We are well into 2024, and Instagram is still one of the most used, go-to channels. Beyond, its fundamental purpose of communication and discovery, Instagram for business is progressing as the new age eCommerce strategy.
Did you know, top celebrity brand Rare Beauty has over 5.8 million followers and an engagement rate of 1.03% on Instagram? That’s nearly 5.5x the median engagement rate of all top beauty brands on Instagram.
With a growth potential that has got every new-age brand on its toes, Instagram has seamlessly ingrained itself as a must-have tool for every eCommerce business.
In this blog, we shall give you first-hand information on how is Instagram used for business and everything related to it. So, let’s begin:
Why Use Instagram For Business?
Statistically, Instagram is the 8th most-visited website globally! Imagine that kind of power and impact over the entire population.
Now, think about how using Instagram for business could help build monuments of engagement, revenue, and sales for any brand! This gives you and idea, let’s dig further and learn how is Instagram used for business and its pros:
1. Massive User Base:
As stated, Instagram provides an unparalleled opportunity to reach a vast audience. According to statistics, genZ users (ages 16 to 24) prefer Instagram over any other social media platform, including TikTok.
By leveraging this massive user base, brands can make Instagram their go-to channel to drive their various business goals.
With Instagram’s flexible business features, it becomes all the more possible; It’s like having a bustling marketplace at your fingertips, ready to discover and engage with your brand.
2. Visual Appeal:
If you are an avid Instagram user, or have been using Instagram from when it was still a new platform, you would know how Instagram has come a long way from being just a picture-sharing platform to what it is now. A fully curated suite of visually forward content.
Studies show that posts with images on Instagram generate a whopping 650% higher engagement compared to text-only posts on other social media platforms. That’s the power of Visual Marketing.
Instagram’s focus on captivating visual content, like photos and videos, creates a dynamic and eye-catching platform for businesses to showcase their products or services.
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3. Brand Building:
What does a business need to stand out? Is it a unique tagline? A brand logo that the mind can quickly register? Or a distinct color scheme that is directly associated with the brand? To be honest, it’s all of it.
Instagram’s visuals-first principle allows businesses to build and strengthen their brand identity. By consistently sharing visually appealing and on-brand content, companies can establish a unique personality, differentiate themselves from competitors, and foster a loyal community of followers.
4. Increased Engagement:
Did you know users are active on Instagram 11.7 hours per month on average? It is also found to be the favorite social media platform of GenZ.
Instagram offers various engagement features, such as likes, comments, direct messages, and story replies.
These interactive elements enable businesses to directly connect and engage with their audience, fostering meaningful relationships and driving customer loyalty.
5. E-commerce Opportunities:
Knowing your audience’s spending capacity is the key to creating a successful sales strategy. And by using Instagram for business, you can cast a wider net and reach your target audience, ultimately boosting sales and revenue.
Instagram provides various features, such as Instagram shop, collaborative posts, adding link to Instagram stories, and more options that enable businesses to sell products directly on and through the platform. This streamlined shopping experience can boost sales and conversions.
The advantages are endless. But we really don’t want you to miss out on any details. So here it is, starting with the basics:
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How To Create A Business Instagram Account?
Step 1: Download the Instagram App:
Install the Instagram app on your mobile device, it’s available for free on both iOS and Android platforms, or open https://www.instagram.com on your computer’s web browser.
Step 2: Sign Up
Open the Instagram app and tap on “Sign Up” to create a new account. Fill in all the mandatory details, including your email address and a unique username for your Instagram account.
Step 3: Set Up Your Profile
Complete your profile by adding a profile picture relevant to your business or your business’ logo. Add a bio and insert relevant links such as your brand’s website.
Step 4: Switch to Professional Account
Tap on your profile now open the options window from the top right corner. Select Settings and Privacy > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account.
Step 5: Connect with Facebook
If you have a Facebook page for your business, you can connect it with your Instagram account by tapping “Connect to Facebook” and following the instructions. This step is optional, and you can skip it if you don’t have a Facebook page.
Step 6: Explore Instagram Features
Once your profile is set up, you can start exploring Instagram’s features. You can post photos and videos, interact with other users by following, liking, and commenting on their content, and use Instagram’s business tools like Insights to track your account’s performance. To maximize your impact, consider integrating these actions into a comprehensive business plan format.
The power of Instagram for business is unmatchable. Let’s delve further into the topic and learn the best practices and tips for using Instagram for business.
Best Tips & Practices To Use Instagram For Sales
Instagram stands tall as a powerful platform for driving sales and capturing the hearts of potential customers. But what can brands actually do to leverage this superpower into using it to boost sales?
Here are come tips & best practices to follow:
1. High-quality content
In the fast-paced world of Instagram, high-quality content rules! When using Instagram for sales, one of the most important things is to create and share high-quality content.
