The impact of these tools on marketing nowadays can never be overemphasized. Social media has revolutionized marketing so that we now have what we call "digital marketing".

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, you do not need to be told how crucial it is to establish a strong brand presence. And in today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of building your brand. 

Of all the social media platforms out there, Instagram is one of the most popular and effective ones for promoting your business and connecting with your target audience.

With over 2.35 billion active users, Instagram offers endless opportunities for businesses to showcase their products and services, engage with customers, and grow their brand. But with so many users and brands on the platform, how do you stand out and build a strong brand on Instagram?

In this article, we'll show you how to build your brand on Instagram and why you should. We'll also share 10 tips for building your brand on Instagram, from optimizing your profile and creating compelling content to engaging with your followers and using hashtags effectively. 

Whether you're new to Instagram or looking to improve your existing strategy, these tips will help you establish a strong brand presence. They'll also help you increase your reach, and drive more engagement and sales for your business.

Read Also: Growth Hacking: What It Is And How To Use It (With Examples).

Why should you build your brand on Instagram?

Founded in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, with over 2.35 billion monthly active users, Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms worldwide. That alone makes it an excellent platform to build your brand on, but let's get deeper.

According to a survey by Semrush, Instagram is one of the top 10 most-visited websites globally, with 5.6 billion total visits per month. In a survey conducted by Hootsuite, Instagram has the highest engagement rate and daily users of 1.386 billion compared to other social media platforms. 

The survey found that Instagram is the #1 social media platform people use to connect with brands and the 4th most used social media platform. This means that your brand is more likely to be seen and engaged with on Instagram than on any other platform.

Secondly, Instagram is particularly popular among younger demographics. According to Statista, almost 31% of all Instagram users worldwide as of January 2023 were between the ages of 18 and 24, and 30.3 % were between the ages of 25 and 34.

Overall, individuals aged 35 to 44 made up 15.7% of the total user base. This makes it an excellent platform for brands targeting a younger audience.

Thirdly, Instagram is a visual platform (more on this later), and visual content tends to be more engaging than text-based content. A study by Social Media Examiner shows that visual content is 40 times more likely to get shared on social media than other types of content.

This means that if you can create visually appealing content on Instagram, you're more likely to get your content shared, increasing your brand's visibility.

Instagram provides detailed analytics and insights about your content that can help you to better understand your audience and track your performance over time. Analyzing this data can help you develop a good content strategy, refine your approach, and improve your results. 

Whether you're interested in tracking your follower growth, analyzing engagement rates, or exploring new opportunities for growth, Instagram's analytics provides valuable insights into your brand's performance.

Read Also: Social Media Growth Hacks You Should be Using for Your Start-up.

10 tips for building a strong team on IG

#1. Develop a clear brand identity 

Your brand identity -  the way your company presents itself to the world– is what sets you apart from the competition. How do you create a brand identity? Take some time to define your brand's visual style, brand voice (the style of communication), and messaging. 

This means considering elements such as your brand's logo, color scheme, typography, and the tone of your captions. It's important to have a clear understanding of who your brand is -identity, what it stands for - value position, and what it offers to your audience -selling point.

Read Also: Startup Branding - Tips On How To Build A Brand That Sells Itself.

#2. Utilize the platform's features

Many tried-and-trusted features such as hashtags, stories, shoppable posts, scheduled Lives, and Live Rooms, to mention a few are very helpful features. It is advisable that you pick one or two things each month to test out. By doing this, you'll be able to gauge how each element affects the overall experience of your brand.

Using hashtags, for instance, can help you connect with users who aren't already following you but might be interested in your goods and services. Instagram Stories is another basic feature that is very useful to both individuals and businesses.

Stories are a great way to share behind-the-scenes glimpses into your brand and to engage with your audience in a more casual way. Use stories to showcase your products, answer questions, and share fun and interesting content. 

Using stories gives your audience a more personal and authentic look into your brand. You can also use stickers, filters, and GIFs to make your stories more engaging.

#3. Use stunning images/captivating captions

These are the formulas for creating an engaging Instagram post. First of all, Instagram is a highly visual platform where people come to see beautiful and eye-catching images. So having stunning images on your brand's page really helps you grab people's attention and stand out from the crowd.

