Whether you're a single individual hoping to become an influencer or a business needing to create a presence to attract more customers, branding yourself on Instagram is essential. Your brand is about more than appealing to customers or audience members, though. It's about creating and curating who you are, what you stand for, and how you want to be perceived.
Because Instagram is so visually-driven, it's an excellent platform for B2C (business to consumer) branding, but Instagram branding can also be tricky. These tips and tricks will help you better understand how to use Instagram for business, especially building your brand.
Business Instagram: Creating Your Account and Establishing Your Presence
Your first step is to create your business's account and establish a presence on Instagram. Every step in this process matters when you're trying to create a brand, even deciding on your handle. Before starting anything, you need to understand your goals and who you are. Ask yourself: "why am I building this business?" That question's answer should guide everything you do, including how you go about branding yourself on Instagram. Your future followers and potential customers will be the people who connect with your "why" and share your values.
Now that you have a grasp of your goals, you can create your profile and bio. Choose these carefully, using your logo (if you have one) as your profile picture. You only get 150 characters to convey who you are, so choose your words wisely. Consider SEO and what your target audience looks for online.
Curate Content
Much more goes into business social media than just bombarding followers with content when it comes to business social media. You must be very careful that everything you post aligns with your "why." Develop your voice by learning to speak the language of your followers. Instagram is a visual platform, which means how your posts look matters. At the same time, much of the magic of search engine optimization, also known as SEO, happens in written content.
Using hashtags is a critical component of good Instagram branding, primarily because users follow hashtags that align with their interests. However, there is an art form to hashtagging that takes some know-how. Consider hiring a social media expert or an outside marketing firm to help you. Finally, post consistently and time your posts wisely. You can't dump all five of your weekly posts on the same day and expect them all to gain traction.
Interact with Followers and Refine Your Strategy
You can't simply put content out into the Instagram world and expect it to take care of itself. You must manage it and interact with your followers. Always answer all DMs promptly, and respond or acknowledge comments as quickly as possible, too. In everything you do, try to create authentic connections and build relationships. Personal experiences are precious to today's consumers, and social media interactions can help make those a reality.
In addition, follow your followers back, and try to reach out and collaborate with other businesses and individuals who have similar messaging. For example, if you run a bakery, try to interact with the craft cocktail bar on your block. Reposting a beautiful photo of your product from an individual follower is helpful, too; this way, it encourages more picture sharing from consumers of your business.
There is little sense in doing something unless you learn from it, though. When it comes to using Instagram for business, that process should involve collecting and analyzing data from your online activity and then refining your social media strategy accordingly. Explore the analytics that Instagram makes available to you and consider working with outside experts on this process. Growth is key to survival in today's market, and Instagram can help you get there.
Contact Wordsmyth Creative Content Marketing today if you need help with social media. We are full of ideas and can take growing your business on social off your plate, allowing you to focus your attention elsewhere.
Want more advice on marketing (or just some fun reads)? Check out these FREE resources:
Want a FREE SEO Audit of Your Site?
Get yours here. It’s chock-full of actionable intelligence that will help you boost your bottom line through powerful digital marketing techniques. Need help? We’re happy to assist!