If you use Instagram to promote your business, you’ll be pleased to learn that the Facebook-owned company has finally created features specifically for your needs.
Easy set-up, great contact tools
According to Instagram’s head of business and brand management, James Quarles, of the “200,000 active advertisers on Instagram… the vast majority of those are small to medium businesses.” Yet until now, businesses had to operate their Instagram accounts just like regular users, without any additional analytic or advertising tools. Instagram consulted with many businesses to build tools that will help companies stand out, gain insights into their audience, and find new customers.
If your business already has a Facebook page, you can instantly sign up for a free Instagram business profile.
Right away, your page will offer tools to help your customers find you more easily. Your profile will include a contact button that allows users to instantly call, text, or email you. The page will also display a location button that pulls up a map and directions to your business.
Insights and advertisements
You can also use your Instagram business account to gain insights beyond the total number of likes and views. Instagram’s Insights will show you your top posts, their reach, impressions, and engagement. It also combines data from its own site and from Facebook to tell you more about the genders, ages, locations, and interests of followers.
Lastly, you can now use Instagram to easily advertise by turning high-performing posts directly into ads.
Choose a post that already has a lot of views and likes, target it towards a particular audience, and give it an action button so that viewers can interact with the ad.
While Instagram’s ads aren’t as flexible or specific as Facebook’s, the simplicity of creating an ad right within the platform is appealing. Said Jim Squires, director of market operations, “this is a straightforward, easy way to start advertising on the platform.”
Half of Instagram’s users follow a business, and even more use the site to learn about products and services. Don’t miss this chance to maximize your potential by engaging with customers on Instagram.
#InstagramBiz
