Brands and businesses can succeed in selling on Instagram with the right strategy. Instagram has over 1 billion active users worldwide.
- 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 key tactics that can help boost your sales using Instagram.
1. Use an Instagram Business Profile
If you have been using your personal profile, convert it into a business profile, which gives you access to selling and reporting options including Instagram Insights, CTA buttons, Story links, and Facebook alignment.
2. Post Images that Speak to Your Audience
Follow the rules of great photography with your smartphone:
- Use natural light whenever you can.
- Avoid overexposure.
- Shoot at sunrise, sunset, or on a cloudy day.
- Take photos from different vantage points.
- Use unique frames.
Top image editing apps: VSCO, Canva, and A Color Story.
3. Run Contests
Three great Instagram contest ideas:
- Like, comment, and follow — Users like your post and follow you to enter.
- Tag a friend — Users get one entry for every friend they tag.
- User-generated content (UGC) — Your audience creates their own unique posts and tags your business.
The best type of contest is the UGC contest.
4. Leverage Instagram Video
- Keep your videos short and grab attention with movement in the first few seconds.
- Add captions (Instagram videos are mute by default).
- Plan your videos with a specific goal in mind.
- Add behind-the-scenes footage for a human touch.
- Capture your products in action.
Instagram videos receive 2x the engagement of other posts.
5. Give Exclusive Content with Stories
Use Instagram stories to show behind-the-scenes action and truly pull those viewers into what your brand does.
6. Join Instagram Pods
If you're new to Instagram marketing, join quality Instagram Pods to ramp up your engagements. Pods are groups of Instagram users who band together to increase each other's followers and engagements.
7. Use More Hashtags
Instagram allows you to use up to 30 hashtags per post. Use the most popular hashtags to get in front of millions of users. Research hashtags via Discover → Search → Tags. Then, create your own customized hashtags once you've established your brand presence.
8. Use Instagram Shopping
Shopping posts look like organic posts, with the exception that when users "tap to view products," product names and prices are revealed. They can click through to a landing page from the product details page.
9. Connect with Up & Coming Influencers
Select influencers who have real influence in their area, do something relevant to your product, and have followers who will benefit from what you're selling.
10. Run Compelling Instagram Ads
69% of marketers in the U.S. spend their influencer budgets on Instagram ads. Pro tips:
- Know what your audience wants to see.
- Keep your message short — text will be cut off after two rows.
- Engage with users and treat paid ads just like organic posts.
