Unlock Growth Using Instagram for Small Businesses

Do you run a small business?

And looking for Instagram strategies for small businesses to gather leads.

Well, you are at the right place.

With the growing number of Instagram users, having a presence on Instagram is essential.

In this blog, we will discuss various Instagram strategies for small businesses that can help your business grow.

Before starting, you should have an Instagram account.

Create a business Instagram account that would help you increased awareness 

Why are Instagram strategies for small businesses required for growth?

In today's digital world, where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, simply having an Instagram account for your small business isn't enough.

According to Gitnux, 87.7% of marketers in the US use Instagram.

Showcase your products, services, and brand personality in a captivating way on Instagram for small businesses. 

On Instagram, you can connect more deeply with your audience than through traditional marketing methods. 

8 Instagram Marketing Strategy for Small Businesses

You need a well-defined Instagram for small businesses strategies to thrive.

Here is a list of Instagram strategies for small businesses that can give you leads. 

First, Visually Appealing Profile

For using Instagram strategies for small businesses, focus on creating a strong profile picture, username, and bio that communicates your brand identity and the value you offer to your audience.

Your profile picture should be your brand's logo, as this is what makes your audience recognize the brand. 

Add a bio that reflects what your brand is for and add links to the website and other social media accounts. 

Take a look at Giva's Instagram profile. The profile picture is their logo, the bio clearly shows what they do, and the attached links.

Second, Focus and Direction

Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses acts as a roadmap, guiding your content creation, engagement tactics, and overall approach to using the platform.

There should be some SMART Goals set up by the small businesses that want to achieve when making content for Instagram. 

Following are some goals that small businesses set up:

• Driving up sales
• Increase Brand Recognition
• Increasing website traffic

Third, Knowing Your Tribe 

Well-crafted Instagram strategies for small businesses involve understanding your target audience – their interests, behavior on Instagram, and the type of content they find engaging.

According to SocialShepherd, about 48.2% of Instagram users are women, while 51.8% are male.

This allows you to tailor your content and engagement tactics to resonate with them, fostering stronger connections and building a loyal following.

Fourth, Content is the Key

Instagram is a visual platform. Prioritize high-quality photos and videos that showcase your products, services, and brand personality.

Experiment with different content formats – static images, Stories, Reels, IGTV, and Live videos – to keep your audience engaged.

These days, Instagram reels are very helpful in getting content to go viral. According to Sked Social, Instagram reels get 22% more engagement than any video post.

To increase discoverability, write captivating captions that tell a story, ask questions, and spark conversation.

Use Captionator to write engaging content and captions for Instagram posts.

Fifth, Engage with Audience

Actively respond to comments and messages on time. This fosters a sense of community and shows your audience you care.

According to reports by SproutSocial, around 80% of customers expect brands to interact with them on social media. 

Partner with influencers or complementary businesses in your niche for cross-promotion and reach a wider audience. BusinessWire reports that around 61% of people trust recommendations from influencers rather than brand content.

You can host interactive contests or giveaways to generate excitement and attract new followers. 

Take a look at this example of how Swiggy interacts with its audience. 

Inbox by Creatosaurus allows you to get messages from various social media in one place.

Sixth, Incorporate Hashtags

Incorporating hashtags into your posts is an essential Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses, as hashtags help increase discoverability. 

You should use hashtags relevant to your industry and target audience. 

Remember not to overuse hashtags; use around 9-10 hashtags per post.

Meraqi says using more than 10 hashtags can reduce engagement by 68.2%.

The following example shows how FacesCanda, a top beauty brand, incorporated relevant hashtags from its niche in the post. 

There are various hashtag tools available. To get relevant hashtag ideas, you can use #TAGS.

Seventh, Posting Consistently

If you are using Instagram for small businesses, it is essential to post regularly to be at the forefront of your target audience’s mind.

Instagram's algorithm favors accounts that consistently post engaging content. 

By showing up regularly, your posts are more likely to be surfaced to a wider audience, organically boosting your reach and visibility.

The best tool for scheduling posts is Cache, which allows you to post consistently and saves time. You can easily learn to schedule posts using Cache.

BUT REMEMBER!

Don’t over post that your content will flood your audience’s feed. They may get irritated. (... can also end up blocking your page)

Here is a table you can refer to to learn when to post which type of content and the frequency so that you can schedule accordingly.

According to Markopolo, Sunday is the best day for posting, increasing an engagement rate of 6.47%.

Eighth, Tracking What Works

A well-defined Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses allows you to track key metrics for Instagram, like follower growth, engagement rates, and website traffic.

