How to use an Instagram account like an advertising platform?

As social media has grown, so too has the way in which businesses can use it for advertising. Among all the social media platforms, Instagram stands tall as one of the best options for brands and businesses to advertise and market their products or services. Boasting over 1 billion active users, the photo and video sharing platform is a haven for businesses looking to increase their reach and engagement.

How to use an Instagram account like an advertising platform?

Instagram advertising is essentially a method of paying to sponsor content on the platform to reach a larger and more targeted audience. While organic posts can be effective for maintaining a connection with an existing audience, Instagram’s advertising system enables one to dramatically broaden your reach. Furthermore, Instagram’s integration with Facebook’s advertising platform provides a seamless experience in managing campaigns across both platforms. The advertising model on Instagram operates on a cost-per-click or cost-per-impression basis. From promoting a post directly from your Instagram business profile to creating a complex advertisement campaign through Facebook’s Ads Manager, Instagram advertising allows a range of options for businesses of all sizes. Ultimately, having a solid understanding of how Instagram advertising works will be instrumental in crafting a successful strategy for a brand.

A key is to have a succinct and insightful bio that succinctly outlines your business proposition, along with a professional profile picture that reflects brand’s identity. Including a link to your website or a specific campaign landing page in the bio is also recommended. An often overlooked aspect is the incorporation of relevant keywords in bio to optimise profile for search visibility. By setting up an effective and engaging business profile, one lays a solid foundation for Instagram advertising endeavours.

At the heart of Instagram advertising strategy lies content. It’s essential to curate material that is not only of superior quality and visually captivating but also resonates with the audience. Rather than solely focusing on promotion, a blend of informative, motivational and amusing content along with product or service posts will keep followers hooked. Consistency is key, so maintain a regular posting pattern and use Instagram’s analytical tool, Instagram Insights, to decipher which content types strike a chord with the consumers the most.

Taking advantage of Instagram’s paid advertising offerings enables expansion of reach beyond the existing followers. The platform provides an array of advertising formats including photo, video, carousel, and stories ads. With detailed targeting options, the brand/ creator can specify audience based on geographic location, demographic information, interests, behaviours and more. To ensure cost-efficiency, Instagram permits to set a precise budget and decide the length of time ads will run for. Moreover, one can utilise Instagram’s advertising platform to evaluate the effectiveness of ads, thus making decisions that are rooted in data analysis. The possibilities for reaching the ideal audience are extensive, helping to optimise advertising efforts and ultimately enhance the brand’s visibility.

Instagram Stories and IGTV present distinct advertising opportunities for your brand. Stories, fleeting 15-second visual content that disappears after a day, and IGTV, which accommodates more extensive video content, allow you to show a more dynamic and personal side to brand. From presenting exclusive behind-the-scenes content and demonstrating products, to launching new items, the possibilities are plentiful. Stories offer interactive features such as polls, queries, and countdowns to drive interaction. Whereas, IGTV provides the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects and create a stronger, more personal bond with the followers. Utilising these features correctly can greatly amplify advertising strategy on Instagram.

A crucial element to your Instagram advertising strategy is fostering and interacting with the community. Keeping in touch with followers by responding to comments, addressing messages directly and hosting live videos. Quick responses to their queries and acknowledging their feedback creates a positive user experience and builds customer loyalty. Community is an invaluable resource; user-generated content and partnerships with influencers can serve to widen reach and bolster engagement. An active community translates into higher engagement, further strengthening your advertising efforts on Instagram.