Is it really possible to smash your best sales figures with Instagram?  If your potential customer or client is within the age group below the answer is very likely yes.  This is definitely the place to be if you want to target mobile millennials.

• 59% of internet users between the ages of 18 and 29 use Instagram and 33% of internet users between the ages of 30 and 49 use Instagram
• Instagram videos get 2 times the engagement of photos that any other social media platform.

If your target market is in those groups above Instagram may be your most profitable way to market to them.

 How can Instagram help my business?

Used properly Instagram can be one of the easiest platforms to find and obtain followers.  Studies have shown that Instagram provides brands with more engagement than any other social media platform.  Once you have followers it is much easier to engage and develop a loyal audience. Your best sales figures with Instagram may only be a few images/photos away.

Do your research and discover which of the many popular hashtags on Instagram can be associated with your products and services.  Then use them liberally.

Example:

Location Hashtag:

#vancouver, #vancouvereats, #vancouverlife, #vancouverdogs, #vancouverfood, #vancouverart, #vancouverstyle

Product Category Hashtags:

#coffee, #coffeelover, #coffeelife, #coffeetime, #coffeeart, #coffeeshop, #coffeemug, #coffeebar

Brand Hashtag:

#ALSIceBucketChallenge – ALS Association ( I vividly remember this one, do you?)

#TweetFromTheSeat – Charmin

#ShareACoke – Coca-Cola

How can Instagram grow business?

Start with being very clear about your business.  Exactly what is that you do, how do you want your business to come across.  For me I teach and implement social media, but it’s very important to me to keep the fun in building a business.  When you go to my Facebook page you will often see silliness, but that’s just part of my persona.  I love to mix the serious with the fun and of course share my favourite puppy pictures.  Being consistent with your brand builds trust and keeps people coming back.

Share images you believe people will love.  This is not always easy!  If you take pictures yourself you can spice them up with any of the free add-ons Instagram offers, personally I love the emoji’s.  What’s your fav?  If you don’t take many pictures you can go to one of the many sites and buy them.  I do recommend becoming a member of one of the sites, that way you will get a much better rate per image.  Instagram needs lots of images. Remember you can always share the images from others to round out the content on your profile.

How do I grow my Instagram followers?

I searched many blogs for information and confirmation on this specific topic.  The best I uncovered is Top 10 Instagram Growth Tactics from Buffer Social

1. Post consistently (at least once a day)
2. Study and load up on quality hashtags
3. Share user generated content
4. Ask users to “tag a friend”
5. Use the right filters
6. Host a photo contest
7. Add some emojis
8. Cross-promote
9. Try video, too
10. Share the love

#1 Post Consistently

Most people do post once per day, but I have noticed the more popular profiles post more than that.  Some as much as 5 – 10 per day.  Decide how much you can handle and develop your strategy for where the images are coming from and how to post them consistently.  Figure out what schedule works best for you and stick to it.

One idea I love if you have pets or kids is to take your pictures (only the ones you want public of course) add a quote, emoji or saying.  This is relatively easy to do and if you have lots of pictures would also be pretty quick.

 

#2 Study and load up on hashtags

I have found that hashtags are utilized more on Instagram than other platforms AND the big plus people use them constantly! Do some research, find the hashtags more suitable for your business, find lots. Then use them liberally.

Keep your list of hashtags in a separate document so that they are ready to use instantly.  Watch which ones actually produce results for you and use them more! 🙂 This is key to hitting your best sales figures with Instagram.

#3 Share user generated content

In the beginning before you have built your brand you will need to uncover profiles with complimentary content to yours and share user content from there.  As you build your own brand you can consistently and constantly ask people for their images.

Take a peek at Airbnb where most of their content is user generated.  This may inspire you!

Here are three of the most popular images, would you share any of these?

#4 Ask users to “tag a friend”

This is a very common practice on Facebook and it works well on Instagram too

#5 Use the right filters

There are no hard and fast rules about using filters, but some definitely work better than others.  The top 3 filters according to Canva are Claredon, Gingham with Juno and Lark tying for third spot.  You can change up your photo in an instant by applying a filter, maybe even change it to a work of art.

Instagram Help tells us once you’ve taken or uploaded a photo or video, you can edit it by applying filters:

#6 Host a photo contest

People love to share their pictures, Instagram itself is proof of that! Developing a contest for your brand does not have to be complicated.  You can simply set a theme and date, then ask people to participate.  Remember to use those hashtags.

#7 Add some emojis

Instagram has the standard sets of emojis built in; Smileys & People, Animals & nature, Food & Drink, Activity, Travel & Places, Objects, Flags and Symbols. You can even search using the emoji hashtag.

 

#8 Cross-promote

 

 

Find a few people and work together and promote each other.  PLUS be sure to share your Instagram on all of your other social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, etc!

#9 Try video, too

Instagram allows 60 second videos.  I’m sure you can make one for that length of time, test out your 60 second video skills on your pet.

#10 Share the love

Remember you can quickly and easily share the love, all the images you like, the ones that make you smile, something your considering buying or just your favourite quotes are some of the many reasons to share.  Recently I was looking at purchasing a specific frying pan, I posted the picture and asked people’s opinion.  I received a ton of responses and yes ended up buying the frying pan.

Check out Instagram Storie to boost and grow your business on Instagram.