Instagram is an online photo-sharing & video-sharing social networking platform that enables its users to take pictures and videos, and share them on a variety of websites like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Tumblr for social media marketing purposes. Its unique feature is that it confines images to a square shape, similar to Polaroid images and Kodak Instamatic, with 4:3 aspect ratio usually used by mobile device cameras. Besides, users can also apply digital filters to their photos. Instagram included video sharing in June 2013 thereby allowing its users to record and share videos with a maximum duration of 15 seconds. Over time, Instagram has become successful in promoting brands and converting customers into sales.
Keeping in view the strong user base of Instagram (over 300 million monthly users), many brands from small businesses to large corporations became the part of Instagram community which helps them to create a strong customer base.
Most IGers use it to shop. According to a study done by Iconosquare’s recently, ‘Instagram study shows that 70% of IG users report having already looked up a brand on the platform. Plus, 62% of users follow a brand just because they like it’!
One perfect image can drive customers to you that too without going for a sales pitch. It all depends on your photo selection, tags, community base and of course whether or not you have the right message. Whether you are new to Instagram or you have already been using it for a long time, we have some tips for you which can help you to develop a strong consumer base and generate more and more sales.
 1. Set Up and Optimize Your Business Instagram Account
First of all, it must be noted that Instagram accounts for businesses should be kept separate from personal accounts. Reputation Management is important — don’t ever post your personal photos or friends and family vacation images on your business account that can lead to negative reputation thereby decreasing your customer base. Instead you should follow these steps:
a) Link Back to Your Website in order to Boost Traffic:
You can add only one clickable link of your website to your Instagram account in your bio section. Take this opportunity and link there to generate traffic on your website (preferably landing page or homepage). It can generate loyal customers from your Instagram community.
b) Go Famous With Your Brand Name and Logo:
It is not compulsory to keep your brand name or logo your identity mark but once you are recognized, you can’t erase that from users mind.  So it is better to go famous with your brand name and logo.
c) Keep your Bio Interesting and Informative:
Your bio is the decision maker for user weather to follow you or ignore you. Before users hit a follow tab on your account, they go through your bio. If they find it interesting, they will surely start following you. You should avoid sales pitch in your bio, instead, mention about photos you are planning to share.   Before people hit Follow on your Instagram, they have to click through to your profile. Hashtags and keywords aren’t searchable so it is better to exclude them in your bio. Though, you can edit your bio whenever you want.
2. Create Unique Instagram Posts That Users Love to Follow:
‘A picture is worth a thousand words’. Be sure to post an eye-catchy image to get more & more likes and comments. Some of the tips to get customers via Instagram include:
- Don’t post anything in a sales pitch.
- Promote your products and services with unique, professional and eye-catchy photos. Be Professional in choosing and editing of your photo
- Use Instagram’s Editing Tools to enhance your photos
- Lifestyle and Funny Photos get More Attention
- Post Announcements, Promotions and Special Offers
- Promote Events on Instagram for Target Audience
3. Grow Your Follower Base:
Think about ways to get people involved. Here are some tips:
- Include Hashtags to broaden Your Visibility
- Invite Instagram Experts to Share Your Products & Services
4. Engage Your Customers
Engage your customers in discussions get their feedback and develop customer relationship that generates traffic to your websites. But the question is how you can convert your visitors into consumers? Here are some tips:
- Write a nice, relevant and Appealing Captions
- Run contests to get more Instagram Engagement
- Make sure to offer best giveaways preferably relevant to your brand
- Include Contest details in the caption
- Select winner of the contest
- Announce the winners and congratulate them
5. Respond to Comments, Likes and Tags from your Followers
Conversation should always be two sided. One sided conversation can get your customers away. Responding to your followers and thanking them for tagging can help you to engage more and more users. It may be noted that whenever you want any particular follower to see your message, emotion their name (like @IGPROS) by which they will be pinged.
6. Track Your Instagram Success
Keep track of your success which can help you to improve your content that is not working and keep going content that is working. Research your audience and keep attracting new customers.
Follow the above tips and improve your conversions via Instagram. Make sure to remain active on Instagram and get more & more followers to your business account. Keep Sharing!
Zahoor Bhat has over 10+ years of experience as an online editor and media manager. He has worked with major online news and content sites as a media manager. He is well versed with major content management systems and web platforms such as WordPress and social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google Business, Yelp, Instagram & Linkedin. He is an expert in content creation, proofreading and finally making it live. Being a social media expert, he is able to make relations with social media influencers and make sure to generate leads and grow business via different social media platforms.
