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10 Tips To Increasing Sales With Instagram | Social Media

If you're not leveraging Instagram to increase sales in 2020, then you're not marketing your brand properly.


Instagram has over 1 billion users world wide - which is the perfect audience for any and all e-commerce businesses to market their brands to. Many business owners may be thinking that Instagram is for the Instagram models, artists, and photographers. Wrong!


Did you know...


90% of Instagram users follow at least one brand.


83% of Instagram users find new brands or products on the platform.


80% of users say Instagram helps them when deciding to buy a product or service.



Here are some quick tips for you to leverage Instagram to increase your brand's sales and generate awareness:


10. Winner! Winner! It's Contest Time


Everyone loves a giveaway! If you are an e-commerce seller, you more than likely have some extra stock lying around. Put it to good use and run a content to garner awareness. There's a few ways to conduct a contest on social media; Tag a friend is a popular choice and pretty easy. Like, follow, comment, and share is another, but I would advise you that depending on your product some users may not be as apt to share your content with their friends and followers. And UGC (User-Generated Content) is one of, if not my favorite way to conduct a social media contest. Ask your customers to take a photo of themselves with your product or just the product and share it on social. Encourage them to use a specific hashtag to enter and the most important thing is that they tag your account directly.


9. A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words (Or Likes)


Create and curate photos that connect with your audience. You don't have to be a photographer to know some of the best rules of photography, i.e. use natural lighting when possible, the best times for photos are sunrise, sunset, and cloudy days, get innovative with your angles, and finally use the right tools! There are a plethora of tools available through apps on your phone that you can apply to enhance and edit your photos. Some of favorites are Canva, VSCO, and Retouch.



8. Video Is Powerful


Video content receives twice as much engagement compared to static photos or graphics.


Here’s a quick guide to Instagram videos from Search Engine Journal:

  • Keep your videos short and grab your viewers’ attention with movement in the first few seconds of your clip.

  • Add captions (Instagram videos are mute by default).

  • Plan your videos with a specific goal in mind (e.g. drive traffic to your blog, spark engagement, gain new followers, or educate your audience).

  • Add behind-the-scenes footage of your brand for a human touch.

  • Capture your products in action (a video of customers using your products is great).

  • Follow the rules of great photography when shooting your videos.


7. VIP Content with Stories


Leverage your Instagram Stories for exclusive content. From working in Hollywood I learned a thing or two about breaking the fourth wall and giving good behind-the-scenes content. Take the opportunity to showcase content that invites your audience to learn more about your day-to-day activities, upcoming updates or new releases and exclusive deals. Instagram Stories are also a great place to optimize User-Generated and Influencer Content; Unboxings, tutorials, tips and how-to videos are excellent content for you to share on your story from your customers and/or collaborators.


6. Community Management Is Key


Instagram users are inundated with content from friends, family, brands, celebrities, bloggers and more. So when they take the time to comment and engage with your content, you should reciprocate. As a social media manager, even though I know that more than likely there is another "me" behind most Instagram accounts, especially for brands, I still get stoked when I get a reply. One thing to remember is that Community Management is a full-time job, especially as your brand grows and you begin pumping out more content across various channels. If you think you're not up to the task, look to finding a virtual assistant who can jump in and communicate on a regular basis.


5. Instagram Pods Are A Thing


I have yet to try this, but understand the logic behind it for beating the algorithm. Instagram Pods are the latest hack to tricking the algorithm.


Here’s how it works according to Hootsuite and Search Engine Journal:

  • Find a small Instagram Pod. Pods are groups of Instagram users who band together to increase each other’s followers and engagements.

  • Follow the Pod’s engagement guidelines. You usually have to like, comment, and share other Pod members’ posts.

  • In return, your own posts will receive likes, comments, and shares from other members.

Remember:

  • Go for small pods with 15-20 users.

  • Avoid giant spammy Pods with thousands of users.

  • Keep your end of the bargain! Failure to like, share, and comment on posts can get you kicked out of the Pod.

  • Pods are only great for getting started. As your brand presence matures, you’ll want to gain your own likes, comments and shares instead of Pod-generated ones.


4. Hash It Out & Get Tagging


Hashtags and Geotags are a great way to get your content discovered. I recommend using a mix of hashtags relevant to your brand and audience, creating one or two custom hashtags and incorporating a few new hashtags within your posts caption copy that reaches beyond your typical audience. When posting your content don't forget to also use geotags to get fresh eyes on your content. Geotag your posts in your local area, locations your audience and customers are from, as well major cities and landmarks.


3. Link In Bio


Although Instagram doesn't allow clickable links in captions there are two ways to incorporate them into your content.


1. "Instagram allows you to use a single link in your bio. Use it wisely to connect users to your most prominent website page." - Search Engine Journal


I would advise getting a multi-link in bio app like Instabio or Linktree.


2. "Add Links to Your Instagram Stories: When you reach 10,000 followers, Instagram gives you a “swipe up” option on stories where viewers can see links or other information about you." - Search Engine Journal

2. Influencers & Content Creators


I'm a big advocate of influencer marketing and now the new trend you want to jump on is collaborating with content creators. Instagram is looking for Reels to be a success and surpass its rival, Tik Tok. Finding content creators on these platforms will get your content noticed by new audience and may even get you noticed by more in the creative space. Finding influencers who match with your brand aesthetic and values is a-must, you also want connect with influencers who are aspirational to where you want your brand to go and the customers you want to tap into.


1. Must-Have Emojis


Finally, emojis! Incorporating emojis into your content and captions are great way to add some extra flavor and final punch to get your point across. My advice would be to use emojis sparingly and in a meaningful way. Don't force yourself to use emojis, only incorporate them when you feel they're needed and can be used in a natural way, like when texting a friend. I would suggest using no more than 3 emojis tops depending on how long the caption is.

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