Benefits of using Instagram for business:

Enhanced reach
A study shows that around 1 billion netizens access to Instagram every month. The social networking site has more than 800 million active users. With a dedicated Instagram strategy, there is no limit to the success you can achieve. No wonder leading businesses around the world take to the social networking website to launch new products and services.
Enables businesses to tell stories
Thanks to Instagram’s various features, giving brands a face is as easy as 1,2,3. Instagram lets you share life stories. You can use the app to give your target audience a sneak peek into an average day at work. Upload relatable behind-the-scenes stories and videos that show how products are manufactured, or services are delivered. Use live posts to improve your credibility and trust.
Perfect medium to connect with customers
When it comes to connecting with customers and building lasting relationships, many people think about sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The true potential of Instagram, however, surpasses that of Twitter. According to a study, Instagram generates 120 times more engagement per follower than Twitter. The social networking site has one of the largest active user base, which means the chances of an Instagram user opening and reading your story is quite high than many other popular sites.
Sharable content
One of the major USPs of Instagram is that the stories uploaded to Instagram can be easily shared across different marketing channels. You can tweak your Instagram setting to enable social sharing to Facebook and Twitter. Doing so will enable the app to automatically share content posted to the social networking sites with other platforms.
Allows you to use user-generated content
Instagram can provide the much-required boost to your user-generated content marketing strategy. Many businesses share user-generated content (pictures, videos, and posts) after getting user permission. Posting user-generated content that feature customers do not just drive sales, but also opens doors to new opportunities to engage them.

Tips for branding your business on Instagram:

Create an impactful business profile
First things first, you need to upgrade your profile to a business profile. There are numerous benefits to having a business profile. Switching to a business profile will unlock a range of Instagram features. You will, for instance, have access to Instagram analytical tools that are designed to help users measure content performance.
A business profile will also allow you to create and publish content without having to use advertising tools. Additionally, business profiles get a contact button that users can click to get in touch with the business.
Having a business profile, however, won’t make a substantial difference if your bio is lackluster. To create a bio that grabs eyeballs, include branded hashtags, and a slogan or a brief description that captures the core essence of your brand. Use a relevant link that takes users to your homepage or a current promotion.
Use sponsored ads
Instagram’s carousel feature lets you choose the number of ads you want to showcase. It lets you target any user who fits your target audience, not just people who follow your account. The most critical factor that can impact the effectiveness of your sponsored ads is the quality of content.
To engage your buyers, use interesting and thought-provoking content. Consider pushing existing high-performance posts to prospects as sponsored ads. Some different forms of sponsored ads include videos, pictures, stories, and dynamic ads.
Partner with influencers
Influencers have access to a huge audience. These subject matter experts play a major role in shaping the opinion of their followers. Often people buy products that appear in the feeds of influencers. To leverage influencer marketing, identify the industry influencers whose audience is relevant to your product or service. Partnering with an influencer will not only help boost sales, but you’ll also get unprecedented opportunities to build lasting brand awareness.
Use hashtags wisely
Hashtags help your target audience discover your content. Hashtags are a double-edged sword. While an engaging hashtag can get your target audience talking, a random one that barely makes any sense will push customers away. When adding a hashtag to a story, make sure it captures the essence of the story and is relevant to the image used.
Use branded hashtags specific to your brand. A major benefit of branded hashtags is that they’re easier to track and can help businesses compare the performance of different campaigns.
Post at the right time
A study found that the best days to post on Instagram are Mondays and Thursdays. The research stated that content posted between 8 AM and 9 AM drives maximum engagement. So post between 8 AM and 9 AM and you’re sorted, right? Wrong! We wish it were that simple. Just because content uploaded between 8 AM and 9 AM drives engagement, it does not necessarily mean that you should upload all your posts during this period.
To find out your best time to post, use a social listening tool that monitors engagement on Instagram. Find your top time zones and post at the time of the day when the maximum number of followers are online. Use an Instagram marketing platform that calculates your best posting times based on the performance of posts from the last and current month.

Make the Most of Tech

Technology, as we stated earlier, has made it possible for businesses to interact and reach out to customers like never before. There are currently 7 billion people on Earth and half of them have access to the internet. A significant chunk of those people is also made up of mobile users.

There was a time when you couldn’t even dream of reaching out to people beyond your city or state. Today, you can reach out to someone as far as India while you sit in your office in New York. The best part is, technology isn’t constant. It keeps evolving and changing, which means the possibilities are practically endless for how a business might be able to brand itself in the future.

So, learn to appreciate technology and leverage it appropriately.

Socialize

Technology has provided us with a wonderful tool called social media, which is turning out to be a major contributor to modern branding. It is an inexpensive weapon in the modern branding arsenal and if used effectively, the results can be stellar.

However, it is necessary to first understand how each of your digital branding channels works. Not all of them offer the same returns. So, take the time to figure out what profits you and what doesn’t. Focus on metrics for each branding channel.

Having said that, we would still say that social media is a branding medium that you must try. Just make sure you take the time to study your customers’ preferences and measure them as an audience.

Stir It Up

We’ve already established that traditional marketing still plays a relevant role. The best results come from a combination of modern and traditional branding. Learn how to use traditional elements such as logos or mission statements with modern technology.

Take the time to experiment and figure out how your money is best spent. Try out a range of communication mediums. Look at the ones that offer the most engagement. For instance, let’s look at podcasts. Podcasts, in themselves, are a good example of how the old can be fused with the new to create something unique.

They are becoming more of a trend these days and customers are looking at podcasts as a way to determine a brand’s value. A recent study found that the number of people listening to podcasts increases every month. The study also found that podcast listeners tend to come from households with a higher average income.

Podcasts are very similar to radio interviews and talk shows. However, they are distributed digitally, which makes them easily accessible. With a little imagination, you can do wonders with podcasts.

The bottom line here is that traditional branding is very much a part and parcel of the branding function. You cannot have modern branding without the traditional elements. So, don’t give up on traditional branding just yet.

About Digital Solutions

If you’re looking for help with branding, Digital Solutions can help you find the voice and the vision you’re searching for. Get in touch with us to find out how we can take your brand to the next level.