Instagram is without a doubt one of the most popular influences on consumers today, especially those under the age of 25. The photo-sharing app has become a popular tool for businesses to grow their companies, helping small businesses to take off and connect with an engaged, tech-savvy audience.
It might be a simple concept, but Instagram is actually a very effective platform. Not only can businesses reach millions of potential customers, but its more recent features allow you to make money directly from Instagram.
If you’re thinking of starting a business, then why not use Instagram as your way to help it take off? Read more about how to use Instagram to your business’ advantage and become the social media phenomenon’s latest success story.
See the impact for yourself
Many businesses will hold their hands up to say that Instagram has been integral to their success. Case studies from fashion brands like SHEIN have seen their purchase conversions grow 23% using Instagram’s latest conversion optimization tools. They said, “Instagram is a key focus for SHEIN, and we are continuously experimenting on the platform,” and this is true for many brands, particularly in the fashion and beauty industries.
However, it’s not just lifestyle brands that are making a splash on Instagram, so it’s worth reading Instagram marketing case studies to learn more about how the platform can work for you. Both small and large businesses are using Instagram to their advantage, so if you’ve got a great idea for a business, you could get things to take off using the social media platform.
Ideas for Instagram businesses
Whether you’re embarking on a side venture or you’re starting your first business, you can get started easily with Instagram. Finding the right idea can be the most difficult part, so you’ll need to do some research first. One best idea to dive into is to get help from Instagram growth services such as twicsy and Kicksta. However, Kicksta is well-known for helping businesses get real Instagram followers using their powerful growth tool. If you’ve already got an idea in mind, some market research will go a long way to help you examine the competition and see what you’re up against.
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Fashion and beauty are popular ventures to explore on Instagram, with a wide range of possibilities for businesses. You could team up with a swimsuit manufacturer to design and produce your own swimwear or create your own natural cosmetics or bath products. Many influencers go on to start their own businesses after developing a loyal following, providing the perfect platform to sell. It is possible to start a business from scratch on Instagram, and using the right strategy and techniques; you could develop your following quickly.
Work on creating a great account
Your business’ first impression is important, so start off by making your account reflect your brand and what you want it to represent. If you want to project a fun, youthful image – opt for bright, vivid colors and patterns. Meanwhile, cool, edgy brands can use a lot of white space and monochrome to give your account a clean look. Your image editing isn’t restricted to Instagram’s built-in tools, with many businesses choosing to use editing apps and programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom to enhance the quality of their images.
Thanks to Instagram grid-planning tools, it’s possible to create a great-looking Instagram feed that will appeal to followers and help you to sell your products. You can now plan and schedule content for weeks in advance, which will make it easier to develop marketing plans around your products.
Get creative
Instagram’s best brands are doing well because of their creativity. Through different visuals, including video, it’s possible to make a big impression on Instagram and develop a following quickly. Experiment with different layouts, connecting images and more to cement your profile as one of the best there is.
Be engaging
Developing an engaged Instagram following is essential for your business’ success on Instagram. There are ways to grow your following through being engaging that will help you to achieve thousands of followers quickly. Write engaging captions that ask questions and offer value to followers and make the most of hashtags where possible.
It’s important that you engage with your followers and those who choose to like/comment on your photos. Return comments where possible, even an emoji heart will count as an interaction, and feature their content on your feeds too. Monitor the photos that you’re tagged in and engage with those as well – your followers will appreciate the gesture more than you know.
Use Instagram stories
Instagram Stories is quickly becoming one of Instagram’s most-used elements. Businesses can use Stories as another way to engage with followers, talk about products and show ‘behind the scenes’ content that might not be a suitable fit for the main feed. There are different ways businesses can make the most of Instagram Stories, including live video and incorporating Highlights. Offering much more than a photo-sharing platform, Stories allow followers to get to know your brand better.
Once you hit over 10,000 followers, even more features open up to businesses. The ‘Swipe Up’ feature will allow you to link directly to products as a fantastic promotional tool that can see you increase sales. With Instagram’s algorithm making it difficult for your images to get seen quickly, stories can be an effective way of promoting your content.
Work with influencers
Influencer marketing has really taken off in recent years, with many businesses seeking out social media influencers to market their products. In the fashion and beauty industry, in particular, this has been a big success through Instagram. Brands are turning away from their expensive celebrity endorsements and are instead seeking out ordinary people who have a much closer affinity to target audiences. Influencer marketing can help you to spread the word about your brand and can provide a high return on investment if you choose your targets wisely.
With a great idea and the right strategy behind you, you can turn your business into an Instagram success. The ideal platform for starting an at-home business or developing a brand, Instagram has a lot of potential. If you’re serious about your new venture, make sure that Instagram is at the heart of your plans to help you become the next online success story.