Top 10 tips for using Instagram to grow your business
Optimize your profile: Example: The UK-based bakery, @luminarybakery, uses a clear profile picture, a concise bio that communicates their mission, and a link to their website. Follow their lead by including your location and a brief description of your products or services. (https://www.instagram.com/luminarybakery/)
Create engaging content: Example: @notonthehighstreet, a UK-based online marketplace, shares a mix of product photos, user-generated content, and Stories that showcase their unique offerings and creative partners. (https://www.instagram.com/notonthehighstreet/)
Utilize hashtags strategically: Example: @boroughmarket, a popular London food market, uses both industry-specific and location-based hashtags like #LondonFood, #LondonEats, and #BoroughMarket to increase their content's visibility. (https://www.instagram.com/boroughmarket/)
Collaborate with influencers: Example: The UK-based fitness brand, @gymshark, has successfully partnered with fitness influencers like @whitneyysimmons and @gracefituk to promote their products and grow their following. (https://www.instagram.com/gymshark/)
Engage with your audience: Example: UK fashion retailer, @asos, is known for its responsive and engaging customer service on Instagram, often replying to comments and DMs promptly, creating a loyal customer base. (https://www.instagram.com/asos/)
Run targeted ads: Learn how to create Instagram ads using Facebook's Ads Manager by following this step-by-step guide from Hootsuite: (https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-ads-guide/)
Promote exclusive offers: Example: @honestburgers, a UK-based burger chain, offers exclusive deals and promotions to their Instagram followers, such as discounts and giveaways, encouraging users to follow and engage with their account. (https://www.instagram.com/honestburgers/)
Analyze and adapt: Check out this guide from Sprout Social to learn how to use Instagram Insights to measure your account's performance and make data-driven decisions: (https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-analytics/)
Cross-promote on other platforms: Example: UK-based online fashion retailer, @boohoo, shares their Instagram content on Twitter and Facebook to drive traffic to their Instagram account and increase engagement. (https://www.instagram.com/boohoo/)
Stay up-to-date with trends: Subscribe to UK-based social media marketing blogs like Social Media Today, Econsultancy, and Smart Insights to stay informed about the latest Instagram trends and best practices. (https://www.socialmediatoday.com/, https://econsultancy.com/, https://www.smartinsights.com/)
What's the approach using POSTS, STORIES, REELS and LIVE?
Master Instagram Posts: Posts are the foundation of your Instagram presence. Create eye-catching visuals and captions that resonate with your audience.
Example: @jamieoliver, a UK-based celebrity chef, shares visually appealing and informative posts about recipes, cooking tips, and food-related content. He also includes detailed captions and utilizes relevant hashtags to maximize engagement. (https://www.instagram.com/jamieoliver/)
Best Practices:
Use high-quality, well-lit images or videos that showcase your products or services.
Write captivating captions that add context or tell a story.
Include relevant hashtags and tag other users or brands when appropriate.
Post consistently but avoid overposting to keep your audience engaged.
Leverage Instagram Stories: Stories offer a more casual and ephemeral way to engage with your audience. They disappear after 24 hours, making them perfect for sharing timely content, behind-the-scenes moments, and promotions.
Example: @barryslondon, a UK-based fitness studio, uses Stories to share class schedules, instructor takeovers, and snippets of their workout sessions. (https://www.instagram.com/barryslondon/)
Best Practices:
Use interactive elements like polls, questions, and countdown stickers to encourage engagement.
Highlight important Stories on your profile to make them permanently accessible.
Use location and hashtag stickers to increase your Stories' visibility.
Share a mix of promotional and authentic, behind-the-scenes content.
Create Engaging Instagram Reels: Reels are short, 15-60 second videos that offer a creative way to showcase your brand and reach new audiences.
Example: @nailsinc, a UK-based nail polish brand, uses Reels to share quick nail art tutorials, product demos, and user-generated content. (https://www.instagram.com/nailsinc/)
Best Practices:
Keep your Reels short, engaging, and visually appealing.
Use trending audio tracks, effects, and hashtags to increase discoverability.
Add captions or text overlays to provide context and make your Reels accessible.
Share Reels on your main feed to maximize visibility and engagement.
Utilise Instagram Live: Instagram Live allows you to connect with your audience in real-time and host Q&A sessions, interviews, product launches, or tutorials.
Example: @thewhitecompany, a UK-based lifestyle brand, hosts Instagram Live sessions featuring industry experts discussing topics related to their products, like home organization or sleep tips. (https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecompany/)
Best Practices:
Promote your Live sessions in advance to maximize attendance.
Prepare an outline or script to keep the conversation on track and engaging.
Encourage viewer interaction through questions and comments.
Save your Live sessions to IGTV, so followers who missed it can watch it later.