Guide for Using Instagram Marketing Strategies to Drive More Sales

Are you aware of the perfect Instagram success formula?

It’s all about using the right strategies at the right time and in the right situation. But before that, you must understand how popular the platform is and how effectively it works in helping businesses drive more sales. Instagram is the second most successful social network after Facebook. It features over 1 billion active monthly users and 500 million regular Instagram Stories. If you are running a business, you must learn to use the most tested Instagram marketing strategies to boost sales.

More Instagram Facts:

The US alone boasts 140 million Instagram users, with 71% of the businesses in the United States using the platform. Users browse there for an average of 53 minutes every day, and around 45% of Instagram users are aged between 18 and 44. So, it’s quite clear that Instagram is not just for personal use anymore. Instagram is a global platform that enables businesses to humanize their content, highlight products, recruit new talent, and target audiences. Learning and using the right Instagram marketing strategy determines how well you can present yourself in front of the audience and drive in more sales.

6 Instagram Marketing Strategies to Drive More Sales:

1. Focus on Creativity

The world of the internet is over-saturated, with literally thousands and millions of businesses trying to stand out and grab the audience’s attention. Regardless of the niche you are serving, use creativity at your best to establish brand awareness. Since Instagram is a visual podium, you must first work on your visual content, including color schemes, design style, and overall branding. It is easy to establish your branding online. In just a few minutes, you can create a business identity starting with a logo by using different software and online tools. You need to define your main aim and clearly understand what you are aiming to achieve from a specific post. Based on this information, try creating something memorable. Make sure your content should stand out and make people stop scrolling. Educational or motivational content works well on this platform, and so do those that use humor. Use them to your advantage.

2. Concentrate on User-Generated Content: It’s Powerful

User-generated content, or UGC, is one of the most useful testimonials you can use on Instagram and even on other platforms. Of course, all your marketing efforts help in establishing your brand. But customer testimonials and feedback are among the most potent as people trust suggestions from other people more than the brands’ vaunted claims. The videos and pictures your customers share about your products and services are marketing gold. While going through these images and videos can be time-consuming, the results are always worth the effort. As per Instagram stats, customers spend 4 to 5 hours every day watching user-generated content, while 93% of marketers agree UGC performs better than branded content. 75% of marketers claim that user-generated content makes their brand more dependable and authentic. Filling your content marketing calendar with user-generated content will allow you to grow your audience and increase public trust in your business. You can always inspire your followers to create UGC through contests and giveaways. Check out the way Dr. Martens, a leather boots company, fills its content calendar with content from satisfied customers. Their posts also include CTAs for the followers to display their loyalty to the brand.

3. Focus on Product-Related Posts

The content that you post on Instagram is crucial. Relate all your posts to the products you are looking to promote on the platform. Product-related posts will make your customers follow you because of the value you are providing. Even when you are showcasing your services and products in your posts, attempt to present the same in the best light. Do this very often but avoid being too “salesy” or pushy. Instead of touting how great your products and services are and what are their latest features, let the prospects know about the benefits of buying them and how they can solve their problems. Visuals also matter a lot. Think of something more interesting and fun instead of posting dull and lifeless images. Try including stop-motion animation and brightly colored props in your posts. Take the example of Swatch, the stylish watch supplier that publishes engaging and playful video content to show off its products.

4. Go for Humorous Content

Another popular technique for making the best impression on Instagram is posting humorous content. People like funny content, whether it is a clever caption or meme. And yes, you can also blend your product-based posts with a bit of humor. Take inspiration from Milk Makeup, a cosmetic brand that promotes its products using witty captions. Do not sweat it if humor is not the forte of your brand. Motivation and inspiration are also highly popular angles you can use to connect with your followers. The key here is that your brand must strive to find its voice and trademark on the platform sooner rather than later.

5. Effectively Use Hashtags

Hashtags are useful in increasing the visibility of stories and posts on Instagram while categorizing them at the same time. Branded Instagram Hashtags work well at labeling posts and encouraging audiences to use the same while posting about your products and services.

Here are some great “strategies”:

• Try finding relevant hashtags that match your niche and narrow down the most important ones.

• Always go with the trending hashtags while avoiding the ones that are too generic.

• Going with more specific hashtags will help you reach audiences genuinely interested in your products and services.

• You can add up to 30 varied hashtags to your Instagram posts and around 10 hashtags to your stories. But make sure not to spam the audience with several hashtags.
• Do not consider Hashtags as an alternative to captions. Keep in mind that these are not the be-all and end-all of your Instagram content.

6. Opt for Paid Ads

Another excellent Instagram marketing strategy is using paid ads. These do not create a hole in your pocket but provide you with a handful of benefits, like reaching lots of audiences, targeting better, increasing followers, better marketing analysis, etc.

Conclusion

Increase profitability by incorporating all the Instagram marketing strategies above into your campaign. Before verging on, have a solid plan to help you achieve the desired outcome. Clearly understand the Instagram marketing landscape, along with measurable insights on what works and what does not. Next up, you may want to explore a list of the top writing tracker apps for pro writers.