What fits perfectly with this modern society is being active in business on social media like Instagram. The question is: where do you start and how do you do it? In this article, we give you a few beginner tips to use Instagram for business.
1. Create a business profile on Instagram
When you create an account on Instagram for the first time, you will see that it almost immediately becomes a personal account. Since you are going to use this channel for business, it is necessary to have a business profile. Why should you do that? Simple: to get an answer to the question: "who views my Instagram?". As an entrepreneur, this is essential for how you present your business online.
This way, you have access to statistics such as the age and gender of your visitors and thus your target audience. You can also see which posts perform well or not, giving you an idea of what works for your audience. Additionally, you should not forget that with a business profile, you can advertise. You can use the above data and statistics for that.
2. Fill in your profile with catchy texts
Before you start posting images, you need to know that you must first fill in your complete business profile. This means mentioning all important business information, such as your business name, what you do, and where you can be found. On your account, you will find a (limited) space in the biography where you can do this. Put your business details there.
Do this in a playful way, for example with symbols or using emojis. You can also add your website in your settings; it will then appear on your account. People can click on your website from there and find more information about your business. Also, remember to include important keywords in your catchy biography for optimal discoverability.
3. Important: create really beautiful images
Instagram is a social medium where everything revolves around beautiful pictures. Therefore, it is important to play into that; regardless of the industry you work in. Determine what you want to post before filling your feed and how the images should connect with each other. A beautiful whole ensures that your account looks polished on Instagram, which is only beneficial for your business.
Create or have professional photos taken for your business that you then share with your followers and customers every now and then. Use the same filter for all images to create that unity. The great advantage of using filters is that anyone can get started with them; this way, you can turn a simple photo into a dream picture. Ideal!
4. Be active and show personal involvement
Although your business account on Instagram is professional, it doesn’t hurt to add a personal touch here and there. This doesn’t mean you have to post about your personal life, but rather that you show there is a person behind the business. You can do this by responding to comments on your posts and on the posts of other businesses and customers.
You can also regularly give a behind-the-scenes look via Instagram Stories to be a bit more personal. This way, (potential) customers get a clear idea of who you are and what you do. With so much competition nowadays, that is more than welcome. Don’t forget to be active and stay visible. Instagram’s algorithm shows images from active users more often.
5. Use relevant #hashtags
Finally, here’s the tip you might have expected: Instagram is the social medium where hashtags are used. By adding a # before a word, you turn that word into a hashtag. Other users can search for such a word, where they will come across your post among others. This is the ideal way to attract a new audience and possibly customers.
It is important to be as specific as possible with the hashtags you use; they must truly fit your business. There is plenty of information available online about this, and many popular hashtags appear on Instagram when you simply type # under a photo. Extra tip: place the hashtags in the first comment under a photo instead of in the description. That looks a bit more professional.
