Instagram has grown into a highly effective marketing tool that intelligent entrepreneurs use in just a few years.

• Instagram has over 1 billion active users, which means your customers are almost certainly on Instagram, and your competition is too.
• Sixty-seven percent of US adults use Instagram, which means that, although it’s not quite as popular as Facebook (yet), it’s certainly an option worth using to your advantage.
• More than half of Instagram users are between 18 and 29. So if that’s your target market, Instagram is the place to be.
• Sixty-three percent of Instagram users go through Instagram accounts every day, which is many eyes on mobile phones!

In addition, the platform has experienced the benefit of a double-digit growth rate each year and is showing no sign of slowing. So the time is now to take on Instagram and its potential for your entire marketing strategy.

Instagram is an improved version of Facebook that focuses on sharing photos and videos via mobile. Like many other platforms, you can interact with the other Instagram users’ Instagram by following their posts, being connected to them, posting comments or liking their positions, and tagging and private messages. Additionally, you can save images you view on Instagram.

Because it’s so visually focused, Instagram has multiple filters you can apply to improve images and videos. Other options for editing photos allow you to straighten your image, alter the brightness and brightness, and overlay colors. For videos, you can disable audio, choose the cover frame, and, if you’re using the iOS app, you can reduce videos.

Unique Challenges

However, Instagram has its unique challenges that could make you question whether it’s worth the effort. The primary challenges are:

1) First of all, Instagram is smartphone-driven. In contrast to other platforms, it is impossible to make posts to Instagram via your computer. You can’t even make posts on it using third-party apps. So Instagram appeals to people who use mobile phones. In areas in which mobile use is high (and we’ll admit it, this is pretty much all over the world), Instagram is an easy choice.

2) It’s also photo and video-oriented. In contrast to Facebook or Twitter, where text updates remain normal, Instagram demands images. It is the case that text (called “captions” on Instagram) isn’t the main focus. However, unlike others, Instagram has a lot of room in the character area. Remember that on other platforms, images tend to surpass updates with only text. Thus, focusing on pictures in your marketing could be beneficial.

Instagram for Business

However, Instagram isn’t all about photos. With a profile for your business, it is possible to highlight your business’s goals and mission, showcase your products, capture leads, and even make sales.

When you sign-up for Instagram, there’s the option of creating a private Instagram profile option. Then it’s possible to select another option called the “Instagram for Business” option. It’s similar to Facebook in that the personal profile is only for private use. The business profile is where you offer offers. (If your profile already has a personal account, it is easy to switch to a professional profile or even have both.)

Additionally, the business profile also gives users access to data analytics. Data analytics means that you can view the statistics and demographics of your followers and your friends. Analytics allow you to know the demographics of your audience and what they enjoy. You can also pay for promoting your content, which you can’t do with your private Instagram profile. Like Facebook, If you want to ensure that your followers view your company’s posts, you’ll have been able to purchase it.

Instagram as well as Facebook

You may have heard that Facebook controls Instagram. Such control means that you can join the two platforms and connect with both your Facebook and your Instagram followers.

If you have an advertisement on Facebook, it is also possible to display the ad on Instagram. In addition, if you upload content on Instagram, it is possible to have it posted automatically on Facebook too. Automation will save you time and keep the social accounts you have on the same page.

How can you make use of Instagram to use in your marketing?

Here are six steps you can follow to begin with using Instagram to market your company:

1.  Make Your Profile More Optimized

As with all platforms, Instagram asks you to set up a business or personal profile. It’s where potential followers can learn more about who you represent and what your style is. Then, you have the chance to shine in just 150 lines or less.

2. Begin Expanding Your Community

In the end, Instagram is a social network, which means being active within the Instagram community is essential. Focus on identifying and following the relevant people: Influencers in your field and also your ideal clients. When you have recognized these individuals begin to engage them to establish relationships with them.

