Instagram has been a big part of my marketing focus over the last couple of years in the three niche areas that I work in.
Obviously, running this site and accompanying YouTube channel, also my wife’s Art Business and lastly I’ve just launched a new site and channel helping small business in the area where I live, the fabulous Blue Mountains. We have had a shocking year in an area that relies heavily on tourism, with firstly massive Bush Fires and then Covid putting a huge dent in visitor numbers.
What’s been interesting is that I have tried different Instagram tools and techniques with each site, studied with different experts and learnt so much in these three areas. There are some things I learnt that apply to them all.
Lesson One
When I first started focusing on building clients for my wife’s art business, I fell into the trap that many people do when they set out, believing that Follower Numbers is the key. It’s not!
Engagement is the key.
A small number of engaged followers is going to be worth far more than a large number of people who are not totally interested.
For a working MC or Entertainer, having a couple of hundred targeted potential clients on your list is a gold mine.
For instance, we only have 1200 or so followers on Lynda’s page, but those engaged followers have generated thousands of dollars of sales. I think it works out at about $12 each.
So, don’t worry about your follower numbers, worry about the engagement.
Lesson Two
Hash Tags still matter.
When Facebook bought Instagram, some people said HashTags would be phased out slowly or their significance in the mystical “algorithm” would be lessened.
This is not the case.
Having an understanding of good HashTags to use is vital for your growth.
Lesson Three
Now, working with three Instagram channels is a bit of a time trap to say the least!
So I’m always looking at different tools that can save me time.
Always use tools if they are available to save you time.
Free Tool
Before I give you the tool, a reminder.
I NEVER recommend any Product, Service or Tool on ExpertMC that I do not personally use myself.
Remember, what I’m suggesting you do is –
Build Your Engagement
Understand Your Hash Tags
Minimise Time Spent
Hash Tags?
I’ve used several tools here, but about a year ago settled on this one.
I have it installed on my PC and my Smart Phone so I can use it for adding HashTags to a quick Post or Instagram Story directly from my phone or I can explore different combinations of tags at leisure on the PC.
Essentially you set up a Group of Tags in one list. Pushing one button then creates a random selection of those tags that you can then use in a post. It then measures the success of those tags with its own algorithm. The more you use this Split Test feature the more it understands and it will highlight by an excellent colour system which tags are doing well for you!
You can then decide to either just use the best performing tags or continue split testing. After a month or so make a new list using your Top tags and try them out against different ones.
But how do you come up with the Tags you may well ask. Easy, the program has a great search and suggest feature providing a stream of possible, appropriate tags. Plus, it looks at all the tags that users of the software are posting and gives you a daily Top 100 tags. You’ll see tags come and go, but often there are quite surprising and appropriate tags pop up that I have then included in a set.
You can read all about the tool here.
Full Information Click here … Instagram Tool
So, between them, these two free tools can accomplish quite a lot and will definitely build your business or at least get you some traction to start moving forward.
Let me know how you get on via a DM on Instagram.