Instagram can be an extremely powerful marketing tool if you know how to use it. Companies all over the world rely on Instagram to develop their brand and spread brand awareness. With some strategic moves, you can build an army of followers. Instagram offers every entrepreneur an opportunity for success, you just need to know how to make the most of it.
Anyone can create a profile for their brand, but do you know how to build a brand worth following? The following steps will give you some guidance on how to create a memorable personal brand on Instagram.
Step 1: Understand your brand and your audience
Instagram is a very competitive network. With over 1 billion users, you need to know what makes you authentic.
You can’t build a brand if you don’t know what your strengths are and who your target audience is.
Based on that, before you start, know the answers to the following questions:
- What makes me different?
- Why should someone choose my brand over someone else?
- What do I have to offer to my audience?
- Who am I trying to reach?
- What type of content would my target audience want to see?
It can help if you do some research about your competitors and make comparisons. Establish what makes you original and play on that card.
Step 2: Work on your profile’s aesthetics
Instagram is a visual platform. Artistic and unique content is what draws people to this social media.
Considering that people are visual beings, you need to comply with their needs and wishes.
Think about the design of your profile. Whether you sell products, offer services, or want to become an influencer, you should work on your profile’s style.
Take a look at how Herbivore Botanicals captures their followers’ attention with these beautiful shots.
Source: Herbivore Botanicals
As you can notice, the colors in each picture complement each other. When someone opens Herbivore’s Instagram profile the color combination will instantly draw them in.
Instead of looking at your posts as individuals, let your profile be your canvas. Arrange the posts in such a way that they make one beautiful collage.
Step 3: Be consistent
If you go MIA every once in a while you won’t be able to make an impression on your audience. Don’t allow your followers to forget you.
Most brands post an average of 27.9x per month which means that they practically post something every day.
Consistency is a must if you want to stay relevant.
Posting regularly can take a lot of your time so it can be helpful if you prepare some posts in advance. Use scheduling tools that will automatically upload them to your profile. In this way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting to post.
Step 4: Keep up with the trends
Social media platforms are always trying to provide some new features to their users in order to keep them interested. This means that there is always some new trend around the corner that you need to know about.
Currently, Instagram users are loving the new interactive Stories. Different Instagram Story stickers such as The Question Sticker or Poll and Vote Stickers are enabling brands to engage with the audience.
Source: beautycon (The Question Sticker)
Keeping up with the trends and incorporating them into your Instagram strategy is crucial. Users always tend to navigate towards these trends and you want to give them what they wish to see.
Step 5: Only post high-quality content
Everything on your profile should have meaning and provide some value to your followers. That is what makes high-quality content.
A post that provides value should be:
- informative
- entertaining
- motivating
- interesting
- educational
It doesn’t have to fulfill all the criteria but you should at least put it in one of the above-mentioned categories.
For example, you can make your posts informative by telling your personal brand’s story through a video.
If you really want to post quality content, pay extra attention to the images’ descriptions. Think about finding a reliable writing service that can help you when you want to include an inspiring description.
Step 6: Create a connection with your followers
Besides focusing on the quality of your posts, you should also acknowledge the importance of a good relationship with your followers.
Showing appreciation to people who decide to give your brand a chance to be your winning card.
People love to feel cared for and important and you need to give them just that. Answer their questions, like their comments, and even share their good feedback and messages.
Take an example Showpo. Despite having 1.6 million followers (at this time) they still care about their customers and address their questions.
Source: Showpo
Establishing some sort of relationship is the key to building an army of loyal followers.
Conclusion
When it comes to marketing, it’s all about strategy. A carefully chosen decision will help you build a personal brand on Instagram. By following each of these steps you will be able to attract the audience to your brand and achieve the success you deserve.
James Scott is a past freelance writer, who has specialized in education, blogging, and digital marketing. As co-founder of various online start-ups, he remains a freelancer of sorts, although he is now far more than a “business of one .”