Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Last Updated on May 3, 2023 by Work In My Pajamas
Did you know that Instagram has over 1 billion active users?
It’s no wonder that businesses are starting to catch on that their audience and potential customers are also on this social media network.
Using Instagram for small business can be a powerful tool if you know what to do. Keep reading to learn 9 ways to help your business leverage the power of Instagram.
In This Post:
9 Ways to Use Instagram for Small Business
If companies like Nike and Coca Cola use Instagram because they know the power it has why shouldn’t you use it too? Although Instagram started off as a social media network to share pictures it has now become popular to share short videos. You can learn more here about how to make Instagram videos go viral.
This list below will help set you apart and put your business in front of potential customers.
1. Post Consistently
This social media network is different from Facebook in the sense that more posts doesn’t equate to fewer likes and comments. On the contrary inconsistent posting equates to fewer followers.
Choose a time that you can consistently fit posting into your schedule. If you have the time to schedule out a week’s worth of posts at the beginning of the week then you won’t have to think about posting or forgetting to post.
2. Instagram Stories
These have become popular the last year and it is one of the most popular features currently. You are able to get creative with your Instagram story by posting live videos, pre-recorded videos, photos, and add music, stickers, and text to make it more personalized.
You can post an interactive story by doing a poll or ask a question with the stickers in the settings. This gives your audience a way to answer or select from the poll and feel more connected with your brand.
Keep in mind that stories disappear after 24 hours but you can choose to store them in your Stories Highlights and they will stay there until you remove them.
3. Interact
Engaging with your audience will create relationships and bonds. It will make your brand human and relateable. People like to do business with people they like, know, and trust.
Find people that are into the same things as you through a search and comment and like on their posts. This will make them curious about who you are and go back to your page and interact with you.
Who knows they might even slip into your DM letting you know how awesome they think your page is!
People underestimate the power of hashtags on social media but they are powerful. On Instagram people can follow a specific hashtag vs following a person. This is HUGE.
This means that if you use that hashtag even if they don’t follow your account you will show up in their feed. Use hashtags that are relevant to your post to avoid turning people away or even blocking you. If they feel you are randomly putting hashtags that have nothing to do with your post they will not be happy.
5. Professional Looking Photos
Pictures are important on Instagram and sharing or posting not such eye-catching pictures will turn people away. You have seconds to catch their attention as they scroll their feed. If they scroll right past your post it doesn’t help your business.
You don’t have to have professional equipment but take pictures with good lighting and throw in some filters to make it more appealing to users. After you post go check out your page and ask yourself if you would stop your scroll with the pictures you currently have posted.
If your answer is “no” its ok to delete and post better-looking pictures.
6. Be Social
Social media is a platform to be social this means don’t post about your product all day long and never interact as we mentioned in tip number 3 above. Have conversations and be social on Instagram.
Talk as if you’re talking to a friend in a conversation. Be approachable and conversational with your posts rather than all business. All business is not for Instagram.
Being social and conversational will make you trustworthy to your audience.
7. Influencer Marketing
In today’s world, there are influencers that have an organic following of people that trust them. Make connections with influencers in your niche that have a large following that engages with their content.
Let them know that you’re interested in partnering up by having a contest or paying them for a sponsored post. If they recommend something you have to offer to their loyal fanbase this will bring your page business and more followers.
It’s ok to share other people’s content that brings value to your followers. This will help bring you that person’s audience to your page. To stay in business you don’t only need loyal customers you also need new customers on a consistent basis.
Keep in mind that in order to share other people’s content you will have to use third-party apps. Instagram doesn’t have a share feature – yet.
9. Engage with Your Competitor’s Fans
Do a search in your niche and interact with their following. These are people that are interested in what you have to offer and they will like your content once they learn about your page.
Make a list of your competitor’s with active accounts and follow some of their followers and interact with their posts.
Happy Growing!
Now it’s time to take the nine tips above about using Instagram for small business and watch your Instagram account grow. Grow your Instagram with automatic likes using a service such as StormLikes. Read more here: https://jonathonspire.
If you don’t have an account yet what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the ball rolling to apply these tips and witness the power of Instagram for your business.
Make sure to check out our blog for more social media tips, tricks, and hacks.