For our final social media channel deep-dive #ContentChat in April, we were joined by Corey Walker (@marketing_gal), author of Instagram for Business for Dummies and an Instagram Marketing consultant.
If you’ve been thinking about starting an Instagram profile to support your business. read on for everything you need to get started.
Our conversation so inspired me that I created a new Instagram profile, @ErikaGlutenFree, focusing on gluten-free eating and my blog Erika’s Gluten-free Kitchen. I hope you find similar inspiration. And now, on with the recap!
Q1: What are some common misconceptions marketers and content creators have about #Instagram?
Instagram is just for kids.
Q1: People used to think it’s only for people in their teens/20s. They are growing up and the age is growing in the 35+ crowd daily #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A1. There are a lot of people who think that Instagram is only for kids or for big name brands, but it’s for everyone and for businesses of all sizes — as long as that’s where your audience is! #ContentChat
— Jansen Communication (@JansenComms) April 30, 2018
Instagram is just for B2C.
A1 Many marketers think Instagram is only for #B2C companies. But it can be effective for #B2B as well, both for reaching customers and future employees. #contentchat
— Erika Heald | Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) April 30, 2018
A1b: Coming from the recruitment marketing world before I got into B2B martech, Instagram can also be an amazing tool for establishing your company’s employer brand among prospective employees in key markets. #ContentChat
— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) April 30, 2018
Instagram for business is all self-promotion all the time.
A1. Via @vdigitalservice, 3 misconceptions about using @Instagram for business are:
1. It’s for big brand names only.
2. It’s all about the photos.
3. It’s only for selling products.#ContentChathttps://t.co/WfoqIX5v7M— SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) April 30, 2018
A1: that it’s all self-promotion. There is room for so much COMMUNITY on IG, too! #ContentChat https://t.co/gVXjwb9kfC
— Healthy Living Blogs (@bloghealthy) April 30, 2018
You can see results fast, just by posting an image.
Q1: Another one is that simply by posting something, you should immediately get a ton of likes. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q1: unless you are Kim K, getting likes takes some work, including engaging with other accounts. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
You can syndicate content from other channels.
A1 I see this with a number of channels, but I think it is particularly relevant with Instagram. All too often marketers tend to blast their content on all channels rather than respecting the differences between how audiences use each channel. #ContentChat
— Derek Pillie (@dpillie) April 30, 2018
Q2: What are the elements of a successful Instagram post or Instagram Story?
Pick your images carefully. What will stop the scroll?
A2: #instagram posts need to have visual impact enough to draw me into the words #ContentChat https://t.co/BxS4TCD7Tl
— Kathryn Lang (@Kathrynclang) April 30, 2018
Q2: A great image that causes some sort of emotion, happiness, sadness, laughter, a memory. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A2: It seems obvious to say a wow! image, but you’re competing on image with Instagram. Better blow some minds to stop their scroll. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/RcXrAmbFTI
— Alan Fleming (@alan_fleming) April 30, 2018
Publish content that reinforces your brand’s story and your brand guidelines.
A2. You should be able to show what your #brand does or provides in a creative way, since @Instagram is visual-heavy. Use hashtags to expand your audience reach. Collaborate and mention other Instagram users. #ContentChat
— SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) April 30, 2018
A2. There are several elements that make an Instagram post successful. However, most importantly, make sure you are showing off your brand’s personality and values. #ContentChat #Instagram pic.twitter.com/snktVAdMq0
— Workplay Digital (@workplaydigital) April 30, 2018
A2.
Elements
of successful#Instagram post:👉🏽storytelling
👉🏽valuable
👉🏽impactful
👉🏽invites engagement
👉🏽relevant
👉🏽unique#marketing #branding#business #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/75BmU19V8k— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) April 30, 2018
Your caption is just as important as your image.
Q2:Plus a thought out caption that draws a person in and tells a story, uses humor or provides useful info. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q2: Hashtags that have been researched. I like to pick hashtags in the 10K-200K range so they stay in the hashtag hub for more than 1 second. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A2: A call-to-action for an Instagram Post makes a HUGE difference when combined with the right hashtags. For Instagram stories, I love polls for engagement. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya | Content Strategist | Speaker (@BerrakBiz) April 30, 2018
Make good use of Instagram Stories’ Built-in Tools
A2 I honestly love the polls option on Instagram Story and a successful post is being entertaining or informative. Even better if it’s both. #ContentChat
— Annoyin’ Observer (@SirKingofGifs) April 30, 2018
And don’t forget to engage!
