Last week, President Trump made waves detailing his plan to shutdown TikTok, a platform Gen Zers have been using for two years to create viral dance videos and repurpose audio beds from movies, television shows and songs to create their own cinematic productions. Following the president’s stance and the speculation of the Chinese government using profile information to spy on users, Microsoft was reported to have interest in acquiring the viral dance sensation app. Regardless of the outcome, a more powerful foundation of our culture’s identity will remain: Instagram.
New Instagram Features
Our team at Baer Performance Marketing has published blogs over the past few months describing the benefits of social media and establishing a brand as well as the transition consumers have found themselves in during a global pandemic. Aligning your marketing strategy with where consumers are shifting is vital to staying in front of your audience. Furthermore, it is equally as important to understand the changes and updates of channels you have incorporated into your marketing strategy.
Instagram Shop
In early June, Instagram rolled out the new feature Instagram Shop. Within the Instagram mobile app, and by clicking “Search,” users can shop products based on brands they follow. Instagram has always been a platform for influencers to monetize off of their following. Instagram Shopping will allow those users to curate additional revenue streams, depending on how the new feature evolves. Additionally, businesses can use Instagram’s algorithm to place their products in front of consumers organically. If your business generates sales through eCommerce, Instagram Shop will be a feature you will want to monitor and take advantage of.
Instagram Reels
Free markets and competition allow innovative companies to prosper in a capitalist country. Companies who choose to change with intent will find themselves with more opportunities. Instagram observed the rapid growth of TikTok and decided to focus their attention on creating their own app to engage the younger generation.
Similar to TikTok, Instagram Reels will allow users to create 15-second clips set to music on Instagram. After being tested in Brazil, Germany, France and India, the feature will be arriving in the United States this month. Instagram Reels can be added to profiles and stories, allowing users to add another element of creativity to their profile while staying inside the Facebook-owned social media app. Reels will have their own tab within a profile, comparable to IGTV.
Instagram Tips and Tricks
As Instagram continues to grow and evolve, many of the features remain the same. Tactical hashtags, attention-grabbing images, and strategically-formatted written content are still the foundation. Below, we’ve collected suggestions on how to create more enticing Instagram posts and creative strategies to help your business stand out (and steal followers) from the competition.
Hashtags
Using the correct hashtags can turn your basic Instagram photo into a viral social media post. The limit on the number of hashtags you are able to use is 30. If you have too few of hashtags, the post won’t likely find itself at the top of search results. It is important to use hashtags people are searching or that are pop-culturally or current event focused.
There are two strategies regarding the placement of hashtags. The first strategy is to press “Return” three or more times while entering a period, dash or an emoji so the hashtags don’t show up on the mobile app. Users can only see the hashtags on a post after clicking “More” on the bottom right of the post.
The second way of incorporating hashtags is to post them as a comment. Commenting the hashtags will only be viewed by users if they navigate towards the comment section. Either way is effective. Find which one you like more, and add it to your social media marketing repertoire.
Images
Instagram was founded on images: images depicting food, a vacation, a weekend outing or photos with family and friends. The platform has always been a place to share experiences with your followers in a visual environment.
High-quality and attention-grabbing images perform the best for double taps (likes) on Instagram. Use Instagram as a way to tell a story. People enjoy seeing people and what they are doing. Highlighting a culture of excitement and motivation is one way to show off your business. If your business has products that can entice users to buy or explore your business more, show them off. Using high-resolution photos or simple graphics can add another creative element to your Instagram grid. As the photo-sharing app has grown, so have the creative elements you should incorporate in your posts.
Formatting and Creativity
Proper formatting of the written content within an Instagram post should be taken seriously. There are a number of different approaches to creating a great Instagram caption.
Using emojis is a way to create life in your text. Emojis can replace words or even add more context to your word choice. Though, certain emojis can have multiple meanings. Make sure you know what they mean in 2020 before incorporating them into a post. Emojis can also break up long posts where you are telling a story about a brand or product.
Changing the way words look is a common trend, too. Having words in bold or italics is a creative way to draw attention to certain portions of your post. Use this link to copy and paste words you would like to change the format of for any social media post. –> www.lingojam.com/BoldTextGenerator
One problem with formatting within the body of an Instagram post is the formatting doesn’t generally post the same way it was in your rough draft. Thankfully, there are websites that incorporate the proper breaks in your messaging. Try using www.apps4lifehost.com/Instagram/CaptionMaker. It will keep the format of the message the same way you wanted once you click “Share.”
Instagram is a social media channel that is here for good. It allows people to tell stories, brands to sell products and entrepreneurs to monetize off of their following. The algorithm continues to evolve and is always providing marketing experts with new challenges to tackle. If you or your business needs help with establishing an Instagram presence, contact Baer Performance Marketing today!