For optimal video content for Instagram, an Instagram Reel maker tool becomes essential, enabling the creation of trending templates with customizable transitions, effects, filters, text boxes, and more.
Instagram is a visual platform, so make sure your photos and videos are visually appealing, well-composed, and represent your brand or products in the best way possible.
Along with focusing on creating visually appealing content, consider using engaging and compelling captions to grab your audience’s attention and encourage them to take action.
2.Work with influencers
Look for influencers who align with your brand and have an engaged following that matches your target audience. You can research and understand if collaboration with niche-based micro-influencers can be more beneficial.
Reach out to them and propose a partnership or sponsored post. When working with influencers, it’s important to clearly communicate your expectations and goals, and ensure that the content they create resonates with their followers and promotes your offerings authentically.
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3.Use Instagram tools
There are various Instagram tools to help you optimize your sales efforts. For instance, make use of analytics tools to gain insights into your audience demographics, engagement metrics, and the performance of your posts.
This information can help you refine your strategy and tailor your content to suit your audience’s preferences. Additionally, explore social commerce tools to create Shoppable Instagram, which allows you to tag products in your posts, making it easier for users to discover and purchase your offerings through social content.
Scope of Instagram for eCommerce
The scope of Instagram for eCommerce is vast and offers several opportunities for businesses to boost their online sales. Let’s explore the three key aspects you mentioned:
1. Create shoppable posts
The scope of Instagram for eCommerce is quite known by now. By creating shoppable posts, you can accelerate social shopping. You can tag your products directly in your Instagram posts, integrate them into your eCommerce store’s homepage, allowing users to view product and make purchases easily.
Shoppable posts make it convenient for your followers to discover and buy your products with just a few taps, streamlining the purchasing process. Incorporating eye-catching visuals, compelling captions, and clear product information in your shoppable posts can effectively showcase your offerings and drive sales directly from Instagram.
2. Finding Target Audience
Instagram provides various tools and features that can help you find and target your ideal audience. You can leverage Instagram’s analytics and insights to gain valuable information about your existing followers, such as their engagement patterns.
Additionally, you can utilize Instagram Ads to specify targeting criteria, such as location, age, interests, and behaviors, to reach a broader audience beyond your existing followers.
By effectively identifying and reaching your target audience on Instagram, you can increase your chances of attracting potential customers and driving sales.
3. Collecting User-Generated Content (UGC Creators)
User-generated content is a powerful tool for eCommerce businesses as it adds authenticity, social proof, and a sense of community to your brand.
On Instagram, you can actively encourage your customers to create and share user-generated content related to your products or brand. You can even collaborate with UGC creators to run contests, giveaways, or partner with them to tag your brand in their posts.
By collecting user-generated content, you can showcase real-life experiences with your products, inspire trust in your brand, and create a stronger connection with your audience.
Top Brands Using Instagram As A Sales Channel
1. Fashionova
Fashionova is a fast-fashion brand that has made a significant impact on Instagram. With over 21 million followers on Instagram, they have mastered the art of using the platform to promote their trendy clothing and accessories.
Fashionova’s primary strategy to turn Instagram as a sales channel has been Influencer Marketing. The brand collaborates with popular influencers and celebrities who showcase their custom products to millions of followers. Through which, Fashionova has built a massive following on Instagram and generated substantial sales.
Other than that, the brand also has Instagram Shopping enabled, through which audience can easily discover products and purchase them without leaving the app or navigating to a different website.
2. Love Crafts Crochet
Love Crafts Crochet is a brand that specializes in crochet supplies and patterns. They have successfully utilized Instagram as a sales channel by adding a link in the bio to the brand’s shoppable landing page.
Love Crafts Crochet has created a collection of their most-loved products, linked them together and made them shoppable through a Link In Bio feature.
The brand shares visually appealing images and videos of crochet projects, along with tutorials and tips. They have built a strong community of crochet enthusiasts by encouraging user-generated content and hosting crochet-along events.
3. Shop LC
Shop LC is a popular lifestyle and jewelry brand that has recognized the potential of Instagram as a sales channel and has adopted social commerce to drive revenue.
The brand has has built a strong presence on Instagram by sharing visually appealing content that highlights their products. They have utilized social content by turning this content into shoppable and integrating it into their eCommerce’s homepage. Read more here.
They regularly post high-quality images and videos showcasing their latest collections and offerings. Through their Instagram feed, they aim to inspire and engage their audience, providing them with ideas on how to incorporate their products into their daily lives.
Conclusion
Instagram as a platform has evolved over the years. Its wide user-base, global recognition and business-friendly features have transformed the platform into a sales channel.
Because ultimately, the goal remains the same: to drive conversions and enhance the shopping experience.
Not only the platforms’ features, but there are so many tools beyond that enabling users to achieve these goals and leverage their efforts on Instagram. Brands that are utilizing these features are seeing results.
