5 Commonly Asked Questions about Instagram for your Business
By Erica Chludzinski
Instagram is one of the fastest growing social media platforms with over one billion active accounts worldwide. With over 200 million users visiting at least one Business Profile every day, Instagram is an important place for your business to be. Already have an Instagram Business page, but still have some questions? You’ve come to the right place. Below are answers to the 5 most commonly asked questions about Instagram for Business.
- What is the difference between a Post and a Story? When should I utilize one vs. the other?
A post is an image or video that appears on your feed (or homepage). On your feed, you will see the posts of people you follow. When people follow your business, your posts will appear on their feed. Feed posts are great for featuring your business’s polished content, like photos or videos that you want your viewers to like, share and comment on.
A story is an image or video that appears on the very top of your feed in a reel. All of your followers can view your story, but only for the first 24 hours after they have been posted. Story posts are great for behind-the-scenes videos or in-the-moment images that you want to share with your followers, but don’t necessarily want to post on your page. If you post a story that you want to save to your page, it can be preserved as a “Highlight” on the top of your profile.
- Is it better to post a video or an image?
Both! Studies show that videos receive the most interaction on Instagram. However, images and carousels (groups of images) remain the most popular medium to post. Only 18% of Instagram posts are videos!
The type of content you should post depends on the topic or message you are posting about. Videos work great for tutorials on how to utilize a product or service. Images are great for showcasing finished products or items available for purchase!
- What are some tips for writing an effective caption?
Studies show that captions with 1-50 characters see the best response rates, so keep your caption short and sweet! Studies also show that the more emojis used, the more likely your audience is to engage with your post. That being said, always make sure your emoji usage is tasteful and professional. You never want to take away your post’s professional polish by cluttering the caption with emojis.
- How do I use hashtags?
Depending on the size of your business, studies recommend using between 1-10 hashtags in the comments of your Instagram post. Hashtags can bolster your business’s Instagram footprint by ensuring that your post can be found in the Search section of the social site.
Not sure which hashtags to use? Do your research! Visit your competitor’s Instagram pages and check out what hashtags they’re using to tag their posts. You’ll want to use hashtags that describe your brand, your products/services and your target audience. For example, a cake shop may want to use hashtags like #bakery, #cupcakes, and #birthdaygirl.
- Should I utilize Instagram ads?
Instagram ads can be a great tool to spread awareness about your brand, bring traffic to your site and encourage engagement with Instagram users. Before you get started with Instagram ads, make sure you know your marketing goals, target audience and allotted budget. Launching and maintaining social media advertising campaigns can be overwhelming, so consider consulting an advertising professional before you jump into the world of Instagram ads.
Have an Instagram Business page but having trouble maintaining your business’ presence on the social site? The professionals at Connoisseur Digital specialize in managing Instagram Business accounts, from content to ad campaigns. Give us a call today!
