A few years back, if you’d told us Instagram would be the go-to social network for businesses, we would have been shocked! But since launching over a decade ago, Instagram has evolved into a platform where brands can raise their profile, connect with their customers and attract new business. So, why should the social network play a key role in your digital marketing strategy? Well, here are five reasons for your organisation to perfect its game plan for the ‘gram, whatever industry you’re in!
#1 An audience unlike any other 👨👩👧👦
1 billion people. Yep, you heard us right! Instagram’s active users remains high with 1 billion people regularly using the network. And of those 1 billion Instagrammers, over 200 million visit at least one business profile every single day. Add to that the fact that 60% of people say they’ve discovered a new product on Instagram, and it’s clear that there’s a huge opportunity not only to reach your current target audience, but to engage a whole new one too!
Top Tip: Analyse your audience so you can target your content more effectively.
#2 Let your customers do the hard work 💪
Just under 90% of adults own a smartphone, so it’s likely that many of your customers have a tool to capture decent photos and videos at their fingertips – and they might just be tagging you in them! Instagram provides the perfect environment for you to view the content created by your customers and amplify it, adding a human element to your marketing. Not only do user generated posts boost credibility, authenticity and trust, but they can be created with very little resource, no matter where you are – win, win!
Top tip: Use social listening to find posts related to your brand’s keywords, hashtags and accounts.
#3 Image first culture 📷
As the saying goes, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and it turns out, there’s evidence to back that up! It’s been found that visual content is processed by the human brain 60,000 times faster than text-based content, so it’s no surprise that the videos and photographs shared on Instagram grab our attention. The social network enables you to use this to your advantage, engaging audiences with visual content in a way no other platform allows!
Top tip: Ensure posts are always on brand by creating a content library everyone can use.
#4 Algorithm driven 📊
Intimidated by the talk of algorithms? We hear you! Who wouldn’t feel a little uneasy knowing that a computer is analysing every aspect of their behaviour while they’re scrolling through the feed… But once you get your head around how it works, a few tweaks to what you post, when and how often, can have you beating that mysterious algorithm at its own game! One thing we know for sure is that timeliness is key when it comes to being seen, but the perfect time to post is unique to you and your audience. With a little trial and error, you can develop an engagement strategy that’ll have your posts heading straight for the top of the feed.
Top tip: Discover the optimum time to post your content so you can replicate your success!
#5 Shop ‘til you drop 🛒
It’s forecasted that in 2021, the global social commerce market will increase by about 34% and in a recent survey, 54% of respondents said they’d bought something after seeing it on Instagram. It’s clear that the platform provides plenty of potential for engaging customers and generating sales, but those brands that are really thriving are working smart when it comes to their social campaigns. Using glossy product shots, engaging videos and clever captions all do wonders for encouraging engagement, raising brand awareness and, ultimately, driving conversions – ka-ching!
Top tip: Measure the success of posts and campaigns so you can share more of what resonates with your audience.
Ready to give it all you’ve got on Instagram? Well, we’re here to help! Orlo is proud to be among the first UK-based platforms to offer auto-publishing to Instagram. Request a demo now to discover how our powerful platform can help you to master Instagram, manage customer interactions across digital channels and improve your digital customer experience.
