59 % of consumers want to gather their info rather than talk to a human.
49% of consumers use Instagram, versus 52% of brands that use the platform.
Mobile Devices are the top way consumers like to shop over any other device.
Instagram is one of the top three social platforms for Gen Zs and Millennials.
Do these numbers ring some sound?
The Instagram you see today is more than a photo-sharing platform; the reels have taken the creator industry by storm. It is imperative for every business to stay updated with the trends and utilise them to the maximum benefit. It offers various content formats ranging from short-form reels to long-form videos to carousels to shop which enables you to share valuable information in the form of guides or just give a glimpse into what are you excited to inform the audience about.
Let’s take a look at Instagram Marketing and creating a robust strategy for your business.
What is Instagram Marketing? Why it matters?
Instagram marketing enables you to bring brand awareness to your business on Instagram using engaging and interactive information. As the most used social media platform, it offers various marketing strategies to all kinds of businesses whether you are starting off or a decade old. Instagram has an audience from all age groups and allows you to tailor your content according to the target audience.
Marketing on Instagram gives you the freedom to explore options using organic content, paid media ads, influencer marketing, and shopping tools. You can explore using various formats like photos, videos, infographics, guides, reels, and stories to create marketing campaigns. The growing presence of Insta users makes it a sought-after platform to drive effective marketing strategies.
According to a study, in 2021, there were 1.21 billion monthly active users of Meta’s Instagram, making up over 28 per cent of the world’s internet users. By 2025, it has been forecast that there will be 1.44 billion monthly active users of the social media platform, which would account for 31.2 per cent of global internet users.
Top challenges in successful Instagram marketing:
- Earning likes, comments, and shares
- Growing followers
- Driving traffic to the website
- Generating leads, new contacts, and /or conversions
- Driving purchases or revenue
- Understanding target audiences
- Increasing brand awareness/reaching new audiences
- Producing relevant and engaging visual and/or video content
- Finding time to manage with other key social media platforms
- Producing relevant and engaging visual captions and/or text-based
How to create an Instagram marketing strategy?
Instagram is more than just a photo-sharing app; it offers options for brands to connect, engage, and inspire their audience through engaging visuals. It offers a suite of powerful features like Carousel Posts, Stories, Reels, and Instagram shopping. Businesses of all sizes have endless opportunities to showcase products and tell brand stories that resonate with the target audience. It’s important to look at various avenues of using this platform to your advantage and set yourself apart in a crowded digital landscape. Whether you’re a small business or an established brand, crafting a compelling Instagram marketing strategy is the key to capturing attention and driving user engagement. Let’s explore how you can harness the full potential of Instagram to elevate your brand!
- Create an Instagram business profile
The first step to start with Instagram marketing is creating a business profile and choosing what category defines you the best. This will enable you to use various features available for businesses. Edit the profile and update the information- your business name, profile photo, bio, CTA button, etc. Crafting a compelling bio is a must-do; it educates the visitor about who you are and what you sell also making it SEO optimized does a great help in Insta search results.
- Set your Instagram marketing goals
After you are done setting up the profile the next thing you want to do is to set up the goals you are aiming to achieve using Instagram marketing. Why do you want to build Instagram presence? Are you looking at building brand awareness or you want to set up Instagram shop? There is no right or wrong way of doing it but before starting off you should be aware of the platform and the objectives you are aiming to fulfill. For instance, Zomato’s profile is all about wit, humor, and communicating about exciting collaborations or offers it is offering on the Zomato app.
Check out the brands that are doing well in your niche, get some inspiration from the existing accounts, analyze the strategies they are following and get started!
- Understand your target audience
Before starting with putting up the content on the platform you need to know: Who your target audience is? Whom are you aiming at with your product or service? What age group does your audience belong to? Different audiences respond to different trends and formats. Addressing these questions will help you understand what kind of content has to be made, what tone of voice should be adopted, the possible reactions you can generate, the key message you want to speak about, etc. Research helps you stay updated on what your specific audience enjoys, whether it’s Reels, Stories, or carousel posts.
- Creating an effective content strategy
The best way to plan your content is by creating a content calendar. What kind of content bucket do you want to follow? How many pieces will be posted monthly? What content formats and storyline do you want to push? A content calendar gives you clarity on what can go when. Take a note of the following:
- Note special days and holidays relevant to your target geography to engage your audience.
- Understand your audience’s preferences and interests to tailor your content effectively.
- Be culturally sensitive to ensure your messaging resonates and avoids misinterpretations.
- Define the tone of voice you want to convey—whether it’s friendly, professional, or playful.
- Establish key and consistent messages that each content piece should communicate.
- Use visuals and language that reflect your brand’s identity and values.
- Consider the timing of posts to align with audience activity and seasonal trends.
- Analyze competitor’s topics for insights and inspiration while maintaining originality.
- Encourage interaction through questions or calls to action to boost engagement.
- Use brand hashtags and category hashtags that can aid in finding out about your product or service using Insta search options.
- Utilize user-generated content (UGC)
Authentic testimonials from real customers can be more convincing than any promotional message. You can encourage your loyal customers to share their experiences with your brand by offering incentives like discounts or special perks. This content can enhance your website by boosting the confidence of new customers during their purchase journey. Additionally, you can repost UGC on your Insta account, utilizing Stories and organizing them into a dedicated Story Highlight. This builds brand loyalty and equity in the minds of the customers.
- Create an influencer marketing strategy
The creator economy is going big; lifestyle and beauty brands are often seen to utilise influencer marketing to their benefit by partnering with influencers to try their products and show the usage or the impact. For instance, brands like Sugar Cosmetics, Plum, Patagonia, Sephora, Meesho, etc. have seen phenomenal positive responses by utilizing influencer marketing on their platforms. On the FMCG front as well a lot of influencers are seen creating content for the brands with their unique ideas of food creation and styling.
Read here full guide to influencer marketing
- Analyze the metrics and performance of your account
Monitoring the health of your account requires you to keep in check the various metrics that will measure the impact of your content. A periodic check keeps you on track with the goals you set out in the beginning to achieve. Instagram analytics includes many data factors such as reach, impressions, engagement rate, content interactions, and audience demographics. These indicators aid in the development of successful marketing plans and an understanding of what customers want. Utilizing analytics can help with content generation, competitor analysis, performance trend identification, audience demographics and behaviour analysis, and performance trend identification. The metrics under consideration will differ from business to business and the goals set by the businesses.
Incorporating a well-rounded Instagram marketing strategy can significantly improve your brand’s visibility, build genuine connections with your audience, and ultimately drive growth and engagement for your business.
Take your Instagram marketing strategy to the next level with Spinta Digital!
At Spinta Digital, we work with brands to strengthen the visual aspect of your brand and drive impactful outcomes. Looking to delve into Instagram marketing and enhance your brand awareness? Our tailored strategies are designed to meet your unique needs. Take your brand to the next level with dynamic content strategies.
