Tools To Increase Sales Through Your Company’s Instagram Account

Instagram provides brands with 25% more engagement than any other social media platform. When done correctly, it can be an ideal visual advertising channel for your company. It can lead to a healthy stream of revenue and attract new customers. However, venturing into the world of Instagram can be daunting. Using these tools can help boost engagement and increase your sales.

Use Professional High-Quality Lifestyle Content

 Followers don’t want to just see photos of your products. They want to visualize your products being incorporated into everyday life.  In 2014, Nike posted 60% of lifestyle content and saw 8 times more engagement than their competitor, Adidas.

Your Instagram posts should not only reflect your brand’s image but be professional and of high quality. 67% of consumers consider detail images to be more valuable. Download the most recent version of the Instagram’s app and upload a photo with a width of at least 1080 pixels with an aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4:5. Use Photoshop or free apps such as Squareready or Instasize to resize your images to maintain the quality and resolution of the image. Incorporate Instagram’s in-app filters such as Maven, Mayfair, Inkwell or No Filter to enhance your photos. Researchers have found that lighter, brighter images generate 24% more engagement than darker images.

Create Specific Hashtags Related to Your Brand or Product Line

As always, use hashtags to maximize your reach and engagement. Stay on top of trending hashtags related to your brand, product, and audience. Integrate the most relevant, specific and popular keywords into your captions. Come up with 15-20 popular hashtags that describe your brand, location, and product offering.

Once you have reached a substantial following, create your own hashtag. This is an essential technique that many brands such as Michael Kors and Nike use often. Creating a hashtag specific to your product will help improve your branding, online presence, and engagement rate. Use social media analytics platforms such as Captiv8 Insights to track which hashtags are the most effective in your niche community. Through Captiv8 Insights, we are able to identify and monitor Nike’s #Airmaxday highest engaging posts.

Offer Exclusive Promotions & Deals

It’s no secret that consumers love sales and discounts. According to a recent study, 41% of Instagrammers state that they follow or would follow a brand to take advantage of perks and giveaways.

Use eye-catching, informative, and promotional announcements that fit your brand. Use free apps like Phonto, PicLab, or Over to create the right exclusive announcement for you. Use text overlays on photos to create a stylish yet visual way to announce sales and discounts. Provide an incentive for your followers to engage and take advantage of your sales.

Use Third-Party Apps to Sell Your Products

 Instagram itself doesn’t allow followers to click through product pages but companies can use third-party apps such as such as Like2Buy, Inselly, Shopseen, Letsell.it, Soldsie, or Have2Have.It to sell their products. These apps have revolutionized Instagram’s sales potential and have become increasingly popular. They have created a real value for many e-Commerce companies to capitalize on the growing market.

Determine which third-party app is right for you. Let your followers know that they can purchase your products through the app. Link your online store or shoppable app to your company’s Instagram bio. Remind your followers throughout your post captions that they can purchase that product through the URL on your bio. Be careful not to oversell the app.

Partner with Influencers to Reach a Specific Target Audience

Traditional ads and marketing techniques have limited effect on consumers. Connect organically with your consumers and partner with influencers to reach your niche community.

In 2014, Calvin Klein’s partnered with over 600 influencers worldwide to promote their line of under #mycalvins. In one year, Calvin Klein’s social following increased by millions and user-generated content reached over 25 million brand interactions globally.

Offer exclusive discount codes through your influencers. Take advantage of their reach and tap into their niche community. This will help expose your brand to a wider audience.

Finding the right influencer can be tough work. You need to make sure that they mesh well with your message and brand. One of the most cost-effective ways to identify the right influencer for you is through using Captiv8. Captiv8’s social analysis tools will give you the insights you need to make an informed decision. Browse through our Influencer Spotlights and contact us today. We will help you connect with the best influencer who will captivate your audience and deliver the results that you want to see.