Instagram is a very popular social media platform and has a very high level of engagement when compared to other social media platforms. The reason for this is because its image-based which makes it far more captivating for users.
Many businesses are seeing great gains from Instagram and many more businesses are trying to get their business’s Instagram profile up to scratch so they to can make the most of the platform.
However, there are times where businesses are struggling to see benefits and are unsure of how to get their profile out there to gain the kind of reach that would benefit their business. Not just from a reach point of view, but also in useful conversions for their business.
If you want to improve your Instagram profile then check out our recommendations below and work through them step by step.
Step 1: Check out your Instagram Bio
We could write a whole blog post on the ins and outs of the Instagram bio (and maybe we will - keep your eyes peeled). It is the first thing that people see when they view your Instagram profile and ultimately something that helps distinguish your profile as a legitimate business that provides the goods/services that you do.
You only have a very small space to write a bio that describes your business and grabs their attention. Keep your bio sweet and snappy.
If you are a company that sells lots of very different things then make sure your bio focuses on your main focus - whether that’s your business focus, your sales focus or even the focus that you feel is best for your Instagram audience.
There is an option to state your website URL, email address and phone number within Instagram business profiles so don’t waste characters on these elements.
Step 2: Consistency
Sometimes business profiles on Instagram can be quite random in an aim to appear exciting, but actually, consistency is key.
Keep things simple, effectively branded, and consistent in both your Instagram bio and your Instagram posts. The consistency you show on Instagram should be the same (or in some cases similar) as what you show on your website, your wider marketing, and any other PR that you carry out.
This themed approach will make your grid look cohesive and visually appealing to your audience.
Step 3: Post on Instagram
Post on a regular basis to ensure that you are maintaining that connection you have with your audience.
Think about what you are posting to ensure there is a mix of sales posts, the latest news, and even behind-the-scenes peaks of your business. People love to see what is happening and it makes them feel more attached to your business.
Don’t forget about reels. Instagram is not just about images, it's also about videos so get creative by curating some videos for your audience.
Remember, videos for social media do NOT need to be perfect and polished. Quite often a quite raw but honest video filmed on your phone will be more engaging than a professionally shot video that has a very specific message.
And, whatever you do, do not forget to include a caption for every image and video that you post. This content should be just as interesting as the image or video that is being posted and is the perfect way to start a conversion with your audience.
Step 4: The use of Hashtags
A very common mistake that is used in business Instagram posts is posting an image or video with 100+ hashtags. Some are very specific but generic for your business, and others are clearly just desperate stabs in the dark.
Mix up the hashtags that you use to find the ones that bring in your audience. Don’t use the same set of hashtags on every single post. And please make sure that the hashtags that you use are relevant to your post.
Your image showing a beautiful rattan garden furniture set does not need every hashtag under the sun that is relevant to your business selling garden furniture, and it certainly doesn’t need hashtags linking it to the new Sky TV just because it's a hot focus at this moment in time.
And the answer to the most common question we get asked regarding hashtags - There is no ideal number of hashtags to use within an Instagram post as you should simply use what is relevant and applicable to that specific image or caption.
If you aren’t already aware of ‘shadowban’ then make sure you check out our blog post here: ‘Instagram Shadowban’.
Step 5: Get Social
The whole point of social media is to be social with other individuals online. Therefore if you have people commenting on your posts then join in with the conversation.
Repeatedly posting but not engaging is not going to encourage your current followers to engage in your next post. Those individuals want to start a conversation with you so respond and see where it goes.
If you are unsure about how to improve your online presence on any social media platform, not just Instagram, why not check out our other social media-related blog posts or simply contact the team here at Digital Nachos today.
Published: 19th Oct 2021