17 Instagram Tips For Small Businesses

In the dynamic world of digital marketing, Instagram stands out as a gold mine for businesses aiming to expand their reach and connect with potential customers. 

With a staggering 2 billion monthly active users, there are unparalleled opportunities for growth in Instagram for small businesses. This is so because Instagram users are highly receptive to connecting with businesses, as highlighted by a Kepios report showing that 62.7% of users follow or research brands and products on the platform.

Given this unique opportunity, how to use Instagram for business effectively? In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best tips for small businesses that will help them drive growth and success on Instagram.

Can You Grow Your Small Business On Instagram?

Instagram offers a huge potential for small business owners to reach and engage with a vast audience of 2 billion people. 

Businesses can foster a loyal community and encourage meaningful interactions with their audience by creating visually appealing posts, engaging stories, and interactive content like polls and Q&A sessions.

Additionally, Instagram’s features, like shopping tags, ads, and influencer collaborations, allow small businesses to reach even more customers. 

17 Instagram Tips For Small Businesses

A well-planned Instagram presence isn't just an option – it's a strategic move for small businesses. Even a solopreneur managing the account needs a documented Instagram marketing strategy. Here are some Instagram tips for small businesses to maximize their impact:

1. Update Your Business Profile Information

Set up your Instagram business profile and make your Instagram profile a magnet for potential customers by keeping your business information fresh and accurate. 

This includes your profile picture (use a high-quality logo or clear photo), username (consider including relevant keywords), and bio (a concise and engaging description of your business). 

After you create a profile for your business, don't forget to update your contact details (website, phone number, email) and category selection. This ensures people can easily find you, understand your offerings, and connect directly through Instagram.

2. Organize Your Instagram Highlights

Make your Instagram Highlights a gateway to customer engagement. Well-organized Highlights let potential clients dive right in. Descriptive names for each category (like "Our Products" or "Client Testimonials") act as clear signposts and eye-catching cover images add visual appeal. This way, viewers can instantly find what interests them and start exploring your stories with a tap.

3. Plan Out Content Pillars And Themes

Content pillars are the foundation of your Instagram strategy for small businesses. These core themes guide your content creation, keeping it aligned with your brand and resonating with your audience. Think of them as building blocks for a cohesive Instagram presence that supports your business goals.

4. Define Content Types You Want To Publish

Craft a content mix that keeps your audience hooked!  Define the types of content you'll post on Instagram, like eye-catching photos, informative videos, or interactive polls. This variety caters to different preferences and keeps your profile fresh. Remember, consistency is key, so plan a schedule that ensures a steady stream of engaging content.

5. Add Keywords And In Captions and First Comment

Speak the language your audience searches. Sprinkle relevant keywords throughout your captions, and consider adding them to your first comment. This helps people discover your content when they search for related terms on Instagram. But remember, prioritize natural wording – keyword stuffing looks spammy.

6. Add Geotags To Your Posts

Add location tags to your Instagram posts to boost discoverability. Search engines and users can find your content more easily. Geotags also help local customers discover your business and encourage user-generated content. Simply click the "Location" icon, search for your spot, and tap to add!

7. Host Instagram Lives, contests, and giveaways

Lives, contests, and giveaways can supercharge your audience.RehumanizeThey increase brand recognition by getting new followers who may have never heard of you before. Giveaways also create a feeling of community around your brand by linking you with people who are interested in your niche.

Furthermore, they encourage interaction as people follow your account or sign up to receive emails from you. This will not only increase your number of followers but also generate leads that can be used for future sales.

8. Share Informational Guides For Followers

On Instagram, guides enable users to compile posts, products, or places into one educational and inspirational tool for their followers. Demonstrate your knowledge through guides that touch on pertinent subjects, such as “The Ultimate Hiking Checklist” or “Essential Photography Tips.” You can even feature products in these guides. This engaging format keeps viewers hooked and strengthens your brand image.

9. Offer Exclusive Discounts For Audience

One of the main reasons for small business owners to use Instagram is to build a loyal customer base. Offering exclusive discounts and promotions to your followers builds brand loyalty and creates a win-win situation. You boost sales and follower count, and your audience saves money. 

But it’s only a tiny part of the picture! Instagram lets you present your brand in a visual way, reach out to an eager audience actively searching for new products and services, and create a strong community around your business.

10. Use Save Post Feature To Track Competitors

Keeping track of your competitors’ content is incredibly helpful in understanding what works and what doesn’t. Moreover, it motivates you to create something better for your audience. 

