Social media marketing is becoming a more valuable strategy for businesses as social media usage increases across all age groups. It can be hard to stay on top of the latest platforms in your industry and even harder to manage multiple strategies.

If you’re like most marketers, you might be unsure if Instagram is right for you. Instagram is worth your time, as it has more than 800,000,000 users.

You are not alone if you are hesitant about investing your time and energy in the platform.

Contact us to speak to a strategist about Kobe Digital’s social media marketing services in Los Angeles. Or continue reading to find out how to use Instagram in your marketing strategy.

Kobe Digital offers social marketing strategies for DC businesses, digital media for Tampa, and everywhere in between. Kobe Digital can help your business create a successful social media campaign no matter where it is located.

1. It’s visually appealing

It may seem obvious that Instagram is a photo-sharing platform. Instagram, unlike other social media platforms that focus on text and linking, is solely used for photos and videos. 

Marketers have a great opportunity to use visual content as it is more engaging than text. You don’t have to tell your followers to visit your site to buy or to explain the benefits of working together with you. Instead, use photos to communicate a stronger message.

Your business can highlight products with photos and videos that allow you to showcase your services in action. You can use the platform to showcase company culture or other aspects of your business behind the scenes.

2. It is highly engaging

In 2016, Instagram users liked 4.2 million posts per day. On average 12.6% higher engagement for posts with at least one hashtag than posts without hashtags. This alone is enough to convince many marketers to use this platform.

Marketers are frustrated by low engagement rates, as organic reach on Facebook has dropped to as low as 2-3%. However, Instagram allows you to post more content. This is an enormous advantage, especially considering that many marketers use Facebook’s paid advertising options to get their posts in front of their followers.

3. You may already be there.

Some of your customers are probably on Instagram, regardless of whether you’re on it. This could mean that someone has already posted about your company.

This is especially important if you have a physical store or restaurant that customers frequent. Instagram allows users to add location tags to their posts. This means that if someone has taken a photograph while visiting your business, it will likely have an Instagram tag.

Customers can also upload photos of your products to Instagram and tag them with your brand name. This is especially true for retailers selling clothing, household wares, and other consumer-based items.

Even if your business isn’t interested in using Instagram, we recommend you create an account for yourself to track posts that include your brand or location tag. This is a great way for you to keep up with what your customers are sharing about your business.

You can also use the branded account to encourage customers to do so. Customers who interact with you on the platform will be seen as endorsements by their followers. It’s the modern-day equivalent of word-of-mouth advertising.

4. It is great for branding your brand

Instagram is not like other social media platforms. You can’t expect to drive traffic to your website with every Instagram post. You can’t embed links in your posts. The only place you can include one is in your bio.

It may seem like a disadvantage if you are trying to generate revenue via Instagram.

It also means users will be more likely to interact and follow your company since they know that you’re not trying to sell them anything. Instead, you can make your brand stronger by using the platform.

Upload user-generated content and highlight your company culture. This type of content builds trust and can be used to humanize your brand.

5. It offers targeted advertising options

Instagram, like many other social media platforms, offers paid advertising to businesses. Even though you don’t have to spend a lot of money to run a successful Instagram account, these advertising options can help you grow your account.

Are you interested in using Instagram to promote your business?

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. It could be a great tool for your business to reach new customers. Kobe Digital can help you add it to your marketing strategy.

Our social media team has years of experience in creating and managing successful strategies on a variety of platforms, including Instagram. To speak with a strategist, contact us today. We can help you understand how Instagram fits into your company’s marketing.