Right behind YouTube, Instagram is the world’s most downloaded app. With a billion users every month, the visual platform is vital for a successful eCommerce marketing strategy. But it takes a little more than simply posting pretty pictures, although that’s certainly a part of the procedure and an understanding of how the platform works to get the most out of it.
If you are new to Instagram, fear not. We got you covered. Let’s dive in.
Create, automate, repeat
Basically, nobody has the time to generate fresh content daily, something you need to be producing as part of a successful strategy. So instead, people create their content surrounding their core marketing efforts in sections, set it up to post through an automated tool, and keep repeating the process.
This simple yet extremely effective process allows you to devote time to creating as much key content as possible and then take advantage of the different scheduling tools available to post that content for you.
Invest. Invest. Invest
Did you know, 54% of people will visit a website after seeing a positive impression from others? Before you begin this journey of understanding how to improve your strategy, you need to know the importance of big numbers when it comes to Instagram. An Instagram business account with excellent online visibility is just what you need for your business to boom! The investment is all worth it! Head to WeJustSocial to understand how it works! This is a decision you just won’t regret!
Create content for YOUR audience
So, scheduling a lot of content is all well and good, but only if the content is appropriate for your audience. Because the Instagram algorithm lets the best-performing content show on more feeds, it has never been more important than now to meet the bar and raise it where possible! Create content your audience and followers can relate to as it is very easy to lose followers when they see unrelatable, uninteresting content on their feed.
Use hashtags
Instagram hashtags can be highly impactful when it comes to eCommerce strategy. Using them properly will allow you to double the visibility of your content and expand your reach while using them incorrectly can cause some damage. It can happen by irritating your followers or ending up getting penalized through the platform’s algorithms. Those who are unclear on how hashtags work expand your reach by creating a tag for your post. Let’s say you caption your post with some hashtag. That post then shows up on the section for that hashtag.
Similarly, if you are using a hashtag in your Instagram story, your account may show up in the Story for that particular hashtag. It’s a really simple means to occupy space within the platform. And, people can really follow hashtags, so even if they do not follow your account, they can still see your post on their feed. Not only are hashtags an excellent way to boost your visibility, but they are also an effective way to add a sense of community within your audience.
Use user-generated content
Another way to create a community among your audience is by utilizing user-generated content. UGC has a lot of scope for impacting eCommerce strategy. This is why Instagram is the perfect platform. It’s a kind of fancy review system, really.
Also, since 85% of users were found to be more influenced by UGC than brand content, it’s really worth having! So, whether you are asking people to submit creative stuff that they’ve “shot on an iPhone” or a selfie, posting this kind of content on your Instagram is an excellent way to improve your eCommerce strategy. Now, creating a sense of community and engagement within your existing audience, as well as a successful eCommerce strategy, also works to expand your audience.
Use these two common growth hacks
1. Competitions & giveaways
You can think of this as a killer combo of User Generated Content and good old-fashioned promotion. This kind of content is seen when brands offer a chance to win a $1000 new wardrobe in exchange for people tagging 3 friends and sharing the post on their Instagram Story. This content works excellently for getting engagement from your existing customers and growing your audience.
2. Collaborations with influencers
It is similar to User Generated Content, but here a user is someone with influence. Collaborations are an excellent string to add to your eCommerce bow. It’s like getting a recommendation for a coffee shop from a friend who knows all about coffee, rather than from a friend who actually only drinks tea. There are tons of options for influencer marketing like:
- Sponsored blog posts
- Sponsored Instagram posts
- Sponsored events offline
This is also one of the social proofs that get you noticed quickly. You can promote all these on your Instagram as part of your eCommerce strategy. It is worth noting that influencer marketing is now widely understood and accepted. Also, transparency is of the greatest importance.
Your customers are in search of validation and social-proof more than anything. And, they’ll know if you’re paying a lot of money to get someone to say “I absolutely love this product” when in fact, they have never even used it! Influencer marketing is successful when the collaboration is with someone who actually uses your product and shares your values. A recent study found that influencers and brands who have stronger social-proof and a solid aligned accounts correlated to greater ROI.
Now, in the early section of the article, it is mentioned that there’s more to a successful Instagram strategy than pretty pictures. It is true, but images are significant. Instagram is, above all, a visual platform, and you cannot afford to neglect the visuals of your feed.
Use high-quality media
There isn’t enough stress on the significance of having high-quality media on the Instagram account. If you don’t have any, then make it a priority. It is hard to take a brand seriously if its pictures are blurry, irrelevant, or unappealing. While stock images are quite acceptable, sometimes even encouraged, it is vital to have your own stuff.
Wrapping it Up
The most successful Instagram eCommerce strategies are the ones that prioritize audience engagement and growth. After all, nurturing your leads is the key to turning them into conversions. And, with Instagram grabbing one of the highest engagement rates across all social media platforms, it’s the perfect place to start! These tips are bound to help you achieve your business goals!