According to facebook, 70% of all Instagram hashtags are branded, which means that businesses are active on this photo-sharing app.
While there is no dearth of advice on how to succeed in Instagram marketing, here are a few from expert Instagram marketers that most don’t talk about but are highly effective:
Go Live with Video Streaming
According to sproutsocial, videos receive 38% more engagement than posts of images. Many marketers do not know of Instagram’s live broadcast feature, as a result of which, they lose out big time the opportunity of connecting with audiences in real-time because users can give their comments as the live stream takes place taking engagement to a different level altogether. Live streaming has virtually limitless possibilities; not only can you demo new products but also introduce your employees and give a ringside view of your production facilities.
Collaborate with Influencers
Building a follower base and extending brand awareness can be a very long process. You can accelerate both by collaborating with Instagram influencers who have a large number of followers with the same demographics as that of your target audience. Because followers trust the judgment of the influencers, they are liable to follow their recommendations. The extent to which you will be able to drive follower and sales growth depends on how well you identify the influencers with the best fit with your brand and how much you can spend on the campaign because most influencers with big clouts don’t come cheap. Participating in Like4Like programs is also a good way of increasing your follower base.
Encourage User-Generated Content
Content contribution by users is a big step forward in raising the level of involvement of your business among your followers. Typically, you can organize a contest and ask followers to post images or videos on a particular theme that is relevant to your business. You could even ask them to post the images of your products being used by them. The benefit of UGC is that not only do you get an opportunity of making your followers feel special by featuring them on your business account but also you get a lot of interesting content without having to spend too much.
Post Content Regularly
To ensure that you keep your brand on the top of the minds of your followers, you will need to post engaging content regularly. However, this is a fine balance as if you overdo it, you risk annoying your followers and it also creates unnecessary pressure on content creation and scheduling. Generally, posting once a day or around five times a week is sufficient to keep your followers engaged, however, the content has to be of very high quality. The timing of the posts is of critical importance because, if you do not post when your audience is active, they are liable to miss them and your entire effort will have been wasted.
Conclusion
Instagram is a wonderful platform for connecting with your target audience in a fun and engaging way. With more than 25 million business profiles already in action and growing by the day, the competition to grab follower attention is intense. By focusing on these tips, you can make your marketing strategy succeed better on Instagram.
