Instagram is the second most accessed social network behind Facebook, and both platforms are now owned by the same company: Meta. The popular visual-first social medium sees over one billion active monthly users and 500 million daily Instagram Stories. Everyone and their dog (literally) is on the social media platform, including businesses—maybe even yours.

The increase in brands who’ve developed a presence on the platform has skyrocketed. But is it worth their time, and should your business also be on the platform? The answer is likely yes—here’s why:

• Instagram sees over one billion active monthly users and 500 million daily Instagram Stories—a huge audience with high engagement levels
• Instagram is the second most accessed network behind Facebook. Users browse for an average of 53 minutes per day—that’s a lot of opportunities to connect!
• Nearly 45% of Instagram’s users are between the ages of 18 and 44—a critical consumer demographic

It’s clear that Instagram isn’t just for personal use anymore. It’s now a global platform that allows brands to humanize their content, recruit new talent, showcase products, and inspire their audience. If you’re using Instagram (or want to get started) here’s how to get the most out of your Instagram Business Account.

Tip #1: Post Regularly

An Instagram Business Account provides a direct line of contact with your customers as well as a place to share content from your brand. The app allows you to promote your brand and product in a friendly, authentic way without hard selling to your customers. It’s a place where brands can be engaging, offer promotions or show off their fun side. That said, regular content is important and it’s best to have a clear, actionable schedule with high quality content (and yes, room for improvisation).

It’s important to note that Instagram is intended for in-the-moment content. To stay relevant among your audience, you’ll need to invest the resources required to post regularly. The best way to keep your followers engaged is to keep your Instagram feed and profile up-to-date. You can do so using some of the many posting features Instagram offers—read on to learn more.

Tip #2: Use Instagram’s Many Posting Features

Instagram offers a number of posting features that let you connect with your followers. Here’s a quick overview of some important features for your business.

Instagram Shopping

Instagram Shopping allows customers to make purchases directly through the Instagram app. Brands can upload photos and tag products with the product name, price, and link to buy.

Instagram Live

Instagram Live lets you connect with your customers over livestream. This type of platform is ideal for live brand events, interviews and the like. Live video should be used sparingly to showcase exciting, real-time content or engaging moments like Q&As or reveals.

Reels

Reels give you the ability to post short videos in a vertical format. Features within reels give you the ability to showcase new collections or product arrivals, customer profile videos, behind the scenes clips, interviews, and more. Reels have their own explore page filled with content created using this feature. Regular videos, images, and stories posts won’t show up here, so your business could have a great opportunity to see engagement from your audience with this content type.

Stories

Stories provide brands with a direct line of communication with their customers and followers. They can be posted quickly, allowing you to convey a message in a timely manner. (Remember, Instagram is intended for in-the-moment content!). Stories are also a helpful tool to showcase live events your business hosts or attends, as this feature is much more time-sensitive. Unlike reels, your stories expire and disappear after a period of time (unless added to your highlights—another great feature).

Polls or Question and Answers

Polls or Q&As can be used to collect customer feedback or data and increase interactive communication. Think of it as a mini focus group you can conduct at any time, giving you real-time insights on your followers.

Link in Bio

Instagram allows for a single link in each bio that gives brands the ability to link their website or shop from their main page. Need more links? Consider a link tree page or similar solution.

Tip #3 Bring in Support

Most brands are not effectively using Instagram’s features to improve their presence on the platform. This is fairly typical for busy business owners who simply cannot devote the time to managing social media while running a business. That said, marketing is critical and these features can increase engagement, brand recognition and customer relationships when used properly. Campfire Digital Marketing can help by managing these channels on your behalf—they’re just one great element of a larger digital marketing strategy.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you get the most out of your Instagram Business Account and grow your business. We’d be pleased to assess your needs, make personalized recommendations, and find a solution that meets your budget.