Can Instagram be a valuable tool for your business?
While many business owners may use Instagram personally, not a lot of them see or understand the benefit of Instagram for their business. Some don’t know if there is a place for businesses on the platform, others are unsure whether or not they have an audience. Still more can’t imagine the types of content to produce that would be appropriate on Instagram.
There are answers all of these concerns. The main one being, yes, there is a place on Instagram for business! For many reasons, at that; starting with one major advantage: Facebook owns Instagram.
That means Instagram has access to Facebook’s tools and audience. Facebook is huge on advertisements now, and this focus is transitioning to Instagram. This means you can have ads on Instagram, through the Facebook Ad Manager. You have access to all of the demographic information, with the ability to target them and create ads specifically for your audience.
A second huge reason why businesses should consider Instagram is the sheer amount of people who are active on the platform. There are a whopping 500 million monthly active users, with around 75 to 80 percent of those users active daily on the app! And, 20 percent of people who use the internet, use Instagram. These huge numbers continue to grow, jumping over other platforms.
Demographics on Instagram:
- 55 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds
- 28 percent of 30 to 49-year-olds
- 11 percent of 50 to 64-year-olds
There are also some powerful tools on Instagram, including the video tools which they’ve recently updated with Instagram Stories.
What to post on Instagram
When most people think of Instagram, they imagine thousands of photos of meals and endless selfies. While many people are personally posting this type of content, businesses need to be a little more creative, so it resonates with their audience. At NOW Marketing, we use Instagram as a way to showcase our culture. Using a recent example, we shared a team member's promotion, giving them some online recognition and celebration. Sharing your own moments of celebration can be huge on the photo-sharing app. You can celebrate team members, clients, or other things happening behind the scenes or in real time. You can also share activities the company or team is doing. Trainings, speaking engagements, or conferences are all excellent things to post and share. Additionally, you can share your knowledge, quick-tips, and how-to’s, using graphics and designs.
An important thing to note is that users will grade you on the quality of images you choose. Make sure to select similar elements and really brand your photos and designs to be recognizable as your business.
Using fonts, colors, frames, and filters, you can create an on-brand Instagram feed. Incorporate hashtags into your posts and consider using both hashtags that are broad and ones that are more specific to your company.
Using all these tools, you can easily find great success using Instagram for your business. The visual nature of the platform means you can rest assured your audience will see and understand your messages without a lot of concentration. And with more users every day, Instagram is growing as a valuable tool for your business.
Instagram Quick Tips
Instagram for Business: Instagram for Business is very similar to what Pinterest did years back. They’re allowing you to take your personal page and convert it to a business account so you get analytics, can add in more on your business, and users can search specifically for your brand.
Instagram Stories: You have probably played around with Instagram stories, and the honest truth about them is, you either like it or you don’t. It is very similar to Snapchat stories, allowing you to do 10-second videos or upload anything in your camera roll that is less than 24 hours old.
Favorite Instagram Tools/Apps: Have you ever wondered how to make your Instagram photos look like they are straight from an art gallery? Well, I’m going to share with you a little secret on how you can make your photos look like artwork with just two apps and three dollars.
You Need:
- Instagram’s Layout App
- Phonto App
Learn more about these apps in our blog, How to Make Your Instagram Photos look like Artwork.
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