Instagram is one of the biggest social media platforms with 800 million monthly active users. It can work miracles for your business, but to make money on Instagram you have to optimize your account first.
These five simple steps will help you get more Instagram followers to grow your business.
- Choose an Informative Username
When people search on Instagram, they often search by a topic they are interested in.
Unless your brand is already famous, if you write just your brand or store name in the “name” field, the target audience is less likely to find you.
The name should include 2-3 keywords that describe what you sell on Instagram. Use the language your audience speaks.
- Customize your Instagram Bio
Your Instagram bio is just as important as your username. Use the 150 characters in your profile header to your advantage. Explain who you are, what you offer, and why people should follow you.
Don’t forget to:
- Add a link of your e-shop/website. When users see your bio they can immediately click through to your products.
- Use emojis to get the most out of the small space.
- Include your contact info so your customers can reach you anytime in whatever way works best for them.
- Use GeoTags/Location for Increased Visibility
Sometimes users search photos by place, so use geotags/location on your posts whenever possible.
For example, you have a physical store in a shopping mall. Add its geotag to your product photos. Occasional users may find your profile by the geotag and follow your Instagram account.
- Add #Hashtags to Every Post
Hashtags are simple, but still very useful if you want to make money on Instagram. They work in two ways: To get more followers who search by hashtags and to keep yourself informed of what competitors are doing.
You can add up to 30 hashtags to an Instagram post. Ten is the recommended number for one post, and tags should always be relevant. Note that Instagram bans those who frequently use inappropriate hashtags.
Instagram hashtags are a great resource, but use them sparingly. Too many hashtags could turn off a customer who was originally interested in your business.
Try to use hashtags with popular words/phrases such as “insta” or “oftheday”: #instamood or #photooftheday. Think about which hashtags might attract your audience and follow them.
Follow the hashtags that can inspire you. If you sell swimsuits, #summer may give you some ideas that you can post in your profile.
- Create Guest Posts for Other Accounts
Exchanging posts with other Instagram accounts targeting the same audience as you is a popular Instagram method of promotion. That’s why you should make a deal with a relevant account/influencer about a mutually beneficial promotion.
Say you came to an agreement with an influencer. You post a photo of them using your products, and they make a post mentioning your store. It’s a win-win as you both get more exposure and followers on Instagram.
Extra Tip: Start an Instagram Challenge
A challenge is an interesting way to stir up, intrigue and attract a new audience and you don’t have to spend money on it. Come up with an original idea that’s close to your account theme and announce a challenge.
Then set the dates, create a hashtag for your challenge, describe the terms (for ex. promise a prize to a participant with the most likes) and ask people to join it before the challenge starts. Require participants to tag your profile in their challenge post.
Instagram plays a huge role on the marketing success of one’s business. Enhance these tips to make sure that you increase your brand awareness & target your audience successfully!