Q2: I like to ask questions that people can easily answer, and WANT to answer. Like what’s your favorite… etc #Contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q3: If I’m just starting out as a business on #Instagram, how can I optimize my Profile?
Start with a username that will help you get found.
Q3: Choose a username that represents your brand, is recognizable and distinguishes what you do. #ContentChat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Take your time to craft a keyword-rich bio.
A3: Get that bio tight and interesting. Have a good landing page set up for the one (ONE!) link you’re allotted. #ContentChat
— Alan Fleming (@alan_fleming) April 30, 2018
A3. Start with a great bio – descriptive, engaging, and clear. It sounds simple, but it’s important to set a strong foundation and set expectations for your followers. #ContentChat #SocialMarketing #Instagram pic.twitter.com/bc7rucBytX
— Workplay Digital (@workplaydigital) April 30, 2018
A3 I would say add a hashtag or two to your bio. Make sure that bio is clear as to what you are as a brand. Since you’re new there’s no need to post often but make it relevant to your brand’s story. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/zbMBawoVqA
— Annoyin’ Observer (@SirKingofGifs) April 30, 2018
Convert your profile to a business profile.
A3: If it isn’t already, make sure you’ve set it up as a business profile. Completely fill out your bio, add hashtags in bio (new feature), add website URL, set up link in bio tools, add contact options, and set industry. #ContentChat
— Power Digital (@PwrDigMarketing) April 30, 2018
A3: Your bio should be set up as a business profile, and be descriptive/representative of your brand, use relevant hashtags, and sets expectations for the content you will be posting. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya | Content Strategist | Speaker (@BerrakBiz) April 30, 2018
A3. @Entrepreneur provides a list of 15 ways to optimize your @Instagram profile. Here are a few:
1. Opt for a biz account
2. Use a profile tracking link
3. Upload multi-grid images
4. Invest in an analytics solution
5. A/B test your bio#ContentChathttps://t.co/dNOlWPuecq— SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) April 30, 2018
Get personal with your profile avatar image.
Q3: I usually suggest using your own head shot for the profile photo unless you are a large company. Remember if you use text the photo is super small. #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Make time to interact with others on the platform.
A3: don’t turn your back on engagement! Put the resources into creating content, of course, but building community is what can make your account thrive. Be an active sharer, responder AND follower. #ContentChat https://t.co/pJ2OvMxsqu
— Healthy Living Blogs (@bloghealthy) April 30, 2018
Don’t just jump onto the platform—define your Instagram content strategy.
A3: Start with one, maybe two, content themes to keep things simple. Do some hashtag research, but don’t go overboard. Cross-promote your Instagram account on other, better-established channels to build your following. #ContentChat https://t.co/ejisGN3ssm
— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) April 30, 2018
Make your one profile link work harder.
Q3: Use your one link effectively, and use a call to action to send people there. And switch to a business account for call, email, directions buttons! #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q4: I’m not a photographer and we don’t have one on staff. What are some ideas for #instagram imagery beyond photos I take myself?
You can use tools like Canva, Planoly, PicMonkey, etc. to make custom images without a designer.
Q4: I love Canva because you can get photos for free or $1, and they have easy ways to add text or other elements #Contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q4: I also like Planoly because you can search for images by other IGers via hashtags. Make sure to give them credit! #Important #ContentChat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A4 Create your own images like I do on @canva also you can use images from the Enhance app which was created by @hootsuite #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/WR63ljCipQ
— Annoyin’ Observer (@SirKingofGifs) April 30, 2018
.@PicMonkey is great for on the go shares of this kind with the mobile app, but I also LOVE doing bulk words-on-photo creation with the website on my computer during work sessions bc I can utilize my own fonts. One account – two ways to use it. A++ tool. #ContentChat
— Healthy Living Blogs (@bloghealthy) April 30, 2018
We’re all photographers now.
A4b: Btwn image apps like Canva and Pablo, and social video apps, you can create pretty decent on-brand Instagram images and videos without the need for expensive tools and education. (I do love working with pro designers, though. If you have ’em, use ’em.) #ContentChat
— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) April 30, 2018
Showcase user-generated content (UGC) on your account.
A4: You can use UGC imagery (we follow hashtags to find the right photos) or you can use the less stock-ish looking stock photography from sites like @unsplash –their photos are very ‘lifestyle’ and visually appealing. #ContentChat
— Power Digital (@PwrDigMarketing) April 30, 2018
A4: Regramming content that truly resonates with you personally can also help strengthen and build your IG community. #ContentChat
— Randy Thio (@ideabloke) April 30, 2018
Q5: What are your favorite #Instagram content creation and scheduling tools?
