What’s stopping business owners from getting on board with Instagram Marketing in 2021?
Let me guess, you’re going to say, there is no room for your business on Instagram because it’s oversaturated? It may be partially true, but on the other hand, Instagram has over 1 billion active monthly users, and there is always room for more.
Another popular opinion is that Instagram is a very visual platform that is only beneficial for companies with a strong visual identity or personal brands.
These were valid points… Back in 2019, when the demographics of the platform were different, before COVID-19 has shifted the way people interact with ALL social platforms, and before new features that your business can benefit from now were added.
It’s time to refresh your understanding of Instagram and put your best foot forward because in 2021 there is no better platform for marketing your business.
The Algorithm
99% of Instagram revenue comes from social media advertising. With that said, to serve people with ads, Instagram needs to keep people on the platform as long as possible (just like any other social platform – it’s no secret to anyone). To do so, Instagram provides each and every person with content they are likely to engage with – every second you spend scrolling through the feed, writing comments, reacting to stories, sharing content with friends – you are helping Instagram monetize on paid advertising.
The content that is shown to you is selected for you based on how you engage with it. The algorithm tailors your feed based on what you engage with the most. In a nutshell, Instagram tracks people’s interactions with every single post. If you saw a post and scrolled past it, and 100 other people did the same thing, the algorithm will likely stop displaying it. On the other hand, if more and more users engage with it, the post will reach more people progressively (snowball effect) and possibly go viral.
This principle doesn’t just work for the feed post but also applies to story posts. If your stories are being watched at full length, and people choose to engage with them, send reactions, start a conversation, share to someone – your stories will move up in people’s feeds and get a higher number of views as a result.
If you go on someone’s page intentionally, the algorithm thinks “wow, you must be very interested in that creator’s/person’s/company’s page – let me start showing you more of their content. And if you continue to engage with it – not only the algorithm will show you their posts more regularly, it will also find similar content for you based on that “interest”.
Developing and executing a Social Media Marketing Content Strategy is a crucial part of your Instagram game plan in 2021.
Using social media to market your business is a must, and you should consider starting an Instagram business account to support your marketing efforts (if you haven’t yet). And, if your budget allows, hire a social media manager who is knowledgeable in developing strategic campaigns that will drive traffic to your site and ultimately increase conversions and sales.
Submit your information below if you’d like to hop on a call or a Zoom meeting and discuss your Social Media Strategy.