11 strategies for promoting on Instagram
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2024 5:47 am
The Instagram platform was initially aimed at younger generations, so it was only of interest to a handful of companies targeting a younger audience. However, Instagram, like Facebook , soon became a platform for a more mature audience, while the younger audience moved to the TikTok app.
The role of Instagram has changed, users have started following content that has value for them and not just pointless, clichéd Instagram photos.
So now users follow different topics, depending on their interests.
Of course, this also changes the way the Instagram platform works.
What used to work doesn't work anymore. The visual space has become saturated as all advertisers on Instagram fight for more followers.
Therefore, it is very important to use as many strategies as possible for your promotion.
Today I will share with you 11 strategies that I use to promote my Instagram profile.
1. Post useful content
If Instagram users don't know you or have no reason to click on your link in your Instagram Bio, consider how you can offer added value to your Instagram profile visitors. Of course, this depends on what you offer.
For example, service providers can share tips and tricks that can help potential clients grow their business.
Realize that to grow your brand, you need to constantly create useful content . Only in this way will you be successful on Instagram.
Examples of posts:
2. Promote posts on other social networks as well
If you want to reach a wider audience with your content, you need to connect all the social media you operate on . This will make it easier for followers to discover your Instagram profile . Also, make sure you have a link icon on your website and that you also display your posts on the website.
But remember that each social network has its own specifics. You'll use more hashtags on Instagram, but you might want to use a different notation for images on Facebook.
3. Use general hashtags in addition to your own
In addition to your own hashtags, try to include general hashtags that are specific to your industry in your posts. Many people use these hashtags in their posts, and although there is a high chance that your post will get lost, general 42matters hashtags can gain a lot of new followers if your post is catchy and interesting enough.
Example:
4. Tag brands, followers, and locations
Tagging, or using a "tag," is a wonderful tool that Instagram offers. With a tag, you promote brands, locations you're in, etc. As a result, your post can have a greater reach.
In line with Instagram best practices, it's a good idea to tag everyone you mention in your post. They'll likely be thrilled to be tagged on your channel and will share the news with their followers.
Don't forget to mark the locations too!
RECENT ACQUISITION ON IG: Collaboration feature, where a comment appears on 2 Instagrams, yours and the person you tagged.
Example:
5. Create engaging content together with your followers
Creating truly unique, attention-grabbing content for Instagram takes a lot of work. Luckily, you can take the stress out of it by incorporating other content into your posts. Remember, you still want to showcase what makes your brand unique , but sometimes you can also post content that someone else has created for you – your followers.
This content can be comments, reviews, ideas, photos of your products, etc. There are many options. To encourage followers to share with you, define a special hashtag and include it in your bio and all your posts.
6. Be creative – stand out from the crowd
Wherever possible, use images, graphics, and videos to tell the story of your brand.
Visual content is more engaging, and it also tells your story faster and more concisely than just writing. By attaching an image or video to your text, you can convey your full message with much more impact. Especially with video, you can connect with your audience better. This way, people can get to know you better and connect with you.
Get it done professionally, free tools are available so you can do it yourself.
7. Collaborate with influencers
When building your brand on Instagram, we can also connect with influencers. They could bring us additional recognition by promoting or displaying products in their posts. To measure success, we can prepare special promotional codes with which we can measure effectiveness.
To grow our follower base faster, we can also obtain information about our competitors and who their followers are, as there is a high probability that they have similar interests and that our posts will be relevant to them as well.
When choosing an influencer, pay attention to the engagement (follower engagement) and reach they achieve with their profiles. If they are very creative, you won with the choice, because good content is key
It's not so much how many followers they have, it's also important to choose an influencer who has potential customers for your products.
As for prices, there is an unwritten rule of 100 EUR per post per 10,000 followers , but this is not the rule. More and more companies prefer to opt for long-term collaborations, so that the individual is a brand ambassador.
8. Add a call to action
At the end of your content or post, consider whether you can call your audience to action. While this is not recommended for every post, it is definitely a good idea to include a call to action for posts where you are promoting your product or service.
For example, you can encourage your audience to:
• Ask them to like or share your post.
• Ask them a question that they can answer in a comment.
• Redirect them to other content or a website.
• Invite them to subscribe to your e-newsletter.
• Ask them to connect with you on other channels as well.
Example:
9. Optimize your Instagram BIO
When potential users visit your Instagram profile to learn more about your business, your bio is the first thing they'll see.
