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Want to grow your business on Instagram? Learn these small business tips for Instagram.
Are you a small business owner who wants to grow and make sales on Instagram, but you don’t know how to start? Perhaps you think you can’t manage an Instagram account if you are not creative enough.
Well, I am here to tell you that you can run it with or without a creative team. Take it from a solopreneur managing multiple social media accounts for her business since 2023.
In this article, I will share not 1, but 7 small business tips for Instagram including how to use Instagram, how to set up Instagram, Instagram for business best practices, and more.
This post is all about small business tips for Instagram.
#1 Set Up Your Profile
Setting up a professional and enticing profile is crucial. Your bio should clearly state who you are, what you do, and why people should follow you. Here are three examples of effective bio formats:
- The Personal Touch: “Coffee Lover ☕ | Founder of @BestBrews | Sharing my journey one sip at a time | Join the coffee community!”
- The Professional: “Digital Marketing Expert | Helping businesses grow online | Founder of @DigitalGrowth | Follow for tips & insights”
- The Creative: “Artist & Illustrator | Turning dreams into art | Founder of @DreamArtGallery | Follow for daily inspiration & commissions”
Use Bio Links Wisely
Instagram allows up to 5 links in your bio, so make it count. Use this link to direct followers to multiple destinations such as your website, product pages, or a lead magnet.
Tools like Linktree or Stanstore can help you manage multiple links from one spot. Linktree is a free tool, while Stanstore offers a 14-day free trial, followed by $29/month.
Here are some examples of lead magnets you can create:
- E-books: Offer a free e-book related to your industry.
- Discount Codes: Provide exclusive discount codes for new followers.
- Free Trials: Give access to a free trial of your product or service.
#2 Switch to a Professional Account
Switching to a professional account is a must for small businesses. This transition unlocks business features such as insights, ads, and the ability to add contact information. Here’s how to make the switch:
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap ‘Edit profile’.
- Tap ‘Switch to professional account’.
- Tap ‘Continue’
- Select a Category for your business and tap ‘done’
- Select either ‘business’ or ‘creator’, whichever is more relevant to you.
- Tap ‘Next’
- And you are done.
For more information, read here.
#3 Use Highlights Effectively
Highlights are extremely powerful since they stay on your profile even when your stories have expired. This is a chance for new followers who visit your profile to understand more about you and what your business does.
These are some common ideas for Instagram Highlights:
- Reviews/Testimonials: Highlight positive feedback from customers or testimonials from clients
- Q&A: Answer frequently asked questions.
- Behind the Scenes (BTS): Share a glimpse into the making of your products or daily operations.
- About Me: Tell your story or introduce your business.
- Content Pillars: Organise highlights according to your main content categories.
Other examples include affiliate links, how-to-order guides, and customer photos.
#4 Content Creation
Creating content consistently is important for maintaining engagement. Start by defining the purpose of your content. Is it to educate, entertain, inspire, or persuade your audience?
Depending on your goals, here are the types of content you can create on Instagram:
- Reels: Perfect for increasing reach and gaining followers.
- Carousels: Ideal for educating your audience.
- Stories: Great for building community and driving sales.
- Lives: Engage in real-time conversations and boost sales.
- Posts: Share quotes, lists, and other savable/shareable content.
Next, create a content schedule and stick to it. This helps in maintaining consistency and ensuring that you are regularly engaging with your audience.
Free Tools for Content Creation
Utilise free tools like Canva for creating stories and carousel posts, and CapCut for video editing.
If you are new to content creation, I have the perfect gift for you to get started.
The Instagram Starter Pack includes everything you need to get started on Instagram, from content ideas and hooks to effective calls to action and a comprehensive Canva guide for beginners. This pack will help you save time, ensure consistency, and enhance the quality of your posts, making it easier than ever to kickstart your Instagram content creation.
#5 Set Up Automation
Automation streamlines your Instagram activities, saving you time and ensuring quick responses to common queries. Automation can be used for replying to common questions in stories or comments, scheduling posts, and managing captions.
Additionally, automation also allows you to message your audience when they comment or reply to your stories with specific keywords. This allows you to communicate with them directly without the need to be online all the time.
An example of a tool you can explore is ManyChat. ManyChat helps automate your Instagram DMs. Pricing starts with a free plan, with advanced features available in paid plans.
#6 Run Paid Ads
Paid ads allow you to reach a broader audience beyond your organic followers. While organic content builds your base, paid ads amplify your reach.
Differences Between Paid and Organic Content
- Organic Content: Engages existing followers and builds community.
- Paid Content: Targets a wider audience and drives specific actions like website visits or product purchases.
Running paid ads without a strategy is a waste of resources. Here are 3 Tips for Running Paid Ads:
- Test Your Content Organically First: If it works organically, then use if in paid ads. This ensures that you are investing in content that already resonates with your audience.
- Define Your Goals: Whether it’s brand awareness, traffic, or conversions, be clear on what you want to achieve.
- Monitor Performance: Regularly check the performance of your ads to optimise and ensure they’re effective.
#7 Check Monthly Performance Stats
Analysing your performance is essential for understanding what works and what doesn’t. Regularly reviewing your stats helps in refining your strategy.
Free Tools for Monitoring
Use Instagram Insights and third-party tools like Metricool to track your performance.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor include engagement rate, follower growth, reach, and conversion rates.
For businesses managing multiple social media platforms,
The Social Media Dashboard is an invaluable tool. This customizable Excel template allows you to input data easily and gain comprehensive analytics across all your platforms. By efficiently tracking and analysing your social media performance, you can make better strategy decisions and drive improved results.
This article highlights 7 small business tips for Instagram.
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