4 Essential Terms for Effective Instagram Marketing

 

1. Build relationships with other Instagrammers

Some Instagram users may or may not be your competition, but you can never go wrong with building relationships - whether they lead to new followers (and blog) or partnerships.

Sheila Flores recommends that you find accounts that share the same interests, and set aside time to comment on their sights:

If you’re happy with the look of your profile, it’s time to start growing [the audience]. My advice is to get involved: Find accounts with the same interests as you, like their pictures, comment on as many pictures as you can.

Smaller accounts are more likely to follow you if you show interest in their accounts, but it's also important to comment on larger accounts. This is why these profiles have more views per minute, and if those people see your feedback, you will probably get visits from them.

Flores further explains the importance of comments, and they are your best bet for building genuine relationships and quality traffic:

Liking and commenting on other people's posts is a great way to engage and create relationships. Show genuine interest in not just one-word comments. If they are really interested in engaging with you, they will take you back. Make sure you answer all the comments on your pictures. Be active and show interest in your followers.

Another suggestion is to ask questions in your post. That way you encourage people to talk about your films.

And again: stay your niche. It’s important to engage with people who are interested in what you post. It will make you loyal followers as you do. Defining your field is also [included] as a suggestion for users to follow those Instagrammers who start an account in the same installation as you.

Tanya de Cruyff shares a willingness and commenting strategy that works well for her, and the mistakes she has learned. She said:

Always respond to people commenting on your picture. Actively seek out people by browsing relevant hashtags, and like and comment on their images. [It's like] I'm doing great:

1. Don't just like a picture.

Visit their profile and like at least three pictures. Then you stand out among all the other people who like their latest photo.

2. Comments work better than they like.

I always try to comment on a movie. It doesn't take much time, and chances are you'll get a reply.

3. Always personalize your comments.

I thought I was doing great by commenting on this sort of thing: "Oh, it's so cute!" Or: "Wow, that's adorable!". Unfortunately, Instagram is full of bots. These are accounts that use common comments and send them to each image with a specific hashtag.

They say something like this: “Good shot! / Cool! What? The thing is, I often comment with a smile! I have no clue that people misunderstand my comment about the boat. So what should you comment? I really love the stripes! ” 

4. Ask questions.

Generally speaking, very valuable, but if you really want to connect, ask a question in advance with a compliment, [if possible]. People like it when you show interest in their work and most of them are happy to answer any questions you have about their vacancies. [Comments] Those who start a valuable conversation.

5. Use Facebook groups to promote yourself (in a real way).

Your Facebook groups that exist to promote your blog / Instagram.

Be sure not to leave your link! Engage with other members. When I do, I always make sure to put my Instagram handle in the corner of the image. Not only does this prevent people from stealing my work, but it also seals my handle to the minds of people in my position. If they love your picture, they will visit your Instagram for more information.

If you do it all, you will find yourself establishing some good and valuable relationships with other bloggers. It's hard work

Reach niche or industry influencers, along with like-minded Instagrammers in your niche. If you blog about the same things and show your value, they may want to support and recognize you.

Keep in mind, however, that influencers may not communicate with you with thousands of followers, at least not initially, and if you are not on the same network (s). With smaller accounts, you can get really good opportunities. In the words of Tanya de Cruzif:

Engage with small accounts or accounts that have an equal follower/countdown. Instagrammers with 15K followers can reply to your comment, but they are unlikely to visit your account, let them follow you.

They deserve more attention to keep up with everything. 

2. No Live Links Not Promoted

Since Instagram does not allow links in posts, it is essential to add links and CTAs to graphics (infographics style). For example:

Sheila Flores, like Tanya de Cruzif, you control a live link in jail and direct your posts on:

I think [inserting live links] would be a nice upgrade, but if that is not possible right now, I would suggest linking [your new blog post] to your jail.

Then post a picture and explain what people can find on your blog. I put "Link in Bio" and my username after that (example: @name). It makes it easier for people to come back to jail and click on the link.

Also, take advantage of your other social channels to share and re-post your Instagram pictures and videos. You'll be able to add live links to your other channels, increasing your visibility and getting more conversions for your special content.

3. Brand your pictures and videos

Since Instagram is a vision based platform and you cannot add live links to your blog content, it is essential that the images you add to your posts are more effective.

See an example from McDonald's:

The use of colors, fonts, and presentation is unequivocally McDonald's, and users will remember this video about McDonald's product.

4. Use hashtags to your Advantage

Using hashtags In posts on Instagram you can find and make connections, but it works even better if you are interacting with other Instagrammers who use the same hashtag before you post.

However, you want to avoid hashtags by mass, as you want to avoid high competition keywords when optimizing your blog posts for search engines.

Tanya de Cruzif shares her strategy of choosing the right hashtags for your content:

If you want people to notice you on Instagram, you shouldn’t go without [hashtags]. But you don't have to use them, you have to use them properly. Adding regular hashtags like #Travel, #Food or #Cat will not do you any good. Those hashtags are so frequently used, that your post disappears in the depths of Instagram in seconds.

You need to research which hashtags work best in your niche. You can do this by entering the hashtag on the Instagram search bar.

For example, I share most of my doodles in my feed. If I type in the search bar #doodle, this hashtag shows that it has 13 million posts. Completely useless.

But it also shows a bunch of other hashtags that start with the word doodle. #DaddleDrawing with 9,457 posts for example. That's perfect! If you are just getting started with your account, I would advise having between 1.000 and 10.000 posts, half a hashtags between 10,000 and 100,000.

Finding relevant posts on the hashtag is not enough, though. You need to click on the hashtag to see what kind of images people share in this hashtag. Does your style fit in your hashtag? Some of the results may surprise you. In my case, #doodlesofig with 43,643 posts is perfect.

But when I click on it, I see that this hashtag is full of ... dogs! Labradoodles must be accurate. People browsing this class will find my drawing no longer among furry cubs.

So, make sure your hashtags are between 1,000 and 100,000 posts and that your photos fit their content and style. Oh, and you are allowed to use 30 hashtags. Use it all!

From 2019, hashtags no longer work in comments for display in search results. They need to be placed in the title of the post to find them and follow them (yes, users can follow hashtags as they accounts!).