As a small business owner, you may assume that social media is for the big guys. Also, you’re busy running a business and you don’t have the time to devote to building a following so you really haven’t looked into it anymore.
You may be surprised to find out that Instagram is actually ideally designed for small business marketing. Here are three reasons why you should check it out:
Local Pages: Instagram offers some great features that help smaller businesses. There are pages created that allow you to enter all of your essential information so that your contact and business hours are easily accessible for local search.
Engagement: There are over two billion active users on Instagram every month, so it’s likely that a lot of your target audience is included in that number. You can use the platform to engage audiences with a few simple strategies, and keep in mind that Instagram users tend to be actively looking for local businesses to follow. It’s a great way to directly influence your sales.
Organic Growth: Your ability to convert your small business marketing efforts on Instagram into sales depends heavily on followers. But it’s relatively easy to grow your Instagram followers with a few simple steps:
- Create a business Instagram account to be used separately from your personal account. It offers some unique features that only businesses can use.
- Make sure your profile is complete, even generous, with information about your business.
- Be consistent in posting.
- Utilize Instagram Stories for real-time interaction with your audience.
- Take some time to research branded hashtags that are relevant to your business.
So…How do You Use Instagram for Small Business Marketing?
Instagram is your perfect place to show off your business’s personality and engage your audience with some fun ideas. If you sell a product, think about inviting your followers to submit funny pictures with that product or unusual uses for your product. You can also ask them to join you in a charity food drive or another community service project, with everyone posting pictures with a specified hashtag.
You can also use Instagram to introduce your team members, or for an insider’s look at your industry. There’s really no set of rules, except that you be consistent and true to your brand voice and identity.
Keep in mind that these posts may take a little brainstorming, but they’re far more valuable than buying an Instagram followers list. You’ll see these advertised, but they’re often filled with fake followers, and you’re much better off with a group of followers that’s authentically interested in your brand.
Instagram is perfect for small business marketing, but that still doesn’t mean you have time to jump into it. Don’t sweat it. SJC Marketing offers comprehensive social media marketing services, or we can jump in with a few suggestions just to get your started.