Instagram is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. It has been around for over ten years and has evolved from a photo-sharing app to an infotainment device. The platform currently has approximately 1.1 billion users, which is expected to increase to 1.2 billion by 2023.
Let’s look at some effective ways to use Instagram to grow your business. We will try to go over how to set up an Instagram account, as well as tips for creating engaging content in this comprehensive text.
Establishing a business account on Instagram
You can create an Instagram account solely for business purposes by using either of the two methods listed below:
- Or open a new account that will be converted to a business account later.
- Convert your personal account to a company account.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up an Instagram business account — Make a business Instagram account. Above all, enter your company’s email address. It will allow you to grant access to multiple users in your organization easily.
Make use of high-quality photographs
Because the average human attention span is only eight seconds, they are critical for any business to attract followers and customers! Every day, approximately 95 million photographs and videos are uploaded to Instagram!
Because of the vast amount of content available, it is critical to truly understand how to create incredible shots to stand out truly. The good news is that you don’t have to invest in a professional photography setup to get started. You can use your smartphone to take eye-catching photos to help your company stand out on Instagram.
Make good use of hashtags
When you use a hashtag, your post or story will appear on the hashtag’s page. It helps you reach out to specific target audiences and those who follow them. According to Simply Measured, posts with at least one hashtag receive 12.6 percent more engagement than those without.
You can use a maximum of 30 hashtags in a post and 10 in a single story. Instagram will not allow you to post content if you include more. Experts recommend 11 hashtags per post, but this number can range from 8 to 14.
Include video content
Instagram has four different video formats: Reels, Stories, Live, and Instagram Video. Because most videos are viewed on smartphones, shoot them in a vertical orientation.
You should post frequently and use scheduling tools like Sprout Social to ensure that your video is published on time. Post when the majority of your followers are online as well. Sprout Social could assist you in determining the best timing to maximize engagement. To promote your videos, use geotags, trending hashtags, tagging relevant accounts, or stickers.
Planing regular giveaways or contests
Contests are probably one of the most straightforward ways to increase Instagram engagement. Follow these steps to ensure the success of your Instagram content:
Entrants should follow you and then tag a friend. Your contest is well-suited to appeal to the interests and behaviors of your target audience. Make it easy for your followers to participate in the contest. For instance, posting photos with your hashtag or tagging your brand. Use a hashtag that is short, unique, and, most importantly, a call to action.
Make catchy captions
Captions will help you add context to your photos and videos, show off your brand’s personality, engage your audience, and persuade them to react. To create the most creative caption:
- Make sure that captions are brief and that the tone is human, relatable, and authentic.
- Keep critical information near the beginning of the caption text. Instagram only displays the first couple of lines of the caption in the feed.
Enable social media content sharing
Instagram posts can be shared automatically on Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter. It’s an excellent way to demonstrate to your followers that you’re active on multiple social media platforms. However, you are not required to do this with every post. Posting original content to each platform is a good idea.
Make certain that the appropriate people and brands are tagged. Tagging allows your Instagram posts to appear in their profile’s ‘tagged in’ section.
Collaboration with other individuals/companies
Tagging allows your Instagram posts to appear in their profile’s ‘tagged’ section. When tagging people and brands, make sure to do the following:
- Mentioning customers, associates, or followers in particular
- The contest’s winner will be announced
- Thank you letter
- Answering customer questions
- Sharing someone else’s content on your feed
Make regular engagement with others
To increase engagement rates, take the following steps:
If you notice that someone is following you, you should return the favor. At all costs, follow spam accounts. Like and comment on posts that contain hashtags that interest you and like other people’s comments on posts that contain hashtags that interest you.
It is recommended that you send direct messages to people of interest to you or who provide a great deal of value. In your photo, tag people you know in person or who you’ve connected with on Instagram. And, in your posts, don’t be afraid to ask questions or solicit feedback.
Choose the best time to publish your content.
To get the most Instagram likes, make sure your posts are seen as many people as possible. To achieve this, you must publish content at a time when your target audience is online. Influencer Marketing Hub has conducted a global analysis of the most appropriate time slots.
We recommend looking at a broader range of time slots rather than the best time to post on Instagram. Here are our recommendations:
- Monday: 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
- Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. — 11 a.m.
- Sunday is not advised (but if you have to, then do it at 11 AM)
Thank you for your attention! Keep reading and learning.
