Instagram can be so beneficial in spreading electronic word of mouth about your business. Instagram has many features to the platform that can help build brand trust and awareness like never before. This platform allows small businesses to communicate with potential consumers, such as commenting or liking content, also known as content engagement. Building a connection with current and potential customers is important as the entrepreneurship world is a very competitive place. Static posts help to create a portfolio of your business and provides valuable information, which potential consumers are more likely to engage with. Instagram stories allows small business' to share non branded content, which can allow for the consumer to feel more apart of the brand and increase brand trust. Here are five simple steps to up your Instagram game!
Photo from @bigassicedcoffee Instagram
Photo from @worthygirlshop Instagram
1. Branded content
Branded content allows for brand recognition. By establishing a color palette, a logo, and a font for your brand, it will be easy for consumers to recognize your brand. A strong brand kit can lead to an increase in visibility, and brand awareness for your small business (Macready 2023). When creating relevant content, users will share it with their friends and followers. This will help increase your account's reach and exposure. The more people see your business and become familiar with it, the more likely they are to make a purchase.
Establish a color palette, and logo for your brand, and choose two-three recognizable fonts for your social media accounts
Create relevant content (Deals, Sales, Blogs, Podcasts, Reels, Educational Posts)
Use content-creating platforms (Canva Pro, Adobe Photoshop, etc)
Establish a tone of voice on social media
2. Pre-Planned Content
Planning your content in advice can help you avoid multitasking, and possible errors. Social media accounts do well when posting static and/or reels 3-4 times a week. By pre-planning your content, it also allows you to think about possible content you want to share for the upcoming weeks. Pre planning content also allows you to accomplish more in your marketing strategies as you have time to think through the details. This helps provide your posts with valuable information which potential consumers are more likely to engage with. Planning out your content will also give you more downtime to focus on your business as a whole.
Consider using a content calendar (Clickup, Later, etc)
Spend an hour a week-bi weekly to think about what content you want shared for the upcoming weeks
Get inspiration from other small businesses on social media
Photo from Above Health Content Calendar (ClickUp)
Photo from @abovehealth Instagram
3. Personal Content on Stories
Sharing content about your life and your story on your businesses social media account is extremely important in building brand trust and awareness. It allows potential consumers to feel a part of your story as a business owner and put a face to the name. “Sharing content in a way that is high quality and relatable makes your business appear trustworthy and personable. In the end, this can increase sales, views and so much more, leading to organic growth”(Invisibly 2022). Building a connection with current and potential customers is important as the entrepreneurship world is a very competitive place. Instagram stories and reels also allow consumers to see more into the company owners personal life. Companies can post stories that include a 24 hour sale, or even new products they plan to release
Sharing weekly updates about your business or life changes
Sharing behind the scenes content
Sharing recent Travel / new foods / favorite restaurants
4. Instagram Reels
Sharing reels to your Instagram page is extremely important as it accelerates engagement, creates brand trust, and improves brand awareness. The Instagram algorithm has been forced to change to compete with a competitor app, TikTok, due to the increase in popularity within the past few years. Businesses can’t rely just on static and carousel posts anymore to captivate audience members and gain new followers. These short and engaging videos allow consumers to put a face to the brand, which increases brand trust but also helps spread the word about your business. Short 30-second videos are now the main source of engagement among social media platforms.
Reel Options
Using trending audio to highlight a day in the at (Enter Your Business Here)
Point of View: Consumer walking into your business
Behind the scenes (Shipping orders, Creating the Product, etc)
Photo from @abovehealth Instagram
Photo from @worthygirlshop Instagram
5. Community Engagement
Building a community with your consumers is extremely important when trying to grow as a business. Engaging with comments, responding to direct messages on your account, and engaging with followers' content and accounts on the Discover page is a great way to build a community for your business. This will help generate brand trust and awareness. Answering questions, responding to comments, and interacting with customers on social media could help increase your followers count. Platforms reward users who are active and engaged on the platform. The more you engage with your audience the more likely you are to show up on the feed. (Macready 2023). This provides more exposure to your brand to your consumers and leads to more opportunities to build brand trust, share about your brand and lead to an increase in sales. Having stronger engagement levels means your consumers have a good relationship with the brand.
Spend 30 minutes to an hour a day engaging with your consumers on Instagram
Actively check direct messages
Engage with other accounts on the discover page