Instagram is a globally acclaimed social media giant, renowned for its extensive user base that surpasses one billion individuals. This vast audience provides an immense opportunity for brands to cultivate dedicated brand ambassadors, influencers, and customers. With its limitless potential, Instagram has become an essential tool for marketers aiming to grow their follower base. In this context, let’s delve into the leading Instagram marketing trends that businesses are leveraging to broaden their influence.
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Latest Trends In Instagram Marketing
1. Instagram Stories
This feature offers companies the chance to share captivating content that is available to their audience for just 24 hours. It’s an excellent way to showcase exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, promote time-sensitive deals, and engage with followers in real-time.
2. Influencer Marketing
With Instagram’s rising popularity, brands are increasingly tapping into the influence of individuals who boast substantial and dedicated followings on the platform. These influencers are in an ideal position to highlight the brands’ products and services to their loyal audiences, thereby enhancing the companies’ visibility and credibility.
3. Instagram Shopping
Instagram’s latest feature has transformed the platform into a powerful retail hub, offering businesses a seamless way to showcase their products directly through the app. For users, shopping has become effortlessly straightforward, allowing them to explore and buy items with just a few simple taps.
4. Reels
In light of the growing popularity of short-form video content, Instagram has introduced Reels, providing businesses with a platform to showcase their creativity and captivate audiences through entertaining, concise videos.
5. Use of AR Filters
Brands are increasingly adopting Augmented Reality (AR) filters as an innovative method to boost customer interaction and showcase their products in an engaging and dynamic manner.
Top Tips to Increase Followers on Instagram
1. Take Advantage of Your Bio
When visitors arrive on your Instagram page, their eyes are immediately drawn to your bio. This concise introduction acts as the digital gateway to your brand, offering a snapshot of your essence. To create a strong first impression, your bio should include a link to your website or latest content and incorporate relevant hashtags to spark curiosity. An artfully composed and compelling bio is crucial for captivating potential customers’ interest.
2. Use Relevant Hashtags for Your Content
Employing hashtags strategically can significantly expand your content’s reach. By integrating brand-specific hashtags unique to your identity and relevant hashtags that resonate with your target audience, you enhance the chances of attracting more engaged users. The more aligned these users are with your brand, the higher the probability they will become dedicated followers.
3. Post Your Content at the Right Time
Broaden your brand’s influence by strategically timing your Instagram posts. According to Sprout Social’s research, the best times to upload content before the COVID era were Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 am, along with Tuesdays between 2 and 3 pm.
4. Attract Your Competitor’s Followers
To captivate a broader audience, consider engaging with potential brand ambassadors by connecting with your competitors’ followers. Even though they are loyal to other brands, these individuals can be persuaded to follow yours. Invest time in following, liking, and commenting on their posts to cultivate relationships that enhance your brand’s visibility and allure. The more energy you devote to interacting with your target audience, the higher your likelihood of successfully growing your brand.
5. Pay for Sponsored Posts and Product Reviews
To broaden your audience, it is crucial to pinpoint influential figures within your industry. Aim for influencers boasting more than 10,000 subscribers and who have listed their email in their bio, as they are likely receptive to brand collaborations. If your products stand out, providing influencers with samples for testing and sharing can be an enticing approach.
6. Use Geotags for Local Discoverability
When you tag your location in your posts or stories, you make it easier for interested individuals to discover your content. This can increase the visibility of your local business among relevant audiences. Additionally, sharing location-related content and stories fosters a stronger sense of community engagement.
7. Use Instagram Stories
Posting Stories on Instagram can significantly grow your follower base and widen your audience, while simultaneously enhancing your brand’s credibility. This feature also allows you to foster deeper engagement by offering followers a behind-the-scenes look at your brand. Furthermore, you can leverage Stories to promote your blog, share posts, and highlight pertinent industry content, thereby amplifying your reach and influence.
8. Highlight Important Stories
The Stories feature’s highlight function allows you to compellingly convey your brand’s narrative. While stories are typically ephemeral, highlighting them breathes new life into your content and keeps users actively engaged with your brand. Additionally, the archived organization of stories ensures they are always easily accessible.
9. Ask For Followers
Although your audience might appreciate your content, it doesn’t guarantee their loyalty to your brand. A subtle prompt could make a difference. Motivate users to become followers by embedding calls to action within your captions and the comments section of your website, encouraging them to interact with and support your brand.
10. Stay Updated With Latest Trends
Keeping up with the latest trends is a tried-and-true strategy for enhancing your engagement and visibility. To resonate with these trends, it’s essential to customize your content and hashtags to fit. Nonetheless, it’s just as crucial to present your material in a compelling way that captivates your audience.
11. Run Contests and Giveaways
By introducing contests and offering prizes on your page, you can significantly expand your audience. These strategies might include encouraging users to share, like, or comment, employing an appropriate hashtag, or even prompting them to tag a friend. The opportunities are limitless.
