Instagram is a social network that notes the biggest growth of all social platforms. It currently has over 1 billion monthly active users. With that many people using it, it has become one of the most important and powerful marketing platforms there is. Nowadays, pretty much anyone can build a brand there, but to build a strong brand on Instagram worth following—that’s a different story.
That means if your plans include being competitive and serious with Instagram, you are going to have to freshen up. You will need to learn what is working and what isn’t to build a strong brand identity. And it is in your interest to do so, as research shows that 68 percent of Instagram users regularly engage with brands. That’s opposed to just 32 percent who don’t, which is the way things currently stand with Facebook.
Develop your strategy to build a strong brand on Instagram
It’s important to know that Instagram is a very competitive platform. There are more than 25 million business profiles on IG and this number is going up. So, with this many businesses competing for new customers, you need to have a strategy to follow.
Set clear goals
There is no point in using any social network without setting clear goals. You will only end up wasting a lot of your time and resources, and you won’t get anything in return. It is crucial that your Instagram strategy aligns with the digital marketing goals of your brand.
There are many ways and strategies for using an IG business account. You can raise brand awareness, or you can use it to drive more traffic to your website. You can also use posts to increase the reach of your current marketing campaigns. The possibilities are pretty much endless.
If you set clear goals, you’ll be able to get to them more easily.
Know your target audience
It can be of huge help if you know who your target audience is. If you haven’t used Instagram before, and you are trying to find it, you should know one thing: The place where you will find your audience are your competitors’ profiles. The simplest strategy here is to follow the followers of your competition and to hope that they will follow you back. However, this doesn’t always work, so it is not a bad idea to try using social listening tools. With them, you can find out where the conversations related to your brand are really happening.
Research your competitors
Knowing your competitors can pay off. You can benefit from knowing their goals and strategies. Also, don’t forget that you are both targeting the same user base.
Analyze the information about your competition posts. Knowwhich posts get the most reactions, which ones are the most engaging, and so on. After analyzing this information you’ll have a much clearer idea of what kinds of posts your competitors are using to reach their goals.
Plan your content
It is not a bad idea to do tests to find the kind of content that drives conversations. You can use that knowledge to publish a similar kind of content to move toward your marketing goals. Make a content calendar and establish the tone of your brand. This will help you develop your own unique style. You can also experiment with post timing. There are certain times where your followers will be more responsive than at others.
That being said, you shouldn’t clone the content strategies of your competitors. Your followers won’t trust you if you do that. It is a better idea to find a visual approach that aligns with your brand’s identity and personality. Instagram users also appreciate an artistic approach, so that can be a great way to get your message across.
Hire talented photographers
Employing skilled photographers is extremely important if you want to build a strong brand on Instagram, as it is a highly visual medium, and your posts have to be of the highest quality. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with these artistic sensibilities, and there’s nothing wrong with hiring a good photographer who will take photos of your products and edit them for this platform. This will help you get content that stands out.
Track your progress
If you want to make progress, you have to keep track of it. Some Instagram strategies will work for you while others won’t. Track different metrics and analyze your progress with tools that are available. Two of the most used ones are Brandwatch, which helps you find out important metrics related to your account, and Quinty, which is an easy to use tool that provides Instagram analytics for followers.
Track your progress when trying to build a strong brand on Instagram.
Be consistent
The most important thing when trying to build a strong brand on Instagram is to build a loyal audience that trusts you. It is crucial to build a unique identity and personality to which your followers will relate. The best way for achieving this is quality content that is consistent in theme and style.
Inconsistency in style will confuse your followers. Also, it is important to use the color pallet that is suitable for your brand. Use captions to your advantage, and use minimal word count to carry your message.
Use stories on Instagram
Instagram stories are pictures and videos on Instagram which disappear after some time. They are a very effective and good way to share moments that you don’t want on your profile permanently. They can be used to post off-the-cuff moments to develop personality and build relationships. It is important to mention that stories are only available on the Instagram mobile app, so it is a good idea to control your account via phone, as most users use IG on their phones.
Instagram stories can help you build relationships with your followers.
Work with influential Instagrammers
To build the authority of your brand, you can use influential Instagrammers. They can help you increase your brand awareness, and you can use different ones for different campaigns. They build their fan base over a long period of time, so their followers really trust them. When you collaborate with an influencer, you immediately gain access to their followership and that is a great advantage for you.
