If you run an Instagram account for your business, you probably have a grasp on some basic social media marketing skills. You know that you should have a neat bio, list your business hours, and feature your products. That being said, there’s more to getting customers to actively engage with your brand. Here are some tips!
Host Q&A sessions
One of the best ways to increase customer engagement on Instagram is to host Q&A sessions. Fewer people are visiting brick and mortar stores these days, and some businesses are entirely e-commerce based. That being said, many people are hesitant to buy products they don’t have much information about. Giving your customers an easy way to ask about products will help boost engagement and sales. To maximize engagement, it is best to host Q&A sessions on a set schedule. We recommend hosting one once a week or once every two weeks. Once you set a schedule, post an announcement to make sure your customers know which day is Q&A day!
Instagram has a helpful tool that allows users to host Q&As on their stories. To start, tap the camera icon that allows you to add to you story. Then, go to the “create” tab under the camera button. Scroll to the feature labeled “questions”. A widget labeled “ask me a question” will allow the people who view your story to send in questions. While the widget’s default label is “ask me a question”, you can enter whatever prompt you like into it. To view responses to your Q&A session post, view your story and swipe up on the post with the questions widget. You will be able to view questions and share your answers to them on your story.
Post some behind the scenes photos
Many customers enjoy learning the stories behind a brand and their products. This is especially true of customers who follow small businesses on social media. Behind the scenes posts will look different depending on the type of business that is posting them. If you run a restaurant, you might take some photos or videos in the kitchen and show your customers how you make the food on their plates. If you run a hair salon, you might post photos of the shampoos, conditioners, dyes, and other products you use. Pet shop owners often post photos of the animals that are available at their store.
As mentioned earlier, behind the scenes photos are especially important for small businesses. If you’re a small business owner, revealing some information about yourself can be beneficial to your business. Posts showing days off, family members, or pets remind customers that there’s a person behind your business. Knowing you as a person makes you seem more friendly and approachable to your customers and might be the reason they choose to support you instead of a large corporation.
Ask customers questions
Hosting Q&A sessions allows customers to get to know your brand better. But you can also use Instagram to get to know your customers better. Instagram has a tool that you can use to ask yes or no questions on your story. To use this tool, tap the camera icon that allows you to add to your story. Instead of taking a photo, go to the “create” tab. You can find it under the camera button. If you want to ask a yes or no question, scroll to the feature labeled “poll”. The app will allow you to type a question, which will appear above a button viewers can click on to vote “yes” or “no”. You can see your customers’ answers by viewing your story and swiping up on the photo with the poll.
Asking your customers questions can be beneficial in a number of ways. You can learn what sorts of products they are interested in by asking questions like “thinking about buying our newest shampoo?” You can also ask your customers what sort of items or services they would like to purchase from you in the future. For instance, you could ask “should we start doing manicures?” or “want to see the pleated skirt in yellow?” Asking questions on Instagram is an awesome, low cost way of finding out what your customers want. Picking your followers’ brains can help you make decisions about what direction to take your business in. After all, there’s little to be gained creating goods your customers won’t like.
Consider creating content specifically for Instagram
Many brands post the same exact content on all of their social media pages. While some may prefer to keep their content consistent across every platform, doing so can make your social media come across as a bit boring. Why would your customers follow you on Instagram if they can see the same exact content on Facebook? To motivate your customers to engage with your instagram account, post content that they won’t be able to find anywhere else!
Exciting Instagram only content can come in the form of special photos, sneak peaks of future items, or tips on how to use products. You can further motivate customers to keep up with you on Instagram by running Instagram exclusive sales. One of the most common reasons people follow businesses on social media is to be notified of sales. Many restaurants I’ve eaten at have offered a small discount for giving them a follow. You can also post coupons that won’t be available on any other site.
Check out posts customers have tagged you in
Oftentimes, customers will post photos of items they’ve bought at stores or food they’ve eaten at restaurants. When they do so, they’ll usually tag the business they visited. Check out the photos you’ve been tagged in! Like the photos and leave comments thanking your customers on them. You can also feature your happy customers’ photos in a post or on your story. Just make sure to ask their permission first! While you’re on your customer’s page, you can also take some time to look through and like their other photos. You might also consider giving them a follow. Engaging with your customers’ content is sure to make them feel appreciated.
