If you run a small business then you probably understand the importance of having a presence on social media. However, Instagram is a great platform to use for your business, and you can find a lot of success with it. With over 1 billion monthly active users, 83 percent of whom use the site for product discovery, Instagram has enormous sales potential for businesses of all kinds and genres. We’re going to take a look at 10 ways to get customers for your small business on Instagram
10 ways to get customers for your small business on Instagram
Assuming you have a small business and are looking for ways to get new customers on Instagram, here are 10 ways to do so:
1. Use relevant hashtags to reach new audiences
Hashtags are a great way to reach new audiences and customers on Instagram. By using relevant hashtags, you can connect with users who are interested in what you offer.
For example, if you are a small business owner selling handmade jewelry, you could use hashtags such as #handmade jewelry, #smallbusiness, or #jewellerymaker.
This will help you reach users who are specifically interested in handmade jewelry, and who are looking for new small businesses to support.
How do I get hashtags for my audience?
A few ways to go about finding the right hashtags for your audience on Instagram is to use a hashtag research tool like Hashtagify. Another way is to search for relevant hashtags on the Instagram app itself.
Here few things you can do to find some relevant hashtags;
- Look at competitor feeds. Check out which hashtags your competition uses on top-performing posts.
- Click on the Explore page and observe the trending pages. Note the popular hashtags people use on top posts and Instagram Stories.
- Find relevant hashtags specific to your audience and niche. Doing so maximizes your chances of engagement with your core group of followers.
- Look for hashtags with less than 500,000 posts as well. These are low-volume hashtags that help your brand stand out against less competition.
Once you have a good list of hashtags, you can start using them in your posts. Be sure to mix up the hashtags you use so that your posts don’t look spammy.
How do you know if a hashtag is relevant?
Here are a few things to consider when trying to determine if a hashtag is relevant on Instagram.
- First, consider the number of posts with that hashtag. If there are a lot of posts, the hashtag is likely relevant.
- Second, consider the content of the posts with that hashtag. If the posts are all relevant to the hashtag, the hashtag is likely relevant.
- Finally, consider the engagement of the posts with that hashtag. If the posts have a lot of likes and comments, the hashtag is likely relevant.
2. Run ads targeting people who are interested in your products or services
Targeted advertising is a way for businesses to present consumers with ads that reflect their specific traits, interests, and shopping behavior.
This is done by using customer data to segment audiences by factors such as basic demographics, shopping interests, or browsing behavior, and then creating unique advertisements tailored to each audience segment.
For small business owners and eCommerce brands, targeted advertising is an essential tool for cutting through the noise of ads that internet users constantly experience, serving personalized content that users will see and engage with.
What is the target audience’s awareness level?
The first step toward improving your Instagram ad targeting is knowing your audience’s awareness level. Are they hearing about your brand for the first time? Or are they already loyal customers?
Your target audience should fit into one of these groups:
- The prospects at Top of the funnel (TOFU) in your Instagram audience are those who are interested in your product or service but are not yet ready to buy. They may know your brand, but need more information before they can make a purchase decision.
- At the MOFU stage, your prospects are becoming more aware of their needs and how your product or service can help them meet those needs. They’re also comparing you to other options and narrowing down their choices.
- The prospects at Bottom of the funnel (BOFU) in your Instagram audience are those who have already shown an interest in your products or services. They may have visited your website, subscribed to your newsletters, or followed you on social media. These are the people who are most likely to convert into customers or clients.
Getting the right information across to these groups determines how effective your targeted advertising will be.
How do you find target interest for Instagram ads?
So you must learn how to find your target audience on Instagram and discover the best Instagram targeting tactics to reach them.
Explore these resources for more ways to pinpoint your audience
- When you’re trying to identify your target audience on Instagram, one of the best ways to do it is to start with larger personas. By looking at who your target audience is in terms of their interests, demographics, and even lifestyle, you can narrow down who you should target with your ads.
- Another way to do this is by looking into your competitors’ Instagram audiences as a way of finding your Instagram ad target audience. Start by looking at who is following your competitors on Instagram, who is interacting with their content, the comments on their posts, and who is talking to them. This will give you an idea of who is interested in their product or service.
- You can also look at the hashtags your competitors are using. This will give you an idea of what keywords and phrases their target audience is using. You can then use these keywords and phrases in your Instagram ads to reach your target audience.
- You can glean from your Instagram analytics about your potential ad target audience. Seeing the age, gender, location, the times of day when your followers are most active and what kinds of content your followers interact with the most can give you a good idea of who your target audience might be and help you create ads that are more likely to resonate with your target audience.
- If you’re not sure who your target audience is? Social listening can be a great way to get insights into relevant conversations and find out who your potential customers are. By monitoring relevant hashtags, you can get an idea of what people are talking about, the language they’re using and the content they’re engaging with. You can also see what. All of this can help you create more targeted, effective ads that reach the right people and generate results for your business.
