Instagram has got it going on! It is the fastest-growing social network out there. As a matter of fact, Statista reported Instagram reached one billion active users this past June. So if you’re not using Instagram to promote your business, you are seriously missing out.

What I love about Instagram is that you can use it to promote any type of business: blogging businesses, online businesses, e-commerce, even brick and mortar businesses using the social platform.

And, if you have not started an Instagram account for your business, it’s not too late to get on board.  I’m going to show you 5 ways to maximize Instagram for your business so you can hit the ground running.

1. Targeted Hashtags

Now you can reach your target audience by following niche-specific hashtags. Targeted hashtags also give you the ability to expand your brand’s message by promoting your branded tags. Make sure to do your hashtag research. Do not use the same hashtags over and over again, use a variety of different ones each time you post. Also, use hashtags that are not too big but not too small as far as how many posts it contains. If you are using a hashtag with over one million posts, it’s highly unlikely you will appear at the top of the search. Choose your hashtags wisely.

2. Instagram Stories

Instagram continues to improve its Stories feature. You can archive and highlight your stories and the content is kept indefinitely and displayed in your profile. Users who visit your profile can browse your story highlights to see what type of content you are posting. Check out my Instagram Highlight Story Covers.

3. Use Eye-Catching Images and Post Consistently

The secret to getting an Instagram post to get a lot of likes and comments is an eye-catching image. I like to use Canva (affiliate) to create my images. They have a variety of templates and images. And when you upgrade you can upload your own fonts and set your brand’s colors as a default.

Conduct testing regarding what type of posts resonate well with your audience. Constantly posting products for sale or sounding salsey is not the best practice. This particular post received 51 likes and several comments too. It’s all about collaboration and building community around your brand.

Also, be sure to brand your posts with your brand colors and fonts. This keeps your Instagram feed cohesive and helps your discoverability. I have several branding bundles which include a WordPress theme and all of the templates that you need to help you brand your business easily and it’s a one-stop-shop!

 

 

 

 

 

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Hope you’re having a great Saturday, mamas. Remember to do something for yourself today! #momlife #mommytime #momsdayout #timeoutformom #motherhood #beingamom #momprobs #alldayeveryday #motivationalquote #instaquotes #quotesformoms #studiomommy #mompreneurs #sahms #wahms #bossmoms #workingmoms

A post shared by April from Studio Mommy (@studiomommy) on Sep 8, 2018 at 3:26pm PDT

Posting consistently on your feed is also important. Sure you want to use Instagram Stories and Instagram Live – which I’ll go over in a bit, but you should continue to post on your feed.

Use tools like Tailwind (affiliate) or Hootsuite to determine the best posting times to guarantee your audience sees your content. Or conduct your own beta testing to pinpoint your specific posting times.

4. Use Direct Messaging

More than 375 million people used Instagram DMs. That is more than half of their entire user base!

Once you’ve connected with your audience, use direct messages to take it to the next level. When you use this tool you’re making a personal, direct connection with your audience and that can turn into a potential lead for you! Just be careful when using this option. Make sure your DM is all about nurturing and not selling at first.

5. Use Instagram Live

Live streaming is just one more way to get your business out there and connect with your audience in real-time.

Instagram Live is still evolving but with added features like ‘live guests’ that enable you to go live with someone else, I can only imagine what they’re going to come out with next! Collaborating with others in your niche is an awesome way to grow your following on Instagram. You also have the ability now to create an Instagram Collab post that shows up in two profiles at the same time.

If you need some help read How To Use Instagram Live by Social Media Examiner.

Recommended For You: How To Boost Traffic To Your Blog

Wrapping It Up

So that’s how you use Instagram for your business. Remember:

1. Use targeted hashtags
2. Add Instagram Stories to your social media marketing plan
3. Create cool images and post consistently
4. Use direct messages to connect directly with your audience
5. And use Instagram Live

I hope you found these tips helpful. If you’ve got anything to add to this list, please share it in the comments below.

Don’t forget to share this blog post on social media so that others who have not started using Instagram for their business can also get on board.

Here’s to your success on Instagram!