Instagram marketing is critical for most micro-brands to launch its brand
Instagram marketing is essential if you are a micro-brand. Are you flushed with cash and no matter what you do it turns to gold? Hey, call me.
Instagram was launched in October 2010, exclusively on iOS, as a photo and network sharing social networking site by creators Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The Android version was released in April 2012. I’ll cover Instagram marketing so you can employ these techniques and grow.
It’s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.
As of January 2019, Instagram has more than 800 million monthly active users. There are over 25 million business profiles on Instagram. It has grown from a mere social networking application to a global platform for social media marketing.
It allows brands to showcase their products as well as influence their buyers. Instagram has over 500 million daily active users. As compared to other social media networking sites that have less than 0.1% regular engagement, Instagram boasts a whopping 4%. Thus, Instagram proves to be a great platform for the implementation of marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and value.
What is Instagram marketing?
Instagram marketing is the way that brands use Instagram to connect with their target audiences and market their offerings. Instagram has achieved popularity as a new method for brands to show off their cultures, recruit new employees, engage with customers, and show off products in a new light.
It’s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.
To improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following regularly. The more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post.
Learn and implement these Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand. You can do this for free. Okay, yes it will take your time. There is no free lunch.
Instagram Marketing for Micro-brands
Micro-brands are small-scale establishments that are usually recognized only in a particular area or by consumers of a specific market. These are mainly associated with products like jewelry, undergarments, electronics, clothing, and cosmetics, etc.
Successful Instagram Marketing
More than 95 million photos are posted every day on Instagram. As there are 25 million business profiles on Instagram, it is necessary to stand out in the horde.
Marketing Goals
Brands and businesses have to set goals. Among the many goals they could set, the following can be achieved through Instagram marketing:
Getting Started with Instagram
First of all, use your business e-mail or phone number to create the account. Then, switch your account to a business account through the Instagram account settings. But, you must have a Facebook page before creating an Instagram business profile.
Follow these Instagram tips in this post.
Optimization of your profile and Instagram marketing
Your Instagram profile is like the gateway to your brand. The characteristics of your profile will determine the viewer’s attention and preferences.
Check out these tools for brand identity>>>
Improvisation of content for and Instagram marketing
Beauty attracts people. Thus, make sure that your content is aesthetically pleasing. Your Instagram page should look clean and attractive.
Use Instagram Filters and Editing Apps
There are plenty of filters and effects that can be applied to photos to make them more attractive. Also, consider using photo editing apps that offer a multitude of effects to complement the photos’ overall aesthetics.
Use catchy Instagram captions
Write simple and easy to understand captions. You can create slogans or taglines. The first few lines of your captions should be appealing so that the viewer is compelled to click ‘more.’
Use Hashtags and Instagram marketing
Use highly followed, most viewed and trending hashtags to gather a number of viewers. You can also create your brand’s own hashtag. All you have to do is put the ‘#’ before your brand’s name.
Instagram Ads
You have to use Facebook’s ad platform to create ads on Instagram. The process is a bit long but extremely simple once you get used to it. You should plan out your budget and determine the amount of money that you can spend on ads. Instagram ads can increase website clicks, sales and improve brand awareness.
IGTV
Instagram TV or IGTV allows you to post lengthy videos. You can add videos of interviews; showcase your products, etc.
Instagram Stories
Instagram stories can allow you to present your work or share your day-to-day moments at your business. This will highlight your authenticity. You can also mention other accounts or use hashtags in the stories. Instagram’s user base and its search capabilities provide great opportunities for businesses to be discovered.
Instagram Live
You can use the Instagram Live feature to do live unboxing of your products. You can arouse your viewers’ curiosity and keep them engaged this way.
Consistent Posting
Regular or periodic posting on Instagram will keep your content viewer rates high. Also, you should post at the times when the number of active users is high. According to research, Mondays and Thursdays have the highest user engagement. People are most active during the off-work hours on weekdays. But, you should also consider the time zones.
Instagram Marketing Strategies for 2019
Analyze your Instagram audience
Get information regarding Instagram demographics and target your audience. More than half of all the Instagram users are young adults in the age range of 18-29 years old. There are more female active users than active male users. Products usually have a target customer. Thus, you have to ensure that your content is reaching out to your targeted future or present customers.
Also, you have to analyze the demographics of your followers and the people who engage with your posts. It’ll be more beneficial for your brand if your posts and contents favor the preferences of your audience.
Track your competitors
Track the activities of your competitors. By doing so, you’ll be able to understand as well as take inspiration from their marketing schemes. But, while doing so make sure that you don’t indulge in plagiarism. Your content should always be unique.
