Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest – do you really have the time to grow another following on Instagram? What if we told you that you could increase your followers dramatically by giving just a few minutes a day to the photo sharing app?
If you aren’t on Instagram yet, you’re missing out, plain and simple. But, just being on the site isn’t enough. You have to build your following, which is what plenty of businesses are doing as we speak. With some 80 million active users, there is a new platform of users to tap into. And, since the marketing is entirely visual based, being on Instagram builds brand recognition and customer loyalty early on.
By spending just FIVE minutes on Instagram – no more, no less – you can build a dedicated following, personalize your brand and engage with your target audience. Here’s how.
Aim to Follow 30-50 Users Each Day
Using the Explore section of the app, do a hashtag search and look for users that could benefit from your product or service. You can also look for users in your industry and follow people who have liked their photos. The goal is to keep connected to people in your niche. Hashtags are a great tool for pinpointing your best audience, and they’re fair game for soft selling.
As you start to follow more people, more users will return the favor, and you’ll build an authoritative profile that users won’t be hesitant to follow.
Post a Cool Picture Once a Day
After you spend a few minutes following new users, be sure to post a picture. Choose your photos wisely, as you want them to reflect the type of lifestyle you are selling. Visual cues are powerful, and people are naturally tempted to buy things because of the feelings they evoke, so be sure to think about how the photo reflects your brand.
Also, don’t hesitate to use photos that are outside of the conventional box. Your own pictures are best, and getting a response is the ultimate goal. While you don’t want to cause an outrage on Instagram, funny, controversial and amusing photos are what Instagram is all about.
Add a Call to Action Once a Month
As you start to build a strong following, add a call-to-action once a month. You want to create a sense of urgency in your followers, so if you add CTAs all the time, you won’t achieve this. It’s also a good idea to offer CTAs that are time sensitive and exclusive to Instagram users (social media followers love being rewarded). Make sure the link directs to the product page and accepts a variety of payment methods.
Just a few minutes a day is all you need to build a strong Instagram following and connect with a new demographic of customers.