Instagram offers a variety of free tools that you can use to promote your products and services as well as build brand awareness.
Hashtags
You are free to include any of your preferred hashtags in post captions, but creating a branded hashtag will allow you to keep all posts relating to your brand in one area.
Having a unique and catchy hashtag will make it easier for your followers to find your posts and interact with your campaign. You will also have the opportunity to interact with users while viewing photos that use your hashtag on various social media platforms.
Besides branded campaign hashtags, you also have the option to include general hashtags. For instance, a bakery might use tags such as #cookies or #dessert. Such hashtags can be an effective way to reach new users and earn followers while you start building your presence on the platform.
Cross-Promotion
If you include an Instagram icon on your website, you will help customers find your social media pages and follow you on different platforms. If you promote your Instagram account on other social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, you can also gain more followers and Instagram likes.
Encourage and Respond to Comments
To encourage Instagram comments, ask your followers to “tag two friends that would love this” or “caption this photo.” Then, once your followers leave comments, respond and engage.
Engaging with users that comment on your posts is a great way of showing that you care, which can establish more trust in your brand and encourage even more users to interact with your posts moving forward.
Take Advantage of Influencer Marketing
Influencers are users who have massive social media followings who can impact their followers’ decisions due to their knowledge or authority. If a key influencer shares a post on Instagram promoting your brand, you have the potential to reach all their followers through a source that they like already.
For instance, Sean and Caroline Low from “The Bachelorette” have over 1 million followers each. After announcing the birth of their first child, they started to partner with brands to promote baby products to their followers. The posts resemble typical photo posts, but usually mention a brand in the caption, with the hashtag #ad at the end.
Since individuals trust influencers more than companies, partnering with influencers on Instagram can be an effective way to grow your following and increase sales.