What is the best way to run ads on Instagram?
There are a few different ways to run ads on Instagram. The best way to do this is to use the Instagram Ads Manager.
This tool allows you to create and manage your ads in one place. You can also use it to track the performance of your ads and see how they are doing.
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Start with a strong visual
Your ad should feature a high-quality, eye-catching image or video that will grab the attention of viewers. Make sure the visual applies to your ad’s message and target audience.
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Write a compelling copy
Your ad copy should be clear, concise, and persuasive. It should highlight the benefits of your product or service and explain why your target customers should care. Use strong calls to action to encourage people to take the next step.
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Target your audience
Make sure you’re targeting the right people with your ad. Define your target audience by age, location, gender, interests, and other factors. Then create ad campaigns that are specifically tailored to reach those people.
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Test, test, test
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your ad campaigns. Try different visuals, copy, targeting options, and call to action to see what works best. Then, once you find a winning combination, scale up your efforts and put more money behind it.
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Stay up to date
Instagram is constantly changing, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and updates. Keep an eye out for new features that you can use to improve your ad campaigns.
What type of ads can you run on Instagram?
There are a few different ads that you can run on Instagram.
- The first is a photo ad, which is simply an image with some text overlay.
- The second is a video ad, which is a video that is up to 60 seconds long.
- The third is a carousel ad, which is a series of images that are swiped through.
- And the fourth is an Instagram story ad, which is a video or image that is part of a user’s story.
3. Collaborate with influencers who have a similar target audience as your business
Collaborating with influencers who have a similar target audience as your business is a great way to get new customers on Instagram.
For one, it allows you to tap into a new market of potential customers that you may not have had access to before.
By working with an influencer who already has an established following, you can benefit from their credibility and reach.
Collaborating with an influencer can help you create and curate content that is relevant and engaging for your target audience, which can lead to increased brand awareness and ultimately, more customers.
Ways To Collaborate With Influencers for your small business
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By gifting products or services
By gifting products or services to influencers for free with no strings attached or in exchange for a product review, you can get them to promote your small business and reach out to a wider audience and get your business noticed.
You should only gift to influencers who are a good fit for your brand and who will use and enjoy your product or service.
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Through sponsored post
This is best for one-off deals, building social proof, and generating influencer content.
When you work with an influencer to create a sponsored post, you’re essentially paying to have your product or service featured on their account. This can be a great way to reach a new audience and get your name out there.
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Using giveaways
This is best for requesting specific customer actions, boosting conversions, and running a high-touch influencer marketing campaign.
Using giveaways with influencers is a great way to get customers on Instagram for your small business. It helps to increase your reach and followers and also gets people talking about your brand.
Choose an influencer who applies to your industry and has a large following.
How do you reach out to influencers to promote your product?
There are a few key steps you can take to reach out to influencers and promote your product.
- First, research who the top influencers are in your industry or niche. Make a list of these individuals and follow them on social media.
- Second, engage with their content by liking, commenting, and sharing. This will help you get on their radar.
- Third, reach out to them directly and ask if they would be interested in learning more about your product. Be sure to include information about why your product is unique and how it can benefit their audience.
- Fourth, offer them a free sample of your product or a discount code for a review or mention on their social media.
- Finally, keep in touch with them and continue to engage with their content to build a lasting relationship.
An email to an influencer should be well-written and professional. It should introduce yourself and your brand, and explain why you think the influencer would be a good fit for promoting your products or services.
Be sure to include your contact information and social media links.
4. Host a contest or giveaway on your Instagram account
If you’re looking to get more customers on Instagram, hosting a contest or giveaway might do the job for you. This can help to increase your visibility and get people interested in what you offer.
Promote your contest or giveaway widely and make it easy for people to enter. You can also offer a prize that applies to your business, such as a free product or service.
How to Run an Instagram Giveaway
Okay, so you’ve taken the plunge to run your first Instagram giveaway! So now what? Well, now you have to set up and run your giveaway.
- First, decide what type of contest or giveaway you want to host. Will it be a Like & Share contest, where users like and share your post to enter? Or will it be a Comment & Tag contest, where users leave a comment and tag a friend to enter?
- Once you’ve decided on the type of contest, come up with a creative and catchy hashtag that represents your brand. This will promote the contest and help users find and enter it.
- Create an engaging and visually appealing post on your Instagram account announcing the contest or giveaway. Be sure to include all the details, such as how to enter, what the prize is, and when the contest will end.
- Use Instagram Stories or ads to promote your contest or giveaway and drive users to your account. Use relevant hashtags and @mentions so that users can easily find and enter your contest.
- Get creative with your prize! Offer something that will be of value to your target audience and that aligns with your brand.
