INSTAGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING
Guest post written by Taktical Digital, NYC, US
Social media is becoming a necessity for modern businesses. For many businesses, so much attention goes to Facebook marketing, but you shouldn’t neglect the opportunities available on other platforms.
Take Instagram for example. It is a uniquely visual platform that can appeal to users in a different way, and it has more than a billion monthly active users. If this large, engaged audience isn’t enough to convince you that there are serious marketing opportunities on this social media platform, here are seven reasons why your business should be on Instagram.
1. ENGAGE WITH CUSTOMERS
One of the key benefits of using Instagram is that it gives your business a new way to engage with customers. Modern consumers want to share their opinions and they want to let you know what they think. Instagram offers your customers the opportunity to share their favorite posts, to like, and to comment. As your brand gets more engagement on the platform, your visibility will increase.
2. IT’S GOOD FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES
With so many users on Instagram, there is an audience for every business. You do not have to be a large corporation with billions of dollars to see results on Instagram. With a good Instagram strategy, this social media platform can do a lot for businesses both large and small.
3. LIVE POSTS AND STORIES
Instagram can be great for reaching more customers, but it also gives your business the chance to connect with consumers and show a personal side to your business. Many of the app’s features can be good for allowing your brand to show off its personality, but Instagram stories and live posts can be very effective.
With live posts, you can do things like a Q&A or provide your audience with a look behind the scenes of your business. Instagram stories can be good for showing a creative side or for having a little fun with your audience.
4. ADVERTISE TO MOBILE PHONE USERS
Unlike many of the other social media platforms, Instagram was designed as a mobile app first. It offers a great mobile experience to users and it is a good way to reach consumers on a device they take everywhere.
5. BOOST YOUR SIGNAL WITH HASHTAGS
Even if you are a smaller business, hashtags can be a good way to increase visibility. Hashtags are great for making content more discoverable and it is a good way to level the playing field for smaller businesses that use social media.
6. MAKE MONEY ON THE PLATFORM
Instagram has evolved to be more than just a social media app. The ability to feature your products in posts can be valuable, but with features like shoppable posts, consumers can discover the product and complete purchases without having to leave the app.
7. WATCH THE COMPETITION
You can also use Instagram to research the competition. See how they interact with their audience and find out what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. Look to see what types of content work well for them and how frequently they post. You don’t want to copy their strategies entirely, but this can be a good way to help your brand develop a successful strategy of its own.
Instagram can offer significant value to businesses in a wide range of industries. It is one more way to connect with your customers and it offers branding opportunities that are unique when compared to some of the options on other platforms.
SOCIAL MEDIA CERTIFIED MODERATOR
Catherine Gason is a social media certified moderator and member of the International Community of Certified Moderators (UK).