Getting Started on Instagram and How to Optimise the Platform
Instagram is a great platform to create an authentic and highly engaging feed, by enabling businesses to promote their work through a range of visual content. At present, the platform has over 1 billion active user accounts; that’s roughly a seventh of the world’s population, providing a great opportunity for companies to further their reach!
Studies show that around 90% of all users are under 35 years old. For attracting Millennial’s and Gen Z users – this is your go-to platform. But Instagram is full of visual content, so how do you get started and stand out?
GETTING STARTED ON INSTAGRAM:
If you’re not already on Instagram, you need to set up a business account. To do this, switch to a professional account in settings, and then select a business category that best describes your company (e.g., hint – we would pick social media agency). Having a business account enables you to unlock Instagram analytics, paid advertising, and the option to add an Instagram shop (a huge benefit for retail companies) (Instagram, 2022).
Once your account is set up, spend time populating your page. Add a recognisable profile picture, your company logo is often best for this. Make sure you add highlights and align these to your business and what you offer (about us, services, behind the scenes are often great universal highlights to have). Be sure to also have highlight covers that are relevant to the content in the highlight and match your brand aesthetic and colour scheme.
When it comes to your Instagram bio keep it short and sweet! Target your niche, clearly outlining who you are, what you do, and add your location. It’s also great to include a call to action at the end (that links to your website or contact page) that entices your followers to get in touch.
Now you’re set up and ready to go, how do you optimise the platform?
Post Content
Begin with some research. Delve into the type and format of content that is popular for your niche. There are different post types on Instagram: stories, reels, and image posts. Instagram stories are used to engage with your audience on a day-to-day basis. Sharing short snippets of your day such as behind the scenes images or office updates that allow your audience to get to know you and your business better. Instagram reels are short and catchy video clips that relate to your audience – arguably the best for engagement and awareness! Image posts can be single or as a carousel (these contain a flip of several images) which contribute to the overall aesthetic of your feed and provide a space for a dedicated topic or image. This post format is great for showcasing a detailed image of your product or service.
Reels
If you hadn’t heard, reels are a marketing priority for all businesses on Instagram! Since TikTok launched in 2017, short dynamic video content has taken off in popularity. As a result, Instagram reels, which follow a similar format to TikTok videos, are now one of the best ways to engage with your audience and produce easily consumable content to get your company out there. Be sure to also use reel trends including transitions and trending audios to increase interest. Favoured on the algorithm, reels create the potential to be shown to new accounts, an organic way for more people to know about your business, and what you offer!
Paid Ads
The next step up for your social media marketing is to take advantage of using paid ads. Instagram has the option of paid advertising on professional accounts, which furthers the reach of your content that may be difficult to otherwise achieve organically. There are two strategies you can adopt – you can either boost your post immediately with a specific goal in mind, or Instagram offers the feature to boost an already well-performing post. If you’re looking for more profile visits, website visits or tangible leads such as more messages, then Instagram ads can be worthwhile. However, they can be expensive especially for small-to-medium sizes companies and this can make it challenging to leverage the results you’re looking for. Be sure to have a clear goal and budget in mind before you start.
These are some great ways to get started on Instagram and to optimise your businesses success on the platform. If you’re still unsure on how to get started, or need some additional help then get in touch. Let’s Talk.
