It’s no secret that today’s most popular social media platforms provide a major opportunity for marketers. Mobile apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have become a staple in today’s society, with approximately seven-in-ten Americans using social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. On the same token, social media has also become a valuable resource for marketing teams, offering brands the opportunity to showcase their products, connect with customers, and generate sales.
In particular, Instagram has had a substantial impact on brands who have created a presence for their business on the platform. The photo-sharing app, which has generated over a billion users since its inception in 2010, has since become a hub for e-commerce, a channel for customer service, and even a source for digital advertising.
Many businesses will hold their hands up to say that Instagram has been integral to their success. Case studies from Instagram-savvy brands like SHEIN have seen their purchase conversions grow 23% using Instagram’s latest conversion optimization tools.
However, for brands looking to grow their following and maximize their opportunities on Instagram, it can often be difficult to cut through the noise and get noticed. Instagram’s ever-changing feed algorithm coupled with the ever-growing number of brands chasing social media notoriety has made it increasingly difficult for accounts to be seen organically. This may mean you’re wasting time, money and effort on campaigns that may never be seen by your target audience.
Here are four tips to get your brand noticed on Instagram:
Respond to Current Events
Brands that are the first to share or respond to breaking news are sure to get the attention and engagement from an audience that latecomers won’t. For this reason, staying on top of things that are relevant to your audience, whether it be current events, pop culture references or trending topics is one of the best ways to grasp your prospective and current followers’ attention. Be sure to set news alerts or task a team member to keep watch for meaningful events that can be used to reach out to your audience.
However, keep in mind that these stories need to be relevant to your audience and the topics they are apt to be interested in. For example, if you’re hoping to capture the attention of middle-aged males, you might not want to post about the latest happenings of the summer’s breakout reality show. This tactic is all about tailoring your content to the interests of your target demographic.
Initiate Frequent Conversation
One of Instagram’s best tools to boost engagement, by far, is Instagram Stories. In fact, Sprout Social reports that 68% of millennials consume Stories on Instagram versus 49% on Snapchat and 44% on Facebook. Aside from their popularity, Instagram Stories provide the perfect medium for brands to interact with their audiences. The Stories feature allows you to include polls, questions, and hashtags, all of which fuel viewer response and participation. Not only will people answer the question you’ve posed, but they’ll often also engage with you and others over the topic you’ve chosen.
Instagram Stories content is easier for marketers to produce than content that would be published to your grid. It focuses more on the frequency and “real-time” feel, rather than perfectly photographed and edited photos. Click To Tweet As ThriveHive suggests, “Instagram Stories allows you to continue using (or start implementing) frequent posting as an engagement strategy—instead of only “wow” posting—to stay top of mind for your audience.”
Strategize Your Posting Time
Posting consistently isn’t the only important factor for getting noticed. You also need to post strategically, at the right times. Think about when your audience is most likely to check in with social media. It’s likely to be the first thing in the morning, during the lunch hour, or right before they go to bed.
Luckily for marketers, if you run a business account, Instagram provides this information to you. Head to the analytics tab of your account. This is where you’ll be able to see the days of the week and times of day your followers are on Instagram the most. To get the highest amount of engagement, post when your target audience is most active. This is the best strategy to ensure your posts aren’t getting buried in the sea of content posted throughout the day.
Use a Consistent Brand Image and Language
Because Instagram is a highly visual platform, users are going to rely on the look of your brand’s posts in order to recognize you. You want to build a cohesive brand image that makes brand recognition a snap for your audience. Click To Tweet This way, they can easily recognize your brand when mindlessly scrolling through their Instagram feed. For example, use the same filters, a similar color scheme, or just a consistent style of photography.
Be sure that your Instagram brand also matches your overall branding strategy too. If your branding is clean and minimal – it should stay the same on Instagram. If your brand uses lots of bright colors, so should your Instagram photos.
If you’re looking to get noticed and grow your audience on Instagram, be sure to follow the tips above. Make sure to be consistent, put the interests of your audience first, and spark moments of conversation and engagement. This will not only prove to be of interest to your followers, but is an effective strategy for your overall business.
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