If you’ve read any of the statistics about the success of Instagram marketing, you’re likely looking for ways to get started. Instagram is an incredible marketing tool that can help you establish a brand identity, grow your customer base, and increase sales.
Before you jump in, it’s essential to create an effective Instagram marketing strategy, so you can experience the results everyone’s talking about.
Why Instagram Such an Important Platform for Your Business
With about two billion users, Instagram is a key social media platform for growing your brand and attracting new customers. If that’s not enough to get you to focus on the visual social media outlet, consider these statistics:
- According to their own data, 60% of people learn about products or services on Instagram. Users are open to being marketed to and have come to expect it. By marketing on Instagram, you’re putting your business in front of people who are curious about new products.
- Again according to Instagram, 90% of Instagrammers follow a business. Many users don’t mind seeing posts from businesses they’re interested in. They may even like it and follow brands they adore.
- 44% of people use Instagram to shop, according to the platform’s research. Features like shoppable posts and the ability to save payment information within the app is driving more people to shop on Instagram. You can take advantage of this by highlighting product features and offering discounts to new subscribers.
- Instagram’s advertising reach grew by almost 21% last year, compared to Facebook’s less than 7%. This amount varies by demographic, so it’s essential to understand your target audience before you map out your content strategy.
- The Instagram app is the second most downloaded app in the world, making Instagram marketing a good investment of your time and resources wherever you may be.
- Instagram beats Tiktok, Twitter, and Snapchat for number of users. If your goal is to reach the most people possible, Instagram is the way to go.
Benefits of an Instagram-Centered Marketing Strategy
A successful Instagram marketing strategy takes high investments of time and resources. So why should you center your marketing around Instagram and not another platform?
- Boosts Brand Awareness and Trust. Instagram gives you another place to interact with your target audience. If you take full advantage of it, you can establish your brand image and build trust in the eyes of your audience.
- Reaches the Right People. Instagram’s algorithm cross-references information about the content itself (captions, hashtags, and locations) with information about user engagement to show users more of what they’re interested in. If you utilize hashtags, location tags, reels, and stories correctly, Instagram’s algorithm will help get your business in front of the right people.
- Grows Product Sales. Instagram offers shoppable posts, product launch features, and the ability for users to save their payment information within the app. All of these features help to streamline the purchasing process and help you grow sales as a result.
- Fosters Customer Relationships. The ability to like, comment on, and share posts makes building customer relationships and a community around your product easy. These relationships help to build trust in your business and your products.
- Drives Higher Retention Rates. Instagram’s retention rate measures the percentage of viewers who watch your stories until the last segment. Retention rates are one of the most important metrics to consider when evaluating your reach. However, it takes lots of time and resources to foster good engagement with your content, so it’s important to be consistent and do frequent content audits to see what you can improve.
How to Create an Effective Instagram Marketing Strategy
Success in Instagram marketing means higher engagement rates, a bigger customer following, and increased sales. The following are best practices to help you see results.
Analyze Current and Past Data
Instagram Insights offers metrics that can help you evaluate the performance of your content. These include recent highlights, accounts reached, accounts engaged, and total followers. After reviewing this data, adjust your strategy as needed and release more content. It’s important to note that Instagram Insights is only available to business accounts, and you can only access it from the mobile app.
Identify Shortfalls
Take a look at underperforming content and compare it to your top-performing posts. Make adjustments as needed. Consider whether it’s to the structure of the content, the time of day released, or the type of hashtags used that you may need to alter.
If you’re starting from scratch, look at what your competitors are doing and think about what you’d like to do differently. How will your brand stand out?
Set Realistic Goals
While it can be tempting to set lofty goals for your business, it’s better to start with small, manageable goals and build out from there. These goals should include the number of posts a week, response time for inquiries, number of likes or shares, and more. When setting your goals, think: What do you want from Instagram, and how can you best accomplish it?
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Research Successful Competitors
As with any other marketing strategy, you must know what your competitors are doing. Look at what your competitors do well and determine how to do it better or position yourself differently. Highlight what makes your brand different from your competitors and effectively communicate that to your audience.
