This is the third instalment in our three part series on how to create and make the most of your social media business pages. Today we will be focusing on Instagram, but you can access part one or part two by simply clicking on their respective links. Instagram is one of the most powerful tools a business can use to expand its reach, and in this article I’m going to show you how to get started today.

Instagram advertises itself as a storytelling platform, and with its new story post feature, you can show your users what’s happening in your business - live.

SETUP

The first steps to opening a business account for your instagram are:

Step #1: Sign up with your business email address.

Step #2: Choose a recognizable username. You want your business to be at the top of the search list.

Step #3: Pick a profile picture that is appropriate for your business: for example, your company logo, or some of your recognized products!

Step #4: Now that you’ve created a basic profile, you’re going to want to go to settings, and click on “Convert to business profile” this will allow you to access Instagram Insights which provides you with account analytics.

Step #5: After filling in relevant information, you will have the option to link your account to Facebook or Twitter. Go ahead and link it to your business page.

Step #6: Now that your account is fully set up, you’re going to want to post a picture before you start following people. This way, people will see that your account is going to be active, and they’re more likely to follow you.

Step #7: Another extremely useful tool that Instagram has incorporated from Twitter is #HASHTAGS. These useful tags allow your post to be seen on Instagram’s main feed where people search for pictures that are relevant to the hashtag they searched. This expands your reach significantly, and makes sure that you’re advertising to the right crowd.

CONTENT

Your content must be appropriate to your business in order to maintain relevance. Many people forget that Instagram is mainly based off of aesthetic appeal: therefore, pictures, videos, and stories apply differently to various businesses.

Photos are extremely relevant to purely aesthetic products such as fitness apparel, food, electronics, and furniture. Businesses in which the product sells itself benefit the most from photos.

Infographics are one of the most powerful tools in content marketing, they allow you to put words on your photo to visually convey your message. An example of an effective infographic is shown below.

Videos can aid aesthetic products just as much, but products or services in which performance cannot be shown simply through a photo particular benefit from the medium. If you’re selling ice skates, or karate classes, people would like to see this in action!

And last but not least, Instagram's most recent story feature which allows you to post a photo or video and it will stay at the top of your followers feeds for 24 hours. This is great if you want to direct users to your online store, you can post a photo of a product and caption it “free shipping + 10% off!” and it will last exactly 24 hours before it automatically gets taken off. It is also beneficial if you want to show off various parts of your business which aren’t sufficient enough for a post but are still of interest; for example, people claiming their discount at your store! A story is more personal than a photo.

Tricks & Tips

Now that you know how to get set up, why don’t we start with some of the Pro Tips? Just knowing how to get set up is not enough, you’re going to have to make sure your content is as effective as possible in order to keep getting followers.

Tip #1 Set Your Status.

Immediately after you set up your Instagram account, you’re going to want to set an Instagram status that reflects what your company is all about. Your status and profile picture are among some of the first things a new potential follower is going to see when they click on your profile. Set a status that keeps users engaged and encourages them to like your photos!

Tip #2: Know When To Post.

Another tip is knowing when to post. Just like every other social media platform, there are peak times of user engagement.

Best Times to Post On Instagram:

Anytime Between Monday to Thursday, except for 3 - 4pm.

(Source: Shortstack)

Tip #3: Be Consistent!

It is extremely important to be consistent when you post content, and stick to a regular schedule so that your followers will know when to expect new posts from your brand. Don’t forget to experiment and track your progress in order to see which times work best for you. To make sure you’re being consistent in your posting, use the Solomoto post scheduler for small businesses.

There you have it, the basics to getting your instagram business account up and running! Thank you for reading and good luck!