In today’s day and age, having a digital footprint is an important part of running a business. Instagram is one of the top leading platforms for businesses internationally. According to Hootsuite, 1 billion people use Instagram, with 500 million using it everyday. With over 70% of the nation’s population having at least one social media account, taking care of yours can set you apart from your competitors. This week we sat down with our friends, and social media experts over at People’s Revolt to talk about the six best tips for your brand’s Instagram. 

Use Hashtags 

Currently Instagram allows their users to use thirty hashtags on each post. Using 30 hashtags will make you stand out, but it’s better to use them efficiently than selfishly. They put your brand in front of people who aren’t familiar with it, but are looking at things similar to what you are posting. Make sure to use hashtags that represent your brand well and ones that have over 100,000 - 1 million posts to be spotted easier and become relevant among competition. For example, if you are a makeup artist, you shouldn’t use #Realtor. This is misleading and can result to shadowboxing on your account. Instagram has gotten pretty strict on their spam accounts and using incorrect hashtags can result in them deeming your account as spam and shadow-banning you from potential followers. 

Post Consistently

Figure out a schedule that works best for you and stick to it. Posting consistently gives your followers something to look forward to and makes everything more uniform. Do a little research to find out what your platform peak times are to maximize engagement opportunities. This is when followers are most active, so the more comments, likes, and shares, means more exposure for your brand.

Engagement

This is a MAJOR part of growing your business and increases potential exposure to consumers. Make sure to engage on your platform posts and also, engage with others on relevant pages and hashtags. Use verbiage that acts as a call to action, such as asking questions or asking the public to join the conversation.

Aesthetic

Having a cohesive and visually pleasing page will get you more attention. It’s easier for a potential follower to leave a page if it’s too cluttered or an eyesore. Try to use consistent color schemes, filters, and layouts throughout posts to give your brand a unique, cohesive personality. Using high quality images with relate-able engaging visuals will make your page pop and pull in users.

Trends

It’s vital to stay relevant in your field. Research topics relevant to your brand and mission. For example, if you own a bakery, you’ll want to know when National Dessert Day and National Baking Day is. Using these trending posts with hashtags will spread brand awareness to a wider audience. It may even result in your post being shared on the ‘Discover’ page, which is striking gold on Instagram. Staying up-to-date will take some time, but can grow your brand at an exponential rate.

Time Management

As a female entrepreneur, you’re already juggling multiple tasks in your daily life and may be wondering when to find the time to post on Instagram. That’s where strategizing and scheduling apps come in handy. There are different platforms to choose from. Our personal favorites are Later, UNUM, and Sprout Social. They have different uses with a free trial so you can see what works best for you. Spend a few hours a week preparing and scheduling out content and you won’t have to worry about it throughout your week. This allows you to focus on engagement whenever you have a second to check your phone, whether you are winding down from the day or have 15 minutes to spare in the morning before starting the day.

All things considered, Instagram is a fun and creative way to reach current and potential audiences. It creates and highlights your brand personality, so remember to keep it simple and lighthearted. Don’t stress over it and remember there are apps to help you come up with an effective social media plan. Once you get the hang of it, the rest comes naturally. Before you know it, you will be an Instagram queen and on to conquer a new social media platform. Until then, happy posting!