Facebook may get more press, but Instagram is no one’s second fiddle. Sure, it’s not testifying before congress, but that isn’t a bad thing. Instead, Instagram is busy helping your e-commerce flourish.
E-commerce hasn’t replaced retail entirely, but it’s certainly changed it. Brick and mortar are downsizing, making room for technology. With this change, marketing has adapted, too. Billboards, print ads, mentions in the local paper – all these still exist, but they’re not as instrumental as they once were. Now, if you want to make an impact, you must make one over broadband.
So, what are the reasons you should assure you’re not only using Instagram but using it often? They include:
Instagram allows promotion through pictures
People are visual, making pictures worth a thousand Facebook updates. Instagram is all about this. Because it’s a platform dedicated to the visual, it is a special kind of ally: people may buy with their wallets, but they decide to buy with their eyes.
Instagram promotes shopping with ease
Gone are the days of elbowing fellow patrons during crazy fire sales (okay, that still happens, but not nearly as often). In today’s world, the mall is at your fingertips: in fact, the vast majority of Americans now shop online. It’s not the prices that draw them (shopping online can be more expensive than doing so in person); it’s the convenience they care about. Instagram knows this – that’s why they added a Shop Now button. This allows brands to link shopping carts directly to wherever their products are marketed.
Sharing your story
Instagram’s Stories feature allows you to do exactly what it sounds like: tell the story of your brand. Being transparent with customers helps cultivate trust, making people more likely to buy from you. In short, context matters. A recent upgrade to this feature now allows for link sharing, upping the marketing power of Instagram.
“Exploring” the possibilities
The Explore tab is a coveted spot for Instagram users. Per the platform itself, Explore posts are selected based on things a user likes or follows. Now that the Explore tab includes Stories, brands must up their games. Instagram is also the most potent site for influencer marketing.
Honing your Instagram presence can take time. The best thing you can do is track your sales to find out what types of marketing are proving successful and what types are falling flat. Then, switch things up where you see fit. You’ll get the picture soon enough.
If you need help with social media and other types of marketing, contact us today to get started.