Each month, approximately over a billion people log in to their Instagram pages, and out of these, 90% follow at least a business. Therefore, it is no brainer that business entities should utilize Instagram to promote themselves in 2021.
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In just over ten years, Instagram has metamorphosed from a photo-sharing platform into a tool of business various business activities. For instance, brands can utilize Instagram features such as live broadcasts to run a fundraiser or use their profiles to open shops. However, there are various ways of promoting these activities on Instagram, and in this article, we will discuss three main ways in which small businesses can use Instagram to promote their products or services.
1. Use Instagram stories
Instagram stories are among the platform’s most popular features. These videos and photos disappear after 24 hours after they are posted. There are many tools provided by Instagram channels that make it easy for one to create engaging stories.
Accordingly, it would be best if you leveraged Instagram stories to promote your products or services, getting your messages to followers that otherwise would not have been reached on regular Instagram posts in their feeds due to the latest updates on Instagram algorithms.
By utilizing the Instagram stories feature, you can post photos, focused photos, boomerangs, recorded videos, live videos, basic text, as well as music. In addition, you can include stickers like temperature, location, or user tags.
The stickers for questions, sliding bars, and polls are an easy means of interacting with your followers and getting their feedback. Other Instagram pages utilize questions feature to carry out weekly or daily Ask Me Anything – an entertaining approach to answering common questions.
Further, you can hook the audience to your brand through Stories Highlights – this will remain on your page until you delete them.
2. Engage with other users
In Instagram, just like any other social media channel; it is indispensable to interact and engage with your followers by:
● Direct messaging (DM): You can send direct photos, videos, and messages to other users. Once you have sent a DM, you can go on to communicate with your recipient. However, you must note that individuals who are not among your followers will be prompted on their inboxes if they want to allow you to send them messages before opening them.
● Commenting: In this feature, you can comment on other users’ posts or your posts.
● Liking: This is a simple means of getting connected to your followers. Two ways of liking a photo include double-tapping and using the heart button under a post.
● Tagging: Before you post anything, Instagram enables you to tag anyone or anything. Tagging people enables them to see who has done so and to which post.
● Mentioning: By utilizing the symbol @, you can tag your followers or other users in your post comments or captions.
Using the above simple techniques, you can engage other users while promoting your business. So, utilize them and show yourself to the world.
3. Use hashtags
Hashtags have an excellent means of helping users to find content on Instagram. Hashtags are outstanding equalizers when it comes to the online world; it does not matter the company’s size; they can all reach the same number of audiences when appropriately utilized.
Instagram users can search for and click on hashtags they come across in a post. Thus, they are highly effective means of getting noticed. However, you must ensure that you are using appropriate hashtags for your business. For instance, it is wise to create small business hashtags for Instagram to promote your small brand, but you must keep in mind that Instagram only allows up to 30 hashtags in a single comment or post.
Conclusion
Instagram has ruled the social media world in recent times. Due to its unique features, it is the most exciting place for photo sharing, with over one billion users every month. From these, you can get Billions of likes and shares each day, and thus as a small business owner, it behooves you to leverage on Instagram to promote your products or services. Use the techniques mentioned above to tell yourself to the world.