Instagram is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, with over 800 million users as of 2018. Because of its massive popularity, brands and businesses have been increasingly using paid advertising and sponsored posts to increase traffic and user engagement on Instagram. But what are some effective methods for creating content that will help you achieve your marketing goals?
In this article, we’ll walk you through ten different content creation and marketing methods that can be used to attract new Instagram followers, engage existing followers, and ultimately grow your business or brand.
Keep reading below, and then be sure to implement each of these methods right away.
10 Ways to Increase Exposure and User Engagement on Instagram
1. Use high-quality photography or video to capture your audience’s attention.
One of the best ways to create engaging content on Instagram is by posting high-quality photos or videos that truly capture people’s attention and interest. This could mean capturing photos or videos of the products or services you offer, behind-the-scenes footage, events that your business is attending or sponsoring, or even just fun and interesting images that help to create a more human connection with your followers.
2. Utilize Instagram Stories.
Instagram Stories are a great way to engage your audience and keep them interested in what you have to offer. Whether it’s showcasing behind-the-scenes content, sharing live updates from events that you’re attending, or even just promoting new products or services, Instagram Stories can be a powerful tool for increasing engagement with your followers and keeping them coming back for more.
3. Consider partnering with influencers on Instagram.
Influencer marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach a new audience and engage more people in your brand or business. If you can find an influencer who shares your target audience, has a similar aesthetic, or works in a related industry, consider collaborating with them on sponsored posts that will help to increase engagement among their followers and get more eyes on your brand or business. Just be sure to carefully research any potential collaborators first to make sure they align with your brand values and have an engaged following that’s likely to be interested in what your business offers.
4. Use hashtags strategically.
Hashtags are an essential part of increasing visibility on Instagram, but it’s important not to use too many hashtags in a post, as this can result in your content looking spammy and unprofessional. Instead, try using 2-3 relevant hashtags per post that will help to increase its reach and attract new followers who are likely to be interested in your brand or business. Some good examples of popular hashtags on Instagram include things like “#instagood,” “#tbt,” and “#photooftheday.”
5. Experiment with different styles of posts.
One important thing to remember when creating engaging content on Instagram is that it’s important to experiment with different styles of posts, such as including text overlays and graphics, using polls or questions in your captions, and even incorporating interactive quizzes into some of your content. By diversifying the types of posts that you create, you can help to keep your followers interested and engaged over time.
6. Consider partnering with a social media management company.
If you’re struggling to create engaging content consistently, or you simply don’t have the time or resources to devote to managing your own Instagram accounts, consider partnering with a social media management company like SocialBee that can help you stay on top of things like creating posts and scheduling content in advance. This can be a great way to ensure that your accounts are always active and engaging with your audience, even if you’re away on vacation or busy with other projects for your business.
7. Utilize user-generated content whenever possible.
User-generated content (UGC) is an effective way to increase engagement among your followers and attract new followers to your Instagram account. UGC can take many different forms, such as reposting photos that your customers have shared of themselves using your products or services, encouraging users to submit their own photos or videos for a chance to be featured on your profile, or simply asking them for feedback about what they would like to see more of in terms of content on your account.
8. Post frequently and consistently.
One of the most important factors when it comes to increasing engagement among your followers is posting on a regular basis. It’s best to aim for at least one post per day if possible, but you should also make sure that you’re posting consistently so that people know exactly when they can expect new content from you and can plan to check in regularly.
9. Consider using paid ads on Instagram to reach a new audience.
If you want to quickly increase the number of followers who see and engage with your content, consider using paid advertising on Instagram. This can be a powerful tool for reaching an entirely new audience, especially if you have a limited budget or time constraints that prevent you from growing your account organically over time. Just remember to always carefully target your ads so that they’re shown to people who are likely to be interested in what you have to offer and will actually engage with your content once they’ve seen it.
10. Measure your performance and adjust your strategy as needed.
Finally, it’s important to measure the performance of your Instagram posts over time in order to determine what works best and what you can do to improve things moving forward. Consider tracking metrics like reach, likes, comments, shares, click-through rates on links that you include in your posts, etc., so that you can see which types of content are most effective at engaging users and get a better sense for how well your overall strategy is working. Then make any necessary changes based on what you learn from these analyses so that you can continue increasing engagement with your followers over time.
Instagram Content Creation and Marketing Summary
No matter where you might currently be in the world of social media and content creation, it’s always important to make sure you are getting better at the process. By implementing each of the methods above, you will be securing your spot in the world of Instagram, while also growing your following on a daily basis. Be sure to run through each of the recommendations listed above, and then track your performance and success along the way. The more content you create, the better the success rates you will see over time.