With more than 2 billion active monthly users, Instagram is a great resource for distributing content to users that could be your customers. More and more brands in both B2B and B2C are experimenting with Instagram marketing and finding success by building a strong community.
To build a community you need to start by researching your target audience to find out how best to cater to their needs. You need to dive deep to find out what other brands they follow, what they spend their time and money on and what types of content draw them in.
So, how do you find this information? There are many ways to do this. One easy way to start is a survey. For example, post a poll on Stories and ask followers to choose from options covering a variety of subjects. You can go deeper by using a survey platform via Google Forms.
To get more participation, offer something to those that take part, such as a discount code or a free gift. You’ll gain value when you turn their answers into more powerful content for your Instagram marketing strategy. This is just one example of how you can get to know what your target market is looking for.
Once you put together some key findings from your research what are your next steps?
Share Your Personality
The goal of your Instagram marketing is to build a bond with the consumer that could soon be your loyal customer. Encourage an emotional connection point by showing your personality.
You may be surprised how engaging it is for followers to get to know the person behind the posts. Your brand is more than products or services – it’s about the people who work there, your company culture and creating an identity that goes beyond what you’re selling.
Take the time to humanize your content by talking a little about you and the people behind the scenes at your company. Your team makes your company tick, so tell their stories.
Create a Variety of Content
Don’t get stagnant by posting the same type of content in the same format all the time. Yes, there is something to be said for consistency and it is important to never stray from your brand messaging, but don’t be afraid to readdress your Instagram marketing strategy from time to time and see if you’re becoming too repetitive.
Try varying your post formats and the content. Consumers will be looking forward to what you post next.
At SJC Marketing we’ve been knee-deep in Instagram content creation for years and we know how to make it work for your brand. Contact us and find out more about our approach to building strategies for Instagram.