Story: Purpose of learning instagram
Instagram (also known as IG) is a photo and video-sharing social networking service. In April 2012, Facebook acquired the service for approximately US$1 billion in cash and stock.
The app allows users to upload photos and videos to the service, which can be edited with various filters, and organized with tags and location information. The service added messaging features, the ability to include multiple images or videos in a single post, as well as “Stories”—similar to its main competitor Snapchat—which allows users to post photos and videos to a sequential feed, with each post accessible by others for 24 hours each.
After its launch in 2010, Instagram rapidly gained popularity, 800 million as of September 2017. As of 14 January 2019, the most liked photo on Instagram is a picture of an egg, posted by the account @world_record_egg, created with a sole purpose of surpassing the previous record of 18 million likes on a Kylie Jenner post. The picture currently has over 42 million likes. – Wikipedia
I used Instagram as a hobby. I posted a local picture, Vancouver, BC, every day. It takes just 3 minutes through Hootsuite. It doesn’t consume my time at all.
In 2019, I decided to use Instagram as a business too. I set my goal to get 1000 followers during 2019. I knew how to use Instagram, but I have to learn how to reach an audience effectively.
IG General research
The graph above shows demographic. Instagram reached 1 billion active user in June 2018. You should use Instagram if your/clients main target is between age 18 – 34, both gender. Product, food or service, whatever, visual is stronger than text on social media. Video will be mainstream instead of photo within 3 years.
Learn from a successful Instagramer
Before start Instagram, we can learn from others who are using Instagram successfully. These are a quite global brand. We don’t need to compete with them. Follow them first. Then, let’s leverage.
1. Nike @nike
2. CocaCola @cocacola
3. GoPro @gopro
4. Starbucks @starbucks
5. Apple Music @applemusic
6. Tourism Australia @australia
7. Petco @petco
8. Converse @converse
After follow above, find 5 similar business accounts by hashtags and keywords. When you use keywords, you can see the top 9 posts at the moment.
Checklist:
– Picture and nitch topics
– Bio and CTA
– Amount likes
– Follower
Create a profile
Creating an appropriate profile is quite important on social media. It should be consistent on other social media. Sell your Instagram(social media) account, not a product. Think your target. Who do want to follow you? Before your target push a follow button, they see(not read) the timeline photo, profile photo and bio. I want my target to feel reliable and friendly. I used emoji. This is my current bio.
Graphic Design Portfolio ?
? Building trust through design
? Graphic/Web, Branding & UX
? Meeting people beyond the nationalities
?? Vancouver, BC
?? Let’s work together!
* 150 characters are limited.
* Add CTA(call to action)
I feel it’s so self-center. I am thinking how can I value to an audience still now.
Set IG theme and purpose
We need why we use Instagram. I’m using Instagram to practicing interact with audience, not for selling design service directly. You don’t have to sell a service/product. Instead of it, you should give something values to your audience, tell your story. Why does the audience consequently have to buy your service/product? What values does your service/product provide for them?
I don’t expect a job inquiry on the Instagram. This is for generating traffic to my website as same as facebook. The quality of contents maybe not so strong. So, I’m going to focus on telling a story at the beginning.
Purpose:
– Generate traffic to my website.
– Tell the story to the audience.
– Link to facebook, then try to be an active user.
The time to post
There is no limit to posting. Depends on your availability. I am testing on Instagram for 3 years. If you can post a quality photo once a day, that’s great. If you can post 3 times a day, it’s ideal. You will be able to increase your follower day by day.
The best day for post:
01. Wednesday
02. Thursday / Tuesday
03. Monday / Friday
The best time(EST) for post:
01. 5: oo pm (Great reaction)
02. 2: oo am (Video says it, but didn’t try yet)
03. 10: oo pm (Video says it, but didn’t try yet)
* I tried a post at noon – 1 pm. It’s also an active reaction.
* At first, please try a post on daytime, 8 am – 5 pm. It’s relatively competitive, less response.
How to post efficiently?
Instagram arrows to use 30 hashtags. Put relevant hashtags on every post. Don’t repeat the same hashtags. It’s not so effective. When people react to your photo, response to them as soon as possible. It will be social proof, earning trust.
When you post on Instagram, tell your family or friend if you don’t mind. Lastly, put a call to action (CTA) on the description. I am not sure whether sharing IG post to other social media is good or not. If you have enough follower, it will bother them. Because you are showing same post to them repeatedly.
