We all know what Instagram is all about right?

Most of us will answer as, Hey!! it is a social media. We connect with our near and dear ones, we post stories about what we are doing.

Well Yes! but do you know that Instagram is also a business platform? It is a great place not only to connect with millions of customer but it has turned out to be a lead generation machine.

More than 25 million organizations worldwide are already using Instagram for business, and around 200 million users visit at least one business profile each day.

Do you also wish to expand your business through Instagram but you are confused about how to approach this opportunity?

Do not worry!

Let us provide you with a little insight on how to use Instagram for business.

Let’s get on with it!!

What is the basic rule to follow while promoting a business on Instagram?

1. Get an Instagram business account

We all have our personal accounts on Instagram that we all use to share stories or post or connect to our family and friends. But do we use the same for business? the answer is a big “NO”.

To promote your business or the brand, the first basic rule is to have a BUSINESS ACCOUNT or convert a personal account into a business account.

How to set up an Instagram business account

Download the Instagram app. Open the app and Sign Up. Enter your email address and then Next. Choose your username and password and fill in your information. Tap Done.

Now, you have a personal Instagram account that can be converted to a business account. Continue by following the steps below.

How to convert a personal account to a business account

Log into your personal Instagram account. Then go to your profile. Tap the three lines icon at the top right of the screen, then go to Settings. Tap Switch to Business Profile, then Continue Add contact information: Your business account must include an email address, a phone number, or a physical address. Tap Done.

2. Make a winning Instagram strategy

Define your target audience

Before you can decide what kind of content you will post on Instagram, you need to think about who is going to see it. Who is your target audience?

Determine who already buys from you.

Check who follows you there.

Do some thorough research

Make a clear value statement for your brand.

Set goals and objectives

Understanding your main goals keeps you on track and allows you to focus all of your efforts on achieving business objectives. As you build your Instagram presence, you can also go for goals based on vanity metrics like likes, follows, and comments.

Focus on the right performance metrics

The metrics to measure and track will vary for each business but you should focus on metrics related to the social funnel.

Awareness : based on metrics like brand awareness, follower growth rate, post reach, etc.

: based on metrics like brand awareness, follower growth rate, post reach, etc. Engagement : based on metrics like engagement rate (likes) and amplification rate(share).

: based on metrics like engagement rate (likes) and amplification rate(share). Conversion : this is based on metrics like click-through rate and bounce rate. For paid ads, conversion metrics also include cost per click and CPM.

: this is based on metrics like click-through rate and bounce rate. For paid ads, conversion metrics also include cost per click and CPM. Customer: These metrics are based on the actions of customers like providing testimonials about your brand.

3. Connect

The first thing you need for any service-based or product-based business to follow is the “Connection”. Connection implies a real conversation with clients or followers and a real relationship. Make them engage in a positive conversation which they can relate to. Connecting and building a relationship with each individual matters than focusing on the bunch of target audience as a whole. Direct stories to target each person, as they say, its a chain system one individual will lead to ten.

4. Focus more on skill set presentation

Business needs to showcase their service and products to the customer. If you have a service-based business then it is advisable to show before and after of their service, or videos of their work, post stories on how you are doing the job that makes you different from other service providers. If you have a product-based business, show what your products do, before and after the usage of the product or videos on how to use the product.

5. Use Testimonials and user-generated content

A great technique that works wonders with clients is testimonials and user-generated content. The more individuals share testimonials or posts in their feeds or stories about your brand, the better are the chances of conversions.

6. Educate and Inspire

Sharing tips and tricks, educating and inspiring the audience can make them come back hungry for more. Now educating generally does not imply a huge amount of information or any boring lengthy post. Sharing little tips and tricks or inspirational stories or unique educational insights can inflict curiosity among customers. This will make them visit your Instagram page every day. Soon this will turn into loyalty and help you to generate leads and build a relationship. Engage, connect and convert.

7. Use Influencers to Promote your Business

Influencers are those who have large followers on Instagram. You can pay Instagram influencers to market your products to their followers in a natural way. These sponsored posts typically are subtle and do not look like advertisements. This is helpful since people typically hate advertisements.

8. Use IGTV

Launched in June 2018, IGTV is the feature that shows long-form, vertical videos. IGTV is available in a stand-alone app within Instagram’s app, and each video can be up to an hour-long. Get creative, use IGTV to market your business in several ways, like hosting FAQ sessions and conducting how-to chat.

Also Read: LinkedIn Marketing: a complete insight to grow your business

9. Use the right hashtags

Hashtags make your Instagram content easier to find.

Captions are not searchable on Instagram, but hashtags are. When someone clicks on or searches for a hashtag, they immediately see all the associated content. It is a great way to get your content in front of people who do not follow you. A branded hashtag uplifts your brand and encourages followers to share photos. It is a great source of user-generated content.

10. Advertise on Instagram

Like any other social media, businesses also have the option to advertise on Instagram. There are three formats for advertising:

Photo ads: These look like normal photo posts, but they have a Sponsored label above the photo.

Video ads: Similar to that of photo ads, these look like regular video posts, but with a Sponsored label on top.

Carousel ads: These ads look like photo ads but features multiple photos that users can swipe through.

Wrapping Up

Instagram presents businesses with an opportunity to market their products to the targeted audience without spending an enormous amount of money on paid advertising. Advertising is optional. Whether your business strategy needs an update or you are a newcomer to this social media network, you will find these tips on how to use Instagram for business superbly useful. What do you feel about these tips? Tell us in the comments below!

Whether you want to increase your social presence on Instagram or merely change your strategy or just probably want to expand your business, we have got you covered! We will manage your Instagram business strategies and policies from scratch. So get ready for more business opportunities. Contact us today!