Saying that Instagram is a popular social media platform is really quite the understatement. According to data released by Instagram in June of this year, the platform boasts over 500 million active users, and 70 million photo shares a day.
Clearly, Instagram is here to stay, so if you want to maximize your bottom line and adequately round out your store’s social media presence, you really ought to be selling on this social channel. Here we’ll take a closer look at some of the most important reasons why, as well as discuss how you can get the ball rolling in the right direction.
1. Visuals are Powerful
Did you know that more than 90% of the information transmitted to the human brain is visual? This means that if you’re not presenting your product to your target demographic in a way that’s sufficiently visual, you’re most likely losing a lot of sales.
Even more so than Facebook or Twitter, Instagram is all about visuals. Get on there and get creative with the way you market. For instance, if your company sells colored pencils, don’t post pictures of colored pencils. Post pictures of what your customers are using your pencils to create; you could even post short videos. Show people what’s possible if they decide to choose you.
2. Connect With the Tech-Savvy Demographic
If you’re looking to market your product to tech-savvy folks between the ages of 18 and 29, then Instagram might be the perfect solution. They’re far and away the demographic that dominates on Instagram.
This means they’re that much more likely to not only be used to shopping online, but to prefer it. They tend to have fewer concerns about privacy as well. Consider ways you can visually represent your products and services in a way that speaks to this demographic for best results. To determine how many customers fall into this category, segment your customers by age so you can quickly see how many of your customers fall into the age demographic of 18 to 29.
3. Avoid Reach Issues Associated With Other Platforms
With 1.1 billion users and counting, Facebook is definitely the most widely used social media platform. However, it’s not without its reach issues. Even those that care enough about your brand to have liked your page may not be seeing most of your posts thanks to the on-site ranking algorithm.
Instagram, on the other hand, shows users your content based on the time it was posted. Maximizing your posts’ chances of being seen is as simple as making sure you post them at the right times. The best time to post on social media varies by platform. With a little forethought, you’ll be on your way to posting engaging content
4. Connect With Users That are Truly Engaged
As touched on above, Facebook is still the most popular, widely used social network. However, the average Instagram user tends to be a lot more engaged than your average Facebook user, especially when it comes to branded content. They’re also much more likely to share branded content they like the sounds of, which adds up to a lot of free word of mouth marketing.
5. Leverage Content Generated by Other Users
Speaking of engagement, Instagram users love the idea of interacting with brands by sharing their own content related to the products they love. That said, there’s a real advantage to encouraging followers to share their own photos of your product in use, show how they’re using what you sell creatively, and so forth.
Instagram users also are in the habit of seeking out other users that use the same products and services they do. Be sure to interact with your followers and acknowledge them when they try to interact with you. You’ll gain a healthy SEO boost as well!
6. Make a Personal Connection With Your Customers
Modern consumers like to feel like they have a personal connection to the brands they trust. That said, Instagram offers a lot more than a way to make people aware of how their product can improve their lives. It offers opportunities for true connection.
Consider using your images to take customers behind the scenes of your operation. Give them sneak peeks of upcoming products or ask their opinion about a product you might be considering. You’ll make your followers feel valued, special, and connected to your brand, for sure.
7. Build Brand Awareness and Familiarity
The more people see your brand and your products, the more familiar they’ll become with it. The more familiar a brand becomes to people, the more likely they are to choose that brand again and again.
A platform like Instagram is an excellent way to “soft sell” your products since consumers naturally follow brands they identify with. To drive more product conversions, consider using an Instagram integration that monetizes your account by making it shoppable. You can create a custom landing page that pulls a live feed of your Instagram photos along with the featured products that you assign. Take advantage of Instagram shoppable integrations and make it easy for your customers to purchase your products from Instagram.
