Instagram has been around for 12 years and has 1.22 billion monthly users. Most Instagram users are between the ages of 18 and 34, and Instagram is the second most downloaded app in the world after Tiktok.
There’s no need to say that advertising on Instagram is a pretty big deal. As a platform, Instagram lets your customers see your products and experiences up close and personal, and it lets you customize your brand.
It also helps you figure out who your ideal audience is and what they want. The picture format lets you make a clean, eye-catching look for your business that will represent it well and bring in new customers.
If you haven’t already started using Instagram to boost your sales, there’s no better time than now to start.
Let’s look at some tips, strategies, and ways to do things to learn how to sell like a pro on Instagram.
A Beginner’s Guide on How to Sell on Instagram
Learning how to use Instagram for marketing can be a great way for any business to boost sales and reach a specific group of people.
Instagram is a great way to reach new customers and boost your sales, whether you make the product yourself or use a retailer to drop ship it for you. Here are some tips for making the most of that chance and taking your business use of Instagram to the next level.
Read also: How to Use Instagram Shopping to Market Your Dropshipping Business
Use Shoppable Posts
Beginners often make a big mistake by trying to add links to their photos’ descriptions. Not only does it look weird and distracting, but your followers won’t even be able to click on them.
You can now link directly to your product from shoppable posts, which is a new feature.
You can tag your product in these posts the same way you would tag a person in a personal photo. When the user clicks on the picture, a link to the website will appear.
A shopping bag icon in the corner of the photo shows that the post can be bought. People can also look through your whole shop right from your profile.
Don’t Slack on the Photo
The key to having a successful Instagram is to post photos that are beautiful, interesting, and catch the eye.
Even though your captions are important, the photo is always the main focus. Take professional photos of your products that are of high quality. Be creative with how you present it, what you put in the background, and what filters you use.
When your photos look polished, professional, and nice to look at, so will your business.
Change up the shots by thinking outside the box. Use models to show off your product, show what goes on behind the scenes, or give a sneak peek at a new product.
Professional photos are a must, but fans also love to see pictures taken by regular people. Try to find great photos from buyers online and post them with credit on Instagram. This makes your product look like it has more fans and is more reliable.
Develop a Signature Look
Instagram is all about how things look, and that goes beyond how pretty each photo is on its own.
What color do you think of when you think of your brand? Do you think of colors that are light and bright or colors that are dark and dirty? Is there a certain feeling you want your photos to have?
Your photos should all look good on their own, but it’s even better if they have a common theme. Photos with the same colors and a universal filter will make everything look nice and smooth.
You can make your photos look sharp, clear, and similar in tone by using apps like VSCO.
Hashtags are a big part of getting the word out about your product on Instagram, but if you use them wrong, they can hurt you.
Use the search function to find out which hashtags are most popular in your niche. Choose between three and five of the best hashtags to use in your campaign.
It might be tempting to use as many hashtags as possible in your post, but keep in mind that your audience might see this as tacky or unprofessional. Use your hashtags wisely. Use them carefully and not too often.
You can also make your own hashtag to promote your brand. This can be used for customers to share photos or for you to run a contest.
Create Partnerships with Influencers
Because Instagram is becoming more and more popular, some people can quickly become online stars, whether it’s for art, fitness, modeling, or something else.
There are a lot of Instagram users with a lot of followers in a wide variety of niches.
Find a few Instagram influencers who are popular with the people you want to reach and ask them if you can work with them. They can help you advertise your products and services on their page in exchange for money or free stuff.
Interact with Your Followers
How many people follow you on Instagram depends a lot on how often you post. People are more likely to follow accounts that post often, and they will stop following accounts that don’t post as often.
Being active isn’t the only way to get people to like your brand. Followers love it when brands talk to them. Make sure to share the photos of your followers, answer their comments, and interact with other accounts.
The friendlier and more outgoing you seem, the more accessible your business will seem. Plus, it lets more people know about you.
Don’t forget about Stories
Every day, 500 million Instagram accounts use Instagram Stories, and 58% of users say that Stories are how they find out about new brands. Another 50% of Instagram users said they bought something from a Story, which is probably why Stories bring in a quarter of the platform’s advertising revenue.
Statistics show that Stories ads could bring in $16 billion in global net ad revenues in the year 2022.
You should also know that Brand Stories have an average completion rate of 86%, though this varies by industry. Stories in the Entertainment and Sport industries have seen the biggest rise in the number of stories they finish.
Also Reels are important
Instagram’s new “Reels” feature came out on August 5, 2020, in more than 50 countries. It was a big hit for the company and helped them make a lot of money.
Reels are a new feature on Instagram that lets users make short videos in a vertical format, similar to TikTok. This feature was probably inspired by how popular TikTok is, but it now stands on its own.
Last year, Meta let people put banners on other people’s reels and sponsor reels that were less than 30 seconds long.
In 2021, Reels got 22% more views than regular videos, and it looks like 70% of marketers want to spend more on video ads.
Putting It All Together
No matter what you sell, Instagram can help you get the word out about it. If you learn how to sell on Instagram, you’ll make more money, be more visible, and have a clearer idea of what your brand stands for.
If you post high-quality content, stay active on your account, and use Instagram’s tools well, you’ll already be on your way to more sales and a better business.
If you have a Dropshipping eCommerce site, there is no better way to show off your products.