The platform you can't afford to miss in case you are thinking of using social media for promoting your business is Instagram.
Instagram is an essential platform for businesses that depend on visual marketing i.e. consumer facing businesses. Whether you think of promoting your products, or just linking with people naturally, Instagram is a platform you should choose.
Back in 2016, Instagram launched Business Profiles analytics and other tools to promote businesses of account holders. These are tools aimed at promoting your businesses’ online presence on the social media platform, you’re given tools that allow you or your social media admin to control how users see your business, the ability to promote content and analytics to understand the kind of users your business profile attracts.
Creating a business profile on Instagram when you start a new business is like having a confidential toolbox with excellent tools.
Read on if you're looking to grow your business online or acquire new customers by boosting your online presence.
Why sell on Instagram?
Below is the list of the reasons that one should consider using Instagram for business:
1. Audience expects it
People expect to find your business on Instagram. They might search for you using your name or keywords related to your business or location. If they can't find you there, you’re losing customers you can acquire from Instagram.
Even if you do not plan to be super active on Instagram, it is still a good idea to have an account with your business name, contact info, and a few posts that show what your brand is all about. This still provides some visibility into what your brand is along with a link to your website, if a user is interested in knowing more.
2. It is a trust signal
Having an Instagram account, especially a verified one (which means it's confirmed as authentic), tells people that your business is trustworthy, genuine, and open.
Click here if you’re interested in knowing how to verify your profile.
If your business operates mainly online, having an Instagram account is like having an extra way for your customers to connect with and learn about your business. Its also a way to keep interacting with your customers by posting content that insightful and engaging.
3. Your consumers and clients can tag you
Imagine you provide extraordinary assistance to a user, and they are delighted with a product they purchased from you. They might be so thrilled that they want to share their insights on Instagram and write a fantastic review.
That kind of appraisal is like gold for your Instagram Store. You can never grab this chance if you do not possess an Instagram account. You can then repost this story on your profile or save them to be displayed to customers looking for social proof or reviews.
4. You can tag & sell your products
If you are in the business of selling stuff, having the potential to share Instagram photos and videos that directly link to those products is a fantastic advantage. These are called
shoppable posts.To make this possible, you will need to design a product catalogue on your Facebook page because Instagram uses the data from there to link the products to your posts.
It works as building a connection between your products and your Instagram posts, which enables people to search for and purchase what you are offering directly after viewing a post that has these shoppable products in them
Tips for selling on Instagram
Here are some important tips to keep in mind before selling your products on Instagram:
1. Research your audience
To be successful on this platform, you need to know your target audience well. Instagram captivates a lot of 18 to 34 years of age, but your particular audience might be distinct. You can use tools like Meta Business Suite or Instagram Insights to explore your existing audience.
If you are just starting a business, look out for the infographics of your audience on other social platforms or your current consumers. This will give you an illustration of who's interested in your company.
Knowing your consumers helps you design content and captions that link with them. It's an imperative step in planning your Instagram strategy. With the number of Instagram accounts out there competing for attention, a blind posting strategy will have little to no success.
2. Figure out your content mix
Now that you know your consumers, prepare a digital marketing strategy. Instead of posting haphazardly, create content that links with your audience and helps your organization.
Share some posts about your brand and promotions. Also, design content that forms a community and gets people talking. This can include consumer-generated content, industry observation, or joining famous trends (but be cautious with trends that don't fit your brand).
Try to simplify your content into themes or regular series to make it easier to create. Planning will help you keep up with posting frequently and managing unexpected events.
3. Schedule your content in advance
Instagram offers different content options like Stories, Reels, and regular posts. To have a well-defined plan, use a content calendar to plan when and what to post on Instagram and other social media platforms.
You can even plan everything to go live spontaneously, including Stories and Reels, using distinct tools. This way, you can design content in advance and broadcast it at the ideal times for your consumers, even if those times fall outside regular business hours.
4. Track your results
Having an Instagram business profile allows you to use its built-in analytics tools, which help you see how well your content is doing.
Other analytics tools can help you trace your Instagram performance over a longer duration and make it simple to differentiate from other social media platforms.
The aim is to check these analytics frequently to understand what content your consumers like the most. You'll recognise trends in what gets the most engagement and what brings in new clients beyond your existing followers.
