You know how use Instagram as a marketing tool?
On this blog I have already talked several times about how images, and the platforms to share them (for example, Pinterest), can be very useful for promoting your website, attracting traffic and interacting with users.
Today, therefore, I want to talk to you about Instagram and offer some tips on how its use can be optimized in order to promote your online presence.
How to use Instagram: first we present the social
Before giving you some useful tips on how to use Instragram, I will briefly introduce this tool.
Instagram was born as Mobile App, that is, to be downloaded and used on mobile phones.
The application allows the user to create an account, take pictures, modify them and share them with their followers.
Followers can then comment, click “like”, etc.
Recently a video functionality was also added, with which it is also possible create short movies.
The advantages of Instagram
Immediacy
One of the main characteristics of Instagram is immediacy.
Being born as a Mobile App, it allows you to take and publish photos in a couple of minutes.
Furthermore, Instagram is integrable with all major social networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.).
This means that every time you post a photo on Instagram it can be automatically published on your other profiles as well.
Visual effects
Explaining how to use Instagram, one cannot fail to mention the filters, that is, the effects of light and color that can be applied to images.
There are more than 20 of them and using them will allow you, in a few seconds, to create very original images.
Here is an example:
Users growing in 2017
The choice of whether or not to use Instagram depends on the niccha you are addressing and the time you have available to follow this platform.
Undoubtedly, however, there are some numbers to think about.
Most Instagram users are between 18 and 29, and the platform is the main social network for over 30% of teenagers.
The monthly active users in Italy reach 14 million and increased by 55.5% compared to the previous year.
Globally, 7 out of 10 hashtags they belong to a brand and 80% of users follow at least one brand on Instagram.
If your niche is in the right age range, your business lends itself to image creation, and your users are active on this platform, opening an account might be the right choice for generating traffic.
How to use Instagram for marketing
Choose a name and create a profile
First, you will need to choose a name for your account and create an Instagram profile for yourself (if you have a personal blog), for your site or for your business.
Not all names will be available – try to find one, however easily identifiable and that represents your online presence.
There are some elements that can never be missing on your Instagram page; among these, a profile picture and the URL of your site.
To illustrate the structure and elements of the Instagram profile, I insert an infographic by Gerry Moran, published on MarketingThink.
Post regularly
This is the golden rule of how to use Instagram – be sure to publish images on a regular basis, at least once a day.
You must, in fact, keep the interest of your existing followers high and work to expand your audience.
Use hashtags (#)
Instagram uses hashtags, which will undoubtedly be very useful to you.
Using the search function you can, in fact, search for hashtags related to your niche and find out who are the users who publish images on the subject.
I recommend following a couple of new users every day – you will receive updates on posted images and will be able to follow and participate in conversations with an audience interested in your niche.
Also, some of these users will follow you in turn.
Show your products
If you want to know how to use Instagram to promote a business, pay close attention to this paragraph.
This App is the perfect tool to show your new products to your audience in the most immediate way possible; but also others“Background” of your business, as images of the production phase or of your offices.
Also remember that you can always use the video feature to show a product “on the go” or add a short voice message.
Publish Call To Action
Now let’s see how to use Instagram to increase conversions: occasionally, you can too publish Call To Action.
Create an image that describes your particular product, service or offer and link to your site’s sales page.
Monitor the results of your campaigns
Using a tool like Iconosquare, you can not only manage your account and conversations with followers from your desktop, but also monitor the results of the images you post.
This will allow you to identify which shares generate the most interactions, monitor how many new followers you receive on a weekly basis, etc.
Insert a link in your account bio
Normally it is not possible to insert clickable links in the posts you publish on Instagram, unless they are advertisements.
However, you can insert a link to your site directly in the bio of your account, in order to direct users to your site.
Most accounts insert the link to the homepage of the site, but in some special cases you can also consider linking to specific pages.
For example, you can use a link to the contact or booking page for an appointment, or send users to a landing page created just for the Instagram audience.
Launch an advertising campaign on Instagram
Another way to generate traffic to your site on Instagram is to create an advertising campaign.
As I specified above, paid posts are clickable and also allow you to insert a button containing a call to action, such as “Find out more” or “Buy”.
You can use the Facebook advertising tools, which allow you to choose from a variety of targeting options, as well as provide you with an estimate of impressions and clicks.
You will be able to target an audience similar to the one that follows you, of a specific age or geographic area, who have certain interests or demographic characteristics.
You can start with a very low budget, like € 5 a day and stop the campaign at any time if the results don’t convince you.
If you’re interested in remarketing, you can too install the Facebook pixel on your site, so that you can retarget users who have visited specific pages or sections in the last 180 days.
Conclusion
Today I explained to you briefly how to use instagram: what are the main features of the tool and some ideas for using it for marketing.
Now I just have to ask you: do you already have an Instagram account? Do you think it generates traffic to your site? Let me know by leaving a comment.