Q5: If you are doing mostly Instagram, Planoly is a great one. If you like to schedule other networks at the same time, I like Hootsuite. #ContentChat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q5: Others I like are Iconosquare, Tailwind and Sprout Social which will give you much more detailed analytics. #Contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A5: My fave #Instagram tools are @canva @PicMonkey @unsplash for putting together images. And @SproutSocial @TailwindApp @hootsuite for scheduling and keeping an eye on things. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald | Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) April 30, 2018
A5 I’ve had no problems posting on apps like @buffer, @hootsuite and @Onlypult #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/FDK9EYZiOk
— Annoyin’ Observer (@SirKingofGifs) April 30, 2018
A5: already gushed about @PicMonkey; also love @planoly for layout planning, @googlephotos for organizing & @dropbox for team sharing. Scheduling with @hootsuite & @buffer, depending on the account I’m working on [I manage multiple brand accounts #SideHustle style] #ContentChat https://t.co/spJYsjcL4z
— Healthy Living Blogs (@bloghealthy) April 30, 2018
A5: Instagram content creation tools: Photoshop, my DSLR camera, Unfold, Design Lab, Lightroom, @Filmora_Editor, @WordSwagApp . All I can think of Wright now #ContentChat
— Tish Yvette (@TishYvette) April 30, 2018
Q6: What are some examples of great #B2C and #B2B brands that are killing it on #Instagram?
Q6: #b2C @Sugarandcloth @rpmitalian @ohjoyco @starbucks @airbnb #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q6: #b2C @Sugarandcloth @rpmitalian @ohjoyco @starbucks @airbnb #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A6: I absolutely love @arcticfoxcolor, @OriginalFunko and @nasa, just to name a few. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya | Content Strategist | Speaker (@BerrakBiz) April 30, 2018
Q6: #B2B @mailchimp @intel @fedex @adobe #contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A6: Everyone is playing for second place behind @dog_rates Insta. #ContentChat
— Alan Fleming (@alan_fleming) April 30, 2018
A6 I love the content from @buffer in terms of B2B, B2C I don’t follow many accounts outside of the brands I like such as @Converse and @GoPro #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/XIwIpWx33y
— Annoyin’ Observer (@SirKingofGifs) April 30, 2018
I’ma fan of these #B2B #Instagram accounts and would add @generalelectric to the mix. #ContentChat https://t.co/6ekyTnTlNm
— Erika Heald | Marketing Consultant (@SFerika) April 30, 2018
Q7: How narrow should my content focus be on #Instagram to be successful with my business profile?
A7: It should be more narrow than your other social channels, imho. I like to choose a couple of themes that work for my brand and do those really, really well rather than post everything. #ContentChat https://t.co/elQU9zwAt0
— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) April 30, 2018
Q7: It should be fairly focused. If you are selling jewelry, showcase the jewelry, but you may also show some lifestyle shots. #Contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q7: If something tangibly relates to your product/service, great, but if it is some random thing you found that has no relation, think again. #ContentChat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
Q7: I do however show some fun more random stuff or family stuff on Stories, since that is much looser. #ContentChat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A7: look at your target demographic and goals. Do the content serve that? if so, it’s a go! If not, re-evaluate why you want it #contentchat #socialmediatips
— Christina Hager (@ChristinaMHager) April 30, 2018
Q8: What are some big #Instgram mistakes you see brands making?
A8: They cross-post content without thinking about the way audiences engage specifically on Instagram. Or they post the same content to stories AND feed. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya | Content Strategist | Speaker (@BerrakBiz) April 30, 2018
A8 Trying to recycle content across platforms that is never done well as different audiences on different platforms🤔 #ContentChat
— BrainBlender🤔🌐 (@BrainBlenderTec) April 30, 2018
A8: No order to the images so the feed is chaotic. Or the feed is “all about me” #ContentChat https://t.co/rC9b58h0b3
— Kathryn Lang (@Kathrynclang) April 30, 2018
A: The number one mistake I see brands make on Instagram is not making their feed easy to shop. If you already have them hooked why not make the sale the next easy step. #ContentChat
— Tish Yvette (@TishYvette) April 30, 2018
Q8: Completely ignoring data. There is so much you can find in the data to tell you what is working and what’s not. A good A/B test can do wonders! #Contentchat
— Corey C Walker (@marketing_gal) April 30, 2018
A8: All product/sales images all the time is a huge mistake. That’s the most common. Other mistakes include doing only inspo quotes, putting logo on every post, posting random images (incl memes) found online, and no humanity. #ContentChat https://t.co/h5Bv0xSmBo
— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) April 30, 2018
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