By Jason McClain | August 28, 2016 | 0 Comment
Instagram goes the way of most social networks with Instagram for business. A simple Google search can bring up dozens of articles about how to use Instagram for business. There is money to be made on social media, and Instagram is no exception. It is really just a matter of how. First, you have to get started with Instagram for business.
As per usual, in order to have a business profile on Instagram, you must first have a personal profile. In order to create a business profile, ensure you have access by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of your profile. This will open the Options. Scroll down under the ACCOUNT heading and look for Switch to Business Profile. Once you select this option, Instagram will ask you to connect your profile to a Facebook Page. You can switch back to your personal profile any time.
Advertising is something you pay to do and it’s all about your brand. Social media, and in this case, Instagram is about relating to your customers and making a connection with them. For example, check out Nike’s Instagram feed. You don’t see the Nike brand front and center in every image. Instead you see people, people that Nike hopes you will relate to in some way.
Don’t stage your images. Use and interconnect them to tell the story of your brand. In the Nike example above, you see they share a lot of images of people wearing their brand. Since the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio are a current event, they are sharing a lot of pictures of athletes and sharing their stories as a part of their own.
A few stunning images will perform better than dozens of mediocre ones. As I said, don’t stage your images, but think them through. The best way to have a lot of great images to choose from is to snap a lot of photos and upload the best after an event or occasion. If you’re running a sale, upload your images beforehand, but still use the same technique of taking a lot of pictures and choosing the best ones.
When you post an image, compose an engaging caption. People want to know about things and the thoughts you had when you posted the image. Also, you can ask your followers to caption an image for you. This is a great way to promote engagement on your Instagram for business profile.
Hashtags can make or break your social media campaigns. Hashtags are what bring your profile up when users search Instagram for certain topics. For a list of the top hashtags, check out Webstagram.
As you know you can select different filters for your images on Instagram for business that can give your picture a whole new look and feel. If you want to use one of the most popular filters, check out this list. The Instagram community responds the best to these top filters.
There are three types of engagement on Instagram:
The more you do, the more activity you can expect in return.
Be sure to optimize your Instagram for business profile with the correct bio information about your business, and profile graphics. If you have a business hashtag, you can include that as well. You have ONE link with Instagram as they don’t allow links in your posts. That link is located in your bio, so make it count!
This is true with ALL social media accounts. The majority of bought followers are fake accounts or bots. They are not targeted or engaged, and they serve no purpose whatsoever except a vanity number. Remember, quality over quantity and the numbers will take care of themselves.
There you have it! Tips to get started with Instagram for business. I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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