What NOT to do in Instagram Marketing
Instagram is a great tool to incorporate into your digital marketing strategy.
It allows you to tell your brand story through compelling visuals and actively engage with you customers. This platform, in fact, has much higher engagement rates than Twitter or Facebook, and this could just be the right way to go to increase your brand fan base. But, before you set out to take over Instagram, take a look at these mistakes you should avoid.
1. Don’t try to sell too hard
Yes, we do understand that the ultimate purpose of your marketing efforts is to increase sales. However there is a place and time to push your products, and Instagram is not the place for it. Don’t force your brand down your followers throat, instead, provide value for them. Share images that are directly related to your products, while being visually appealing and interesting to look at. A subtle take on the promotional side will most likely earn you more followers than a full out we-must-force-our-brand-down-our-followers-throat-approach. Instagram is great for humanising your brand, and that’s what you need to do. Share images of your employees, of your work environment, and give you followers a chance to feel closer and more familiar with your brand.
2. Don’t post repeatedly
Do not annoy your followers by posting picture after picture. While it is perfectly fine to upload more than one picture per day, don’t go on a posting spree and flood your followers’ feed. Keep in mind that quality beats quantity, so avoid posting the same images with 5 different filters just because you can’t decide on the best one. Keep your frequency at a steady level so as to keep your followers engaged without overdoing it.
3. Don’t use low-quality images
This point complements what we have mentioned above: quality is what matters the most. Posting sloppy images will damage your brand image more than you think. Remember that everything you post represents your brand, you are creating your brand story. If you post low-quality images, your followers will associate that with your brand. Keep it classy, and always ensure to post only the crème de la crème.
4. Don’t ignore your followers
If used correctly, Instagram can drive your engagement levels through the roof. Sharing great images will get your followers to engage with you, but in return you need to ensure to engage with them. Monitor all the comment you receive and reply to them, even if it’s just a few words. You followers will appreciate it and it will show that you care about them and their opinion. This will also increase the chances of your followers sticking with you longer.
5. Minimize the use of Google images
We understand that it is not always easy to generate good quality images, so taking a few images off Google and posting them (with credit) on your account is not a crime. However, the less you do it the better. It is alright to post a funny image you came across or maybe a quote you want to share with your followers, but remember that it’s about your brand story. Use as many as your own pictures as possible, unleash your creativity and wow your followers.
6. Don’t use too many hashtags
Everything must have balance, so does the use of hashtags. If you don’t use hashtags, it will be difficult for followers to find your pictures. Using the right hashtags is vital to increase exposure, however, don’t overuse it. There is nothing more annoying than a picture with ten different hashtags, especially if they are completely unrelated. This will surely portray your brand as non-credible and somewhat lazy.
Created:June 12th 2015
