all about visual storytelling. Your posts should do more than promote your brand — they should be drawing in your audience with narrative told through a visual format. Instagram Stories are an ideal way to engage your audience!
7) Try a takeover
Taking over the Instagram account of a partner company or customer is a great way to draw attention from an existing and relevant audience, providing mutual benefits to both parties.
8) Get personal
Go in deep and personal with your customers by answering their questions via 10-second videos. You let your viewers feel like they’re being heard. Plus, short videos are ideal for reposting.
9) Deliver special offers
Instagram is a great way to give special offers to your followers who tune in to your Stories. The time-sensitive feature (Stories expire after 24 hours) urges prospects to engage with your Story and act quickly before the offer expires.
10) Out of ideas? Just ask!
Survey your followers by posting a graphic of some options for future content or offers but leave it open-ended as well. Be sure to respond to suggestions in direct messages or comments. You may get some great ideas you never would have considered!
How do you use Instagram for business?
Related posts:
- Instagram Stories: How the Supply Chain Can Use Them to Engage Prospects and Customers
- 10 Social Media Statistics for B2B Marketers 2018
- Infographic: 8 Ways to Grow Brand Awareness Fast
