29 March Top Tips for Marketing Effectively on Instagram March 29, 2022 By sma Business Tips, Marketing, Social Media business growth, digital marketing, inspection industry, Instagram, networking, small business 0 TOP TIPS FOR MARKETING EFFECTIVELY ON INSTAGRAM March 29, 2022 | Business Tips, Safety, Social Media | inspection industry, small business, business growth, networking, digital marketing, Instagram By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.'s Marketing Communications Specialist The Instagram app has been downloaded more than 3.8 billion times since its 2010 release. Needless to say, it’s one of the world’s most popular apps. With all that attention, it’s easy to see why companies love using it in their digital media marketing portfolio. Instagram in an Instant Instagram started out as a place for people and their friends to share and like their best snapshots. The app then began adding updates to make it easier to find and connect with other users. Three years after launch, users had the ability to add hashtags and share short videos. As more businesses joined, Instagram incrementally made the platform more advertiser-friendly, and 12 years later, it looks very different from when it first started. Not only can users upload Stories, host live chat rooms, and post long-form videos, businesses have a robust suite of paid ad tools and e-commerce options. Businesses and Instagram As a business owner, you have the option of setting up a business account that allows you some different features than a standard one. For instance, you’ll be able to see your interaction and demographic insights. This is especially helpful when trying to reach your target audience. You’ll also be able to link to your business site and products, and you may receive earlier access to new features as they’re rolled out. Real Estate Pros and Photos Although Instagram boasts a huge following, it’s been slow to break through with the real estate industry. Around 30 percent of agents use Instagram as part of their social media strategy. One major reason for this is how tricky it can be to nail down the ever-changing algorithm rules. Instagram, like most other social media platforms, tries to find new ways to push content that’ll get the most views and interactions. (Remember that Instagram itself is a business, so developers are frequently tweaking the app to retain users and attract even more). What may, in theory, be the perfect post could have trouble taking off due to Instagram’s algorithm. Does It Make Sense? Before you sign on for an Instagram profile, make sure it works for you and your market. Since not every agent or office may be utilizing the app, you’ll need to do some research. Use the search feature on Instagram or check their other social media accounts to see if you can spot a link to their profile. If you don’t find an account or the one you do find has been inactive for a while, it’s probably best to focus your efforts on other marketing. If your local office does have an active profile, go ahead and follow them. Optimizing Your Profile If you decide that Instagram will work for you, the next step is creating a clean profile. That starts with your bio and includes a profile picture, descriptive bio, and how people can best contact you. With a business account, you can include a phone and email tab on your profile and link to your website. Try to keep any photos or videos that you upload as high of quality as you can, and use tags and hashtags that are relevant. As you build your profile, you’ll start to develop a theme that’ll make it more attractive and engaging. It may take some time before you have a strong footing on Instagram, but if it’s viable for your market, it’s another great avenue to expand your business! For more marketing tips, reach out to the NPI Marketing Team at marketing@npiweb.com! About the Author Stepha Vesper, Marketing Communications Specialist Stepha has more than five years’ experience in marketing, content creation, SEO and copywriting. Her favorite part of her job is assisting franchisees with their digital marketing strategies so they reach their goals that much faster. When she isn’t at work, Stepha is going on adventures with her husband, Zach, perusing used bookstores, reading or writing. Comments are closed.