Instagram is a top-rated app, with more than 1 billion global monthly active users monthly.
Given the size of its user base, businesses have valuable opportunities on the platform to generate an audience, build a community, and drive sales.
In 2021, marketers reported that the key to growing an account to the first 1,000 followers on Instagram was by creating shareable content with high-quality captions. Growing their following past 1,000 followers involved posting engaging stories, engaging with users, and partnering with influencers.
If you’re having trouble growing your following, or are losing followers, marketers report that this typically occurs for a few key reasons: not posting often enough, being too sales-y, and Instagram removing bot followers.
In 2021, marketers increased engagement on Instagram through audience interaction, and creating content that encourages engagement. For example,
- Creating content that is shareable, inspiring audiences to share it on their own profiles via Stories or reposting on their feed,
- Monitoring your comments and mentions to find user-generated content that you can share on your profile,
- Responding to comments and DMs from audience members when it makes sense to do so.
49% of marketers reported that, out of all the platforms they leverage, Instagram has the highest ROI.
Here are the strategies that they used to grow ROI:
- Leveraging Instagram shopping tools.
This was the most popular strategy, as 79% of Instagram marketers have used shopping tools in their roles, and 33% plan to use them for the first time in 2022.- Creating content centered around a brand's product and services.
- Creating interactive Instagram stories.
The tool is leveraged by 45% of IG marketers, and 92% plan to increase or maintain their investment in 2022. Stories are also the number two format for gaining followers and getting your content shared on Instagram.
Let’s look forward to how you can create an organic Instagram growth strategy for your business in 2022.
1. Leverage different content formats.
Video and carousel posts are the most engaged with type of content on Instagram, especially when compared to single images.
2. Post at the right times.
When you post on Instagram, it’s important to post a time that allows you to meet your audiences when they’re online and more likely to engage with your posts.
3. Post consistently.
Growing your profile is tied to how much you post, so aim to post consistently. The more content you share, the more opportunities you have for engagement and growing your profile. As such, create a consistent posting schedule that helps you stay top of mind for your audiences.
source: Hubspot
BUILDING BUSINESS CREDIT
Building business credit plays a crucial role in your company’s funding ability.
Whether you operate as a limited liability company or corporation, your business has the ability to establish a credit file separate from you as an individual.
To make your business a distinct legal entity requires that you select a business structure such as an LLC, LLP or corporation. Remember, sole proprietorships do not create a separate business entity.
Once you form your business entity, the next step is to register your business. This particular step is dependent on your structure and where your business is located.
For additional support on choosing the right structure for your company and registration be sure to check out SBA’s Business Guide.
After you obtain your Federal Tax ID # (free of charge), you can begin to file your business tax returns, open a business bank account, apply for permits/licenses and business credit.
Your banking relationships play an important role in your company’s funding potential. Not only does your business bank account serve as a bank reference on credit applications, it also provides key data that lenders use during a funding review.
One of the easiest ways to build business credit is to apply for net terms with vendors and suppliers. As you buy supplies, inventory, or other materials on credit, those purchases and payments get reported to business credit reporting agencies.
This activity creates your company’s credit profile and business credit report.
After your company has several trade lines reporting, a business credit rating (score) is generated.
Remember, it’s important to select vendors and suppliers that report to a business credit reporting agency. Each relationship you have also serves as a trade reference that can be used on future credit applications as well.
There are three major business credit reporting agencies so it’s important to monitor each of your company credit files.
Each agency collects data from various sources and may have different information about your company.
The good news is each of the business credit agencies provide a way for you to update basic information about your business.
If you uncover any outdated or incorrect information, you’ll want to contact the agency to make the appropriate change.
With an established business credit report, you may get higher credit approvals, better interest rates and repayment terms on loans and lines of credit.
It’s equally important to establish a diversity of accounts with other types of business credit such as a business credit card or line of credit.
Let these five simple steps serve as a starting point to building business credit for your company.
source: U.S. Small Business Administration
EMAIL MARKETING & THE BENEFITS TO SMALL BUSINESSES
Does your business implement email marketing?
With 99% of consumers checking their emails daily, it's definitely one of the most beneficial ways for consumers to receive updates from businesses.
Here are some of the top benefits of email marketing, which show why it's one of the most effective marketing tactics:
- Collect feedback/surveys from your audience
- Potentially increase sales
- Consistently communicate with your customers
- Generate traffic to your site
- Send timely campaigns
- Owning your media & contact list
With email marketing, you can customize your campaigns and create targeted content.Personalization can be as small as including a contact's name in the email.
Emails that include customers first name have a higher click through rate so going the extra step in your marketing can potentially influence a business transaction.
Email marketing campaigns can feature products or services, encourage customers to purchase after abandoning their cart, or deliver special offers to your customers.
When your audience feels like they can talk to you, they're more likely to become loyal to your brand.
source: Hubspot
The Benefits of Search Engine Marketing
(SEM)
Has your business ever invested in Search Engine Marketing?
SEM is the process of earning visibility in search results by employing search engine’s paid advertising.
In other words, for you to rank higher in the search results, you need to pay for it.
If you're wondering "How could SEM benefit my business?", don't worry - we've got you covered.
Benefits of Search Engine Marketing :
1. Immediate Brand Awareness is created - No matter how good your SEO strategy is, you will have to wait for a while before you begin to see results.
With SEM you will begin to enjoy immediate brand awareness. This is because the latter strategy enables you to even rank at the top of a Google page without having a strong authority and value.
2. Immediate Revenue is Generated - If you apply the right techniques, it is possible to get immediate revenue from your ads. This will even allow you to expand your marketing at a faster rate.
3.You Reach People More Efficiently- With SEM you can target your demographics & locations.
Source: social media monthly
