Regardless of what industry you’re in, it pays to build a presence on Instagram. Instagram is now one of the top social platforms with over one billion monthly active users and 200 million business profiles.
However, success on the platform doesn’t happen by magic. If you want to reap the benefits of Instagram, you’ll need to develop an effective Instagram marketing strategy that will help you achieve your business goals. This involves everything from determining your users that will follow back and outlining a solid content strategy to creating posts and measuring their performance.
So, let’s learn how to create an effective Instagram marketing strategy that will help your business stand out from the crowd.
1. Find Instagram Accounts That Follow Back
Instagram is a crowded place and it can be difficult for businesses to be heard and seen. The days when you follow an account and it would follow you back instantly are long gone. These days, if you want to stand out from the crowd and grow the number of followers, you need to focus on finding Instagram users that follow back. This is especially important if your goal is to grow your account organically but your budget is tight.
Here are a few ideas that will help you increase the chances of being followed back.
- Instead of randomly following every account that you encounter on the platform, only follow users that you know might be interested in your page, such as your competitors’ followers.
- Use hashtags to find potential followers and help them find you (try to use more niche-focused hashtags).
- Optimize your bio and feed. These elements show who you are and what you do, so do everything you can to make visitors more interested in your account.
2. Build a Strong Brand Identity
Instagram is a visual platform, which means that building an aesthetically-pleasing feed that is aligned with your brand identity is of the utmost importance. Having a strong brand identity can give an instant impression of your values and personality without saying a single word. It is an opportunity to share your brand story: Is it minimalist and clean? Fun and lively? The imagery, colors, and fonts you use all play a part.
A strong visual identity can help strengthen your brand message, make you look more professional, and convert visitors to your account into devoted followers.
3. Create a Solid Content Strategy
One of the most important parts of your IG marketing strategy is deciding what type of content to post in order to present your brand in the best light possible and achieve your business goals. You can choose from different formats like photos, videos, stories, reels, IGTV videos, etc.
The good news is that you probably already have a clear idea about the content that will be best for your strategy based on your audience and competitor research. For instance, if you offer physical products, your content should revolve around them. If, on the other hand, you’re offering in-person or online services, you should consider sharing useful information or your company’s culture with behind-the-scenes materials.
4. Research Your Competitors
Keeping an eye on your Instagram competition can provide great insights on what and when to post. It will also help you get one step ahead of your competitors and see what is currently working for them and what isn’t.
Start by checking what type of content your competitors are publishing on the platform and how often. You should also see if they are relying on user-generated content and what their hashtag strategy is.
Take the information you gathered about your competitor and identify particular areas in your own strategy that need adjustment or improvement.
5. Track Your Results
Always check the data to see what type of content is most interesting for your target audience. You should also check your analytics tools and try to figure out what your most successful posts have in common in order to determine what your audience likes.
The important thing is to continue testing and optimizing your content. There is no point in spending resources and time on content that doesn’t accomplish its objectives.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to creating an effective Instagram marketing strategy, the tips listed in this article merely scratch the surface. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tactics and remember that a good marketing strategy should be reviewed and adjusted on a regular basis.