3. Get yourself a hashtag

Any list of Instagram marketing tips will mention creating a hashtag. That’s because hashtags make Instagram go round. You should create one for your brand. It can be a short lived one like for a specific campaign. That’s okay. But you need something that will tie it back to you. Not only that, but your followers will be able to use it too. When they do, it will tie them back to your account.

Additionally, don’t forget to use hashtags in your own posts. There is an actual limit of hashtags you can post yourself. It’s 30. But, that doesn’t mean you should underutilize them. Use tags that are trending in relation to the products you’re selling. That’s my only word of caution. You shouldn’t be using hashtags for dog accessories if you’re selling shoes. Your content won’t be noticed because it’s irrelevant. When you’re growing your Instagram account, there is no such thing as too many hashtags. Use them to your advantage.

LORNA JANE is currently running two campaigns. They too sell activewear. Their profile is filled with two different hashtags: #movenourishbelieve and #activeliving. Both of the hashtags have been tagged in hundreds of thousands posts each.

4. Find your photography style

Instagram is all about aesthetically pleasing photos. Thus one of the most important Instagram marketing tips one could receive is this. Experiment with your style and find what works for your niche. My two favourite examples are Ben & Jerry’s and Chobani. They may be successful companies with a big marketing budget. Don’t let that scare you. There are plenty of people and companies taking great shots with just their phones.

Let’s take a look at Ben and Jerry’s. food is easy to photograph for Instagram and the company is having a lot of fun with it. They posted a photo of an ice cream box dressed up as a witch for Halloween. They created a gradient out of the different shades of ice cream from white to brown. If you look through their account, you’ll notice that there is a very evident theme. The photos are high end but they are also usually fixed on a single item at a time. The images often tell a good story too about the ice cream like this punny take on a banana split.

Now, Chobani is doing something similar. Right now, it’s fall season and Thanksgiving is approaching in the US. A lot of their photos have to do with Thanksgiving, fall and Halloween theme. The photos are really pretty because they have composure. They aren’t filled with all sorts of junk, just a nice photo of a pumpkin and a pumpkin flavored yogurt.

5. Use Instagram to tell your story

These next three Instagram marketing tips are less about what to post and more on how to go about your Instagram account to make the best of it. Companies on Instagram see a significantly higher engagement than on either Twitter or Facebook. Your Instagram should have a thoughtful story of your company. Stories compel people to listen and pay attention. When people are listening, it is significantly easier to convert them into paying customers. Stories are an authentic way to set your company apart from others. Through well-defined content management, your Instagram will keep developing a great story over time. With beautiful photos of your products, of your company or employees, and of your customers, your story will start to develop. But that’s okay if you keep the content relevant. Your posts need to be cohesive with what your target audience is expecting. This brings me to my next Instagram marketing tip.

6. Always be testing

It’s not easy finding your own style or developing a relevant story but it’s going to be worth it. Your style is comprised of two things. First, something that represents your company and your products well. Second, it should resonate well with your audience.  Which brings me to the 6th Instagram marketing tip: always be testing. You’ll have to run numerous campaigns and post numerous photos in order to get better and better at it. There is no way to know what people end up liking. So, instead of forcing the content on to them, test the waters first. The only way to master something is keep trying.

7. Use your marketing plan

With a marketing plan, you will know how Instagram specifically can help you drive traffic, engagement or sales. But it will also let you see where it falls short too. Instagram is not the answer to all marketing questions. It’s just one of many outlets. And, it works really well for dropshipping companies too.

On our blog, we have written a bunch of articles explaining how to create marketing plans and content plans. Please read up on those. The gist is that with a plan you will be much more successful. A plan will make you set a goal and make sure you post regularly to achieve it. And of course, goals can be measured. Therefore, you will know how effective the campaign was, or not. You can run multiple campaigns at once, if you need to.

Learned any new Instagram marketing tips?

Trying to get the hang of Instagram is achievable. These 7 Instagram marketing tips will give you a starting point for making the most out of your Instagram account.