Instagram has become the most popular photo-sharing platform, and users create more than 95 million images on the app daily. As such, Instagram has opened the door to a whole new avenue of advertising for small businesses – but only if you know how to do it right. This article will give you the basics on how to turn your Instagram account into an advertising platform that will help you attract new customers and grow your small business. If your small business has an Instagram account, or if you’re thinking about creating one, this guide can help you make your Instagram account into an advertising platform.
Table of Contents
Know the rules
In order to use your Instagram account as an advertising platform, you need to be aware of the rules. The first rule is that you can only promote products or services that you have personally used and loved. Secondly, all posts must be marked with #ad. Third, you can not use more than 20% of your total posts for promoting products or services. Fourth, you can not use hashtags that are irrelevant to the product or service you are promoting. Fifth, all ads must be clearly identified as such. Sixth, you cannot make false or misleading claims in your ads. Finally, it would help if you were transparent about your relationship with the brands you are promoting.
Post quality content
Quality content is the key to success on Instagram. If you want to turn your account into an advertising platform, make sure that your photos and videos are high-quality and eye-catching. Also, be sure to post interesting and engaging captions that will encourage people to follow you. The number of followers you have matters as well because it makes your account more attractive to potential advertisers. Another thing that attracts advertisers is a good engagement rate, so interact with other accounts by liking their posts or commenting on them.
Encourage social interactions
One way to turn your Instagram account into an advertising platform is to encourage social interactions. This can be done by posting engaging content, using hashtags, and tagging other users in your posts. You should also respond to comments and questions left by others. By doing this, you’ll encourage more people to interact with your posts, which will help increase your visibility. Make sure that when you’re tagging other users in your posts, it’s appropriate and relevant. Otherwise, the person might block or unfollow you of their own accord.
Leverage your network
You’ve built up a strong network of followers on Instagram. Now it’s time to put that network to work and start turning your account into an advertising platform. By leveraging your network, you can start generating leads and sales for your business. Here’s how – Share coupons and discounts with your followers
- Host contests in which the prize is something relevant to your industry or store
- Promote products on sale at your store or website
- Offer free shipping when certain milestones are reached
Use hashtags strategically
Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people, and they can also be a great way to connect with like-minded people it is like SEO for Instagram. But, if you want to use hashtags to grow your business, you need to use them strategically. Here are some tips on how to find the right hashtags for your brand:
1) Look at what other brands in your industry are using: If you’re looking for hashtags that would work well for your brand, look at what other brands in the same industry as yours are using. For example, I looked up #weddingplanner and found out that #bridetobe is another hashtag that many people in the wedding industry have been using lately.
2) Look at popular tags outside of your industry: One benefit of being part of a community on social media is that it allows you to interact with others who might not be in the same industry but share similar interests or goals.
Be deliberate with engagement and contests
To turn your Instagram account into an advertising platform, you need to be deliberate with engagement and contests. Use hashtags, post often, and interact with other users. You can also host contests and give away prizes. Be sure to promote your contest both on Instagram and on other social media platforms. When giving a prize for the contest, make it something that is related to the topic of your Instagram account so that people will be inclined to follow you for more content.
To get followers who are interested in your niche and have their email addresses collected, offer sign-ups for a mailing list. For example, if your profile is about fitness training tips, offer information about upcoming classes or webinars in exchange for their email address.
These steps will help you build a base of engaged followers who want more from you as they are offered incentives like discounts or special offers in return for their email address or participation in a survey.
Promote yourself on other channels
Before you start promoting your Instagram account as an advertising platform, make sure you have a strong presence on other channels. This will help you attract potential customers and show them that you’re a credible source of information. You’ll also be able to leverage your existing audience by sending them messages through different social media platforms.
A popular strategy is posting related content to Facebook or Twitter which links back to the original post on Instagram. Another option is using Hootsuite (or another social media management tool) so you can schedule posts in advance from all of your accounts at once.
Don’t forget about branding
As you grow your account and start working with brands, it’s important to keep your personal brand in mind. You want your page to be a reflection of you and your values. Be choosy about the brands you work with and make sure they align with what you stand for. This will help you attract your ideal followers and keep them engaged. For example, I’ve never done any posts that involved alcohol because I don’t drink. I also try to avoid sponsored posts that are for things like weight loss products or healthy living books because those aren’t my areas of expertise.
Start by identifying who your audience is: The first step is figuring out who your target audience is. The more specific you can get the better. One way to do this is by finding out where they live, their age range, their interests, etc.
Start building your ad campaign today
You’ve built up a following on Instagram- now it’s time to start monetizing your account. By turning your account into an advertising platform, you can make money while still doing what you love- sharing photos and connecting with followers. Here are some ways you can turn your Insta-fame into dollar signs.