You’ve already created Facebook and Twitter accounts for your business, but what about an Instagram account? This photo- and video-sharing app has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms used today, with more than 500 million users around the world. Your business can share product and service information and gain more exposure by using Instagram, so follow these tips to get started:

Learn About Features for Business Accounts

When you sign up for Instagram, it’s important to make sure you’re creating a business profile. These profiles are free and look very similar to personal accounts, but they come with an assortment of features that can benefit businesses of all sizes. When you choose this type of profile, you’ll be able to add a call, text, or email button and directions to your building to your bio section. You can also use a business profile to learn about the types of people that follow your account and promote your posts by turning them into ads.

Perfect Your Bio

Like many other social media platforms, Instagram has a bio section where users can share a short description. For your business account, you’ll want to create a bio that describes what you do or what you offer in a short, snappy, and attention-grabbing way. The perfect bio will describe your company, lead potential customers to your website, and show off your company’s unique personality. Instagram only allows 150 characters for the bio section, so it’s a good idea to use 1 to 2 sentences, a key phrase, or a few keywords for this part of your profile. You can also include a link to your company’s website in this part of your Instagram account, which is essential if you want people who view your profile to become your customers.

Start Following People

You should start following other Instagram users as soon as you create your company’s account. Influencers are highly influential accounts that post frequently, have a lot of followers, and are up-to-date on news and trends in their specific fields. Look up hashtags that relate to your products and services to find influencers in your industry. Following these accounts will give you a look at the types of content influential people in your industry tend to post. It is also a good idea to follow other local businesses, as this can help bring your physical community online. Once customers and other non-business accounts start following your account, you might want to consider following them back—but don’t feel obligated to follow everyone who follows you.

Post Eye-Catching Pictures and Videos

Instagram is a unique social media platform because it focuses solely on pictures and videos. While sites like Facebook and Twitter also allow you to post pictures and videos, they also allow text posts and do not focus only on visual content. Quality is definitely better than quantity when it comes to content marketing, so your company should focus on posting only high-quality pictures and videos that will catch the attention of your followers as they’re scrolling through their Instagram feeds. You can post pictures and videos of your products, stores, office space, employees, and favorite local spots to get started.

Use the Right Hashtags

When you include hashtags in your Instagram captions, your posts will be visible to anyone who clicks on that hashtag. This is useful for increasing visibility as well as highlighting keywords that relate to your products and services. With relevant hashtags, your posts are more likely to be seen by people who are interested in what you offer, making it more likely that you’ll gain new customers. You can include simple hashtags or look into more complicated ones that are trending. You should also consider using branded hashtags, which are hashtags that are unique to your brand. Always research hashtags before including them in your posts.

Consider Using Instagram Stories

Launched in August of 2016, Stories is a cool feature that allows you to post pictures or short videos that your followers can view for up to 24 hours. You can also add text, drawings, and filters to your pictures and videos, letting you create totally customized posts. The Stories feature can be a great tool for businesses that want to create stronger online presences. Your company can use this feature to build excitement when highlighting new products or services. You can also utilize the Stories feature when you’re hosting product launches, parties, and other special events. Instagram also has a live video feature that can be useful when showing off new products or sharing your event experience.

You can learn more about the benefits of social media marketing for your business when you work with Pennington Creative. Our writers and designers can create unique and engaging content that you can post to your social media accounts as well as your website. Visit us online to learn more about our Tucson content marketing services.

About the Author

Jessica - Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Services
Jessica DeMilt

Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Services