Plan Your Posts
You obviously don’t need to know everything you’re going to post just to get started. But it’s good to have an idea of some of the content types you plan to use. When determining your content, consider:
- Content Pillars. Content pillars help make up the foundation of your content strategy. The different types include behind-the-scenes content, user-generated content, product demos, culture-focused (showing the human side of your company), and customer stories. Your content pillars contribute to your brand image, so it’s important to consider what you want it to be when planning your content.
- Generate a Style Guide. A style guide helps ensure consistency in the look of your Instagram posts and gives users an idea of what to expect. It should include composition, color palette, fonts, filters, captions, and hashtags.
- Content Formats. Instagram offers reels, IG Live, stories, and visual-based posts as options for sharing content. Each of these has its own benefits, so consider your campaign’s goals and how you can mix the formats to accomplish them.
Utilize a Content Calendar
Consistent posting is vital to a successful Instagram marketing campaign. Content calendars can help you plan what type of content to share and when. Then you can create content for a month or more at a time and schedule it with a social scheduling tool like Buffer or Hootsuite.
Best Practices to Follow for Your Instagram Strategy
Remember some best practices to see the best results from your Instagram marketing strategy. These gold standard approaches include:
- Define Your Audience. The more you know about your audience, the better. Once you define your audience, be sure everything you post focuses on them.
- Solve Customer Problems or Address Needs. Users are more likely to interact with your content and follow you if they believe your profile solves their needs. Make sure to consider their needs and desires as you start producing content.
- Create a Clear Brand Image. This visual style contributes to brand awareness and associations. What do you want your customers to think of when they see your content? What are things you don’t want your brand associated with?
- Prioritize Engagement. Engaging with your audience and similar brands helps drive conversations about your products. It also helps to develop trust in your business.
- Post Actively. To get the most out of Instagram, you’ll probably want to post daily. Try out various times to determine when your audience is most responsive to your posts.
- Leverage the Professional Dashboard. This dashboard is Instagram’s central destination to track performance, utilize professional tools, and explore educational information. When used to its full potential, it can help you track your performance, grow your business, and stay informed.
- Optimize Your Profile. You can optimize your profile in various ways, including incorporating a keyword into your name or username, writing a clear and concise bio, and displaying a profile pic that best represents your brand.
Use Proven Keywords for Hashtags. Hashtags are searchable keywords that help users connect with content they’re interested in. Using them in captions on your reels, stories, and posts can help increase your visibility and grow your audience.
[TAG5]The post The Ultimate Guide to An Effective Instagram Marketing Strategy appeared first on DigitalMarketer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of an entrepreneurial mindset?
Entrepreneurship offers many benefits. You become more independent. You no longer rely on others.
This allows you to be your own boss and can allow you to follow your dreams. You can also build relationships with other entrepreneurs, as you share the same challenges and interests.
You gain confidence. As an entrepreneur, you're always learning new things. This allows you to be flexible and adapt quickly. This will allow you to think outside of the box and not get stuck in a rut.
Our freedom to create our businesses is free from the restrictions imposed by society. We have the freedom to decide what and how to live our lives.
You have the option to choose to go against the flow or follow the crowd. We have the choice to be successful or unsuccessful. We can choose to fail or win.
The freedom you have is exhilarating. However, it also comes with some responsibility. Because once you accept this role, everything in your business is at your responsibility.
So if you want to succeed, you must learn to manage risk. Do not be afraid to try out new things. Your goal will be achieved if you are open to learning from your mistakes.
Keep these points in mind as you begin your journey.
Remember:
- Entrepreneurship is a lifestyle choice.
- When you run your own business, you're the boss.
- Avoid following the latest trends.
- The measure of success is not money, but freedom.
- You must balance your personal and work life.
- Set clear expectations.
- Always be honest with your team.
- You must do something if you want to see something happen.
Which is your most motivating thing in life?
You're interested in my greatest motivation? Let me tell ya. Helping people feel better about their lives is what motivates me the most. They will be amazed at how amazing they truly are. They are worthy love, for they are.
They are worthy of happiness.
I'm here reminding people that being happy about yourself is the most important thing. Nothing. I'm willing to do whatever it takes for our world to be better.
Being happy with ourselves makes us more open-minded and compassionate towards our fellow humans. You can stop judging other people based upon superficiality, and instead see the person inside. That's really cool.
