With so many constant changes in the social media environment, it can be difficult for small businesses to keep up. But if you were to click here, you can better manage your online business. But take last year for example when Facebook changed their Newsfeed Algorithm, making it almost impossible for us smaller businesses to reach our potential customers organically. With such changes never before has the visual social media platform Instagram, looked as attractive as it does right now for businesses. And, if you are not exploring this social avenue as part of your digital marketing strategy, you could be missing out!
Purchased by Facebook in 2012 for a cool $1bn, Instagram has gone from strength to strength, growing from 30 million active users at the time of acquisition, to 1 billion active users today. “And?” I hear you say. “What does all this mean for my business?” Well with dwindling users on Facebook, especially in the under 34 category, a lot of bad PR in recent years, and, not to sound like a broken record, but it’s MASSIVE algorithm changes last year, Facebook has turned its attention to Instagram. With a real focus on developing the platform, Mark Zuckerberg’s crew have steadily migrated Facebook-esq features across to Instagram, such as tagging, video, albums, private messaging and advertising, and naturally this has started to attract a whole host of different user groups, especially in the business arena. Not only this, but the introduction of Instagram TV (IGTV), Stories sharing, Hashtag Insights and more, makes “The Gram”, the place to be!
Did you know that 50% of Instagrammers follow at least 1 business and one third of the most viewed Instagram Stories are from businesses? Not only this, but it’s the 2nd most engaged platform after Facebook with 83% of Instagrammers saying it’s where they discover new products and services! Have I convinced you yet?
Now, Instagram is a visual platform designed for an in-the-moment social experience and there is an art to crafting your Instagram feed (or grid as it’s known), especially if you’re a business. In addition there’s the task of finding the right hashtags to use, knowing who to follow, understanding when and what to post, and how frequently. But, once you’ve got the basics under your belt, as well as a few other little nifty tips and tricks, you’ll be wondering why you’ve not got your #instagram on before! (At the time of posting #instagram has over 371m posts – WOW!).
If you’d like to know more about Instagram for Business and whether or not it’s somewhere you should be hanging out, then join us for our FREE webinar Instagram to InstaGREAT on Thursday 17th July at midday. Reserve your space here https://swx1nu61.pages.infusionsoft.net/
