We all know that we should using Instagram for our business. I mean, everyone and their grandma is on it (okay, maybe not ALL of our grandmas…) and it’s free! Can’t get much better than that.

But Instagram is a lot of work. Figuring out what to post, responding to comments, finding the right hashtags, and all that jazz. I’m the first person to admit - it can be exhausting.

That’s why today I’d like to share some guidelines about how to use Instagram more strategically for your business - so you can get the most out of all the time & energy you put into it! Here are the top 3 ways you should be using your Instagram strategically to support the success of your business.

1. Grow your Brand Awareness

There are so many amazing brands out there these days! (Believe me, I know. I’m an Instagram creeper with a capital C.) Instagram is a great way for more people to find out about you and your brand. With social media, we’re connected to the entire freaking world so we might as well take advantage of that.

There are 2 ways to be super intentional about growing your brand awareness on Instagram. You need to help your ideal customers find you AND go find your ideal customers.

How to: HELP PEOPLE FIND YOU

If you want people to FIND YOU on The Instagram, you need to be the one who makes that possible. You can do this by:

1. Using Hashtags

That means using all 30 of your allowed hashtags, and making them good! If you need help choosing your hashtags, check out our post about how to write a captivating caption for tips!

2. Tagging your location & Other accounts

It’s super important to tag your location & other accounts when possible - because it increases your Insta SEO and allows you to show up on the feeds of people who may not be following you.

3. Creating Shareable Posts

Creating posts that people will want to share with their friends is another great way for new eyes to see your content. The most shareable posts on Instagram are usually entertaining, inspirational or educational (quotes & memes work really well!) and don’t forget to ask your audience to “share this with someone who…” in your caption. People like to be told what to do. 😉

How to: Find The People

The second way to increase your brand awareness on Instagram is to target (ahem, stalk) your ideal clients’ accounts! Here’s what you do.

1. Stalk Them

Go down the Instagram hole! Search for hashtags that your ideal audience interacts with, creep on the followers of your competitors, peruse the comments of similar accounts… There are so many awesome ways to stalk people. I’m going to write a blog post about how to do this appropriately SOON so keep an eye out for that one!

2. Interact with them

Next, you actually interact with the accounts of your newly found ideal audience members. This means liking their photos, leaving comments, replying to their stories & shooting them friendly DMs. Do ALL THE THINGS to get your pretty little brand on their radar & pique their interest!

Pro tip: When interacting with other accounts, make it about THEM. Let them come to your page to find out about YOU.

2. Build & Nurture Your Community

It’s super important to build community with your customers around your brand. If you do this, your customers will be loyal to you (by continuing to buy your products or services! #winning) AND they’ll bring you more business with their personal recommendations. #doublewin

Instagram is a wonderful way to build this community & nurture your relationship with your customers because:

1. Having this interactive place for your customers to gather, engage with you & give you feedback is invaluable for your biz. It’s important to engage with your audience and make them feel heard 

2. Having an engaged Instagram following gives the world social proof that your brand is worth a damn. If “outsiders” see this group of “insiders” (aka your followers) engaging with your account, they will think, Oh shoot, this brand’s legit! and probably get a little case of FOMO, which they can cure by following you as well.

So how do you do this?

The best ways to build and nurture your audience is to keep your account engaging. Ask them to leave comments on your posts or respond to your stories, and ALWAYS respond to these comments and direct messages. It is so important to make your audience feel special on an individual level. This is how brand loyalty is built.

3. Sell Your stuff

This one is a little difficult for a lot of people, including myself, and I think that’s because Instagram feels more like a place for community, entertainment and inspiration - and our audience isn’t always in the right mindset to buy.

Yet, if you want to use Instagram purposefully for you business, you NEED to promote your goods and services to your audience. Don’t worry, I believe we can do this genuine way. So here is what we do:

1. shift your selling mindset

Firstly, we need to shift the way we think about selling, especially when we’re selling on Instagram. We need to go from a “buy from me!” mindset to a “this is how I’ll help you!” mindset.

We need to show/tell our audience how we can add value to their lives with our products or services - whether that be by relieving their stresses, giving them more time or simply bringing joy to their lives. 

2. don’t always be selling

Secondly, I don’t believe we should ALWAYS be selling on Instagram. We should encourage people to improve their livelihoods and educate them about how they can do so - no strings attached - most of the time. Then when you ask your audience to buy from you, they’ll know you’re coming from a genuine place, and they’ll be ready for it.

Let’s break it down. Say you’re posting 7 days a week to your feed… Make 6 of those posts all about your audience without a direct sales pitch, then when you get to that 7th post, you can hit them with the, Oh hey, remember what we’ve been talking about all week? Well here’s how I can help you have it!

Well, there ya have it, folks! If you’re using your Instagram to grow your brand awareness, nurture your community & sell your products/services, you’re already on the right track!

need more support?

Want us to tell you exactly what you’re doing RIGHT & WRONG with your brand’s Insta account?
We can do that! (And we’ll throw in a 5-Step Action Plan that you can follow for instant improvement!)

We’re introducing our newest offer The Instagram Audit + 1:1 Strategy Sesh next week!
And we’re celebrating by giving one package away FO FREE, so make sure you keep an eye on our Instagram page!