To motivate someone, it is important to let them know that they already have all they need.
Although they may not be aware of it, that is why they have been struggling with something so much. They knew deep within that they were able to heal.
They only needed the right environment and support system. This was something they somehow lost sight.
It's not hard to see why they lost it. Because they were too busy trying figure out what the problem was. They were too busy trying to fix the problem, when they realized that they had all of the tools needed to solve it.
But they forgot that the true reason they couldn't solve the problem was because they didn’t know what the answer was.
I'm here to remind that you have the power and ability to create a whole new world. It is easy to tap into your inner genius.
And once you do that, everything will fall into place. It's easy to make your dreams come true.
You see, I believe that every single human being has access to their own unique superpower.
We just have to learn how to use it.
What makes an entrepreneur succeed?
There are two types if entrepreneurs: those who make money or those who work part-time.
The difference is in how they approach business. Those who make money focus on making more money while those who make time focus on making more time.
Those who make money are driven by the desire for financial freedom. Their goal, and their only goal, is to get rich and stay wealthy.
They are driven by fear and greed. They do not care about the future because they know that once they achieve their goals, they will be well-equipped for life.
This type is often called a hustler. They focus on the bottom line and find ways to increase revenue without regard to quality.
Some people make their own time. These entrepreneurs are driven by passion. They are driven by passion to create something lasting and meaningful.
Their motivation is altruistic. They want to do great things. They care about making products and services that make a difference.
These people are often called dreamers. They are driven and inspired by vision. They understand that success takes hard work, perseverance, and dedication.
These entrepreneurs are also creative. They are always looking for new opportunities.
They thrive on the unknown. They are happy to spend hours researching a topic of interest. They are always open to learning new things because they love learning.
This is why they are so adaptable to change. They won't mind doing anything to win, even if it means getting dirty. The only thing they won't tolerate is mediocrity.
What type of entrepreneur would you be? Are you driven to make money, or are you motivated to find meaning?
Congratulations if both of the questions were answered "YES", You are an entrepreneur who is successful.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet many successful entrepreneurs. What struck me most was their passion for what they do.
The only thing that defines successful entrepreneurs is their financial wealth. They are defined by the impact they make.
For example, Steve Jobs was known for his philanthropic efforts but wasn't rich. He did not own a home until his 40s.
His wealth came from his ability to create products that changed the world. And that is what makes him special.
Your job doesn't involve accumulating wealth. It's not to amass power or build empires.
Your job is to establish relationships with customers, partners, and other people. To build trust. To inspire others to succeed.
To make a difference. That's your legacy. This is your legacy, not your bank accounts.
We'd love to talk with you if we can help you build a lasting legacy.
Social Media University shows you how to create passive income online. We'll show you how to market your company so that it grows automatically.
Why is motivation important for an entrepreneur?
Motivation is what keeps us moving forward even when we feel discouraged or lost. Motivation gives us the courage to face our fears, and makes decisions that may seem impossible or risky.
Motivation is also an important factor in achieving success. We become unmotivated, unproductive and lazy when we lack motivation.
Motivation is the key to unlocking potential. This means that you need to find ways to keep motivated throughout the day.
It is like a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it will become. It will weaken and atrophy if you don't exercise.
The most successful entrepreneurs are self motivated. They set goals, plan their progress, and then follow through.
You may find yourself struggling to stay motivated at times. These are three easy steps that can help you stay motivated.
Step 1) Get inspired. Find an example of someone who inspires. Someone who is already achieving what you'd like to accomplish.
Step 2. Establish small goals. Step 2) Set small goals. The next step is more important than the end result. You can reach big goals quicker by breaking them into smaller pieces.
Step 3 - Reward yourself If you have achieved your goals, give yourself rewards. It doesn't have be something tangible, it could just be time spent doing something you enjoy.
Motivation is a choice. Choose to be happy and to succeed, and to live an abundant life.
If you're ready to transform your life, get started today. First, decide to make a change. Next, take action. Start living your dreams right now.
What are the different motivations for entrepreneurs?
There are three major types of motivation that entrepreneurs can use. Each type has their own strengths and weaknesses.
