Although Instagram is by no means a new social media network, its popularity has really exploded over the last couple of years. While the visual nature of Instagram makes it a no-brainer for fashion brands and other companies that sell products, this channel can also work great for countless other companies as well. From SaaS tools to service providers, the key to making Instagram a viable marketing channel is understanding what users want to see and how to connect with a target audience. So with those goals in mind, we want to cover five tips that will put your Instagram marketing on the fast track:

1. Share Great Images

The majority of Instagram users scroll through the site on their cell phone. Instagram is full of incredible pictures, so you can’t expect to grab people’s attention with mediocre images. Even though that may sound a little intimidating, the good news is you don’t have to be a professional photographer to create great images. In addition to photos, graphics like quotes are also quite popular on Instagram. It’s also worth experimenting with video, which is a growing form of content on the site.

2. Plan and Tell a Story

If you’re just getting started with Instagram, don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t. But once you start building a little momentum, planning a content calendar may be exactly what you need to take your marketing efforts to the next level. The big benefit of planning your posts weeks or even months in advance is it will allow you to develop a story that will give users a reason to follow you and keep them interested in what you’re going to share next.

3. Use Plenty of Hashtags

Hashtags are still a big part of Instagram, so be sure to use plenty of them. Many businesses find success using a mix of general and highly specific hashtags, so don’t hesitate to use anywhere from 7 to 15 per post.

4. Explore Influencer Opportunities

Engaging in influencer marketing through Instagram isn’t something that’s limited to fashion or beauty brands. Regardless of the specific community you’re trying to target, there are probably already Instagram users with large followings in that space. It’s worth exploring if collaborating together with those users is something that makes sense. One thing to keep in mind when evaluating influencers is looking beyond their follower count and evaluating the type of engagement they get in terms of likes and comments.

5. Engage

It’s easy to get caught up in always thinking about increasing your follower count or only following strategies that can “scale.” However, as with any social site, a big part of Instagram is engaging with actual people. That’s why you should make a point to respond to any comment someone leaves on one of your posts, as well as do your best to like and comment on other users’ posts. Taking the time to engage is a great way to learn even more about Instagram and find new opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

If you have any additional questions about Instagram marketing or would like to get help from a team of experts, be sure to contact us!

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