There’s no set formula you can follow to grow your account. But there are some best practices you can use to give yourself the best chance for success.
Do I need to be on Instagram for Business?
This is totally up to you, but there are a few things to consider before deciding whether Instagram is the right platform.
1. Is your target audience on Instagram?
If you’re an accountant, then I’d say probably not. People aren’t going to use this platform to seek out tax advice!
If you sell products or services, it’s worth researching to see whether other brands in your niche are doing well.
2. Do you have plenty of pictures?
Instagram is predominately an image-focused site, so you’ll need a healthy supply of good-quality photos to use.
3. Do you like Instagram?
When you commit to a social media channel, you’re going to spend a lot of time there. You must enjoy the platform, or it will quickly become a chore you dread.
Should I use a photo or a logo as my profile picture?
If you’re a solopreneur or the face of your brand, then use a photo.
Use a logo if your business is more extensive with lots of staff and your personal identity is less prominent.
Whichever you use, make sure you’re consistent across all your social media platforms.
What should I write in my BIO?
Think of your Instagram bio as your business card. It should clearly state who you are and what you do.
Your @name and the name field in your bio are both searchable, so make sure they’re different, as this will maximize your chances of being found.
Use your bio to let people know how you can help them. You only have 150 characters, so bullet points work well.
Use the bio to convey four key messages:
- Who you are
- What you do and who for
- How you do it
- And while you have their attention…always add a call to action (CTA)! Lead your followers to what you want them to do next, and tell them.
What should I post?
The million-dollar question! There’s no one size fits all answer to this one as each business and audience is different.
But there are a few guidelines you can follow:
- Be clear on who your target audience is and address their pain points.
- Post a mixture of content that is promotional, personal, and problem-solving.
- Make time each month to review what worked in the past and plan what to post next.
How often should I post?
There’s no hard and fast answer to this. It comes down to how much time you have, how much good quality content you have, and how engaged your audience is.
I’d suggest posting a minimum of three times a week and seeing how you get on from there.
When is the best time to post?
Really, the best time to post is whenever your target audience is available to engage with your content! But also when you have a minute to engage right after you post.
- Morning – before work/school: 7 – 9 AM
- Mid-day – around lunch break: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Afternoon – before dinner 4 – 6 PM
- Evening – 7 – 11 PM
- And during weekends and any long holidays.
How do I get more engagement?
The super-simple answer to this is by being engaged yourself. Yes, you need to reply to all comments on your own posts and your DMs – but you also need to put yourself out there and…
- Likes/Comment on your followers’ posts
- Likes/Comment on your ideal clients’ posts (they might not be following you yet)
- Likes/Comment on posts featuring relevant hashtags
- Likes/Comment on influencer’s posts
How many hashtags should I use?
There’s so much debate about this one, but my view is this: Instagram gives you 30 hashtags – that’s 30 opportunities to be found in search!
But whether you use 10 hashtags or 30 make sure that they are relevant to your content and brand. You want to be found by your targeted audience.
If you’re ready to grow your Instagram account, put these steps into action. They’ll help you increase engagement, reach a wider audience, and grow your following.
How can River help you achieve your goals?
In River, we can help you grow your brand awareness and engagement on Instagram.
If you need any help or have any questions, just reply to this email!
Enjoy Instagramming!
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