- Keep track of all the entries and randomly select a winner (or winners) once the contest has ended. Be sure to announce the winner(s) on your Instagram account and direct message them with further instructions on how to claim their prize.
- Finally, take some time to reflect on the contest or giveaway and what went well. Use this feedback to improve your next Instagram contest or giveaway and continue growing your small business.
How do you pick a winner from an Instagram giveaway?
There are a few different ways that you can randomly pick a winner from an Instagram giveaway. One way is to use a tool like Instagram Comment Picker, which will randomly select a winner for you from all the entries. Another way is to manually select a winner by looking through all the entries and picking one at random.
5. Share customer testimonials and success stories on your Instagram account
Customer testimonials and success stories are a great way to get customers from Instagram.
By sharing these stories, you can show potential customers that your product or service is effective and can help them achieve their desired results.
This can be a powerful way to attract new customers and grow your business.
How to leverage customer testimonials and reviews for the Instagram feed, Instagram Stories, and IGTV
It would be difficult to persuade your Instagram followers to buy from you unless you provide social proof.
There are four ways to leverage customer testimonials and reviews for the Instagram feed, Instagram Stories, and IGTV.
- First, customer testimonials and reviews can help create engaging content for the Instagram feed. This can be done by sharing quotes from positive reviews, highlighting customer success stories, or featuring customer photos and videos.
- Second, customer testimonials and reviews can help you create Instagram Stories that highlight the positive experiences of your customers. This can be done by sharing quotes, customer photos, videos, or behind-the-scenes footage of your business.
- Third, customer testimonials and reviews can help you create IGTV videos that showcase the positive experiences of your customers. This can be done by featuring customer testimonials, success stories, or customer photos and videos.
- Fourth, customer testimonials and reviews can help drive traffic to your website or online store. This can be done by sharing links to positive reviews, featuring customer photos and videos on your website or online store, or sharing customer testimonials on social media.
How do you ask for a testimonial on Instagram?
Customer testimonials are a powerful way to build social proof and credibility for your business. And what better platform to showcase them than Instagram? Here are 5 creative ways to get customer testimonials using Instagram:
- Host a contest or giveaway and require entrants to post a photo or video testimonial as part of their entry.
- Use Instagram Stories to post behind-the-scenes footage or honest customer testimonials.
- Create a branded hashtag and encourage customers to post their testimonials using it.
- Ask customers to post a review or testimonial on your business’s Instagram page.
- Use Instagram Live to stream customer testimonials in real-time.
By using any of these strategies, you can start collecting powerful customer testimonials that will help you boost your business’s credibility and social proof.
6. Use Instagram Stories to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business
Instagram Stories are a great way to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business.
By sharing behind-the-scenes photos and videos, you can show your customers what goes into running your business and what makes you unique.
This is a great way to get customers on Instagram, as they will see the real, human side of your business and be more likely to follow and engage with you.
Tips for Using Instagram Stories for Your Business
As a small business owner, you can use Instagram Stories to connect with your customers and followers in a more personal and engaging way. Here are some tips for using Instagram Stories to promote your business:
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Use attractive visuals
People are more likely to engage with visually appealing content, so make sure your Stories are eye-catching. Use high-quality images and videos, and consider using creative filters and effects to make your content stand out.
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Keep it short and sweet
People have short attention spans, so keep your Stories concise and to the point. Highlight the most important information and use strong visuals to grab people’s attention.
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Use calls to action
Encourage your viewers to take action by adding calls to action to your Stories. For example, you could include a link to your website or online store, or encourage people to follow you on Instagram.
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Be consistent
Posting regular Stories will help you build a following and keep people engaged with your content. Try to post new content daily, or at least a few times a week.
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Experiment with different content
Keep your Stories fresh by experimenting with different content. You could share behind-the-scenes footage, product demos, customer testimonials, or anything else that would interest your audience.
By following these tips, you can use Instagram Stories to effectively promote your small business and connect with your customers and followers.
7. Share relevant and interesting content on your Instagram account regularly
By regularly posting engaging content, you’ll attract more followers and potential customers to your account.
Plus, you can use Instagram’s powerful search and discovery features to reach even more people who are interested in what you offer.
How do you get relevant content on Instagram?
To make sure you’re getting relevant content on your small business Instagram account;
- First, look at who your target audience is and what kinds of things they’re interested in. Make sure you’re posting content that appeals to them and applies to their interests.
- Look at their posts and see what kinds of things they’re interested in. If you see many people talking about a certain topic, post content about that topic to appeal to their interests.
- Make use of hashtags to help you get your content seen by more people. Research popular hashtags in your industry and use them on your posts. This will help more people find your content and make sure it applies to them.
8. Use Instagram Live to connect with your followers in real-time
Instagram Live is a great way to connect with your followers in real-time and attract more customers to your small business.
When you go live on Instagram, your followers will be notified and can tune in to watch your broadcast.
