Your Instagram marketing strategy isn’t working as well as you want right now because things have changed. What used to work even a few months ago is dramatically different than the strategies and tactics that succeed on the platform today. The good news is that we’ll clear that up for you today by showing you what’s actually working and giving you actionable strategies to grow faster and get instantly better results for your business or any business you want to apply this to.
1. Optimize Your Bio
Your bio is the perfect place to give people a reason to follow you.
- Name and Title: Make sure your name is clear. Include a relevant title, keyword, or statement to help people instantly understand what you do.
- First Line: Describe what you do, showcasing your unique selling proposition (USP).
- Second Line: Explain why you’re worth following. If you have social proof, put it here, or give another reason like daily tips or content designed to help your audience.
- Third Line: Add a call to action (CTA) that tells people what to do next. Use the link in your bio to send people to the next step in your marketing funnel or customer journey.
- Story Highlights: Use three to four story highlights to showcase who you are, your best work, your best content, and a lead magnet to get followers onto an email newsletter.
2. Post the Right Kind of Content
Different types of content work best for different goals.
- Text and Graphic-Based Posts: Single posts are good, but Carousel posts can boost engagement and growth.
- Stories: Use stories to talk about topics outside your niche or primary focus.
- Videos: If you can, post videos (Reels, Stories, Lives) to get more flexibility and repurpose content on other platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
3. Post Consistently
Consistency is crucial. Don’t burn out by posting a lot at once and then disappearing for months.
- Feed Posts: Post at least once a day, preferably a Carousel.
- Stories: Create short, quick, easy, and unfiltered stories two to three times a day.
- Lives: Go live once or twice a week.
- Reels: Post three to seven Reels a week.
4. Post at the Best Times
The best time to post is when most of your followers are online.
- Check Insights: Go to your profile, click on Insights, then Followers, and scroll to find the most active times.
- General Guidelines: If you’re starting, post around 8:00 or 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 3:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Avoid Sundays.
5. Train the Algorithm
Help the algorithm understand your account by engaging with relevant accounts.
- Follow, Like, and Comment: Engage with other relevant and related accounts in your space.
- Fan Fishing: Spend 10 minutes a day engaging with and commenting on other relevant accounts in your niche to attract their followers.
6. Craft Effective Captions
Captions are crucial for providing context and engaging your audience.
- Keywords: Include relevant keywords to help signal the algorithm and keep your content focused.
- Story: Use captions to provide added context to your posts.
- Call to Action: Use CTAs to guide your followers on what to do next. Avoid the generic “link in bio” CTA; instead, ask for comments or DMs.
- Polls: Utilize polls in captions for engagement and market research.
7. Use Hashtags Wisely
Hashtags can still be useful, though their effectiveness varies.
- Find Relevant Hashtags: Use 5 to 15 hashtags relevant to your account, including big, medium, and small ones.
- Placement: Ensure hashtags are in the captions, not in the comments.
8. Engage with Your Audience
Provide genuine and valuable comments and engage in conversations.
- Avoid Generic Comments: Don’t just copy and paste comments. Be genuine and provide real value.
9. Repurpose Content
Repurposing content across different platforms can increase your reach.
- Cross-Platform: Share your Instagram content on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
10. Use Proven Marketing Strategies
Ensure your strategies are proven and profitable to get more customers and sales.
- Follow Best Practices: Use tried and tested marketing strategies to boost your growth not just on Instagram but for your entire business.
By following these ten strategies, you can enhance your Instagram marketing efforts and achieve substantial growth for your business. Start implementing these tips today to see better engagement, more followers, and increased business success.