10 Ways to Boost Your Instagram Presence

According to OurSocialTimes, Instagram currently has 200 million monthly active users. They also report that 60 million photos are uploaded to Instagram daily and 1.6 billion likes occur daily.

Even more impressive, OurSocialTimes reports that engagement rates on Instagram are 15 times higher than Facebook and 20 times higher than Twitter.

It’s no wonder more brands are heading to the platform!

The Pew Research Center reports 55% of Instagram Users are aged 18, to 29, so if your target audience falls in that range, your competitors are using the platform, and your target customer is actively engaged, these are just a few reasons you should consider creating an Instagram presence.

These tips will help you boost your Instagram presence and give you ideas about creating and shaping an Instagram strategy before you jump in:

1. Create and Promote Contests
As a startup or established brand that is just starting with Instagram, creating contests are a good way to get new followers and get them interested in your product or service.

Of course, there are many things that go into creating an Instagram contest, such as creating terms and conditions (and getting them approved through your legal or marketing team), creating graphics, possibly getting influencers on board, using Instagram ads to promote it and getting users to enter, but what you need to focus on first is the purpose behind your contest.

When it comes to creating and promoting an Instagram contest, it can help you to establish your brand persona, build an active following, and increase reach.

Don’t make the contest a one-and-done entry process.

Engage participants by considering providing them additional entries for reposting or tagging your brand on their own account. Be creative!

Amplify your reach and make the most of your Instagram investment and contest efforts.

2. Use Instagram Ads
Whether you are promoting a contest, product or service sale, grand opening event, an influencer post, or another piece of engaging content, the point of using Instagram ads is to reach your target customer more effectively.

Start small with your spend, and when you find results with a specific targeting strategy, consider increasing your budget. Carefully monitor your ROI.

You can target audiences based on location, age, gender, languages, interests, behaviors, demographics, and connections to other accounts.

Plus, now that Facebook and Instagram are connected, you can make dual-use of your ad budget by promoting your content on both platforms if you see fit.

3. Convert Your Profile to Instagram for Business
Though you may not be a verified profile (yet), converting your Instagram account from a personal profile to a business profile will help establish your reputation and credibility as a brand.

In addition, by switching to an Instagram for Business profile, you are also given access to Instagram Analytics. This will give you key insight into your followers, engagement and activity levels, optimal posting times, and more.

With an Instagram for Business profile, you also give your fans and customers more ways to access you.

For example, you get a contact button directly on your profile once you switch where you can add your business contact email address (as opposed to just having users DM you).

Keep in mind, you must have your Instagram for Business Profile connected to an existing Facebook page.

4. Use Instagram Tools
From analytic tools to publishing tools to follower-building tools, there is a variety at your disposal.

Be wary of follower-building tools, however. You don’t want your account to be shut down because you are using bots. You always should strive to create an authentic Instagram following, whether that is through ads, redirecting your website users to your Instagram profile, or other effective methods.

Some publishing tools that work for Instagram include Grum, Hootsuite, and Buffer, while SquareLovin, Cyfe, and Kissmetrics are a few platforms that provide analytics. There are many, many more you can use, so do your research to find what is right for you …

Finally, Forbes recommends Viral Upgrade or Social Drift for Instagram follower growth services.

5. Use and Don’t Abuse the Right Hashtags
Generally, brands should use 2-3 hashtags per post. Whether these are popular hashtags among their target audience or relevant brand hashtags, they should be consistent and relatable.

It’s pretty simple when it comes to hashtags. Using too many can look like spam. Focus them to drive the right followers to your profile and help them find you better.

Did you know “#love” is the most used hashtag on Instagram?

6. Capitalize on Instagram Stories
If you’re on Instagram, you should become familiar with Instagram Stories and how they can be used to drive engagement.

Whether you have an influencer take over your Instagram Stories to drive brand awareness, host a live video Q&A with your company’s founder, offer a discount code, or use another effective campaign strategy, there are many ways your brand can capitalize on the feature.

You can also gain insight into your customers, and product and service likeability by having followers participate in polls via your Instagram Stories.

As a brand, you should be using Instagram Stories to expand your digital storytelling.

Instagram Stories now allows you to “highlight” your stories by the type of content you publish (or whatever other titles you please). So, for example, if you often include images of home decor in your stories, you may add a segmented story with that title as a “highlight.”

Consider categorizing your story “highlights” by product or service type.

7. Work with Influencers
Get influencers involved with your Instagram profile as sponsored advocates! Come up with a storytelling strategy with them that is authentic and engaging for your target audience.

Let influencers be who they are with your brand. Create a strong partnership with them.

Although they are working for you, when it comes down to it, you must value their insight because they know how to speak to the audience you aspire to have as your own.

Seek out tastemakers. Offer these influencers brand experiences, not just tangible goods. Think outside the box when it comes to working with them.

8. Encourage Participation by Interacting with Your Customers and Followers
Don’t forget about your followers! Once you have them, you must interact with their content as they interact with yours.

Your company may opt to hire an intern to do this sometimes tedious task, but be sure to keep this up. If you become disengaged with your audience, they are more likely to become disengaged with you.

Make sure your comments are authentic to the user and on-brand at all times. Don’t stray from your original purpose or goals with Instagram.

9. Promote Your Instagram Account
Whether at trade shows, live events, printed on marketing materials or shown on your website, you need to make your Instagram presence known. Be aware of the Instagram icon usage guidelines when using it.

If you want to build your presence, you need to establish it.

10. Prioritize
If Instagram is your chosen method of social media, then be sure to use it that way. There’s no need to “feed around the bush”!

When making important company announcements, for example, promote it on this platform first if you and your marketing team have named it as your number one social media platform.

You can create messages on your other platforms such as, “We announce our big surprise today! Head on over to our Instagram to see what it is.”

You could use this type of redirect for a variety of reasons, whether your company just hit a major milestone with a change in management, working with an influencer, announcing a contest, or something else that’s major.

With social media, remember you don’t have to be excellent on every platform.

When you put focus on one social media platform and get really good at it, it makes more of a difference for your brand than being mediocre at several social media platforms.

Leverage your presence. Increase your social media ROI with prioritization, whether with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or another platform.

To know what social media platform you should prioritize with, you need to know where your audience is the most engaged and active, so do your research.

Conduct polls or surveys and read demographic reports from credible online resources.

With the vast amount of social media user information that’s available to you, you should not have any problems finding the answers about your target audience you’re looking for.

Use your noggin! Don’t just guess when it comes to social media or put your brand strategy in the hands of someone who is “young” because you assume they know how to optimize it because “they grew up with it.”

Social media and digital marketing experts exist for a reason, and they come with the talent, diversity, and experience you need to succeed with your digital marketing efforts.

Do not dismiss their education or expertise. Your digital brand reputation is at stake here …

Boost your presence. Grow your fan base, and grow your brand!

Get more information on Ledgeview’s comprehensive marketing consulting services here.