You can use Instagram Live to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business, show them how your products are made, or answer their questions in real-time.
This is a great way to build rapport with your followers and make them feel more connected to your brand. Plus, the more engaged your followers are, the more likely they are to purchase from your business.
So if you’re looking for a way to boost your sales and attract more customers, be sure to try Instagram Live.
How do I make my Instagram live to be interactive?
To make your Instagram live broadcasts more interactive and engaging for your audience, which can attract more customers to your small business. Here are five of the most effective:
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Use questions and polls
Asking questions and conducting polls during your live broadcast is a great way to get your audience involved and engaged.
This can help to increase the likelihood that viewers will stick around for the duration of your broadcast, and also help to generate discussion and feedback that can be valuable for your business.
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Go live with a friend or colleague
Having someone else present during your live broadcast can help to make it more engaging for viewers.
This can also help to promote your business to a wider audience, as your friend or colleague’s followers will also be exposed to your content.
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Offer exclusive deals and discounts
Offering exclusive deals and discounts to viewers of your live broadcast is a great way to entice them to check out your business.
This could be anything from a percentage off their next purchase, to a free shipping code for use on your website.
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Give away prizes
Another great way to engage your audience and encourage them to check out your business is to give away prizes during your live broadcast.
This could be anything from a gift card to your store, to a voucher for a free product or service.
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Host a contest
Hosting a contest is another great way to get your audience involved with your live broadcast. This could involve anything from asking viewers to submit photos or videos related to your business, to asking them to answer trivia questions for a chance to win a prize.
9. Use Instagram Highlights to showcase your best content
As a business owner, you always want to be attracting more customers. And one great way to do that is to showcase your best content on Instagram using Highlights.
Highlights are a great way to show off your best content and get people interested in your business. Plus, they’re easy to create and can be customized to fit your brand.
So if you’re looking for a way to attract more customers and get more people interested in your business, be sure to use Instagram Highlights.
What is the best way to use highlights on Instagram?
There are several ways to use highlights on Instagram to attract more customers. Here are five of the best:
- Use high-quality images. This is a given, but it’s worth reiterating. Customers are more likely to be attracted to businesses with high-quality images on their Instagram accounts.
- Use relevant hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to get your content seen by more people. Use relevant hashtags that relate to your business and the content you’re sharing.
- Use compelling descriptions. Along with your images, your descriptions should be compelling and make people want to learn more about your business.
- Offer discounts and promotions. Everyone loves a good deal! Offer discounts and promotions through your highlights to attract more customers.
- Share behind-the-scenes content. Customers love getting a peek behind the scenes of businesses. Share some behind-the-scenes content through your highlights to give customers a look at what goes on behind the scenes.
10. Use calls-to-action in your Instagram posts to encourage your followers to take action
A call-to-action is simply an instruction to your followers that tells them what you want them to do. By including a call-to-action in your posts, you’re encouraging your followers to take action.
This could be something as simple as asking them to visit your website or make a purchase.
For example, you could include a call-to-action in your post that says “Click the link in our bio to learn more about our new product.”
Including a call-to-action is a great way to encourage your followers to support your small business. It’s also a great way to increase your chances of attracting new customers.
Your call to action, or CTA, is one of the most important elements of your Instagram post. It’s what tells your followers what you want them to do next.
Tips for creating effective CTAs for your Instagram posts
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Keep it simple
Your CTA should be easy to understand and quick to read. Avoid using jargon or complicated language.
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Be clear and concise
Your CTA should be clear about what you want your followers to do. Use strong verbs that inspire action, such as “buy,” “download,” or “sign up.”
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Make it relevant
Your CTA should apply to the content of your post. If you’re sharing a new product, your CTA could be to “buy now.” If you’re sharing a blog post, your CTA could be to “read more.”
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Use a strong visual
Your CTA will be more effective if it’s accompanied by a strong visual. This could be an image, a video, or even just a well-designed graphic.
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Test and iterate
As with all marketing campaigns, it’s important to test your CTAs to see what works best. Try other languages, visuals, and placements to see what gets the best response from your followers.
What are suitable calls to action (CTAs) on Instagram?
Here are some of the high-converting calls to action you can use to attract customers to your small business
- “Sign up for our newsletter to get exclusive discounts and early access to new arrivals!”
- “Join our loyalty program to get rewards and exclusive access to sales and promotions!”
- ” Follow us on social media for the latest news and updates!”
- “Subscribe to our email list to get the latest news, deals, and special offers!”
- “Check out our website for new arrivals, special promotions, and more!”
Final Words
Getting customers for your small business on Instagram can be daunting, especially when you’ve just started. There are so many different ways to market yourself, that it can be hard to decide which strategy to use. We hope that this blog post has given you some inspiration and tips on how to get customers for your small business on Instagram.