Your business should be using an Instagram business account. A few quick stats to back that up.
- At the end of 2017, Instagram reported 800 million active users
- 59% of 18-29 year olds and 31% of 30-49 year olds use Instagram. Depending on your business, that’s a huge segment of the population.
- 51% of users access the platform at least once a day, and many more than once a day
- 60% of people say they discover new products on Instagram and 200 million+ users visit a business profile daily
That’s just the beginning. But let’s get into the details of how to go about making an Instagram business account and some best practices.
First, download the app and sign up using an email address. Within the app, go to the settings button and click Switch to Business Account. How does this differ from a standard Instagram account you may ask? With a business account, you can add specific business information in your profile, such as store or business hours, address, phone, and email for contacting. You should also be putting your website link front and center.
Other perks of a business account include access to insights about your followers and how they interact with your posts and stories, which takes place in the app. You don’t even have to use a third party app to track this data. You can also get real time metrics on your stories and promoted posts throughout the day.
So now you have your business account set up. What are some best practices for an Instagram business account?
What to post
Your Instagram business account should showcase what you do in a visually appealing way. Whether that’s a product or a service, find a way to create beautiful and engaging content that users will want to like or learn more about when they see your posts. Behind the scenes photos and videos will also attract users and make them feel in on the secret. Not every photo has to be super polished!
Hashtags and filters
Using hashtags on your posts is critical to their success as well. You should use anywhere from 3-5 hashtags (though more is not necessarily frowned upon on Instagram). Make sure to use industry specific tags and popular ones (like #TBT on Throwback Thursday). Mention or include your partners when appropriate. Some companies use one specific photo filter or have a more uniform look to all their posts. You don’t necessarily have to do this; it just depends on your brand and what you’re trying to communicate.
Post Promotion
When setting the parameters to promote an Instagram post, there are many facets to consider. It will ask you to set the Action button (email you, send them to your website, etc.), audience (age and gender), location and radius, budget, and duration of post promotion. Once you have promoted posts, make sure to check out the insights and learn from them for future promotions.
When using your Instagram business account, it’s the most important to be as authentic to your brand as possible! This is a fantastic way to connect with fans and followers and engage potential new ones.
We hope that this quick how-to will get you going on Instagram, but if you’re left confused and not sure where to start, don’t worry! The #TMETeam can help! Contact us today with all of your Instagram questions!
