When it comes to visual social media platforms, Instagram is one of the most important for businesses. With more than 700 million users, it’s also one of the most popular. And with so many businesses flocking to this platform to grow their following, you have to make sure your business stands out from the crowd if you want to succeed with your presence there. Here are six effective ways to get seen on Instagram as a small business owner.
Use beautiful, high-quality photos.
One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make on Instagram is using low-quality photos. You might have an amazing product or service, but if your photos are grainy, dark, or full of odd shadows from poor lighting, you won’t show it off to its best advantage. Professional photographers can help you take high-quality photos for your Instagram account, but if you can’t afford that, there are other options. Use natural light, bring in your own lights if necessary, and try to avoid shadows from overhead lights.
Give followers a reason to click through.
While your photos are important, your captions are even more so. If your photos are high-quality, but you don’t give followers a reason to click through to learn more, then you’ve defeated the purpose of having that Instagram account in the first place. Be sure to include a call-to-action in every photo caption, telling followers what you want them to do next. Whether it’s to click through to your website or sign up for your email list, you need to give people a reason to keep scrolling.
Don’t skimp on your bio.
The bio section of your Instagram account is a great place to give followers more information about your business and products. Don’t just throw in a few keywords and end it there, though. Instagram users are looking for something more than just information about your business. Instead, use your bio to tell a story about your brand. Be creative, and make it compelling enough that followers want to click through to your website.
Leverage influencers and partnerships.
One of the best ways to get more followers on Instagram is to partner with other businesses that already have a large following on the platform. If you’re a travel company and you partner with a travel blogger on Instagram with a large following, you’ll likely see a boost in your own following as well. To find potential influencers to partner with, use Instagram’s Explore page to look for potential matches. You can also use a tool like Brandlox to find potential partners.
Be creative with your ad dollars.
Advertising on Instagram is a great way for your business to get in front of a wider audience. However, not all ads are created equal, and not all businesses know how to make them effective. Make sure that your ads are targeted to your ideal audience, and make sure they are different than your regular posts. Avoid putting your brand name in the ad, and instead, show off your products and services.
Try paid advertising.
If you’ve been trying all of these other methods to get more followers on Instagram and they aren’t working, it might be time to try paid advertising. Paid advertising is exactly what it sounds like: you pay Instagram to put your ads in front of more people. These ads allow you to target a super-specific audience of people and even show them specific products that they can click through to purchase.
Conclusion
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, and for good reason. People love the visual aspect of it, which is why visual businesses like beauty, health, and travel thrive there. If you use these tips to get your business seen on Instagram. You can be sure that your account will be a success.
