7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/assets.entrepreneur.com\/content\/1x1\/300\/20150422170347-300x300.jpeg?width=100\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nJonathan Long<\/div>\r\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\r\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\r\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\r\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2612\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"300\"]![\"Decorative](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5226\/2020\/06\/24163901\/Web-Photo-300x150.jpeg\")
Image credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0-- with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.\r\n\r\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand -- for free.\r\n1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\r\nInstagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.\r\n\r\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong>\r\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\r\nWant to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles -- Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. -- and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.\r\n3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\r\nYou want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.\r\n\r\nThere isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop -- as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong>\r\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\r\nIf someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.\r\n\r\nAlso, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.\r\n5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\r\nCreating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement -- just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.\r\n\r\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:\r\n\r\n \t- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\r\n \t
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) -- free advertising!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\r\nIf you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.\r\n7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\r\nBeing creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers -- it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does -- they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.\r\n\r\nLink to full article at Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\nJonathan Long<\/div>\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nImage credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n
1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n
Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n
\n- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\n
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) — free advertising!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n
Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n
<\/a>\r\n Image credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0-- with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.\r\n\r\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand -- for free.\r\n1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\r\nInstagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.\r\n\r\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong>\r\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\r\nWant to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles -- Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. -- and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.\r\n\r\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.\r\n3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\r\nYou want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.\r\n\r\nThere isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop -- as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong>\r\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\r\nIf someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.\r\n\r\nAlso, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.\r\n5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\r\nCreating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement -- just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.\r\n\r\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:\r\n\r\n \t- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\r\n \t
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) -- free advertising!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\r\nIf you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.\r\n7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\r\nBeing creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers -- it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does -- they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.\r\n\r\nLink to full article at Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\nJonathan Long<\/div>\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nImage credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n
1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n
Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n
\n- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\n
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) — free advertising!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n
Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\r\nYou want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.\r\n\r\nThere isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop -- as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong>\r\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\r\nIf someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.\r\n\r\nAlso, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.\r\n5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\r\nCreating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement -- just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.\r\n\r\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:\r\n\r\n \t- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\r\n \t
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) -- free advertising!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\r\nIf you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.\r\n7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\r\nBeing creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers -- it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does -- they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.\r\n\r\nLink to full article at Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\nJonathan Long<\/div>\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nImage credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n
1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n
Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n
\n- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\n
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) — free advertising!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n
Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\r\nCreating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement -- just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.\r\n\r\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:\r\n\r\n \t- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\r\n \t
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) -- free advertising!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\r\nIf you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.\r\n7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\r\nBeing creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers -- it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does -- they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.\r\n\r\nLink to full article at Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\nJonathan Long<\/div>\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nImage credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n
1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n
Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n
\n- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\n
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) — free advertising!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n
Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\r\nIf you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.\r\n7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\r\nBeing creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers -- it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does -- they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.\r\n\r\nLink to full article at Entrepreneur Magazine<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n\n<\/a><\/p>\n\nJonathan Long<\/div>\nVIP CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\nFounder, Uber Brands<\/div>\n<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAugust 18, 2016\u00a06 min read<\/div>\nOpinions expressed by\u00a0Entrepreneur<\/em>\u00a0contributors are their own.<\/div>\n\n<\/p>\nImage credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\nIn order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n
1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\nAlong with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\nRelated:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n
Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\nFor example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n
\n- It will cause more of your followers to use the hashtag and post images of them with your product because they will want to be featured on your page<\/li>\n
- Every time someone posts using your hashtag they are exposing all of their followers to your company and product(s) — free advertising!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n
Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n
What Is Instagram?<\/h2>\n
Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app available on Apple iOS, Android and Windows Phone. People can upload photos or videos to our service and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. Anyone 13 and older can create an account by registering an email address and selecting a username.<\/p>\n
The Short<\/h3>\n
We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram, don\u2019t spam people or post nudity.<\/p>\n
The Long<\/h3>\n
Instagram is a reflection of our diverse community of cultures, ages, and beliefs. We\u2019ve spent a lot of time thinking about the different points of view that create a safe and open environment for everyone.<\/p>\n
We created the Community Guidelines so you can help us foster and protect this amazing community. By using Instagram, you agree to these guidelines and our\u00a0Terms of Use<\/a>. We\u2019re committed to these guidelines and we hope you are too. Overstepping these boundaries may result in deleted content,\u00a0disabled accounts<\/a>, or other restrictions.<\/p>\n Image credit: ArthurStock | Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/small>It\u2019s no secret that\u00a0your business needs to be active on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0— with more than\u00a0500 million users<\/a>, it\u2019s a social network that provides a great marketing platform to reach potential customers from every corner of the world.<\/p>\n In order to improve your Instagram marketing, you need to increase your following on a steady and consistent basis. After all, the more people that come in contact with your brand and follow you on Instagram, the larger your audience is that you can potentially reach every time you post. Here are seven easy to implement Instagram marketing tips that will help you grow your brand — for free.<\/p>\n Instagram just started to roll out business profiles, which heavily mirrors\u00a0Facebook\u2019s business profiles<\/a>, complete with a huge \u201ccontact\u2019 call-to-action, allowing users to email, call or text the business.<\/p>\n Along with the contact option, business profiles have access to analytics, or as they call them,\u00a0Insights<\/a>, giving users access to impression and engagement data. If you use your Instagram account for your business, you might want to consider\u00a0converting your personal profile to a business profile<\/a>\u00a0in order to take advantage of these options. The more you understand about how your users are interacting with your content, the better you can make adjustments to improve your engagement.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Why Your Business Should Establish an Instagram Presence ASAP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Want to easily add new Instagram followers that already love your brand? Post across all over your other social media profiles — Facebook,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>, etc. — and invite them to follow your Instagram profile. They are already following you on social media, so they are obviously interested in what you offer, so give them another way to socially connect to your brand.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t assume that your posts will reach everyone that\u2019s connected to your brand on social media. Many people move away from certain social media platforms and some aren\u2019t as active on some than they are on other networks. You want your followers to be connected to as many of your social profiles as possible to increase your reach per post.<\/p>\n You want to post often enough that your brand stays relevant, but at the same time you don\u2019t want to post so frequently that you overwhelm your followers and they end up unfollowing your account because they feel you are constantly in their face.<\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a magic posting formula that will work for every brand. You need to test and\u00a0see how your audience responds<\/a>. As a starting point, I would suggest posting twice daily, alternating times of the day to find out when your highest engagement occurs. Then start to experiment with more and less posts per day, really paying attention to engagement. Once you find your sweet spot, the work doesn\u2019t stop — as your following increases you will have to adjust. Post frequency optimization is a never ending task.<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Social Media Is for More Than Just Marketing<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n If someone takes the time to leave a comment on one of your posts, take two seconds to reply and thank them. That simple engagement can create a loyal customer as well as a raving promoter of your brand.<\/p>\n Also, incorporate ways to get your followers to interact with your posts. A simple, \u201cTag three of your friends that would love this\u201d can quickly put your brand in front of a larger audience as well as attract new followers. Since they are being introduced to your Instagram profile through a friend, there is less resistance, resulting in many of the tagged users following your profile.<\/p>\n Creating an interactive hashtag is a great way to create instant engagement — just make sure you are\u00a0using hashtags the correct way<\/a>. A very simple strategy I have used for some of the larger\u00a0brands I consult for<\/a>\u00a0is creating a hashtag that customers use to tag photos of them with the product that they just purchased.<\/p>\n For example, creating a hashtag that your company can search for to re-post the pictures of your customers with your product will accomplish two things:<\/p>\n If you are finding it hard to come up with enough content to meet the needs of your following, consider repurposing content from other relevant Instagram accounts. Just be sure to credit the original source in the post by tagging their profile and mentioning them in your caption.<\/p>\n Being creative with your images is a great way to connect with your followers — it\u2019s much more effective than posts that look like straight up advertisements. Take this Instagram post by FedEx as an example,\u00a0The \u201cElvis Slept Here\u201d sign actually overpowers the FedEx truck. Everyone knows what FedEx does — they ship packages. Their Instagram strategy is based around branding, and incorporating their FedEx delivery vehicles and staff into creative images. It\u2019s a smart move, because without the creative angle nobody would follow their account, let alone engage with it.<\/p>\n7 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Brand on Instagram<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n1. Take advantage of free Instagram tools.<\/h2>\n
2. Cross promote Instagram posts.<\/h2>\n
3. Don\u2019t overwhelm your audience.<\/h2>\n
4. Interact with followers to spark growth.<\/h2>\n
5. Create an interactive hashtag.<\/h2>\n
\n
6. Repurpose content from other relevant accounts.<\/h2>\n
7. Use creativity to connect with your audience.<\/h2>\n