Instagram Marketing
Why is Instagram Important for Marketing?
Instagram is without doubt, one of the most valuable social media channels available today and we are confident that every business can benefit from using it in one way or another. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, or you’re simply using it to promote a personal brand, incorporating Instagram into your digital marketing strategy is a definite must! On this page we’re going to look at why Instagram is important for marketing and how it can be of great benefit to your business.
1. Instagram is Built on Storytelling
For long as human’s have been able to communicate, storytelling has been a vital part of our narrative. In fact, it can be traced back to the earliest cave paintings discovered, demonstrating the artistic flare that sets humanity apart from the other species that populate this planet.
We love stories and we are always attracted to people who have a gift for retelling anecdotes and events with good humour. But how does this tie in with business? Well, from a business perspective, telling an interesting story relating to your brand is a great way to form an emotional connection with your audience and as we well know, most people make purchasing decisions based on emotion.
By sharing quality visual content, you will be able to let your audience know what you are about and build a strong relationship with them. Instagram isn’t about pushing products but sharing content that focuses on feelings instead; feelings that can be related to your products.
This approach will inspire an emotional response to your brand, and you will invariably notice a positive impact on the success of your business through returning customers and sales.
2. Visual Content Should be a Huge Part of Your Marketing Strategy
Visual posts have 650% higher engagement rates than posts with text only. Thus, creating content that is both visual, and resonates with your target audience is a great way of developing your brand. In addition to that, you can take the imagery used on your Instagram and combine it with other marketing channels such as your email newsletters and your blog.
Consistency is key! So, stick to an appropriate colour scheme and style that resonates with your brand, thus reinforcing your identity.
3. Instagram Has Millions and Millions of Users!
Instagram has over 700 million monthly users which is a huge audience base at your disposal. When you post on Instagram you can use #Hashtags to ensure that your content is getting in front of the right people. Of course, just be certain to use the most relevant hashtags that people are actually searching for.
Just be certain not to overuse hashtags. This is why it is so important to do your market research and ensure that you are using the appropriate ones. Every hashtag should serve a purpose.
4. Engage with Your Valued Community
Instagram has the highest average engagement rate than all of the other main social media channels. This is because Instagram users are much more open to branded content than they are on any of the other channels.
The best way to start generating engagement is to follow people who are talking about your brand or products and actually engage with them by commenting on their content.
Another great way to start a conversation with your audience is to create your own hashtags and inspire other users to join in on the conversation.
Just remember that engaging your audience goes beyond sharing photos and videos of your products and services. You need to find a way to connect with them on a personal and emotional level.
Avoid using bots or any other form of software which automatically responds to and engages with comments. The best way to build a trustworthy brand that people enjoy engaging with is by being genuine!
5. Instagram is a Great Source of Insights and Feedback
The smartest marketers will already be monitoring conversations and engagement through social media. There is some great software available which will allow you to track your Instagram and find out who and how many people are talking about your products and services. This is a great opportunity to engage with those who are leaving feedback about your products so that you can address both the good and the bad.
6. Keep a Close Eye on Your Competitors
