Social media presents an exciting new realm of marketing possibilities – but that doesn’t mean you can just wing it!
Instagram is a simple tool that can also be powerful, with the right amount of effort.
Putting some thought into your overall Instagram approach is worth it.
Whether you’re an Instagram veteran, are brand new to the network, or need need a few tips, we’ve compiled 9 of the most common mistakes businesses make on Instagram backed by the ones that are creating an exceptional customer experience.
ONE: TERRIBLE BIO
First introduce yourself, and make it interesting!
Don’t write a cookie-cutter bio.
Clearly and concisely explain what your business does and why you’re unique from your competitors.
Consider including emojis and line spacing to make it easier for your audience to read.
Essentially, think of your bio as the primary post an Instagram user will see from you.
If your brand could only say one thing to the Instagram world to get what it is that you do across, what would it be?
TWO: SLACK ON POSTING
Give the people what they want!
They’re visiting your Instagram page for a reason, so you better have fresh content to greet them with. Don’t let your account grow stale.
Think about it: when you come across a new user to potentially follow, don’t you want to see they are actually using their account?
Keeping your posts frequent and up-to-date will ensure that your own Instagram page stays relevant.
Try to post consistently and at the very least, once every three days.
THREE: REPETITIVE CONTENT
Show your Instagram followers that you are committed, but don’t post the same thing every day.
Even if your company only produces a single product, there are various ways to photograph that product.
Try different lighting, interesting backgrounds, or even seasonal displays.Another thing to keep in mind is how/when your customers use or consume your product so that your content can incorporate it, creating emotional and relatable memories for your audience.
Are there unique stories or facts behind your brand?
What processes are used to create your product and what are the ingredients sourced from?
Incorporate those into your posts!
Consumer quotes of praise would also be fantastic to integrate into your images along with sharing consumer created content.
Social proof sells.
FOUR: OVER-POSTING
Now that we’ve given you some creative starting points, don’t over-post! Instagram may be all about the visuals, but people can still sniff out the stink of desperation.
Don’t oversell your product, either.
If it’s evident that the main benefactor of your posts is, well, you, then that won’t sit nicely with your followers.
Instead, seek to help your audience solve a problem!
Your brand is most likely doing that already, so communicate how you benefit consumers on a daily basis.
Be sincere with your content, and give your followers something that could leave them wanting more.
FIVE: CAPTIONS THAT ARE TOO LONG
Once you have discovered what your message is, communicate it primarily in the images of your Instagram posts. Don’t provide too much written content – your followers probably won’t end up reading it all anyway.
Posts should be to the point and able to communicate effectively even to those quickly scrolling through their Instagram feed.For some informational type content where a text explanation or step-by-step process will really benefit the viewers, a longer caption is okay… but still always be as concise as possible to get the needed information or instruction across.
Sometimes a well-placed emoji is all you need.
SIX: REPOSTING OR USING STOCK PHOTOS TOO MUCH
While communicating through the images you post, don’t use stock photos!
If your followers can procure the same picture after a simple Google search, chances are they won’t be impressed.
Use creative images that you can call your own. Social media users are looking to be entertained, so don’t disappoint!
SEVEN: BUYING FOLLOWERS
Lastly, don’t get caught up in the numbers game.
You may be tempted to buy followers in the hopes of boosting your Instagram rep, but this will only result in a variety of followers that don’t engage with you. (Which is pointless!)
When it comes to followers, quality truly pays off more than quantity.Don’t underestimate the followers you already have.
Give them some TLC and they may create some UGC (user generated content) of their own.
Prompt them via comments, contest submissions, and fun hashtags.
Make your Instagram account fun to interact with, and soon you will have a community of followers doing the marketing for you!
EIGHT: MISUSING HASHTAGS
Hashtags play an important role in the discovery process on Instagram.
Underutilize them, and you could get lost in the noise.
Overuse them, and you might come across as spammy or overly promotional.
It works like this: Instagram users browse popular hashtags (such as #nyceats) to discover new places to go and things to do.
The more hashtags you include in your post, the more you will show up on these feeds and drive traffic to your profile.
Data supports this; there is a direct correlation between number of hashtags used per post, and post engagement.
Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags in each post, but a caption with 30 hashtags might come across as if you’re trying too hard.
Fortunately, there’s a better way. Learn how to hide hashtags on Instagram and profit.
NINE: NOT FOCUSING ON QUALITY
Instagram is great for brands because it offers a place where brands can showcase behind the scenes content you don’t see in regular advertising. But think twice before posting that selfie!
Just because you can be more “real” on Insta, doesn’t mean that your content shouldn’t be edited to perfection.
If Instagram were a dress code it would be “curated casual.”On the Run Events, a San Francisco events company, has got this down.