For these purposes, Instagram’s “Save” post feature is a lifesaver, as it allows you to save posts and organize them into folders. 

11. Engage With Audience Via DMs

We know how businesses of all shapes and sizes use Instagram, but many forget that social media is not a one-way street. If you want your audience to stick around, you have to interact with them.

Even if you're responding to their comments, you may go one step further and engage with them via Instagram messaging. If a user wants to enquire about a product or service, do take the time to respond to them. If someone has a complaint, address it in the proper manner. 

12.  Expand Your Reach With Hashtags

Using hashtags is one of the oldest ways to market with Instagram, which is still beneficial today. Instagram advises using only 3 to 5 hashtags in a post. 

However, a study was conducted to understand the impact of hashtags on reach. They found that more hashtags lead to better reach, with the ideal number being 20. You can even create your own hashtags focusing on business.

13.  Leverage Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing taps into the power of social media stars. Businesses partner with influencers who've built trust with a specific audience. 

This lets you subtly promote products or services to a group already primed to listen, boosting engagement and making way for more organic traffic to your business.

14. Experiment With Reels And Carousels

Reels are king for reaching new audiences, while carousels with captivating swipeable content excel at driving engagement. Tailor your content type to your goals. 

This will allow you to spread brand awareness, spark conversations, or encourage users to save valuable posts.

15.  Run Targeted Instagram Ads

With Instagram ads, promote your business directly to potential customers. Craft targeted ads that appear seamlessly in feeds, Stories, Reels, and Explore. 

Unlike organic posts, Ads include a clear call to action, like a link to your website, product page, or even DMs. This targeted approach lets you connect with the right audience and drive valuable results.

16.  Encourage User Generated Content 

Instagram empowers brands to leverage user-generated content (UGC) for a powerful marketing boost. Promote your local business through UGC, which is content created and shared by real users, and acts like word-of-mouth marketing.  

Since UGC feels more authentic than traditional marketing, it fosters trust and credibility with potential customers actively looking for genuine reviews and testimonials.  

17.  Measure Your Instagram Insights

Instagram analytics are the key to understanding your audience. See who follows you, when they're most active, and what content resonates best. 

This data is crucial for crafting a winning content strategy that helps small businesses achieve Instagram goals. 

Other insights, such as impressions, likes, comments, and shares, also help you strategize and modify Instagram marketing efforts accordingly. 

Bonus: Partner With Social Media Growth Services

Are you feeling overwhelmed with so many ways to use Instagram for small businesses? What if we tell you there was an easier way? You can consider partnering with social media growth services like GPC.FM. 

They offer various services to help you jumpstart your Instagram presence, including increasing your follower count, likes, and views. This is why Instagram is an essential platform for small business owners' growth and visibility.

Conclusion: 

Instagram is one of the greatest social media platforms for small businesses to share pictures and videos, communicate with potential customers, build brand awareness, and increase sales, but it is tough to succeed without a good strategy.

These 17 best practices of Instagram for small businesses, will help you create an attractive online presence that attracts followers who can become loyal clients. 

Remember that the most effective social media strategy comprises good content and a clear plan. By combining these components with the advice, you may turn Instagram into your own personal sales force, increasing revenue and brand awareness.

FAQs

1. Which Instagram account is best for small businesses?

If you’re already monetizing on Instagram, a business profile is best. It unlocks audience insights and lets you display contact details. However, if you only want insights without contact info, a creator profile should be your pick. 

2. Why should small businesses use Instagram to promote their brand?

Instagram helps small businesses tap into a highly involved user pool that is actively searching for new products and services. They can also use photos, videos, stories, reels, and other features to tell their brand story in a visually appealing way.

3. How to promote small businesses on Instagram story?

Use high-quality photos, videos, and graphics, produce engaging content, add CTAs, and leverage Instagram Story stickers like polls, questions, and location tags. You can also highlight your Reels through Stories. 

4. How do you make your small business successful on Instagram?

To succeed on Instagram, small businesses should be aware of their audiences, post regularly, analyze their performance, and adjust accordingly. A useful tip is also to engage as much as possible with followers through comments replies, answering questions, or holding competitions.

5. How to increase followers for a business account?

Some of the best ways to increase followers for a business account on Instagram is to create high-quality content, post consistently, optimize your profile, run targeted promotions, engage with your audience, and collaborate with influencers.