How to Make a Good Instagram Marketing Strategy

Learn about all you need to consider when creating your own Instagram marketing strategy

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It’s fair to say that there are a lot of users on Meta’s Instagram platform – 1.21 billion monthly active users in 2021, in fact. This makes Instagram the fourth most popular social media platform behind Whatsapp, YouTube, and Facebook, which sits at the top of the tree.

Since its initial launch way back in 2010 (yes, it really has been that long, and yes, that is scary), Instagram has grown and developed into a trendsetter when it comes to social media marketing, shaping how brands use this channel to promote their product, services, ethos, and more.

So, what can you do to help increase your business’ presence on Instagram, and how can you use this hugely popular platform to develop your own Instagram marketing strategy? Let’s have a look at some things you can consider and points to help get you going.

Set Up A Business Instagram Account

If you have a business and want to get going with an Instagram marketing plan, we’d recommend setting yourself up a business account on Instagram.

By doing this, you gain access to a range of handy marketing tools within the platform, such as the ability to schedule posts and insights on your profile’s engagement and user demographics.

The process is pretty straightforward, and begins by simply switching your personal profile to a professional profile. To do this, navigate to the Settings of your profile, click Account, and select Switch to a professional account. From here, you’ll be prompted to add some business category and contact information, as well as the option to connect it up to your Facebook page.

Once set up, you can also follow the process to verify your account by navigating to the same Account section of your profile Settings. Submitting a request and gaining approval will give your brand a verified badge, which can help with important trust signals when it comes to user engagement.

Understand the Audience

When devising a marketing strategy, it is of course important to have as clear an idea of your own audience as possible. When you understand your own audience, you can then go about selecting the correct platform.

As of April 2022, more than 60% of the global active users on Instagram are aged between 18-34, with 31.7% of all Instagram users being 25-34 years of age. As you consider where you want to promote your business or services, keep in mind where your core audience is most likely to be.

Think About Creative Content

Instagram is almost exclusively image based. The focus on visuals, through photographs and graphics, means close attention should be paid to your choice of imagery when planning an Instagram content strategy.

Use imagery to help illustrate your brand; consider it as a way to show users what your business is all about and, ultimately, how you want your brand to be seen.

Test different visuals and take note of how they perform; if you see that imagery of a particular style or certain theme achieved good engagement, consider using it as a kind of template moving forward. In a similar vein, take a look at the Instagram pages of your competitors’ and see what kind of posts have gained decent traction – it’s a great way to spark some inspiration if you find yourself struggling.

Above all, you want to ensure that you’re using high-quality imagery when posting on your Instagram page.

Make Use of Hashtags

Adding hashtags to your posts can be a great way to help your content reach relevant users across Instagram. It’s therefore important to make sure you’re using hashtags that apply to your business, service, or post content.

When developing your Instagram marketing plan, take some time to determine what hashtag terms most align with your brand; carry out a bit of research by punching in some searches around the kind of hashtags you think may be relevant to you.

Some examples may include your location (such as #kent), themed hashtags (like #vintage), something seasonal (maybe #summerdays), annual trends (perhaps #blackfriday), brand new trending hashtags, or even one you’ve made up yourself – who knows, come up with something memorable enough, it may go viral.

When creating your posts, Instagram helpful gives you a readout on the rough reach your suggested hashtag will have, so this can act as a bit of a guide when it comes to choosing the right tags with the best available reach.

How many hashtags should you use? It’s impossible to say, I’m afraid. It is something that is definitely worth testing across your posts, though; trial the use of a batch of relevant hashtags against posts without and see what your engagement looks like as a result.

Consider Reaching Out to Influencers

Instagram influencer marketing is becoming an increasingly popular approach to businesses across the platform, utilising the existing loyal following of personalities on Instagram to help promote a business, service, or product.

The reach of Instagram influencers is highly sought after, and as such means that getting a hold of their voice for your business can be a challenge. Typically, part of the deal when it comes to getting an influencer on board means giving away complimentary products or sometimes a fee of some kind.

Do a bit of research to find out who are the big players in your industry and reach out via any contact details you come across – be that on or off Instagram – just don’t be too disappointed if you don’t hear anything back!

Catch Users Attention With Instagram Reels

Have you noticed lately that, when you open up Instagram, you’re greeted by a stream of videos? Well, these are what’s known as Instagram Reels. And why are they so popular? Because they get engagement!

As of 2022, Reels are the big thing when it comes to the mighty Instagram algorithm, which means the platform is more likely to recommend this post format ahead of feed posts to people who don’t follow you already.

Reels can also be found in their own dedicated section by clicking on the clapperboard icon at the bottom centre of the screen, with the play symbol in the middle of it. Here, you’ll find a scrollable feed of Reels to while away the time; take a look over the scores of videos and note how they’re made, what they’re promoting, and what kind of engagement they’ve had – you can find some great inspiration!

Find Paid Social Support for Your Business

If you’re interested in exploring paid social advertising on Instagram for your business, why not take a look at our selection of social media packages or reach out to the Spark Agency to see how we can help.