Using Instagram to build connections is a great way to increase the power of your overall marketing strategy.
But to create inroads in this crowded platform, you’ll need an Instagram profile that lets interested parties find you, gives them value and shows off your skills.
How to Create a Winning Instagram Profile
Let’s walk you through the step-by-step formula for how to build an Instagram profile that gives your business the exposure you need on this busy social platform.
1. Build Your Bio
Step one is to create a bio that will not only show what your business does and how clients can find you but touch on your corporate culture and even prompt clients to take action.
Make sure your photo is clear and relevant and that your username and name are easily associated with your business.
This means avoiding initials and using your business name within your username if your business name is already in use by another entity.
Also, be sure to link your company website in your profile — it’s the only place on Instagram where you can link a website, so you won’t want to waste it.
2. Pick a Theme
Every Instagram account needs a theme that encompasses your posts. Some businesses scatter inspirational quotes or photos throughout. Others use ambient photography to send a message, and still, others have a color scheme or text style that makes their posts instantly recognizable and cohesive.
3. Content Mix and Frequency
To encourage your audience to trust and relate to you, you’ll want to craft a compelling brand story. To do this, think of your feed as a grid where you use every nine squares to tell a story.
In general, a good formula is 4:3:2.
That means you’ll create:
- Fours posts that show added value for your clients.
- Three posts to create strong client connections.
- Two posts where you can promote yourself or your service.
- Make sure you’re posting at regular intervals, too, so clients know that you’re active.
4. Highlights and Categories
Instagram story highlights let you save and group-specific content which will live on your Instagram profile until you remove them.
You can save them to customized categories on your feed, so they’ll be there to inspire — and promote — for you beyond the typically 24-hour story post.
5. IGTV
Instagram TV lets you create and post videos for your followers. Best of all, you can post links and additional information with your videos for added marketing benefit.
For now, you must shoot your video from outside of the app and add it into your profile, but there are hints that in-app capabilities may be available later.
Putting it All Together for Real Results — Fast
With over 1 billion monthly users on Instagram, this social media platform can help your business get the exposure you need to reach more clients, showcase your services, and increase your revenue.
Want to know more about how to use social media to skyrocket your marketing results?
Schedule a free assessment and learn how to optimize your social presence for a higher return on your marketing investment.
1 Comment
[…] Your profile needs to be optimized to get the most traction. That means all sections should be filled out and completed. My book has a list on page 13 to show you how. I also wrote a step-by-step process to get your profile optimized. […]