Naturally, the main objective of any social media is getting your social media followers to subscribe to your mailing list, which means you are in control of your interactions with them. But, unfortunately, one of these businesses may disappear the next day and leave you without a clue.

3.  #hashtags #matter

More than other media platforms, Instagram relies on hashtags to categorize and sort the content. People interested in certain areas can decide to “follow” specific hashtags, like being a follower of other people.

You can use the hashtags’ potential to help your content by using an intelligent combination of tags to make your content visible and followed.

a) The first hashtags that you should include are the most popular or standard types. So, for example, if you’re sharing inspirational quotes that might consist of #inspirationalquotes, #inspiration, and #quote. Hashtags can get your content discovered by people who are searching for these broad topics. It’s not likely that everyone is your ideal audience; however, that’s fine.

b) The other type of hashtag you can use targets your audience or specific niche. For example, #WAHM, #podcasting, #virtualassistant business coach, and other hashtags such as these are not used often but can attract an even more specific audience.

c) Another type of hashtag that you can make use of is asking for followers. They include #follow, #followme and #follow4follow, to name a few.

4. Create Your Brand

If you’re struggling when it comes to branding issues, you’re not alone. The problem surrounding branding is so hazy and unclear that it’s difficult to pinpoint. What is it? Is it an emblem? The colors of your website? Your tagline? It’s all that and more.

Here’s what you must be aware of when you consider your branding. When done correctly, branding makes every image, post, and social media update recognized as yours. It’s the thing that is what makes you you. Branding is the clever use of:

* Language

* Colors

* Fonts

* Attitude

* Personality

Clever use of Instagram means being as consistent as possible in composition, style filters, composition, and other components for photographs.

5. Create a Content Strategy

Similar to other platforms, if you are using Instagram to promote the purpose of your company, then you might need to develop an effective content marketing plan. For this, you must first establish how frequently per week or day you’d like to publish. For example, some coaches only post once a week, while others post multiple times per day. Whatever you choose, it’s essential to stay consistent.

Follow this rule of thumb for content writing: Let one-third of your posts focus on branding your branding and brand, another third posting posts from influencers or users, as well as a third  formarketing products or services.

A) Branding: Help your fans become familiar with your brand, your mission, values as well as your “why.”

B) Sharing: This means reposting content that your followers share (and, of course, giving credit). Your followers love it when you share their photos. They feel reassured and appreciated by your company. In addition, if you share images of influencers, it can help you get recognized by these influencers.

C) Selling: Sales posts shouldn’t be overly promotional and reflect your brand’s image. Instead, use photos that reflect your lifestyle products or services to show how their lives could improve with products or services from your company.

When used with a content calendar, a content strategy will keep you on track and help you design your content beneficial to your business and your customers. A content calendar could comprise an Excel spreadsheet or a Google document, or even a WordPress plugin to create calendars. However, there are a variety of content calendars on the internet. Pick one! Please make use of it to create your content following your content and marketing strategy.

Other products help you brainstorm ideas for your content. First, develop a marketing and content plan, and then arrange everything on a calendar to plan your schedule.

6. Begin (or join) the conversation

Every aspect of social media sites is about connections. It’s not about selling products, growing followers as well as driving traffic. Instead, it’s about creating a personal relationship with people.

Everything else-the traffic, sales, and followers are the result of connections you establish. So what’s the most efficient method to develop a relationship and establish an alliance?

Join (or begin) the conversation using the following actions:

• Share and Like any content that you find inspiring.
• It would be best if you gave a shout-out to people who are inspirational to you.
• Follow people with something valuable to share and say
• Become one of those who speak or do worthwhile things.

In Summary

Instagram is a platform for social interaction which you can use regardless of the item or services. It’s an easy yet effective platform to get engaged followers, targeted leads, and even more sales. When you create an Instagram company profile and take advantage of its numerous features that you can use, you’ll have a new method of establishing yourself to an entirely new audience.