Marketing on Instagram can feel like an uphill battle. The platform is full of creativity and to die for pictures that can leave you wondering what you could possibly do to stand out.
It is worth exploring how to get your brand noticed. How can one possibly ignore a platform with over 1 billion monthly users?
How can you create an effective Instagram marketing strategy?
Utilize Instagram Stories
Instagram stories, was introduced in August 2016. More than 500 million people use Instagram stories on a daily basis. Over 4 million businesses advertise on Instagram stories monthly.
How to make Instagram Stories
Let’s you create posts that disappear after 24 hours, this was adapted from Snapchat. Snapchat had this feature. Stories have grown way more than Snapchat.
The story tab is on top, you can see story posts on top of your dashboard, where you’ll see stories of all the accounts you follow
If you Tap right or left, you can move between different stories.
In the app, click the plus icon at the top of the screen.
At the bottom of the screen, choose STORY from the menu
Press and hold the white circle to record video, OR…
Swipe up (or select the square camera roll icon on the left) to use pre-existing photos or videos.
How to make your stories stand out
Run ads on your stories
Edit photos well and make sure they capture the audience’s attention
Create polls or ask questions to create engagement
Use influencer stories. Influencers are a hit on Instagram, you can hardly go wrong
Be consistent with your branding
Schedule your stories in advance
Make use of Instagram stories templates
Key metrics marketers should consider:
Reach - How many users have seen the content
Impressions - The total amount of time your content has been displayed
Tap forward - The number of taps users made to see the next video/photo in your story
Exits - How many users have opted out of your stories
Replies - The number of people who responded to your stories
Utilize Instagram Reels
Instagram reels is a feature that enables you to make 15-30 seconds videos, edit them, and post them online. This feature was introduced in Brazil first in November 2019 to compete with TikTok.
How to create Reels on Instagram
1. Open Instagram and swipe right to access the Instagram camera.
2. Tap Reels at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the record button to create your Reel. Instagram Reel length should be between 3 and 15 seconds.
4. On the left pane, you can use various editing tools, add text, masks, audion, and special effects.
How to make your reels stand out
Make use of the special effects
Add music to your reels
Set time for the video
Preview the video before sharing
You can share reels to your feed as well as your stories
Metrics that marketers should consider:
Views
Likes
Comments
Conclusion
Instagram is an entirely visual platform, unlike the others. It takes effort, creativity, and consistency to stand out.