by Francois Muscat | Dec 6, 2018 | Social Media Marketing, Instagram
Instagram has 300 million daily active users and 70% of Instagram users report having looked up a brand on the platform. Instagram, like most popular social media sites, is a great place to gain influence over your consumer base by gathering a loyal following.
What sets Instagram apart from other social media platforms is its visual appeal. Research has shown that the brain conceives visuals faster than any other type of content. Here are a few ways to make Instagram work for your business:
- Switch To A Business Account
If you have not already, we suggest switching your existing profile to a business account. It is simple to do. Just follow these easy steps:
- Go to your settings menu,
- Scroll down, and then
- Select ‘switch to Business Profile’.
Business profiles have a number of handy extras like Instagram ads, analytics tools (Instagram Insights) and a contact button to boost your conversion rates.
- Offer Discounts
On Instagram, discount offers work well when accompanied by sharp imagery. Who does not want 40% off a stunning pair of shoes or a delicious looking smoothie? It is a great place to show off your product and provide an incentive for your customers to purchase it.
- Use Instagram Stories
One of Instagram’s newest and most interesting features is ‘Stories’. With content that lasts only 24 hours, you don’t have to worry about it fitting into your Instagram aesthetic, it can be spontaneous and there is more room for creativity. Live video, boomerangs, GIFS, and face-filters are just a few of the things you can feature in your stories. You can give your followers exclusive behind the scenes insights into your brand during live events or just a regular day at the office (showcasing company culture).
- Partner With Influencers
Leveraging an influencer’s audience-base is an easy way to reach more customers on Instagram. They trust them and so, by association will likely trust you. It is as simple as them giving a shout out to your brand and product on their page, doing a product review or offering discounts using a unique promo code. Influencers are a marketing goldmine on Instagram.
WSI OMS Iff you want to get the best out of your Instagram marketing strategy, contact WSI OMS today and request our social media services.
by Marelise da Silva | Nov 19, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
The launch of Instagram Stories has been a game changer, but many brands report that fewer people are engaging with their feed photos since this launch. This means that marketers need to use videos along with photos if they want to effectively engage with their audience on Instagram.
The same rules that apply for photos also apply for videos on Instagram: you have to capture users’ attention within the first three seconds. If you are doing a video, you might want to consider adding text on top of the video or make sure that your video’s thumbnail is really interesting. When you record a video for Instagram, you have the option to scroll to the “Cover” option, move through your entire video and choose an interesting shot for your thumbnail picture.
If you have the ability to edit videos outside of Instagram and import it into Instagram, we highly recommend doing this. This way, you can film a video and include something like text or a well-designed heading to draw people into your video.
Solve a Problem
Your Instagram video should identify a problem that your target audience faces and show how your product or service can solve that problem. When you are able to solve a problem that a potential client faces, you will create an emotional bond with them. When they are ready to make a purchase, they will be spending their money with you.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marelise da Silva | Nov 16, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Some “Instagram purists” believe that you should never add text on top of a photo in Instagram, but if you look at the engagement rates of photos in Instagram, then it is clear that this is a great way to grab attention. The reason for this is that people scroll through photos on Instagram quite quickly, so you do not have a lot of time to pull them in.
If you have a massive offering, for example a 40% off offer, then putting it in your photo caption might not be enough. Adding this text on top of a photo of your merchandise can be a great way to hit your audience over the head with an offer that they do not want to miss. Putting text on top of photos should be used sparingly, though, as good photos and great designs are what will keep your audience engaged in the long run.
Here are a few ways to add text to your photos on Instagram:
- WordSwag is a mobile app for both Android and iOS that lets you create quotes and text on images. There are a vast array of styles and fonts to choose from.
- PicLab is a cross-platform photo app with a text tool as well as a robust selection of digital features such as clip art, stickers and features that allow you to create collages and magazine pages.
- Canva is a desktop tool that has a wide array of templates ranging from Facebook profile pictures to book covers.
Regardless of whether you are using text on top of photos or not, we cannot stress the importance of good design and photography. You have to visually capture people’s attention right away with strong visuals and high contrast.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Nov 15, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Are you using Instagram as part of your social media marketing strategy? Here are a few advanced tips to consider when writing your Instagram bio and photo captions:
- Be Smart With The Link In Your Bio
You can include a link in your Instagram bio. Use this link to direct people to more content. You may not necessarily want to send them directly to your e-commerce website, but rather to your blog or YouTube channel instead. Consider where your Instagram followers are in their buyers’ journey to choose the right link to include.
If you are running a promotion, then include information about the promotion in your Instagram bio as well as a link that will send them directly to the page where they can purchase the product. We usually recommend that Instagram marketers use Bitly links or another link that they can track for promotional purposes on Instagram. Remember that you can update your Instagram bio regularly, so you do not have to stick to a static “About Us” description like the one you have on your website.
- Include A Link To Your Bio In Your Captions
Each and every picture that you post on Instagram needs a well thought out caption. A great tip for Instagram marketers is to end the caption with a link to your account. This may seem counterintuitive, but if you consider that many people will be seeing your posts in their Instagram feeds or the Explore tab, then it makes sense to direct them back to your profile.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Marianna Muscat | Nov 14, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
Instagram and Snapchat are competing with each other, which has led Instagram to launch a number of features that are giving Snapchat a run for its money. Instagram is a great tool for marketing and it is really coming to its own.
Instagram added Stories earlier this year, which is a great addition, but has unfortunately led to many people reporting lower engagements with Instagram’s feed. This is something that business owners and internet marketers need to take into account because it means that brands need to use both Instagram Stories and normal feed posts in order to engage with their audience.
Without further ado, here is how to set up your Instagram account for success:
- Consider Changing Your Account Name
Using keywords that Instagram users are likely to type into Instagram can help improve your follower rate. If you are selling running shoes, for example, it might be a good idea to include “running shoes” in your Instagram name instead of a brand name (unless you are Nike or Adidas).
Do not simply assume that people know what you offer when they find your Instagram account. Include a bio that lists who you are, what you offer, where you are from, (as well as the regions you service) as well as a link to your website. If you are selling shoes, then include words such as running shoe manufacturer, sports shoes, high-quality shoes, etc.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
by Francois Muscat | Nov 5, 2018 | Instagram, Social Media Marketing
The launch of Instagram Stories has been a game changer, but many brands report that fewer people are engaging with their feed photos since this launch. This means that marketers need to use videos along with photos if they want to effectively engage with their audience on Instagram.
The same rules that apply for photos also apply for videos on Instagram: you have to capture users’ attention within the first three seconds. If you are doing a video, you might want to consider adding text on top of the video or make sure that your video’s thumbnail is really interesting. When you record a video for Instagram, you have the option to scroll to the “Cover” option, move through your entire video and choose an interesting shot for your thumbnail picture.
If you have the ability to edit videos outside of Instagram and import it into Instagram, we highly recommend doing this. This way, you can film a video and include something like text or a well-designed heading to draw people into your video.
Solve a Problem
Your Instagram video should identify a problem that your target audience faces and show how your product or service can solve that problem. When you are able to solve a problem that a potential client faces, you will create an emotional bond with them. When they are ready to make a purchase, they will be spending their money with you.
Need help with your social media marketing? Then contact WSI OMS today.
