Instagram was born in October 2010 as a social platform that makes sharing photo and video content super easy. In April 2011 it was bought by Facebook. In the years since the official launch of the Instagram platform, it has gained notoriety and today it is more than just a social network, it is THE tool for social media marketing.
Why is Instagram relevant for your e-commerce Store?
Having an Instagram account for your business can be one of the best methods of promotion. You do not believe me? Let’s take a look at the statistics. Retail Touch Points says that Instagram is the channel that helps you the most to reach your target audience, i.e. buyers. It is also the channel where you can easily implement marketing strategies.
72% of users report that they make a purchase decision based on something they saw on Instagram. This is an incredible percentage compared to other platforms. 23% of users make a purchase decision based on what they see on Facebook and just 3% on Twitter. So, these statistics show us that Instagram has the biggest influence on the audience based on shopping habits. In addition, there are 1.074 billion Instagram users worldwide in 2021 and this platform can generate over 4x more interaction when compared with Facebook.
Other reasons why your business should be on Instagram:
- Better Conversion
- Engagement
- Increasing your website traffic
- Branding
- Building a community
- Advertising
Instagram Business Account
What is an Instagram Business Account?
On Instagram, you can have two types of accounts: personal and business. If you want to promote your online store, I recommend you use an Instagram Business Account. Why? Here you can find some reasons:
- Access to use additional features
- You can add business work hours, store address, and other relevant information
- You have an additional CTA (call-to-action) button, for example, shop now, contact us, or subscribe
- You can tag products in posts
- It’s completely free
How to set up your Instagram Business account?
There are only three steps!
Step 1: In settings, find Account and tap Switch to Professional Account.
Step 2: Pick a category that best describes your business, then select Business.
Step 3: You’re all set, you’ve got an Instagram business account. Now complete your profile using the tips below.
Instagram Content Strategy
Now that you understand the importance of an Instagram account for your business, it is essential to establish a content strategy. In the first phase, I recommend you choose what type of posts would have a good reach on your target audience.
Posts that are trending right now for businesses:
- How to
- Behind the scenes
- Q & A
- Product review
- Giveaways and Contents
- User-generated content
- Reels
Post information that is relevant to your target audience and industry. Don’t limit your content only to product promotions. For example, if your online store sells food, ingredients, etc. you can diversify the content. For example, you can have a “how-to” video post for a specific recipe, you can have an interview with a master chef, and so on.
Best time to post on Instagram
It is not enough to post content and that’s it. You will need to set certain days and time intervals to post and to be consistent. For starters, I will show you the period when the researchers decided that it is the most suitable to post content on Instagram. Later, you can set this interval according to the reach you get from your target audience.
- US and Canada (Western): 12AM-6AM
- US and Canada (Central): 6AM-8AM
- US and Canada (Eastern): 4AM-9AM
- South America: 4AM
- UK: 4AM-6AM
- Europe (Western): 6-8PM
- Europe (Eastern): 5AM-7AM
- South Asia and Middle East: 3AM
- East Asia and Southeast Asia: 11PM-4AM
How to write a good Instagram post?
Now that you have managed to set the days when you will post and the frequency of posts, I recommend you to build a calendar of posts in advance, which you should follow. Here are some tips to create quality content for your business.
- Make the most of the first sentence
It is very important to capture the attention of your target audience from the first sentence. You can try to include the most essential information here. This way, you make sure that they will read your post and your message will reach them in full.
- Use CTA (call-to-action)
Remember that one of the purposes for which you post is for your target audience to interact with your posts and show interest. Use calls to action as a method to get results. Some examples of relevant calls to action for online stores are:
- Click the link in bio
- Leave a comment
- Tag a friend
- Add Value
Usually, the most relevant content is the one that brings relevant information to your target audience. Make sure you add value in every post you create
- Storytelling
Make your posts sound natural. The storytelling skill is very important when trying to get quality content. A very effective method would be to create a story around your product.
- Use hashtags
People often search for content on Instagram based on hashtags. Make sure you use the appropriate hashtags for your post. You have a very good chance of making yourself visible to potential customers
Now that you have all the information you need to create an Instagram account for your business, you can start promoting yourself online!
In conclusion, Instagram is the ideal platform to promote your online store. According to statistics, 80% of people decide to buy a product after seeing it on Instagram. Create a Social media strategy that includes this platform and analyze the results. I guarantee you will not regret it.