Information for this blog post was obtained from Hubspot, Neil Patel, and Hootsuite.

Instagram marketing is the process of creating and sharing content on Instagram to promote a product or service. This can be posting photos and videos, using hashtags, running ads, and engaging with other users. Instagram can be used to reach a wide variety of audiences, from teens and young adults to business professionals. Additionally, Instagram can be used to advertise products, services, and events, build brand awareness, and engage with customers.

So why Instagram? According to Hubspot, Instagram is the second most used network behind Facebook. Instagram also has strong analytics tools that help businesses to create engaging content.

It is difficult to get your business into new hands because there is so much competition on Instagram. Not everyone knows or takes the time to learn Instagram marketing. So, why not separate yourself from the rest?

Are you ready to start your Instagram Marketing venture? We have 5 ways you can market on Instagram to help you get started.

1. Utilize Hashtags

Many people might think that hashtags are useless and don't make captions look good. However, they are still very helpful when it comes to marketing on Instagram.

Hashtags are a great way to help people find your content and connect with other users, so make sure to use relevant hashtags for every post. When you use relevant hashtags, you can get your content in front of more people and encourage them to interact with your post. This can lead to more likes, comments, and even shares.

Hashtags are a way to increase your reach on Instagram and help your content get discovered by new users. Here are some tips for using hashtags effectively on Instagram:

1. Use relevant hashtags: Choose hashtags that are relevant to your content and your target audience. For example, if you're posting about fitness, use hashtags like #fitness, #workout, and #healthylifestyle.

2. Use a mix of popular hashtags: Using popular hashtags can help you reach a larger audience, but using niche hashtags can help you connect with a more targeted audience.

3. Keep it simple: Don't use too many hashtags in your posts. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but using too many can make your post look spammy. Aim for 5-10 relevant hashtags.

4. Do your research: Look at what hashtags your competitors and industry influencers are using, and use those that are relevant to your content.

5. Monitor your results: Keep track of which hashtags are generating the most engagement for your posts and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Remember that using hashtags alone is not enough to increase your reach on Instagram. You also need to create high-quality content that your followers will want to engage with and share.

2. Post Quality Content

Quality content is essential for getting engagement on Instagram. Make sure to post content that is interesting, relevant, and visually appealing.

According to Neil Patel, When posting content make sure it relates to your target audience and is true to your business. Include pictures, graphics, and videos with audio for your content. Quality content can be used to generate leads, as it can be used to direct users to your website or other platforms. This can help to increase your sales and revenue.

As being part of a small team at a record label, we made sure we took high-quality pictures and creative music videos. I was in charge of the record label's image even if it was being part of the music video or in the pictures. Even though it was a small label, we were very strict on high quality content in every aspect.

Here is the link to the Instagram page of the record label, TerminalMusicRecords.

Remember, quality content is not just about creating visually appealing posts. It's about connecting with your followers, telling your brand's story, and providing value to your audience.

3. Engage With Your Followers

Responding to comments and engaging with your followers is a great way to build a loyal community on Instagram. Here are steps to effectively engage with your followers and keep them as loyal followers.

1. Respond to comments: When someone comments on your post, make sure to respond in a timely and thoughtful manner. This shows that you value their engagement and can help build a connection with your followers.

2. Ask questions: Encourage your followers to engage with your content by asking questions in your captions or in your Instagram Stories. This can be a great way to start a conversation and get to know your audience.

3. Use Instagram Stories: Instagram Stories provide a fun and casual way to connect with your followers. Use features like polls, quizzes, and stickers to encourage engagement and gather feedback from your audience.

4. Host giveaways: Hosting a giveaway is a great way to incentivize engagement and get your followers excited about your content. Make sure to set clear rules and guidelines to ensure a fair and successful giveaway.

5. Share user-generated content: Sharing content created by your followers can help strengthen your relationship with them and show that you appreciate their support. Make sure to credit the original creator and ask for permission before sharing their content.

4. Leverage Influencers

Influencers have large followings and can help promote your content to a wider audience. You have to try and identify a few influencers that have an audience that is relevant to your service. Reach out to the influencers and propose a partnership. Offer them compensation or free products in exchange for promoting your brand or product on their account. Provide them with creative direction, but also allow them to showcase their own style and voice. Make sure to keep track of influencers' engagement rates through analytics to measure the impact it's leaving. There are many ways to go about using influencers like:

- Contests & Giveaways

- Gifts to Obtain Honest Reviews

- Sponsored Content

- Affiliate Marketing

- Social Media Takeover

- Long-term Partnership with Influencers

- Long-term Brand Ambassadors

Influencers get personal with their followers and have a connection. This allows their followers to trust them more over time. Long-term relationships with influencers come with many benefits. And, businesses are investing more of their budget in influencer marketing campaigns, according to Neil Patel.

Remember, it's important to work with influencers who are authentic and connect with your brand values.

Another thing to know is that there are four types of influencers; Nano- influencers, micro-influencers, macro-influencers, and mega-influencers. To learn more about them each in-depth, you can read in detail on NeilPatel.

For more information about using influencers as a marketing strategy, go read my colleague Julia's post about it here.

5. Run Instagram Ads

Instagram Ads are a great way to reach a targeted audience and get your content in front of more people. Instagram Ads give you the ability to target your audience by location, demographics, interests, and behavior. This allows you to focus on the people who are most likely to be interested in your product or service.

Although, there are many different types of advertising formats on Instagram, such as:

• Image ads

• Explore ads

• Video ads

• Collection ads

• Story ads

• Carousel ads

• Reel ads

• Shopping ads

According to Hootsuite, Instagram Ads are effective compared to other ad platforms, making them an ideal choice for small and mid-sized businesses. They also provide you with valuable insights into the performance of your campaigns, allowing you to make more informed decisions.

In conclusion, knowing Instagram marketing is a very powerful tool that can separate you from your competitors. Many people are lost when they begin to use Instagram for a brand or business to promote. Using these 5 tips can help guide you and leverage your brand. We talked about being creative with content to stand out and attract the consumer. Also, when posting, use trendy hashtags that are related to your brand to help reach more people. The more followers the better and make sure you engage with them. We also mentioned using influencers to promote your brand to their followers, making sure their audience is in the same interest as your brand. This is a great way to organically get your business out there because the influencer already has a connection with their followers and is trusted by them. Finally, we ended with running Instagram ads. This is a great way to reach people from anywhere you want and the more you put in the more you can get out of it. I've personally done this on Instagram and it works great if applied correctly and after going through a lot of trial and error.

Resources

Patel, N. (2022, August 29). Instagram Marketing Guide. Neil Patel. Retrieved Feb. 19, 2023, from https://neilpatel.com/blog/instagram-marketing-tips/

Maxwell, I. (2022, May 19). The Hubspots blog 2023 Instagram Marketing Report. Updated 2023, June 9, from https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/instagram-marketing-report

Hannah, M. ( 2023, February 13). Hoot Suite Blog. Instagram Ads Guide

2023 Edition Updated 2023 from https://blog.hootsuite.com/instagram-ads-guide/