Instagram Strategies for Small Businesses 2020

Facebook and Twitter are old trends. Instagram is the hottest craze now. This emerging social media platform has taken the world by storm with more than 1 billion monthly active users. Indeed, Instagram is one of the most gainful social media platforms. Moreover, its marketing strategies keep changing, inspiring small businesses to keep pace with it. 

So, if you are a small business owner, looking for the latest Instagram marketing strategies, you have landed at the right place. here are the top 8 Instagram strategies for small businesses in 2020:

Start with a Separate Business Account:  

The first and foremost step you need to take after entering into the world of Instagram is to change your ‘Personal Account’ into a ‘Business Account’. Why? A business account allows the users to view analytics, connect the channel with the other social media platforms, run paid ads, and build a better user experience. It will also help you reinforce your brand presence and strategize many of your marketing plans successfully.

Use Relevant Hashtags:

The hashtag is the key ingredient in the recipe for Instagram marketing. It is creative and gives higher visibility to your content. It also improves your company’s discoverability. Instagram algorithms use hashtags to suggest your posts to the target audience or help discover interest-based profiles.

Rules to Use Hashtags:

• Use 11 to 30 hashtags per post for better engagement, depending on the list of your followers.
• Avoid using hashtags that are over popular such as #health, #fitness, #beauty, #marketing, etc.
• Build a balanced hashtag strategy combined with industry-relevant hashtags, most-searched hashtags, low search volume hashtags, and self-made hashtags.

Ideally, branded or relevant hashtags are your mini call-to-action. Therefore, small businesses need to use hashtags.

Optimize Your Bio:

Instagram gives you 150 characters space to build a catchy bio that speaks volumes about you to your target audience. So, use this space wisely. Make sure to use branded hashtags/  Also, add your website link in the bio to drive relevant traffic. Do not forget to review your bio, and change it as per the latest launch, new offerings, and other essential updates.

Create a Content Calendar:

It is essential to create a content strategy. An important step towards creating a successful content strategy is to be consistent in making posts. Hence, you must have a plan in place.

Content Creation Rules:

• Design a content calendar to keep your posting schedule on track.
• Create a theme for the content types you plan to post as per your Instagram strategy in 2020.
• Now, the next step is to decide what content you want to post and at what time.
• Post content that encourages your audience to engage. For instance, create a questionnaire, and ask for your followers to drop their opinions on it.
• Be consistent and strategic with your content plan.

Your Instagram content strategy must have the sincere use of catchy captions, branded hashtags, compelling graphics, and connecting memes. You should also include meaningful infographics, and short videos or video links. Use the right mix of all these content types to connect with your audience.

Utilize Instagram Stories, Reels, and IGTV: 

Instagram is not only for stills. It is much more about videos. Videos are the future of marketing. Their ever-increasing dominance in the marketing world is highly visible in today’s epoch as well. Your consumers are much more interested in watching the videos than text-based content.  

Therefore, you must consider being active on Reels, IGTV, and sharing  YouTube video links on Instagram stories. If you are not pro at creating a video marketing strategy, get guidance and inspiration from a leading video creator. However, do not miss utilizing this triumphant marketing strategy.

Work with Instagram Influencers:

Influencer marketing is a highly engaging strategy to target an ideal group. Big businessmen do not bother about public figures much.  They prefer to bring Instagram Influencers on board. As a small business owner, you might not have enough money to spend on influencers. Yet, this does not mean you should be deprived of this trendy marketing strategy. You can consider interacting and building relationships with local influencers who reflect your buyers’ persona. Once you build a bond with local influencers through DMs, comments, etc., you could provide them free samples in exchange for promotions.

Instagram influencers are trusted users who have built a community by sharing relevant content that connects with the audience. They can easily influence an idea, opinion, or buying decision of the consumers about a particular product or service.  Hence, identify your ideal influencers. Then, work with them to convince their audience to believe in your brand.

Create Engagement:

If you are keen on having a strong presence on Instagram, communicate with your followers, and create engagement. It will show that you care about your followers. In turn, they will appreciate your efforts.

How to Create Engagement?

• Respond to all messages as they are possible leads and a way to attract more followers.
• Reply to all the relevant comments on your posts.
• Interact with other people’s posts too.

If you are short of time, you can also consider appointing someone to liaise with these prospects.

Add a Call-to-action:

Adding a call to action is not only a marketing strategy but also a sales tip. It will help potential customers take the next step towards the sales funnel. Add a link in your post that may redirect them to your website or sales page.  Otherwise, ask them to click a link in your bio to know more.

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Conclusion 

Instagram is a platform where you can build your brand personality and engage with your audiences. Ideally, taking the above-said steps will help your small business marketing strategy in 2020 succeed.