Interact more with your followers
Reply and react to comments on your posts. Do not try not to ignore your followers’ messages. This might seem like a major headache, but it’s a sure method to maintain a friendly relationship with your followers and keep them content.
Hire or collaborate with Instagram influencers
In recent years, the concept of ‘Instagram modeling’ has gained a lot of popularity. There are many Instagram users who have a large number of followers. When offered a handsome deal, they can endorse your brand products on their Instagram profile. You can also collaborate with Instagram bloggers and writers who can give a shout-out to your brand through their posts. This will increase brand recognition as well as brand popularity.
Announce contests, discounts, and takeaways to attract customers
Sales and discounts attract customers better than any other marketing strategy. You can also hold contests or random giveaways. Many Instagram businesses run contests that require someone to follow your account or post pictures with a particular hashtag to enter.
Be woke about social matters
You should be aware of social concerns and matters. Posting about trending social matters is a good way to broaden your scope of view. You can develop slogans or taglines regarding such social matters favoring your brand’s reputation.
Seek customer’s feedback and Instagram marketing
Encourage your customers to drop their feedback through comments or messages. Positive as well as negative feedbacks will help you in improving your product’s quality and secure a better position in the market. This will also build up the customers’ trust in your brand.
Credit your employees – use their faces
According to a study from Georgia Tech, pictures with faces get 38% more likes and 32% more comments than the ones that are materialistic. Introduce your employees through the captions. This will help in creating a positive ambiance and bring put your sense of humility, thus enhancing your brand reputation.
Use other social media networks to promote your Instagram profile
You can also use other social media networking sites to reach a larger audience. You can promote people to check out your Instagram profile through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. You can also share your Instagram posts to your Facebook page.
Have a good sense of humor with your micro-brands
The last few years have basically been the year of ‘memes’ and intellectual jokes. At the end of the day, you have to keep your customers and viewers happy and satisfied. So, why not keep them laughing, instead!
Conclusion for Instagram Marketing
There are over 1 billion Instagram accounts. There are over 800 million monthly active users. It has the highest user engagement rate among other social media networking sites. Thus, Instagram is a powerful tool for you to expand your business.
Successful Instagram marketing can increase your brand value exponentially. The key to success in Instagram is to keep the viewers engaged. Instagram users want high-quality content. Thus, you should maximize the use of captivating visuals in your posts.
The caption content should be interesting and unique. Also, never post false stuff. This can hamper your brand reputation and lead to distrust in your brand.
Around 50% of Instagram users follow at least one business and out of this 60% say that they discovered the business through this platform. There are many businesses that have risen to prominence through Instagram marketing, for example, stand-up comedians, writers like RM Drake, etc.
Thus, effective Instagram marketing can increase the brand value of small scale micro-brands. Unlike other forms of marketing, Instagram marketing is cheaper and quickly produces results.
Have something to say about Instagram marketing and micro-brands? Share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Aditya works as a Growth Assistant at AirTract.Com, a social platform wherein people ask questions, read and write articles, share knowledge and experience. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science Engineering and has been working in the field of Digital Marketing for the past two years. He is also a voracious reader and a big sports fan.
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General FAQ’s
Instagram marketing is the way that brands use Instagram to connect with their target audiences and market their offerings. Instagram has achieved popularity as a new method for brands to show off their cultures, recruit new employees, engage with customers, and show off products in a new light.
A microbrand is a small-scale brand recognized only in a specified geographic location, or by consumers in a specific micro-market or niche market. The majority of microbrands are owned by a microbusiness, though this trend is changing due to the expansion of the Internet and the advancement of micromarketing tools.
How do I start Instagram marketing?
7 Powerful Instagram Marketing Tips (That Actually Work)
1. Switch to a business profile ASAP.
2. Use free Instagram tools.
3. Post product teasers that will (gently) urge people to buy.
4. Create sponsored ads.
5. Use Instagram Stories.
6. Partner with influencers for a wider reach.
7. Collect user-submitted photos.
Why is Instagram important for marketing?
Importance of Instagram Marketing Strategy nowadays. Social media marketing helps you to increase your brand awareness. And companies need to reach consumers, and when done correctly, they tell those consumers that their brand is active and focused on communication.
How much does Instagram marketing cost?
You can expect that you will have to pay somewhere between 20 cents and $2 per click (CPC) on an Instagram campaign. If you prefer to run your ads on a cost per million (CPM) basis, focusing on impressions, then you are likely to pay around $5 per 1,000 visitors on average.