Since Instagram Bios are limited to just 150 characters, you have to be very creative to capture everything you want your potential users to read about you. On the other hand, this is a great thing because it teaches you how to present yourself in a short and concise way – the so-called “elevator pitch”.
The role of Instagram has changed, users have started following content that has value for them and not just pointless, clichéd Instagram photos.
So now users follow different topics, depending on their interests.
Of course, this also changes the way the Instagram platform works.
What used to work doesn't work anymore. The visual space has become saturated as all advertisers on Instagram fight for more followers.
Therefore, it is very important to use as many strategies as possible for your promotion.
Today I will share with you 11 strategies that I use to promote my Instagram profile.
1. Post useful content
If Instagram users don't know you or have no reason to click on your link in your Instagram Bio, consider how you can offer added value to your Instagram profile visitors. Of course, this depends on what you offer.
For example, service providers can share tips and tricks that can help potential clients grow their business.
Realize that to grow your brand, you need to constantly create useful content . Only in this way will you be successful on Instagram.
Examples of posts:
2. Promote posts on other social networks as well
If you want to reach a wider audience with your content, you need to connect all the social media you operate on . This will make it easier for followers to discover your Instagram profile . Also, make sure you have a link icon on your website and that you also display your posts on the website.
But remember that each social network has its own specifics. You'll use more hashtags on Instagram, but you might want to use a different notation for images on Facebook.
3. Use general hashtags in addition to your own
In addition to your own hashtags, try to include general hashtags that are specific to your industry in your posts. Many people use these hashtags in their posts, and although there is a high chance that your post will get lost, general 42matters hashtags can gain a lot of new followers if your post is catchy and interesting enough.
Example:
4. Tag brands, followers, and locations
Tagging, or using a "tag," is a wonderful tool that Instagram offers. With a tag, you promote brands, locations you're in, etc. As a result, your post can have a greater reach.
In line with Instagram best practices, it's a good idea to tag everyone you mention in your post. They'll likely be thrilled to be tagged on your channel and will share the news with their followers.
Don't forget to mark the locations too!
RECENT ACQUISITION ON IG: Collaboration feature, where a comment appears on 2 Instagrams, yours and the person you tagged.
Example:
5. Create engaging content together with your followers
Creating truly unique, attention-grabbing content for Instagram takes a lot of work. Luckily, you can take the stress out of it by incorporating other content into your posts. Remember, you still want to showcase what makes your brand unique , but sometimes you can also post content that someone else has created for you – your followers.
This content can be comments, reviews, ideas, photos of your products, etc. There are many options. To encourage followers to share with you, define a special hashtag and include it in your bio and all your posts.
6. Be creative – stand out from the crowd
Wherever possible, use images, graphics, and videos to tell the story of your brand.
Visual content is more engaging, and it also tells your story faster and more concisely than just writing. By attaching an image or video to your text, you can convey your full message with much more impact. Especially with video, you can connect with your audience better. This way, people can get to know you better and connect with you.
Get it done professionally, free tools are available so you can do it yourself.
7. Collaborate with influencers
When building your brand on Instagram, we can also connect with influencers. They could bring us additional recognition by promoting or displaying products in their posts. To measure success, we can prepare special promotional codes with which we can measure effectiveness.
To grow our follower base faster, we can also obtain information about our competitors and who their followers are, as there is a high probability that they have similar interests and that our posts will be relevant to them as well.
When choosing an influencer, pay attention to the engagement (follower engagement) and reach they achieve with their profiles. If they are very creative, you won with the choice, because good content is key
It's not so much how many followers they have, it's also important to choose an influencer who has potential customers for your products.
As for prices, there is an unwritten rule of 100 EUR per post per 10,000 followers , but this is not the rule. More and more companies prefer to opt for long-term collaborations, so that the individual is a brand ambassador.
8. Add a call to action
At the end of your content or post, consider whether you can call your audience to action. While this is not recommended for every post, it is definitely a good idea to include a call to action for posts where you are promoting your product or service.
For example, you can encourage your audience to:
• Ask them to like or share your post.
• Ask them a question that they can answer in a comment.
• Redirect them to other content or a website.
• Invite them to subscribe to your e-newsletter.
• Ask them to connect with you on other channels as well.
Example:
9. Optimize your Instagram BIO
When potential users visit your Instagram profile to learn more about your business, your bio is the first thing they'll see.
Since Instagram Bios are limited to just 150 characters, you have to be very creative to capture everything you want your potential users to read about you. On the other hand, this is a great thing because it teaches you how to present yourself in a short and concise way – the so-called “elevator pitch”.