Setting up an Instagram store
Here are the steps to set up Instagram Store:
1. Switch to a business account
First, you'll need to make an Instagram account. Then, you can easily turn it into a business account. If you already have a personal or creator account, you can convert that, too. It doesn't cost anything. You are allowed to have up to five Instagram accounts.
2. Add business information to your bio
Your Instagram bio (150 characters or less) should reflect your brand and voice. Use your logo for the profile pic (320 x 320 pixels) and add a useful link (like a link to your website). Include contact info and a
ction buttons if needed.
Use Story highlights for more about your brand and products, and make them look good with Highlight covers (you can design your own using tools like canva).
3. Connect your product catalogue
To tag products in Instagram posts or run specific Instagram ads, you must create a website or a product catalogue. You can set this up in Meta's Commerce Manager.
4. Turn on Instagram shopping
To enable shopping on Instagram, first, create a website or a product catalogue. Then, follow these steps:
- Tap the menu icon (three lines) on your profile.
- Go to Settings > Business > Set up a Shop.
- Start a business and submit your shop for review.
- Wait for approval (check status in Settings > Business > Shopping).
- Once approved, choose your product catalogue in Settings > Business > Shopping, and you're set.
Why do you need a mobile-first website to complement your Instagram Store?
The latest statistics reveal that the mobile-first approach makes sense since mobile devices generate most website traffic. Website designers should provide the best user experience for this massive audience segment.
A beautiful design, attributing a pure colour scheme, high-pixel images and user-friendly tabs make shopping a breeze. High-quality photography adds the best image to the brand, forming a lifestyle vibe.
Adding visuals is an excellent option for making the product search easier. When you are searching for something particular, you can quickly select and purchase the exact product as per your requirement.
Here are some examples of mobile-first websites that complemented their Instagram Store:
- Nixon watches:
Nixon's website not only secured the Webby accolade for the best eCommerce site but also abided as one of the top mobile sites. The mobile version boasted a beautiful design, attributing a pure colour scheme, high-pixel images, and user-friendly tabs that make shopping a breeze. The high-quality photography adds to the brand's image. - Lush
Lush's mobile website is like an Instagram feed, aiming for visuals. It's excellent for searching for products, especially when you're searching for something particular. You can quickly look, observe, and purchase what you want, making it one of the best places to buy online!
Pros and cons of Selling on Instagram
Pros
- Instagram is growing faster than any other social media platform, with over a billion users. Selling on Instagram is the best option for increasing your sales volume.
- Instagram is popular and has high engagement rates. 70% higher than Facebook. If a picture posted gives the best impression, there is a chance of going viral. This can bring new and exciting clientele.
- It would be easy to connect through hashtags. Posts that include location hashtags engage more audience. Hashtags have even proven to improve SEO efforts and result in more visitors.
Cons
- The advantage of relying on images on Instagram can also be a disadvantage in case of low quality. This can turn off followers, and non-square images might not display well.
- If your target audience does not use Instagram, you cannot reach out to them from this platform.
- Many people log in there just to scroll down and watch updates, without any intention of purchasing products.
Final Words
Instagram is no longer just for sharing photos. It's now a powerful platform for businesses, regardless of their size or niche. However,
you still need to create a website or online store to enable Instagram shopping and truly scale your business. The best approach is to have your online store. Share its' link in your Instagram bio, combining the strengths of eCommerce platforms with Instagram's marketing benefits.
FAQs
What are the advantages of Instagram marketing?
Below given are some of the benefits of Instagram Marketing-
1. Cost-Effective
2. Improved Engagement
3. Higher Conversion Rates
4. Increased Sales
5. Better Customer Relationships
How does Social Media Marketing help in business growth?
Social media is a valuable tool for connecting with consumers, listening to their opinions, and running advertisements. It can help your organisation by drawing in consumers, collecting their feedback, and leveraging consumer loyalty.
What is the critical focus of Instagram marketing?
Instagram Marketing's main aim is to produce revenue in an organization’s products or services. This includes observing the market, researching, understanding the needs of the ideal consumers, and using informative and valuable messages to attract and engage with the target audience.It is aimed at being a one-stop shop for businesses aiming to use Instagram as a source of leads.
