{"id":12990,"date":"2022-05-10T08:00:39","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webii.net\/blog\/?p=12990"},"modified":"2023-04-06T07:56:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T12:56:54","slug":"instagram-marketing-the-power-of-visual-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webii.net\/blog\/instagram-marketing-the-power-of-visual-content\/","title":{"rendered":"Instagram Marketing: The Power of Visual Content"},"content":{"rendered":"

How did Instagram become the biggest photo-sharing platform around? Its rising popularity across age groups can be tied to the fact that, for over a decade, it has rolled out some major changes. Today, Instagram isn\u2019t just for photo-sharing. It also isn\u2019t just about being a social channel at the individual level. It\u2019s a business channel where you can effectively promote products and services to an ever-increasing audience. By taking on an <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> strategy, you can improve engagement and strengthen your brand. Check out some of the cool ways that you can distribute your content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Highlight Your Branding<\/span><\/h2>\n

Having a visual brand identity is arguably the most critical part of <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span>. As you create content, it should be consistent. Maybe your business is known for the color pink, so you add a pink filter to every post. It\u2019s all about figuring out what you want to be known for. So, essentially, you are investing in your business\u2019s personality. Unfortunately, branding is something that many businesses struggle with. They could be making their posts too generic, in which case visitors wouldn\u2019t be able to tell it\u2019s their content. With <\/span>90% of Instagram users<\/span><\/a> following at least one business account, you could get swept up in a sea of aesthetic branding. Once you have figured out yours, keep it consolidated with a style guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram Carousel Posts<\/span><\/h2>\n

You aren\u2019t limited to just one photo per post on Instagram. Instead of being required to make a collage, the platform currently allows up to 10 images that users can scroll through. This is ideal if you have a concept that ties all of those images together. In a way, you are <\/span>telling a story about your business<\/span><\/a> through your carousels. And it\u2019s a great way to not only create new content for <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> purposes, but to repurpose old content. To make carousel posts more visually appealing, consider using eye-catching templates<\/a> that can be easily customized to match your brand identity. For example, our Instagram profile recently had a carousel where the first page was entitled \u201cE-Commerce: How to Succeed.\u201d When a visitor takes a look at the other images in that set, they will find some of our e-commerce tips from past blog posts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Fun Stories<\/span><\/h2>\n

Instagram Stories are a great way to attract attention back to your profile, or else to a link that you\u2019d like a user to click. These are images, videos, or quizzes that will only last for 24 hours. They are similar to Snapchat in that way. However, they differ from Snapchat in that you are able to make Story Highlight reels that will be posted beneath your bio on your page. This is unlike Snapchat Memories which only you have access to access until you decide to repost them. Story Highlights can be interacted with by any user at any time, making them an excellent <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> tool. You will even be able to title them according to what kind of content someone can expect when they check them out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Utilize the Shop Tab<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you haven\u2019t been doing <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> in recent years, you may not be familiar with the Shop tab. It\u2019s a fairly new e-commerce feature that businesses can take advantage of to increase their product discoverability. Once you have set up your Instagram Shop by integrating your product catalog, users will be able to browse through your customized collections. It helps you to reach those who have a higher purchase intent. What you need to make sure of is that the images of your products are attractive enough to entice the person on the other side of the screen. Also, be careful with your <\/span>e-commerce copywriting<\/span><\/a> as you create your descriptions. No matter what platform you are producing content on, you have to think about SEO best practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Invest in Sponsored Ads<\/span><\/h2>\n

In <\/span>Hootsuite\u2019s 2021 Global State of Digital<\/span><\/a> report, it was found that Instagram advertisements are capable of reaching over 1.2 billion people. That\u2019s a lot of potential customers you could be missing out on! These paid ads can appear throughout the channel, looking like any normal post aside from the \u201cSponsored\u201d tag. You\u2019ll find them on Stories, the Discovery page, or within your feed. Don\u2019t get discouraged if you aren\u2019t reaching the level of conversions you hoped to see right off the bat. As you gather data from your ads\u2019 performances, you will have a better time determining what demographic you should be targeting. The target audience for your <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> strategies will consist of users who are genuinely engaging with the content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experiment with Reels<\/span><\/h2>\n