External motivation is the most prevalent form of motivation. An individual wants more money. This motivation is usually triggered by financial concerns.
External motivation is driven by personal interest, ambition, and desire. People with this type of motivation tend to be very goal oriented.
This is a rare form of motivation. Individuals with internal motivation do not necessarily seek out wealth; instead, they pursue other goals such as self-development, fulfillment, or service to others.
People with inner motivation are often called "passionate" when they find satisfaction in what they do.
Finally, intrinsic motivation is the least common kind of motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a person who finds enjoyment and satisfaction working towards achieving a goal.
Motivation from within is stronger than external motivation.
Intrinsic motivation comes from within. It is based the belief people are endowed with certain talents and capabilities. These talents and abilities give them the ability to accomplish extraordinary things that no other person could.
Realizing our talents and capabilities makes us happy and fulfilled. We feel like we are doing important work.
In other words, intrinsic motivation is what makes us happy. The joy that comes from knowing we can accomplish whatever we set our minds on is intrinsic motivation.
This feeling of accomplishment keeps you going no matter what the circumstances are.
It's a fact that if you don’t love what you’re doing, then it's not worth doing.
Click here to find out more about entrepreneurial motivation.
What are the 6 most important questions that motivate an entrepreneur?
Motivation is the main ingredient of any business. Motivation is essential for any business. Without it, it's difficult to get out of bed every day. If you lack motivation, it will be difficult to complete your projects. Motivation is essential for reaching your goals. How can we find our motivation?
You might ask, "What motivates you?" But the answer might surprise you. Maybe you've been asking yourself this same question for years. If you haven't asked yourself this question, you're missing out on one of life's greatest rewards--the opportunity to discover your motivation.
Discovering why you are there is the best motivation. It's then that you will finally understand what drives and motivates you. You are more clear about your purpose and it becomes more meaningful. Why are you caring? Once you know why you care, it will make it easier to stay motivated.
Looking within is the key to unlocking your motivation. These are your questions:
- What are my passions?
- What makes my heart beat quicker?
- What makes me feel alive?
- What gives me butterflies in my stomach?
- What makes me feel alive and connected?
- What keeps you coming back to your projects again and again?
Once you have the answers, you can identify your true motivations.
Your motivation is what will get you through the tough times. It will give strength when you need. It will encourage you to work harder. You will be motivated to achieve your goals.
If you're anything like me, you will never stop searching for your motivation.
Consider what drives you today. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you uncover.
Statistics
- “If you look to lead, invest at least 40% of your time managing yourself – your ethics, character, principles, purpose, motivation, and conduct. (americanexpress.com)
- “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” (oberlo.com)
- “Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know. (americanexpress.com)
- That means for $150,000, you could have bought 10 percent of Airbnb." (entrepreneur.com)
- Invest at least 30% managing those with authority over you and 15% managing your peers.” (americanexpress.com)
External Links
twitter.com
businessinsider.com
- 101 Best Inspirational Quotes For Entrepreneurs
- Why Elon Musk sets nearly impossible goals for SpaceX employees
cnbc.com
- This is Jeff Bezos's inspiring quote that he keeps on the fridge
- Richard Branson, a Billionaire: These are my top 10 secrets to success
oberlo.com
How To
What are five motivational elements for entrepreneurs?
Entrepreneurs want to be financially independent. They want to take control of their fate. They also want enough money to support their families and provide for their own needs.
They are also driven by the desire to assist others. Many business owners who succeed are motivated by the desire to help others.
Apart from these factors, there are many other motivations.
- Passion - You have to love what you do. If you don’t enjoy what your do, who would?
- Vision - Vision is an image of your destination. When we dream, we imagine ourselves there. Because we believe our dreams can come true, dreaming makes us feel happy.
- Courage: Don't fear failure. Take it on the chin. Failure is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to define who you are. Failure is not inevitable. However, you can still achieve success if your persistence is constant.
- Belief: Believe in your abilities. Do not let doubt keep you from reaching your goals. Doubt is often the result of fear. Fear keeps us stuck in our comfort zone. You can get out of your comfort area and start moving towards your goals.
- Persistence – Keep going, even when things seem impossible. Everyone makes mistakes. Keep trying, and eventually you'll reach your goal.
