STEPS TO IMPLEMENTING AN EFFECTIVE INSTAGRAM MARKETING STRATEGY
Most business owners opt to do online marketing on Facebook. Although Facebook is an excellent platform on which to start social media marketing, it might not be the most effective for every business. Instagram is another social network that may be worth your time. As a matter of fact, it is the second largest social media platform with more than 1 billion users. Thinking about launching an Instagram marketing strategy? If so, here are the steps that you will need to follow:
Map out a plan
Before you start doing anything, it is best to have a plan. You need to start by defining clear objectives for the company. These objectives will dictate how you should draft your marketing plan on Instagram. Think of who is your audience and how you can satisfy them. One reason why many businesses engage in online marketing is to gain more potential customers. You have to think about your image choice and publications. Remember – having a plan is the beginning of a successful marketing campaign.
Create a schedule
Now that you have a plan, the next thing to do is to stick to it. What better way to do that than to create a schedule for all of the tasks that need to be accomplished? This step will keep you from overwhelming your followers with posts and keeping your account updated. Some people publish a huge amount of content in one go, only to leave the account abandoned for months. This is not an effective strategy when it comes to online marketing. You should create a schedule of the photos or videos that need to be published daily, monthly, or even yearly.
Use hashtags
If your account is not well-known, you need to help people discover it. To do that, make use of hashtags. Many Instagram users explore different hashtags that are relevant to their interests. That being said, you should include hashtags in your posts’ description boxes. It may be a struggle finding the right hashtag at first. With a little trial-and-error, however, you will eventually figure out what your target audience is looking for.
Post pictures and videos
You probably know how to post images and videos on Instagram. The tricky part is knowing how to determine which picture should be used. You have to consider the colour, the style, the filter, the description, and even the hashtag you use before you post. The things that you post on your account will dictate your number of followers. If people see that your content is poor and irrelevant to what they are looking for, they will not follow your brand account. Keep in mind that there should be at least six posts on your account before you focus on gaining followers. No one will follow an account that has no posts.
Follow related users
While you are trying to grow your brand, make an effort to follow back your loyal fans. This is a way of showing your appreciation. These people will feel like they are special and spread kind words about your brand. Moreover, you should consider following the influencers who are in the same industry as you are. You never know when you might want to work with them in order to help your product reach their followers.
Make use of paid Instagram marketing options
Organic search results are possible, but you will gain more leads with a paid marketing strategy. This is an excellent investment because your account will be promoted on many people’s feeds. Once your audience has expanded, you can stop paying and focus on organic growth.