This blog was last updated in May 2020.Although Instagram might seem to have a younger crowd, the fact is that the platform is incredibly popular among consumers of all ages, cultures, and genders. As a result, many marketers and businesses are beginning to see the value of integrating visual content into their social media marketing strategy. We're going to offer you 10 Instagram marketing tips to help you leverage the platform as much as you can.One of the reasons why Instagram is so popular is because it's a simplified version of Facebook, with an emphasis on sharing visual content, such as photography and images. Users can also communicate with, follow, and interact with one another by commenting, tagging, and private messaging.Regardless of whether your business sells a product or offers a service, you can use Instagram to build brand awareness, expand your audience, engage with your followers, and even generate leads.Follow these 10 simple Instagram marketing tips to become an IG expert.
10 Instagram Marketing Tips to Boost Your Success
Stick With Squares
Your Instagram marketing efforts will only be as effective as the quality of your photos. One of the best ways to save time and compose better content for the 'gram is to shoot square photos, which is easy to do from any smartphone. This saves time from having to crop photos later.
Change Your Link in Bio as Needed
Yes, the link in your bio that Instagram gives you is a great place to put your site's homepage URL. However, if you're promoting a new product or service or perhaps trying to get email signups using a new lead magnet, consider testing updating the link to that specific page. And be sure to direct people's attention to it in your daily posts.
Use Both Popular and Niche Hashtags
Still confused by hashtags? Check out Instagram’s Explore feature to find posts related to trending hashtags before publishing your post. Don't forget that you can also search trending hashtags by emoji! #mindblownIn addition to trending hashtags, also be sure to experiment with more niche tags. The audience size might be smaller but it'll be more targeted. This means that you have a greater chance of being seen by the people who matter most.
Ask Followers for Their Email Addresses
Getting a follow or two on Instagram is great and all, but getting that user into your marketing funnel is a whole different ballgame. Consider trying to capture users’ email addresses. The best way to do it? Ask for it! One of the best Instagram marketing tips we can give you is to actively use IG to collect address. As we mentioned already, you can use the link in bio for a lead magnet that gets people to subscribe. Or, you can simply state in a post that if people DM you their email address, you'll send them a discount, free resource, etc.
Post Video Content Regularly
One of the best and most effective ways to make the most from Instagram is to create a blend of content with both images and videos. In fact, videos are more shareable and engaging. Statistics say 64% of customers are likelier to buy a product after seeing a video on it (and this is just scratching the surface of the impact of videos).Don't stress about not having any fancy equipment, if that's the case. Opt for your smartphone camera and natural light.
![man taking picture of food with phone](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66997e96fa2595f5ecfc86a3/669a96f6d77b35261dcc6b00_6656574773b98f1aa824e2f6_man-taking-picture-of-food-1.jpeg)
Go Live and Post Stories
Instagram Live and Stories are so powerful because they put you at the top of your followers' news feeds, where they're far likelier to see you. Plus, there's something very authentic and organic about Live and Stories in particular. They offer something that static feed posts simply can't.
Inspire, Educate, Entertain
What's the purpose of your Instagram content? In general, content does one of three things (or a combination): It inspires, educates, or entertains. Make sure that your posts do at least one of these things. This is how you can ensure that you're providing real value to your followers.
Collaborate With Related Brands
No brand's social media channels should be an island. Partner up with brands related to yours for a creative collaboration that also introduces you to each other's audiences. Additionally, you can partner up with key Instagram influencers who will showcase your products or your brand in a fun way!
Use a Calendar to Stay Organized
Now that you are armed with some great tips, how do you know what to post and when? How do you keep them all organized without going crazy? Try using our editorial calendar. You can also use the campaign planner and calendar tools in e-clincher for easy planning. And a content calendar wouldn't hurt, either.
Save Time and Use an App
There are plenty of mobile apps out there that can help you manage and organize your social content. However, few of them enable scheduling. You can instantly save time from toggling between multiple apps and accounts by using one universal app to manage and schedule all of your Instagram content. Download the e-clincher app for free today. Which one of these Instagram marketing tips will you apply first? Let us know in the comments section below.