Instagram is a social media network that has gained significant steam over the past few years and that continues to grow, both for personal, private use, and within the business realm. Between December of 2016 to April of 2017, Instagram added more than 100 million users! And the site continues to grow.
This rapid and continual growth is great because it means that your business has the opportunity to reach more and more people. It also means, though, that the stakes for having Instagram posts that stand out from the crowd are much, much higher. So, what can you do to increase the likelihood of your Instagram posts being successful?
1. Be selective in which pictures you decide to use for your Instagram posts.
When posting on Instagram, don’t just throw up any old photo you happen to have taken on your phone. Using a camera phone to post pictures on Instagram is perfectly fine, but you want to make sure that your photos are going to attract your audience and encourage engagement with them.
2. Use Instagram posts to showcase aspects of your business that people wouldn’t see if they only visited your professional website.
Instagram is a great network for showing behind-the-scenes workings of a company. You can show how your products are made, showcase a particular charity you associate with, or introduce company members who may be less visible. Think of Instagram as a way to let your customers have more of an intimate look into your business. This, however, is only one of the ways that the network may be used. You should also post your specials, events, and contests to your feed.
3. Be wary of over posting!
Be sure to be consistent with posting often but not overwhelming your followers with posts. Many users follow the no more than one post a day rule, and this can be a wise rule for a small business as well. However, certain businesses are often given a little more leeway in posting more often. It is recommended to post several times a week but to limit your posts to no more than ten per week. There are exceptions, of course, to this rule; however, you would want to speak to a social media marketing professional to find out what the best number for your business would be. To best determine this, you will want to consider your goals, target market, and your products and services.
As with anything, some trial and error is necessary when learning what works best for your company on Instagram. So, be sure to watch the engagement levels carefully to find out how your strategy is working.
If you need help developing a strategy or analyzing your current one, consider contacting us at Vision Path Marketing. We have years of experience and are happy to help you get on the right track with your Instagram posts. We offer free consultations and are happy to help you evaluate your business and social media strategy in order to help you get the most out of your online marketing.