Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service.
Instagram’s primary advantage over other social media platforms is its visual nature. If you have a business that benefits from the design of your product or if you have a service that has a visibly noticeable result, Instagram is the best platform to showcase that content.
Video, imagery, and illustration are all great content fits for this social media platform, but your marketing strategy will ultimately determine what type of content to publish and how often to post it. Establishing a strategy before diving right into a new social media platform, no matter how well it works for everyone else’s business, will keep you focused on your goals and — most importantly — your audience.
Set your goals for Instagram
Determine your Instagram target audience
Conduct a competitive analysis
Configure an editorial calendar
Build a consistent brand on Instagram
Grow your Instagram follower base
Once you establish a dedicated follower base, you can start converting those followers into paying customers. Here are some strategies.
Promotions: Deals, discounts, BOGOs, and other offerings are a great way to drive first-time sales with your Instagram audience. Be sure to include what your followers need to do to receive the offer, and mention a deadline to create a sense of urgency.
Contests: What better way to make someone a customer than by letting them try your product? Run a Contest that requires someone to follow your account or post with a hashtag to enter.
Teasers: Instagram is a great platform to show your audience glimpses of new products before they’re available. While you don’t want to spam your followers’ feeds with only product photos, a few images can build excitement.