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How to Win atInstagram 2021 ReminderMedia. All rights mindermedia.com

Table ofContents01Introduction02Optimizing Your Profile04What (and When) Do You Post?05Appearances Do Matter07Telling Engaging Stories08Expanding Your Reach10Conclusion

01IntroductionIf you’re reading this, chances are you already know how importantit is to market your business on Instagram. But, just in case youneed a little extra convincing, here are some compelling statistics: Instagram is the third most popular social media platform, Last year, Instagram announced that 1 billion people use the 8 0% of Instagram users follow at least one business.behind only Facebook and YouTube.service each month.This guide offers actionable advice for getting the most out ofyour Instagram account. From producing compelling content tonetworking with prospects, you’ll learn how to use this fun, dynamicplatform to form lasting relationships and grow your business.

02Optimizing Your ProfileLike any other social media platform, your profile page on Instagram isthe face of your business. When someone clicks your name anywhere onthe service, your profile page is the first thing they’ll see. So, you’ll want tomake sure it represents you and speaks to your target audience.PUT YOUR BEST FACE FORWARDLEVERAGING YOUR BIOIf you’re a service-based salesperson,it’s a good idea to make your profilepicture an actual photo of you, ratherthan a logo for your business.Your bio is your chance to explain whoyou are and what you do. Just makesure you keep it relevant, as you’ll onlyhave 150 characters to work with.Your profile photo should reflect yourbrand’s values. If you’re looking to beapproachable and friendly, don’t includea photo that makes you look stoic.Conversely, if you’re trying to attract amore professional clientele, don’t choosean image where you’re laughing.Tip: If you work for a business thathas a separate Instagram profile,you can tag them here by using @,followed by their handle.Finally, make sure you update yourprofile picture every so often. When youdo, your followers will take notice of thenew you accompanying your posts,which will help your content stand outfrom the rest of their feed.Your bio section is also where you caninclude a link to your website, whichis crucial, since you can’t includehyperlinks in your individual posts.Many businesses have gotten verysavvy about how they use this link,updating it frequently when they have anew product or promotion they’d like tospotlight. Leverage the link in your bio bycreating a call to action in the captions ofyour posts.“If you’re looking tosell your house, I’dbe happy to help.Learn more at thelink in my bio!”

03PERSONAL VS. BUSINESS: WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?Before making the switch, it’s important to consider the pros and cons forboth personal and business Instagram profiles.FeaturesPersonal accountBusiness profilePhoto and video postsxxStoriesxxCustomizable profilexxMessaging capabilitiesxxLink to website in profilexxLink to contact your businessxPerformance analyticsxAs you can tell from the chart, personaland business profiles are functionallysimilar in many ways. On either one,you can create posts and Stories, sendmessages, and provide a link to yourwebsite.A business profile has two significantadvantages. I t allows people to call you or getdirections to your business directlyfrom your profile. I t gives you access to analytics,which will not only tell you how wellyour posts are performing, but alsoprovide valuable demographicinformation about your audience.There is, however, one potential downsideto creating a business profile. the issueof your account’s organic reach.If you have a Facebook business page,you likely know that your posts show upless often in your followers’ feeds thanposts from their friends and family. SinceInstagram is owned by Facebook, Inc.,it’s entirely possible that Instagram willenforce similar changes to their algorithm,and you’ll need to run ads to increaseyour reach.In the meantime, it’s up to you to decidewhether you want the added features andthe subtle, visual distinction of having abusiness profile.

04What (and When)Do You Post?In any kind of marketing, there is no magic formula for success. Instagram is, ofcourse, no exception. But, as with other social media platforms you may have used,you’ll keep your audience engaged by posting a variety of content on a regular basis.Here are some ideas for types of contentyou might want to share with yourInstagram followers: P hotos of you engaged in yourhobbies, getting some exercise, orotherwise working toward a goal thatisn’t your business;IDEAL POSTING TIMESThe thing about optimal post times isthat they do tend to change over time.The times that work best this year mightnot work as well a year or two down theline. Plus, individual outcomes will vary. Motivational quotes; S hort video clips that are relevantor useful; “Behind the scenes” content; L imited posts about your actualproduct (e.g., listing photos if you’rein real estate).Ultimately, when you give people areason to follow you apart from whatyou sell, they’ll be more likely to keepfollowing you. That means you’ll have achance to leverage the relationships formore repeat and referral business downthe line.So, remember: you’re on Instagram tonetwork and offer value. Don’t constantlyhit people over the head with salespitches, and you’ll be rewarded for yourpatience later on. Wednesdays around 11amThursdays from 5am to 11amThursdays from 3pm to 4pmFridays from 10am to 11amFor example, with the recent shift tomany more people working from home,the best posting times now clusteraround daytime work hours--Mondaythrough Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT,with Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Fridayfrom 10 a.m.–11 a.m. being optimal,according to SproutSocial. Plus,individual outcomes will vary and beinfluenced by industry.So, by all means, start out by postingat these optimized times. But, if youfind your posts perform better whenyou make them around lunchtime orearly in the evening, you should takethat into account.Tip: Use a social media scheduler (suchas Buffer or HootSuite) to post content atoptimized times without setting an alarm.

