Last Updated: June 9th, 2023
Instagram is a boom for small businesses when it comes to marketing and promotion. As more and more small businesses are going digital, Instagram has become a hub for promotion and marketing campaigns. Promoting a business on Instagram is much cheaper than other methods of marketing. More than 75% of business-to-client marketers are using Instagram in 2021, and the same goes for B2B marketers in 2021. Entrepreneurs that are planning to open their small businesses should have a definite Instagram marketing strategy. Read on to know ten Instagram marketing tips for small businesses.
1. Increase your Instagram follower count.
Without a substantial follower count on Instagram, you cannot sell anything. Your marketing campaigns will go in vain if you do not have enough followers. Small business owners can start by inviting friends and family members to follow their business profiles on Instagram. Once you have an ample follower count on Instagram, your posts can reach a wider audience. Followers will interact among themselves on your marketing posts on Instagram. Once you have a few followers, they will bring other Instagram users to follow your business profile.
2. Start using an editor for Instagram video marketing.
Video marketing on Instagram reaps many benefits for small businesses. However, you need to make entertaining video content to attract Instagram users to your small business profile. Creating engaging Instagram content can take more time than usual. It is why small businesses should use an Instagram video editor to make engaging content. A small business doesn’t have ample funds to hire video editing experts. It is better to use an Instagram video editor that has an intuitive interface. One can choose a popular Instagram video editor that offers a free version to slash costs.
3. Create a good first impression of your small business profile.
Whenever an Instagram user visits your small business profile on Instagram, they will instantly decide to follow or skip the business profile. Your Instagram profile picture, bio, and account handle will be the first few things witnessed by any Instagram user. Make sure to add a catchy bio and profile picture for your small business profile on Instagram. Make sure that you share appealing Instagram posts, as the first few posts will also be visible whenever someone visits your profile.
4. Post consistently on Instagram for better marketing.
Instagram users may follow you in the beginning but are also quick to unfollow inactive profiles. The interval between two posts should not be more than a few days. If possible, you can post daily from your small business profile on Instagram. You can use an Instagram video editor to make posts in advance and then post them at frequent durations.
5. Use stories, reels, and IGTV videos on Instagram.
Besides sharing normal posts on Instagram, you can try other types of content for better marketing. Stories on Instagram are an excellent option for engaging with followers daily. Instagram stories vanish after a day so, one can share multiple stories within 24 hours. You can also share Instagram reels and IGTV videos via your small business profile on Instagram to attract users.
6. Build better relationships with your Instagram followers.
Your Instagram followers will only become genuine customers of your small business. You need to build better relationships with your followers on Instagram by sharing customer-focused posts. It can happen when your Instagram posts are not fully sales-inclined. It is not necessary to use a sales tone in all your Instagram videos. Some posts can be customer testimonials or reviews to build a brand reputation.
More than 45% of Instagram users tend to unfollow a business profile if it is regularly sharing promotional posts. You can share customer stories via your small business profile on Instagram to build better relationships with your followers.
7. Use Instagram live for your small business.
Instagram Live is one of the widely used marketing techniques by small businesses. You can go live and interact with your Instagram followers. Many small businesses share ‘behind the scene’ footage via Instagram live to catch the attention of Instagram users. You can also address customer queries by going live on Instagram.
8. Collaborate with Instagram influencers.
There are many influencers on Instagram with a huge following that are ready to collaborate. You can partner with them to promote your small business. With the right tone and personality, you can attract many Instagram users to your small business profile. More than 90% of Instagram marketers were satisfied by the results after collaborating with an influencer.
More than 90% of Instagram users tend to believe that Instagram influencers are highly knowledgeable. Due to this reason, Instagram users follow the recommendations made by influencers. There is no compulsion that you need to collaborate with a world-famous celebrity. As a small business, you can collaborate with micro-influencers and gain some followers.
9. Use hashtags for better marketing on Instagram.
Instagram itself offers several marketing features for small businesses. One of them is using hashtags on Instagram. Make sure you add 7-8 hashtags whenever you post something on Instagram. Many Instagram users tend to search Instagram posts via relevant hashtags. Don’t overdo hashtags on Instagram as you may seem too desperate. Recently, Instagram allowed users to follow relevant hashtags and view posts that use them. Small businesses can also use hashtags to gain more followers on Instagram.
10. Use ads to promote your small business profile.
Besides organic traffic, you can also attract other Instagram users by running targeted ads on Instagram. You can easily set up your ads on Instagram just like you do for Facebook. You can also set your Instagram ads according to the age, gender, and geographical location of the audience. It will help your small business in reaching a wider audience.
In a nutshell
The buying decisions of customers will be highly influenced by social media platforms. You can also harness the power of Instagram for your small business and maximize your ROI (Return on Investment). Start using Instagram for your small business!