As of January 2021, there are almost one billion active monthly users on Instagram. It’s one of the most used platforms, beating out Twitter and Pinterest, and only second to Facebook.
Because so many people use this platform, marketing on Instagram can be highly beneficial, but only if you know what you’re doing.
Whether you’re looking to be a social media influencer or you want to increase traffic to your business’s website, make Instagram work for you by avoiding making marketing mistakes.
Keep reading to avoid these four common mistakes with Instagram marketing.
1. You’re Inconsistent
Any marketing strategy relies on your consistency, but this is especially true for your Instagram marketing strategy. When you’re inconsistent, the algorithm will work against you, and your posts won’t show up as often.
To avoid this:
- Plan your posts ahead of time
- Check your Instagram Insights, and see when your followers are most active
- Use a scheduling tool and keep a backup folder of available content
Post daily, or at the very least, three times a week. Use the latest Instagram features, such as the stories, to keep yourself visible to your followers.
2. You’re Not Engaging
If you want to get more followers on Instagram, you need to engage with the followers you already have. You also need to engage with people you want to be your followers on posts that aren’t your own. As Instagram is a social media platform, you need to be social.
Respond to comments on your own posts, and start conversations with others. Like and comment on posts on your home feed. Connect with people using specific hashtags and like and comment on their posts.
You’ll be surprised how many new followers you can gain this way!
3. Your Posts Are Low Quality
The best digital marketing strategy requires high-quality content. People will not fall in love with your photos and videos if your content is blurry, dark, or generally hard to see.
Instagram, in particular, is a visual social media platform. If you don’t start by having high-quality content, nothing else you do will keep the followers you’re trying to draw in.
4. You Need Different Hashtags
Social media marketing is all about hashtags. If you use hashtags that are too broad, such as #family or #happy, your post is going to get lost in the sea of other posts that make up these very broad hashtags.
Posting with these hashtags will do virtually nothing for you. Instead, choose hashtags that are still relevant but less popular and more obscure.
Find a particular niche hashtag to make your post stand out and become more viewable.
Don’t Make These Mistakes With Instagram Marketing
Clearly, there are many mistakes with Instagram marketing that you could easily fall into. Instead, learning what mistakes to avoid can help you up your marketing game and make Instagram better work for you and your business.
Want more social media advice? Check out our collection of articles that have all the answers you’re looking for.