05Appearances Do MatterYou don’t have to be the world’s greatest photographer to succeed onInstagram, but you do need to be deliberate about what you’re offering up.On a platform based so heavily on visuals, putting a little extra effort intothe details will go a long way.For example, you’ve probably noticed that the defaultshape of Instagram posts is square, so take advantageof the square photo option you likely have on yourmobile phone. Though you can always crop yourimages later, starting out by taking square photosmeans you won’t have to edit out crucial parts of theimage when you go to post.TO FILTER OR NOT TO FILTER?Once you’ve got the image or video you want to post,Instagram allows you to edit your content’s appearanceright there in the app. There are some really advancedoptions for doing this, but the easiest method is toapply one of Instagram’s preexisting filters.Though Instagram’s filters do change from time to time,there are always several options for brightening upyour image, making it look darker/more dramatic, orrendering it black and white.The decision of whether to filter is, like most otherbranding decisions, a largely personal choice. Whenyou’re testing filters, try asking a third party to look atthe image and give their honest reaction. Does the filtertruly enhance the photo, or does it feel like you’re tryingtoo hard to fit in with Instagram influencers?Again, there is no right or wrong answer. The key isto find something that feels right for you and to stickwith it. By deliberately selecting filters and usingthem regularly, you’re making a statement about yourbusiness and, with a little bit of effort, injecting someextra personality into your posts.

06GETTING YOUR GRID LOCKEDAs we mentioned earlier, when peopleclick your username on Instagram, thefirst thing they see is your profile. Andone of the most prominent features ofyour profile is your grid.The grid is a scrollable presentation ofall your posts in rows of three. Thoughpeople are able to select different optionsfor viewing your posts, the grid format isthe default.Many Instagram users have tapped intosome incredibly creative concepts fortheir grids, splitting up posts so that,when viewed in the grid, they form amore cohesive image. While it’s notnecessary for you to take on anything thiselaborate, you should keep in mind theoverall presentation when selecting whatyou share.For example, if you tend to includeimages that are lit a certain way, featuresome recurring colors, or are enhancedby the same one or two filters, your gridwill be more visually pleasing as peoplescroll through.

07Telling Engaging StoriesStories are an especially interestingpart of Instagram because they aren’tpermanent. By default, content you addto your Story disappears after 24 hours(though you can save a limited numberof your daily Stories as permanentparts of your profile).This ephemeral nature makes Stories agreat way to share timely content thatyou wouldn’t necessarily want sitting onyour profile permanently. You might useit to document an event you attend orsomething interesting you’re doing on agiven day.Unlike your posts, which should bemeticulously planned, Stories are, bynature, less polished and more “real.”(They’re also rectangular, so you won’t belimited by the confines of a square grid.)Think of Stories as a chance to showoff your authentic self and to get peopleinterested in your daily routine. Oncethey’re interested in you as a person,interest in what you sell will follow.USING STORIES TOBUILD RELATIONSHIPSAnother interesting thing about yourStory is that people are unable to likeor comment on what you’ve posted.Instead, if they want to engage, they’llneed to message you directly. Thiscan lead to conversations that will, inturn, blossom into profitable, lastingrelationships.You can also actively pursuerelationships with your leads, basedon how they interact with your Story.When you’re sharing a photo or videoclip, you’re also given an option toadd special features—for example, alocation, an animated GIF, or even thecurrent temperature where you are.Tip: To find these features,click the icon that looks likea sticker being peeled back.One of the most popular of these specialfeatures is a poll or question, which youcan use to find out more informationabout your prospects. For example, ifyou’re a real estate agent, you can askwhether your followers are looking tobuy a house within the next year. Then,for the duration of the poll, you’ll be ableto look on your Story and see who hasresponded yes. From there, it’s all aboutfollowing up with those potential buyersthrough a private message (see: “Slidinginto DMs” in the next section).