After nearly a decade, Instagram continues to be a leading social media platform. In fact, Instagram has one billion monthly active users, it is the second most engaged social media network, following behind Facebook, and the average time spent on Instagram is 53 minutes per day. So, what does this mean for your business?
You need to be on Instagram, and you need to be doing it well.
But how do you define growth and success on Instagram? Many define it by the likes you receive, the engagement you build, and the number of followers you have. These three things can help you promote your business and grow your customer base. Beyond that, it expands your brand recognition and exposes your services to a bigger audience.
Some services push fake engagement to achieve growth, which is questionable at best and against Instagram’s policies. Don’t do it. Instead, grow your audience organically through these best practices: consistency, analytics, and activity.
Consistency
Consistency is first and foremost the most important part of organically growing your Instagram audience. Posting to your account regularly will create reliability, increase the likelihood of being seen, and build brand recognition. The more people see you, the more they recognize and trust you. The more you’re recognized and trusted, the better your engagement with your audience. That being said, it’s important not to overpost on Instagram. Research shows that you should post at least once a day, but no more than three times.
But it’s not just when you’re posting, it’s what you’re posting. Think quality over quantity. Instagram posts need to be engaging and relevant. Images need to look less like a stock marketing photo and more like a naturally occurring photo opportunity. The goal is a creative, eye-catching image with a clear, well structured message.
Analytics
Have patience and a plan. As you consistently start to post quality content, you’ll see more and more engagement. Although Instagram has several different types of profiles, a Business account offers access to backend analytics that will help you strategize to continue your organic growth. If you have over 100 followers on a Business account, you can use Insights to see how many views your posts and stories are getting, how it compares to the activity on your page over the past week, how many accounts your activity is reaching, and how many new followers you’ve gained recently. Insights can even tell you when users are most active, which can be used to plan posts to receive the most engagement.
Activity
Activity means two things. First, you’re engaging with users — asking questions that encourage conversation and positively responding to comments. Second, it also means you’re engaging with others’ content. Follow other local businesses and like accounts that offer similar services — brands that can help you build your brand.
Building engagement and gaining followers are key to your success on Instagram. If you are struggling with finding success on social media, contact the pros at Aliya Hammond Consulting to help you find your way.
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
