Instagram was originally a mobile app for sharing photos, but it has has evolved into a diverse social media platform.

With over 1 billion users - about 60% of whom use the app daily - Instagram is the perfect place to grow your following and build brand awareness. In fact, 83% of users say they discovered new products or services from Instagram!

Do you want to put your brand in front of Instagram’s engaged user base and take advantage of integrated features for business owners, like insights about likes and follower counts? Well then, let’s get started!

Follow these tips to get started on Instagram:

Create an Instagram Business or Creator account. 

With a Business or Creator account, you'll get access to more capabilities.  For example, you'll have access to insights, analytics and ad space that builds awareness of your profile.  Plus, you can use this space to provide details of your contact information which lets people get in touch with you easily.

Optimize your profile.

Take the steps to optimize your profile so people can easily find you in search and learn about your business by looking at your profile.

●     Use a recognizable profile picture

●     Have searchable username and name

●     Choose the correct category for your business

●     Write an engaging, descriptive bio

●     Include website and contact information

Decide which hashtags to use for posts.

Using hashtags is a great way to categorize your content and ensure that anyone looking for that topic can find you. You can add up to 30 hashtags per post.

Get familiar with the types of posts on Instagram.

Here are some ways you can share content on Instagram and get engagement:

  • Grid. Your grid displays photos and videos that appear on your profile. Your posts can have captions with up to 2,200 characters. Keep in mind that the first two lines of your caption will appear before a “Read More” prompt. With this in mind, write the first two lines to be engaging or incite curiosity.

  • Stories. Stories are a short curated photo, video or slideshow that disappears after 24 hours unless you add them to your profile highlights. You can post more often and it gives a “behind the scenes” feel to your posts.

  • IGTV. IGTV allows you to upload vertical, long-form videos on Instagram, where they can then be shared within the grid and stories.

  • Reels. One of the new features that Instagram just introduced is called Instagram Reels. It's 15-30 second clips of vertical videos that are broadcast to your followers' feeds as well as your stories when you add them there. They're a great way to engage with your current followers and develop a relationship with them.

Now you are ready to create a content schedule of what to post on Instagram.

Types of content to post on Instagram:

Behind-the-scenes

Post content that shows followers the behind-the-scenes of your company.

Motivational

Curate shareable, inspirational quotes that align with your brand values and resonate with your audience. Add your company’s branding to quote graphics you post on social media!

Tutorial

Tutorials are a great way to guide your customers through specific problems they may be facing. Tutorials are great targeted marketing examples because you know prospects who land on a tutorial are there to solve a specific problem.

Video

There are a few different ways to add video to Instagram, including using Instagram Stories, 60-second Grid Videos, 15-30 second Reels or on IGTV.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

Posting other people's content on your social media can be a great way to build a relationship with followers and engage with them. It's also an easy and effortless way to beef up your content schedule.

Case studies and testimonials

This approach uses real customer stories to tell your brand's story. This form of communication allows customers to see that you and your team really understand the issues they encounter on a regular basis and can empathize with them.

Storytelling

This type of content tells your brand’s story. Even though it’s a story, there should be a lesson here. Storytelling content builds awareness and engages your prospective customers.

By balancing between these types of content, you hit many goals, including expanding your reach, connecting with your customer, and telling them about your business.

Overall, posting on Instagram humanizes your company through visuals.

There are plenty of ways to grow your reach and market on Instagram. It’s a dynamic platform that gives you many ways to connect with viewers and humanize your brand!