The Complete Guide to Instagram Marketing. Everything you should know to make a killer Instagram marketing campaign for your online business. All the resources and tools required to make compelling Instagram posts that get viewed by people you target. Learn how to use Instagram as an effective tool for increasing brand awareness of your product or service. Helping your customers make sense of your brand or product and feeling comfortable with your brand image
Social media is becoming increasingly important to both individual marketers and large companies who are looking for new ways of reaching their audience. One such method is through social media marketing (SMM). SMM is the act of selling and promoting your brand on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. It is also commonly known as social listening or social consulting. For the most successful marketers, SMM is not about trying to sell something to everyone, but rather getting your message into the mind and thoughts of your audience. It is this insight which will help shape the opinion and purchase decisions of your customer base.
For many, creating a clear vision of their brand is easier said than done. It takes time and dedication to build up a consistent image for your brand. Your brand needs to be consistent with your messaging, website, Instagram posts, Instagram images etc. If you want to reach a wide audience and become a household name for your brand, it needs to have a consistent visual identity which is communicated through all marketing channels. Branding requires structure and clarity. Without having a strong brand identity, your audience may develop a negative perception about your product or service.
For example: If you are a clothing retailer who sells t-shirts and jeans, one great example of how your Instagram marketing can be powerful and influential is to post a photograph of your products/shop inside the shop itself. This photograph will instantly display your brand within the minds and hearts of your audience instantly. It is through the visual style of your Instagram posting that you are communicating your brand. A great example of this is a fashion retailer posting a picture of their latest product on Instagram – this instantly generates interest in the buyer and has them wondering what they might buy next.
Another key component of Instagram marketing strategy is to work in a manner that is not only visually appealing but also allows your customers to engage with your brand effectively. In this way you are able to develop a targeted communication with your potential customers. With the Instagram platform you have the opportunity to interact with your potential customers in a more one-to-one fashion. This interaction is both direct and indirect.
Direct interaction with your followers will allow you to establish long-term relationships with your followers. Long-term relationships will make people more likely to trust you and engage with your content. However, the direct Instagram marketing strategy of engaging your followers with thoughtful content will also build trust with them. Engaging your followers with quality content is an essential part of this marketing strategy. If you publish useful content on Instagram that you wouldn’t normally publish on other platforms then it’s important to ensure your audience see the content. By ensuring your Instagram followers are seeing worthwhile content your audience will be more likely to stay engaged with your page and follow you on Instagram.
An additional Instagram marketing strategy is to take advantage of engagement. Engagement is the key to a successful marketing campaign. Engagement is defined as “the process of developing, providing, maintaining, enhancing, or responding to a relationship between a customer and a marketer.” In other words, if you want to succeed on Instagram, then you must engage with your audience and communicate with them. By providing useful information on Instagram, connecting with your followers on Instagram, and engaging with your users you can increase engagement. Furthermore, when engaging with your audience you are demonstrating that you genuinely care about them and their interests, and this will create loyalty amongst your audience.
To get the most out of your marketing efforts, it is recommended you engage your Instagram followers with more than just your basic Instagram pictures. Instead, use your Instagram account to share interesting information with your followers; this will not only instill a sense of engagement with your audience but will also provide them with the content they are likely to find valuable. For instance, many marketers have found success by publishing short articles, free ebooks, or insightful blog posts. By publishing unique content you are demonstrating that you are an expert in your chosen niche. Additionally, by sharing interesting content you are showing that you are an active user of social media; this creates the impression that you value your followers and are willing to engage with them. Ultimately, all of this instills a sense of credibility and importance to your Instagram marketing efforts.
