Mastering Instagram: Effective Strategies for Small Business Marketing

As a small business owner, you should definitely take advantage of the low-cost marketing opportunities that social media offers. If you generate great visual content, Instagram is a must for your marketing strategy.

Before diving in, take some time to see how other brands are using Instagram and learn the basics. Instagram has a blog specifically for business owners that offers tips and case studies to help you get started.

It’s important to keep your content varied to keep your followers interested. Post something funny, then share a picture from your business, and next a photo submitted by a customer. Mix it up with and without filters. Make sure your content is engaging because heavy advertising can come off as spammy.

To generate more interest in your Instagram account, try cross-posting some of your Instagram content on other social media sites, follow your followers back, offer promo codes, and engage with your followers when they share new content.

Leaving comments on other people’s photos is a great way to build loyalty among your followers. You can also mention other users in the comments on your own posts using @, and they’ll get notified. If things get quiet, take the lead and start new conversations.

Embedding Instagram content on your website and blog offers two major benefits. First, it gives you great visuals for your web pages and posts without extra effort. Second, linking these visuals back to your Instagram account can help grow your following.

The quality of your posts is more important than the quantity. Posting too often can flood your followers’ feeds and become annoying, which is bad for business.

Running photo contests on Instagram is another great idea. Use a hashtag to collect entries. A branded hashtag can resonate with your audience and promote your business simultaneously. For example, Whole Foods could use the hashtag #WholeMeals to encourage customers to share recipes made with their products.

Finally, make sure your Instagram profile is complete and well-branded. Provide all the information a customer might need to interact with you and, ideally, do business with you.