Hootsuite: Manage all your social media in one place
Define a target audience
Brainstorming:
How old are they? – 18 to 34(Instagram generation)
What gender do they generally identify with? – No matter
What countries do they live in? -No matter
What three words would describe your audience? – designer, entrepreneur, small business owner
What other products does your audience buy/use? – Apple, GoPro, Adobe or AIGA?
Who does your audience look up to? – Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or Michael Bierut?
Verify and expand the target audience
Who and where is it? Video says we can find a target audience on a successful people.
Tips:
01. Tap the search button(very bottom)
02. Tap Top button(you can see buttons, Top, People, Tags, Places)
03. Find over 100k account
04. Check followers and following
Tag people and add alt text
There are hashtags limit, 30. However, some of people used over 30 by utilizse comment. (*Until Octover 2018)
Follow the instructions below:
1. Post your photo / video. Make sure there are zero hashtags in the original caption.
2. Immediately copy & paste 30 hashtags into a comment of your photo / video
3. Edit your photo’s original caption.
4. From here, you can add up to 30 additional hashtags to your photo’s original caption(bringing your total up to 60).
No more cheating, but you can enhance information of your post below.
Tips:
You can tag people and add alt tag on the image on Instagram.
01. Show your post
02. Tap edit(right top: ···)
On the post image, you can find Tag people(left bottom) and Add Alt Text(right bottom)
I am still testing tag people/add alt text above. I don’t know how it works. I at least think no negative impact.
Promote Instagram account by facebook ad
We shouldn’t buy followers. It’s quite obvious and ugly, lose audience trust. Always keep authentic.
Tips:
For creating Instagram ads we can only use the following objectives, so be careful when making this selection to make sure your Instagram options will show up:
– Brand awareness – increased like by $1/day
– Reach- increased follower slightly by $1/day
– Traffic (for clicks to your website or the app store for your app)
– App installs – N/A
– Engagement (for post engagement only) – increased over 100 like by $1/day
– Video views
– Conversions (for conversions on your website or in your app)
– Lead generation
I am testing above (in March 2019). I shouldn’t pay for increasing like. It’s meaningless.
Offsite account promotion
We can promote Instagram account at audience touch point below.
Tips:
01. On your website(addthis.com)
02. When you guest post/blog
03. On YouTube video
04. On your other social media account
05. In your physical store
Instagram growth challenge – basic
1. Post Interesting, Colorful Photos and Videos
2. Don’t Overdo It with the Filter Effects
3. Feel Free to Use Hashtags, But Use Them Sparingly
4. Use the Explore Tab (Popular Page) to Find Great New Content
5. Post Often to Keep Followers Interested
6. Use Instagram Direct to Contact Specific Users
7. Interact with Your Followers
8. Don’t Be Tempted to Purchase Followers
9. Experiment with Shoutouts
10. Stay On Top of the Latest Instagram Trends
11. Post Stories
Instagram growth challenge – advance
1. Post at the right time. (Wednesdays between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm)
2. Use popular hashtags.
3. Use your photo captions to ask questions
4. Host a contest on Instagram
6. Share candid shots
7. Use apps
8. Ask your users for help
9. Use Instagram video
10. Welcome a guest Instagrammer
11. Ask for shoutouts or features
13. Take advantage of your Instagram bio
14. Discover new people and brands to follow
Instagram growth challenge – advance
1. Switch to a business profile ASAP
2. Use free Instagram tools, Insights
3. Post product teasers that will (gently) urge people to buy
4. Create sponsored ads
5. Use Instagram Stories
6. Partner with influencers for a wider reach
7. Collect user-submitted photos
8. Come up with an interactive branded hashtag
9. Post at the right times (and don’t over-post)
10. Make sure you track the right metrics
Conclusion: On the process
I’ve started to build social proof in 2019. A Facebook campaign is on the truck. Instagram hasn’t been so well yet. I am posting once 3 days, but I don’t think it’s efficient. Once a day, ideally. I’m still learning Instagram. Once I seize valuable techniques, I will share with you.
Reference:
Instagram: A simple, fun & creative way to capture, edit & share photos, videos & messages with friends & family.
Entrepreneur: 8 Tips to Attract Your First 250K Instagram Followers.
