How do Small Businesses get Noticed on Instagram?

Victoria Vickery, All Star’s chief content creator, tells us about ‘keeping up with the kids’ in Instagram and the impact on your Small Business success.

Unless you have been living under a rock, or have been in hiding since 2010, you will know that Instagram is a place where users all over the world can post visual content and gain followers. But are you aware of the recent feature which can help your Small Business gain traction and rise in popularity?

Here are a few tips to help you understand how small businesses can get noticed on Instagram, and we will teach you how these new features can be used for marketing in your small business. 

Instagram Reels for Small Business

Reels are the new way to create fun and entertaining videos on Instagram. Similar to TikTok, these short 15 to 30 second videos allow users to share video footage. This can be super useful and used in multiple ways, like advertising your Small Business, Product and Service.

 The more people you reach with your Reels, the higher your chances that follower count and engagement rate will increase – helping you to grow your “know, like and trust” factor.

While Reels may get more reach than other formats on the platform, Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes Reels. This means that the more Reels you create, the more people will notice your Small Business.

Here are 6 tips to make sure you are getting the full benefit out of your Instagram reels:

  1. Hop on trends fast.
    Don’t be afraid to ‘keep up with the kids’. There is nothing to be embarrassed about! For example, the hashtags you include (see point 4) and the music you choose (see point 5).
  2. Find your niche.
    Provide content that directly speaks to your ideal customer.
  3. Be consistent.
    Make sure there is a theme and a natural flow.
  4. Include hashtags.
    Make sure you add hashtags like any other Instagram posts. This will create a higher chance of being seen and recognized.
  5. Use popular and trending music.
    Finding the right for your video can be a challenge, but luckily Instagram has a hefty music library to choose from. Make sure your profile is set to ‘entrepreneur’ to access that trending music, as business accounts have restrictions due to copyright.
  6. Share Your Reels
    Remember to share your Instagram Reels to your Instagram Stories. If you’re looking to increase your views, it’s a good idea to share your Reels in as many places as possible.

Instagram Stories for Small Business

Instagram Stories allow users to post photos and video content which will disappear after 24 hours, much like snapchat.

You can add stickers, time stamps, and doodles to each Story and apply certain filters and effects to make them visually appealing and attention capturing.

You can also see who is viewing your stories by opening up your Story and swiping up on your screen. Instagram Stories can drive a ton of engagement and value — whether you’re sharing a Story from a brand account or your own personal profile.

Here are 5 tips to pick up steam with your Instagram Stories:

  1. Stay in the lines!
    The top and bottom areas of your story graphics are covered by your username and ways to interact with your story. You don’t want to include any important information or design elements in these areas.
  2. Use your brand colours and fonts.
    Incorporating your brand fonts and colours helps with brand recognition when your followers are simply scrolling through their stories.
  3. Take Boomerangs.
    Boomerang is an app which works directly with Instagram stories. A boomerang is a quick 1-2 second clip that loops and can be a fun way to create content. It is also a good way to add personality to your story.
  4. Use Gifs and Stickers.
    Instagram Stories offers tons of different sticker and GIF options to add humour and character to your designs. Make them fun to stand out!
  5. Reposting
    Repost your main feed posts or even posts from other people’s accounts. Underneath the photo you’d like to share, tap the send icon (the third icon in) and select “Add post to your story”. This will bring the post into the Stories editor, where you can edit, add text or graphics, draw images, or add in a hashtag.

And hey presto, there you have it.

Now you can get creative and start making your own Reels and Stories. Remember to stick to your business and brand, but most importantly be creative and have fun.

Now as a rule of thumb the more you post, the better. However, start with 3 times a week for reels and twice a day for stories, then one you have the hang of it increase your posts to as many as you can realistically manage.  

Feel free to check out our Instagram, and see how we do this, simply click here.

p.s whilst you are there why not give us a double tap (that’s Instagram slang for a like) on some of our content that you like the most.

 

p.p.s If you need more social media help check out this blog and get some practical tips on how to enhance your presence on some of the other social media platforms.

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