Similarly, captivating captions arouses a vibe within your target audience to stop by your post.  Captions  add a powerful element that a photograph alone lacks.

When people scroll through their Instagram feed, they are more likely to stop and read and engage with a caption that is engaging, creative, or witty.

This engagement sends signals to Instagram that your post is valuable and relevant which in turn boost your brand's visibility in the algorithm.

#4. Post regularly 

Consistency is key when it comes to building a strong brand on IG. Try to post at least once a day, and at the same time if possible, so your followers know when to expect new content. 

Remember you and millions of other brands are vying for a user's attention as they scroll through the app.

For small brands especially, it is advised that you share on the platform every day. But you can customize what you share based on your bandwidth and the strategies that offer the best return on investment. 

You can use a content calendar or social media management tools like Hootsuite to plan out your posts in advance and make sure your content is varied and interesting.

#5. Engage with your audience

Building a strong brand is all about building relationships with your audience. Respond to comments and messages, and engage with other users in your niche. 

By engaging with your audience, you'll build a loyal following that feels connected to your brand. Use polls, quizzes, and questions to encourage your followers to interact with your content.

#6. Collaborate with other brands

Most marketers exploring Instagram struggle with building a following. After all, how can it possibly be a successful marketing channel without a sizable following? This is why you need partnership with other brands or influencers.

 Collaboration activities can include giveaways, contests, or co-branded content. Collaboration will help you tap into a new audience and provide a fresh perspective on your brand.

Are we discussing influencer marketing or co-marketing? Both, since they have the same outcome—widening your reach.

However you have to carefully:

• Find out if their audience matches yours by doing some research.

• Evaluate your corporate objectives and choose the KPIs for the cooperation.

• Create a content plan together.

Read Also: A Startup Guide To Advertising on Social Media In 2023 And Why It Matters.

#7. Host giveaways and contests 

Contests and giveaways are a great way to increase engagement and attract new followers. Make sure the prizes align with your brand and ask followers to tag their friends to increase visibility. 

This is a great way to create buzz around your brand and to reward your loyal followers. You can also use giveaways and contests to encourage user-generated content for your brand.

#8. Trigger the engagement in your followers

Several businesses open Instagram accounts, only to get upset when their content isn't being engaged with.

Even though it sounds so straightforward and easy, sometimes explicitly asking your audience to participate can make all the difference. The action you want your followers to take can either be a part of the image itself or be included in the caption.

Look at this illustration from Grass Fields.

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They present design images in their post and request that their followers remark with their personal favorites. They receive fantastic participation on the article in addition to receiving real-time feedback on their goods.

You can adopt this strategy and watch your brand flourish on Instagram.

#9. Share your Instagram profile across your social media platforms

You can promote your profile outside as you attempt to increase your Instagram following.

So don't hesitate to advertise your Instagram profile on other social networks. 

As an illustration, your website might have a part with your Instagram feed and a request for people to follow your page. Your email marketing campaigns might also contain a link to your Instagram page.

Share the link to your profile anywhere you have an online presence so that others can discover you there.

#10. Analyze your data

After carefully abiding by the previous 9 rules, this is the point where you sit back and monitor the fruits of your efforts. Instagram Insights is a free analytics tool that provides you with valuable data about your Instagram account's performance. To access Instagram Insights, you need to have an Instagram Business account.

Once you have access to Insights, you can view information about your account's activity, such as:

- Learn about the age, gender, and location of your followers.

- See which posts are getting the most likes, comments, and saves, and identify trends in your content.

- Understand how many people are seeing your content and how often they are seeing it.

- Track the reach, impressions, and engagement of your Instagram Stories.

Using this data, you can make informed decisions about your content strategy, including:

- Looking at which posts are getting the most engagement and try to create similar content.

- Analyze when your audience is most active and post during those times to maximize reach and engagement.

- Use insights to determine what type of content is resonating with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Wrapping it up

Building your brand on Instagram can be a game-changer for your business or personal brand.  Instagram provides a massive platform for you to reach new audiences and build brand awareness.

By following the tips we've outlined, including defining your brand identity, and engaging with your audience, you can create a powerful presence on Instagram that resonates with your target market.

Remember to stay true to your brand values and goals, and to continuously refine your strategy as you grow. With dedication and effort, you can build a successful brand on Instagram that drives growth, sales, and loyal followers

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