3 Instagram Tips for Your Business, Plus a #Secret No One Is Talking about
Guest blog by Kelsey Webb, founder of Rayn Social
Instagram has become a powerful platform for businesses and for selling products and services; maximizing your success requires implementing the right strategies. Here are my top tips for using Instagram to promote your business.
1. Play it safe
To make sure your social media admin accounts are secure, set up two factor authentication. This extra layer of security protects your pages from potential compromises if your personal profile gets hacked. Consider using an authenticator app or linking your phone and/or email address for added protection, especially if you’re the sole admin.
2. Mix it up.
Engage your audience by creating a well-rounded content mix. Categorize your posts into themes like inform, engage, inspire and convert. If you provide a variety of informative content with valuable information, tutorials and industry insights, you’ll establish your brand as an authority.
You can also foster interaction by incorporating engaging content like polls, quizzes and interactive posts. Inspire your audience with motivational quotes, success stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your brand. Don’t forget to include conversion-focused content that guides your audience toward taking action, such as calls to action and promotions.
3. Know your audience
Finding your target audience is crucial for success on Instagram. Start by analyzing your existing customers to understand their demographics and preferences. Then, audit your social following to identify important trends and patterns.
Use website analytics to gain insights into referral sources, popular topics/pages and resonating search terms. Keep an eye on your competition and analyze their target audience, channels and messaging to identify potential gaps in your target audience.
Lastly, define who your target audience isn’t, ensuring your efforts are focused on reaching the right people. For example, if your business can only serve customers within a specified geographical area, focus your marketing efforts on reaching those within that radius and tailor your strategies accordingly.
Bonus: The social media secret you need to know
Did you know that the hashtag #Kansas is banned on Instagram? Staying informed about banned hashtags is essential. These are hashtags that Instagram has flagged or reported for various reasons, such as ties to inappropriate or offensive content, violation of community guidelines or excessive use by spammers.
Using relevant hashtags can significantly boost your engagement and help you reach a broader audience. However, when you use banned hashtags, Instagram may label your account as spam or a violation of community guidelines, potentially resulting in a shadow ban. This ban restricts the visibility and engagement of your posts and limits their reach to a broader audience.
To avoid any issues, stay away from banned hashtags and focus on using relevant and popular ones that adhere to Instagram’s guidelines. You can check for banned hashtags on the Instagram platform itself. Search for a specific hashtag, like #Kansas, and review the results. If a hashtag is banned or restricted, you will see an alert at the top of the results page saying, “Recent posts for #Kansas are hidden because some posts may not follow Instagram’s Community Guidelines.” This alert tells you to exercise caution.
You can also find a comprehensive and frequently updated list of banned hashtags at Meta Hashtags. This information can help you stay current and avoid potential issues.
Appropriate and popular hashtags can maximize your Instagram engagement and reach without compromising your account’s standing. Stay informed, use hashtags responsibly, and enjoy a successful and positive Instagram journey.
Keep learning as Instagram evolves
Social media is always changing. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to trends and tools. Workshops are a great way to do this.
I presented many of my findings at Global Entrepreneur Week – Kansas City. You can also find tons of workshops, sessions and classes about social media on the KCSourceLink Calendar.
If you don’t have the time or inclination to explore social media, there are services in the KC area for small business owners. Rayn Social empowers brands to build authentic connections through social media. The company offers full-service social media management, training and workshops, as well as social media and podcast consulting.
No matter how you get your know-how, you can use Instagram to build relationships and create customers. Prioritize security, create diverse content, target your ideal audience, and be smart with hashtags. These tricks will help you achieve greater success on the platform.
