Well, Instagram doesn’t literally go shopping, but it is trialling a new shopping function.
So, if you’re a business to consumer (B2C) brand and your target audience is on Instagram then this could, at some point in the not so distance future, be an interesting avenue to explore.
Currently Instagram has the ability for businesses to place shopping-enabled adverts, as already seen on Facebook. These appear like a catalogue of images but allow the customer to buy without leaving the site.
This is in its early days with only a couple of big fashion and beauty brands utilising it, but is already an indicator of how the channel may evolve. But, the difference with this new shopping function, currently being trialled in the US, is that it allows you to tag products in a post and each of these tags carries more product detail. This is great for a retail brand giving potential buyers loads more information and quickly. While these new functions are in their early stages, why not review your channel to get it up to speed and ready for these new options.
Review your hashtags
Reach out to more potential customers and followers by reviewing the hashtags you’re using. Look at which hashtags your competitors are using. Are there any key influencers in your industry that you should be following? If so, what do they use? When you use the search function to look at hashtags don’t forget to look at those ‘related’ to your search as they could lead you to other popular hashtags.
Branding and content
Make sure your branding is consistent across all your social media channels. Your customers want to feel happy moving from one platform to the next. People like familiarity. Not only is it important to have stunning, eye-catching imagery, it is also vital to have engaging content. Getting likes and comments is good, but creating interesting comment that entices people to comment on your posts also mean that the Instagram algorithm will favour you more.
Future shopping
So, if you start to make headway now and get your Instagram channel into tip top shape, you’ll be in a great position as and when the new shopping function is available.
Social media Croydon
Incorporating social media into your marketing strategy can raise brand awareness and online presence. Visit our blog for tips on how you can improve social media presence.
If you feel you need support in getting your business noticed on social media, then get in touch with Smart Cow Marketing to discuss your needs further.