As a business person, if you are not an Instagrammer, you are likely to be missing out on a wealth of opportunities to get it in front of and sell to eyes. With over 2 billion active users, Instagram is one of the most powerful social media platforms today, providing brands with the ability to directly connect with their ideal audience.
Whether you’re aiming to grow your sales, build brand awareness, or foster customer loyalty, Instagram has become an essential tool for business growth.
What is an Instagram business account?
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An Instagram business account offers the same basic functionalities as a personal account but with additional features tailored for businesses. These capabilities allow you to post on a schedule, run Instagram ads, and review performance analytics to adjust your marketing campaigns. It also allows for third-party tool integrations, including social media management platforms, to optimize your Instagram marketing work.
How to create an Instagram business account
If you’re ready to dive into the world of Instagram business, here’s how to create a business account:
- Download the Instagram app Whether you’re on Android or iOS, start by downloading the Instagram app from your respective app store. If you prefer using a desktop, you can download the app from Instagram’s website.
- Create an account Fill in your business details, including your email address (preferably a business email), company name, username (usually your company name), and a secure password.
- Switch from personal to business Once your account is set up, go to your profile settings. Click on the three lines in the top right corner, select Settings, then Account. Choose Switch to Professional Account and select Business as your account type. You’ll be able to toggle between a creator and a business account at any time, depending on your needs.
- Complete Your Profile Ensure your profile is complete with a relevant profile photo (such as your logo or a team picture), a concise bio, and contact information. You can also include links to your website or booking page.
- Post content Introduce your business with a friendly welcome post. This first post should clearly explain what your company does and how followers can benefit from engaging with your account.
- Link to Facebook If you have a Facebook business page, link it to your Instagram business account. This is crucial for running ads and using other business-specific features. Simply go back into Settings, click Business, and select Connect a Facebook Page.
- Start following relevant accounts Begin by following relevant industry pages, influencers, and local businesses. You can also invite your Facebook followers to connect with you on Instagram.
- Create a strategy To make the most of your Instagram presence, develop a content strategy. Incorporate a variety of post types—images, videos, Reels, and stories—to keep your audience engaged. Use data from Instagram Insights to fine-tune your Instagram marketing strategy.
Key Instagram features for effective marketing
To maximize your brand’s success on Instagram, it’s essential to leverage various features that encourage user interaction and engagement.
High-quality visual content: Instagram is a very visual medium, so images need to be visually appealing. Get high-quality photos and videos that reflect your brand’s personality and resonate with your audience.
Engage with your audience: Actively engage with your followers by responding to comments and direct messages. Interaction with your audience helps to build rapport and is more likely to increase customers’ repeat purchases.
Instagram stories: Instagram Stories provide a good medium for making short, in-the-loop shares or flash sales available to your following. Take advantage of interactive elements such as polls, Q&A, and stickers for deeper audience engagement. With Stories Highlights, you can bookmark the stories that you like, so that they remain on your profile.
Video content: Video is one of the most engaging types of content on Instagram. Employ Instagram Live, Reels, and Stories to create compelling videos that showcase your wares in use, stage Q& As, or offer tips.
Repurpose organic posts into Ads: You can turn your top-performing organic posts into ads, helping you get more visibility from content that already resonates with your audience.
Use Hashtags wisely: Hashtags are crucial for increasing the visibility of your posts. Use relevant and trending hashtags to help new users discover your content. You can also create a unique branded hashtag that represents your business, which encourages followers to engage with your posts. By using an Instagram hashtags generator, you can discover the best hashtags for your industry, increasing your post reach.
Push notifications: Turn on push notifications for key accounts, so you never miss important updates. You can also encourage your followers to turn on notifications for your posts to ensure they don’t miss any of your updates.
Final thoughts
Instagram has gone far beyond simple photo-sharing, to become a powerful instrument for B2C marketing to interact with their audience, generate sales, and foster brand loyalty. By creating a business account and utilizing Instagram’s powerful features, you can put your brand in front of millions of potential customers. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to optimize your current Instagram strategy, the key to success is consistency, creativity, and engagement. No exposure and no expense are worth leaving on the table, so start leveraging Instagram to grow your business now!
Image Source: BigStockPhoto.com (Licensed)
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