Ironically, as our world continues to modernize, more and more buyers are influenced by who they do business with the old-fashioned way – through relationships. Consumers are eager to support small businesses over conglomerates these days, and implementing Instagram for your business is just the right platform to build your brand, visibility, and relationships with potential customers.
Did you know Instagram has 1 billion active users? Among those, over 500 peruse the platform daily, and 81% use Instagram to research products and services. Whether your business is service or product-based, statistics like those affirm that every business needs to have a presence on Instagram.
Stories put a face to the brand
The Instagram Stories feature was created to tell a richer story in between and beyond what still photos on the grid are capable of. They disappear after 24 hours, so content is meant to be “in the moment.” This is the perfect space to share behind-the-scenes footage, sneak peeks of upcoming releases, and showing the people behind the brand. An old marketing saying goes, “People like doing business with people they know, like and trust.” Instagram Stories are a great way to create relatability for your brand by injecting your voice. If you’re new to Stories, we have a free downloadable guide to help you get started, and free Story templates designed to engage viewers.
Partnering with influencers
Another way to utilize Instagram for your businesses and reach a target audience is to partner with social media influencers. By partnering with influencers to use and promote your brand, they are essentially vouching for your business through a modern-day version of word-of-mouth advertising, with a broader reach. There are so many ways to work with influencers, regardless of your budget.
Engage with customers
Some of the best customer connections happen while front-of-house. That’s where conversations happen, and feedback is received first hand. For e-commerce businesses that rarely have those in-person opportunities, or even for brick and mortar businesses who want to grow their reach, Instagram is where businesses and customers can connect, 24-7.
Get creative
The fun part about including Instagram as part of your marketing strategy is the ability to get creative! This platform boasts a long list of features to reach audiences, including Stories, IGTV, reels, and in-app shopping capabilities.
Having a presence on Instagram for your business should be a part of your marketing strategy. If you agree but aren’t sure where to start, download our free 30 Days of Instagram Content calendar to get started!
Feeling overwhelmed about adding to your growing number of to-do’s? Let us help you! Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discover why South Street & Co. is the right small business marketing firm to support your social media marketing efforts. There are also lots of great resources available to help grow Instagram for your business.
