With 300 million active monthly users, Instagram is fast becoming a very important tool for small-business owners looking to connect with potential customers. This highly engaging social media platform helps followers get to know your brand and sets the stage for valuable interactions. But the wrong content can damage your reputation, so it’s important to invest the time and effort to figure out what works — and doesn’t — on Instagram.
Here are some tips for marketing your business on Instagram, and some rock-star examples from Square sellers all around Australia.
Share great photos
It goes without saying — Instagram is all about great imagery. Think about what your images and posts are saying about your business, and ensure that you’re sending a positive and honest representation of what you stand for. Experiment with filters and tools, and find a balance that’s right for you. Just remember — if your gut is telling you that the image you’re posting isn’t right, it’s probably not.
Tell your story
Instagram is a visual platform that allows you to tell the ongoing story of your business over time. In addition to mentioning sales, offers, and events on occasion, you should also find ways to delight your fans with surprising details. Many business owners will share a narrative, such as documenting a construction project or capturing the steps involved in making a cake. Look for informative, fun details without including anything too tedious or overly personal—it’s a great way to allow fans to follow along with your story.
Preview new products or daily specials
Grab your customers’ attention by giving them a sneak peek of a new product or sharing a daily special on Instagram before it reaches a wider audience. This is a great opportunity to create loyal followers and incentivise more people to start following you.
Introduce your team
People are the heart of a small business. Consider introducing your staff to your followers and share some information about what they bring to the operation. This will help encourage familiarity, while also engaging your team in a friendly and fun way. You might also consider highlighting your favorite customers — with their permission, of course.
Don’t forget to include your website in your bio
Instagram traffic is great, but visits to your own website are even better. Since Instagram doesn’t allow you to include active links within your posts, you’ll want to be sure to include the link to your site in your Instagram bio and remind your audience to visit that bio whenever you want to send them to your website.
Follow @SquareAU on Instagram and get to know Square sellers from around Australia as we share their stories. Direct Message us a picture of your small business and we may share it with our own followers.
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