Rock your business on Instagram
There are currently more than 1 billion monthly active users* on Instagram. What does that tell us as business owners who market online? That Instagram is a place that we should definitely be sharing about our products and services!
So how do you get started? That’s where we come in! Here are our simple tips to help you get set up and know what to post, when to post and how to post on Instagram:
1. Make sure your account is set to PUBLIC
To get started using Instagram for business, the first thing you need to do is make sure your account is public. Instagram is a hashtag platform and people will not be able to find you or view your posts, even if you use hashtags, if your account is private.
2. Make your Instagram a Business Account
Instagram offers personal, Creator and Business accounts. Set up your account as a business account in order to access extra features including Instagram Auto Posting with CinchShare!
Choose a clear Profile Picture of yourself smiling and representing your brand. You can strategically place an item you sell in the picture or wear your favorite item, but the focus should be on you. Customers buy from people, so they want to see who you are.
Write an attention grabbing Instagram bio by clicking here to see how! We suggest that you include a link in your bio to your Facebook business page. When followers see something they like, they’ll go to your bio to learn more. If you can get them to your Facebook business page, they’ll have access to a lot of content in one place and they can LIKE your page to stay connected with you. From there, you can get them to your ordering website and other social media platforms.
3. Discover Your Friends on Instagram
Looking for more Instagram followers quickly?
Did you realize there’s an easy way to find your Facebook friends and followers that are also on Instagram? Simply click the Discover People button in your Instagram account and you will see where you can follow your Facebook friends. Follow them on Instagram and they’ll likely follow you back since they’re already a fan!
4. Schedule Auto Posting Feed and Stories Posts
Schedule your content to both your Instagram feed and Stories with CinchShare!
5. When & How Often to Post to Instagram
How often should you post on Instagram? For beginners, we recommend striving for being consistent first, posting at least three times a week. We also recommend you post at a time when you may have a few extra minutes to engage natively on Instagram with other accounts after you post to give your account more visibility.
6. Use those #Hashtags!
Instagram is a hashtag platform. Using hashtags in your posts on Instagram is how to make your content discoverable and increase your chances of engagement. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags and we recommend using all that you can! Create a hashtag for your brand that your customers can get excited to be a part of. Hashtag the brand you represent so people interested in that brand see the content you post. Hashtag emotions associated with the quote or story you’re sharing.
7. Keep Your Look Cohesive & On-Brand
Instagram is a very visual platform, so knowing what your feed will look like as a whole is an important piece of the puzzle. Whether you’re taking your own photographs, creating your own graphics, using stock photography – you want to make your feed look cohesive and on-brand. See great examples on our Pinterest IG tips board here.
8. Make those Posts Engaging
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned Instagram user, remember that it’s important to keep your posts consistent, fun, humorous, motivational and educational and people will look forward to your posts and interacting with you!
Tell a story with your profile. Customers want to see you in real-life situations. Share what your day looks like and how the products you sell improve your daily life. If you’re relatable, your customers will think of you when they’re in similar situations and see the need that your product provides the solution for.
Share fun and engaging content with your followers. Ask them questions on an image and have them comment below with their answers. Or, share inspiring quotes that you come across. Remember, people don’t go to Instagram with the intention of purchasing something, they come for inspiration and to feel connected. Add value to their day!
Only promote your brand 20% of the time. Of course you want to talk about a big sale you have coming up or a party you’re excited to host, but only do so 20% of the time. If you’re posting personal and engaging content the other 80%, people will want to know more about your brand and follow the link in your bio when you ask them to.
Now that you have all these awesome tips, how do you keep your posts consistent and maintain a beautiful grid? That’s where we come in! CinchShare has pretty nifty Instagram features that will not only make managing your Instagram account(s) easier for you but also shave off hours of time from posting!
CinchShare Scheduling for Instagram is Easy!
Unlimited Scheduling
Create Hashtag Bundles
Grid View
Drag and Drop
We hope you have a blast on Instagram using all the great tips and features we shared today. Be sure to let us see how you’re doing by using #CinchedThis when you schedule a post with us and we also check out #cinchlove and #cinchchallenge. We can’t wait to view your posts, engage with your brand and cheer you on!