By analyzing this data, you can see what's working and what's not, allowing you to refine your approach and measure the success of your Instagram for small business efforts.

You can use Analytics by Creatosaurus to monitor the performance of your social media accounts.

What are the benefits of using Instagram for small businesses?

Following are some benefits of using Instagram strategies for small businesses.

i) Target large audience: According to DemandSage, there are over 2.4 billion active users on Instagram.

With these large numbers of active users, small businesses can target large groups of people.

ii) Shopping Feature: Instagram Shopping features like product tags and shoppable posts seamlessly connect with potential customers.

Approximately 130 million users click on shopping posts on Instagram every month, as per Gitnux.

iii) Cost-Effective Marketing: Building a strong organic presence on Instagram is a relatively cost-effective Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses compared to traditional advertising methods.

iv) Customer Insights and Analytics: Instant Instagram Insights provides valuable data about audience demographics, engagement metrics, and content performance.

Content type that can be posted on Instagram for small businesses for higher reach

Confused about what type of content to post.

Don’t worry!

Here is a table showcasing the type of content you can generate on Instagram for small businesses and your target audience for increased reach.

What are the disadvantages of using Instagram for small businesses?

While using Instagram strategies for small businesses can be a boon, they have some limitations.

i) Content Creation: Standing out on Instagram requires consistently creating high-quality visual content (photos, videos, Stories).

This process can be time-consuming, especially for small businesses with limited photography, videography, or graphic design resources.

ii) Algorithm's Influence: Instagram prioritizes content it deems engaging and relevant to users in user feeds. 

Content creators believe that algorithms benefit content with a 20% engagement rate, according to Foundr.

This algorithm can be unpredictable, making reaching a large audience organically challenging, especially for new accounts.

iii) Ad Saturation: The ever-increasing presence of paid advertising as one of the Instagram strategies for small businesses can make it difficult for organic content to stand out in user feeds. 

Standing out organically requires exceptional content or a significant existing follower base.

According to statistics by Answeriq, ads on Instagram can reach around 849.3 million users. 

iv) Negative Interactions: Opening yourself up to online interactions comes with the risk of encountering negativity or even trolling in comments or messages. It's important to have a plan for managing such situations.

Case study: BLINKIT

Blinkit is an Indian quick commerce platform that delivers essentials to customers.

It was founded in 2013 by Albinder Dhindsa and Saurabh Kumar under Grofers. Later, it was renamed Blinkit and is now owned by Zomato. 

Strategies of Instagram for small businesses adopted by Blinkit

1) Engaging Content: Blinkit posts engaging content that attracts the target audience. 

The content they post is relatable and is from daily life, making the audience feel closer to it.

View post

2) Interacting with the audience: Blinkit gives replies to the people commenting on their posts to be closer to them, which makes the engagement more fun.

3) Collaborating with other brands: Blinkit collaborates with other brands to increase the viewership of their posts.

Examples of small businesses thriving on Instagram

1) Conscious Chemist

Conscious Chemist is an Indian skincare brand that went viral on Instagram and increased popularity.

Now, they have a hundred thousand followers on Instagram.

They are consistent with posting and are also getting good viewership on Instagram reels.

2) La Chic Pick

La Chic Pick is an Indian GenZ clothing brand that garnered success through Instagram Marketing.

They have over 70K followers on Instagram that they have gathered through consistent posting of content 

Conclusion on Instagram strategies for small businesses

In this blog, we learned how, through Instagram strategies for small businesses, they could grow their Instagram followers, which could help them gain reach and increase sales.

In essence, an Instagram marketing strategy for small businesses is the bridge between your business goals and achieving success on the platform. 

It's the secret sauce that transforms random posts into a cohesive and impactful presence that attracts customers, builds brand loyalty, and fuels the growth of your small business.

Get started with Creatosaurus, an all-in-one social media marketing tool, the only tool you will need for your social media marketing strategies.

Further Readings on Instagram strategies for small businesses

How to do social media marketing for executives [Tips+ examples]

Social Media Marketing for Education: Tips & Strategies

FAQS on Instagram strategies for small businesses

1) How often should I post on Instagram?

Ans. Consistency is key, but the frequency can vary based on your audience's preferences and capacity to create content.

2) How many hashtags should be used when creating a post?

Ans. Aim for a balance and avoid overusing hashtags, typically 9-10 per post.

3) How can I measure the success of my Instagram marketing strategy for small business efforts?

Ans. Measure Instagram metrics such as engagement rate, reach, impressions, follower growth, website clicks, and conversion rates using Instagram Insights or third-party analytics tools.