Want to incorporate more video content into your <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> campaign? Reels are vertical videos that can last up to 60 seconds. They are highly shareable and will add another layer to your visibility. While you can still post regular videos, your profile offers a separate tab for Reels, making them a permanent addition to your page. You can add music, drawings, and filters\u2014of both the color and augmented reality (AR) variety\u2014in order to make them more interesting. There is even an option to add automatic captions so that the videos are accessible. If you don\u2019t already have a short video that you can put straight into Reels, you can film yourself or your product right there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Host a Livestream<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you are interested in engaging more directly with your audience through <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span>, consider the occasional Instagram Live. <\/span>Live videos<\/span><\/a> are very popular right now because they are a fun way to establish your brand and build a connection. All you have to do is tap the plus sign icon, hit \u201cLive,\u201d and start your broadcast. You\u2019ll be able to see when viewers start coming in. Once you feel that you have a good amount of people present, you can kick off the conversation. As the comments from the viewers pop up, you can do a live Q&A on your own. Or you can invite up to three other people into the video call to co-host the stream and have a back-and-forth dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Tell Users to Tag You<\/span><\/h2>\n

Looking through a profile\u2019s tagged photos can be an interesting experience. You are seeing that business account through a different lens. That is, the lens of their consumers. Unlike with the rest of your <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> efforts, your Tagged tab isn\u2019t completely in your hands. It leads to photos from public pages of users that are wearing, eating, watching, or using your product. This <\/span>user-generated content<\/span><\/a> (UGC) can actually be very beneficial for your own profile. With permission, you can repost UGC and give that individual a tag back. Doing so will prove to your audience that you appreciate the loyal supporters that are willing to promote you. Do keep in mind, though, that you are able to hide tagged photos if you feel they aren\u2019t representative of your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Great <\/span>Instagram Marketing<\/span> Campaigns<\/span><\/h2>\n

The core components of <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> consist of knowing your audience, identifying your business goals, and producing consistent content. So many brands are checking off all three of these boxes, and yours should be next! By following the evolving trends of the platform, you can excel at engaging with your fanbase. Here are a few notable examples of <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> campaigns of Texas companies that you may be able to draw inspiration from.<\/span><\/p>\n

Antonelli\u2019s Cheese Shop<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cheese lovers unite! <\/span>Antonelli\u2019s Cheese Shop\u2019s Instagram<\/span><\/a> is full of beautiful\u2014and delicious\u2014photos from their business. You get to see shots of the cheese itself, complete charcuterie boards, and their team smiling with their goats. Every aspect of their <\/span>Instagram marketing<\/span> campaign is very pleasing to the eye, with the natural, warm colors of their offerings. Their profile offers a \u201cwhat you see is what you get\u201d experience. Even as you dig into their Tagged section, you will find other businesses and consumers showing you just how honest that experience is.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cavender\u2019s Boot City<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the bio section of the <\/span>Cavender\u2019s Instagram<\/span><\/a> profile, they boast that they are \u201cthe leader in western wear and fashion,\u201d and that they have been for over 50 years. Keeping this in mind, you are going to expect to see western-themed posts. And that\u2019s precisely what you\u2019ll find. Their page puts a spotlight on the fact that any age group can rock cowboy flair, considering the majority of their content has people in it. However, there are still several posts that solely show off their famous boots in various rustic locations.<\/span><\/p>\n

El Arroyo<\/span><\/h3>\n

Typically, you would think that an Instagram page would have lots of color and diverse content. But <\/span>El Arroyo\u2019s <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a> marketing<\/span> strategy takes an entirely different route. Although, at first glance, it seems like they just keep reposting the same board outside of their restaurant, it\u2019s so much more than that. Every single day, they put a different phrase on the board. This encourages users to follow so that they can keep up with what flavor of sarcasm will be next on the menu.<\/span><\/p>\n

H-E-B Grocery<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you live in Texas, you know the passion that we have for H-E-B. With well over 400 stores since its start in 1905, it has amassed a reputation for giving love right back to the state. (Make sure to check out their Texas-shaped tortilla chips, snack packs, and waffle makers!) On the <\/span>H-E-B Instagram<\/span><\/a> page, you will see things that you could at any grocery store, but mixed in with their Texan references and brand-specific items. They also take the time to highlight their suppliers, vocalizing their support for underrepresented brands.<\/span><\/p>\n

Infographic: <\/span>Instagram Marketing<\/span> Statistics<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Infographic resources from Canva.com and Megan Marshall<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n