It’s undeniable that social media has become a huge part of most people’s lives, and they have changed the way businesses attract customers as well. Thanks to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms, brands have become much more client-oriented. Social networks allow companies to create a personal and meaningful relationship with their customers and prospects, which is fundamental for the consumer of today.
When Instagram started as a simple photo-sharing app, probably no one could imagine how important it will be several years later, for people’s lives and businesses. Today, this social media platform is a powerful tool for marketing. Many small businesses have managed to survive thanks to Instagram.
Learn Which Numbers Matter
It’s understandable why so many businesses try to learn how to get more followers on Instagram. The logic is simple – the more followers you have, the more sales you will make. However, when it comes to social media, this isn’t quite true. While it is important to have a big number of followers and to constantly grow, other numbers are much more important.
Obsessed with this number, some businesses decide to buy followers. Thanks to the popularity of the platform and its fast-growing nature, nowadays countless Instagram tools and services claim they can help business accounts grow. However, simply buying followers won’t make a difference in your account’s success, and much more importantly it can ruin your reputation, diminish your credibility and even get your account banned.
One of the most important measurements, when it comes to Instagram, is engagement rate. Buying followers brings fake or inactive users and fake engagement, that can easily be spotted by real users. This is why you must be careful which Instagram growth tools or services you use. The key aspect to focus on here is organic growth, and the number you should be worried about is the number of quality followers you attract. Hire professionals that will help you target the right users – those that would be interested in the products or services you are selling.
Determine Your Target Audience
Before defining your goals, choosing any tactic, and building your Instagram strategy, first, you must identify your ideal customer. This will also be your guide when determining what kind of content you should create and share.
Moreover, like other social media, Instagram allows businesses to target certain users that fit previously set parameters, so you can create ads and target Internet users based on their gender, age, location, language, Internet behavior, etc. This means that you can make sure that your ads will appear only on the Instagram feeds of relevant users.
Use Instagram Stories and Reels Ads
Both Stories and Reels are great formats for ads because they get a lot of engagement. What makes them so great for promoting your brand and reaching new followers, is that they will be seen by users that are part of your target audience, that are truly watching actively, and are likely to engage with the content they are consuming.
However, it’s also true that most consumers don’t like interruptive ads. Almost everyone changes the channel during commercials on TV or uses this time to do something else. Moreover, thanks to the internet and social media, the attention span of consumers is declining.
This is why it’s important to focus on creating an ad that will capture their attention, instead of annoying them. It should be able to keep their interest, be memorable, eye-catching, short, and on-point.
Collaborate With Influencers
Influencer marketing can be a very effective way to bring organic traffic your way and get more quality followers. Many Instagram users tend to trust the judgment of the Influencers that they follow when it comes to products and services they promote.
However, it’s also important to choose the right influencer for your business. Make sure that they are in the same or similar niche, they share your values, and, most importantly, that their audience is real, and not full of fake followers.
Make Useful and Quality Content
When it comes to any type of digital marketing, content is everything. One of the reasons why Instagram is such an effective tool for marketing is because it’s a visual platform, and images, videos, infographics, etc., are the most impactful type of content. Be very careful about the content you create and post. Don’t simply promote your products or services, focus on teaching, inspiring and entertaining,
Final Thoughts
If you follow these tips, you will be able to reach the right followers and turn your Instagram account into your business’ biggest ally. However, don’t focus your entire social marketing strategy only on Instagram. Being present on other platforms will help you reach more prospects, and also grow your Instagram account by promoting it.