I want to discuss how to use Instagram for business. Typically, when you search for videos on this topic, you're presented with ways to get more followers or likes, but this video won't be like that. I personally don't think that vanity metrics are important and instead like to focus my efforts on using Instagram to help generate leads and sales in my business. And in this article, I'll discuss how to do that in your business as well. 
Use Instagram For Business To Generate More Leads & Sales
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So if you're looking to take your video to the next level, to increase your subscriber base, impress your boss or land new clients, then story blocks is for you to try out the story blocks, unlimited all access pass. Then click the link in my description box below. When you're using Instagram for business, you need to look at it as a lead generation platform, not a social network. 

It's not about gaining followers, but rather finding potential customers for your business and exposing them to your offer. Most people think that that means that they have to post every day, pay for exposure and resort to dancing on reels. But it's just true. Take my account. For example, Instagram sends me about 80% of my paying customers yet. I haven't posted since January. 

So what are my secrets? Well, number one is to write longer. Value-driven captions to impress visitors and separate your feed from others in your niche. The reason why I can get away with leaving large gaps between posts is because the content I've already published is really high quality. So whether someone found it three months ago, or today it's still relevant, provides value to them and makes them interested in what I have to offer by focusing on providing value or educating you, position yourself as an expert and authority and instantly create interest in your product. 

So I follow a specific template for every one of my captions, and you can learn what that is by checking out this video here. Number two, 100% of the time you spend on Instagram should be spent engaging with potential customers. If you want to scroll on your own time, that's fine. But when you're using Instagram for your business, you need to get really intentional with what you're doing on the app. 

First, you should always prioritize, responding to comments and any DMS that you might have, but outside of that, you should be liking, commenting DM-ing and following potential customers to entice them over to your account. Each action you take on a potential customer's feed, leaves a notification for them. And most people find this really hard to ignore. So when they see your account in their notifications, they will check out your feet. 

So make sure you've got some good content and your bio is filled out in full for the best chances of converting them into a follower or better yet getting them to visit the link in your bio. Three, use Instagram to gather important information about potential customers by utilizing polls. The poll feature in Instagram stories is great for generating engagement and telling the algorithm that your content is interesting, but it also represents a massive opportunity to gain insights about what your potential customers want. 

You can ask this or that questions to learn more about what they like or don't like, and want to see from you in the future. You can also get creative with this and even allow them to help you create future offerings by asking questions like what color should it be? What features should be included. Or what topics should be taught. This not only allows you to create something that's desired, but also involves your audience, making them more likely to purchase when it goes live loving this video.

I see brands put a ton of effort into their Instagram strategy, but fail to actually sell to their audience. You created your account to help sell your product. So do not be shy about it by utilizing my value-driven caption writing template, you can feel good about providing value while also asking for the sale. At the same time, this can be as easy as explicitly telling your audience to click the link in your bio to purchase, or it can be expanded on further by providing all the information someone might want before they buy such as the price important shipping information, your refund policy etc. 

You can add these details to the end of any caption or create dedicated posts for them to show transparency, instill confidence, and make more sales. Five use hashtags that describe your business or your target market, not just the subject. Matter of your photo. When it comes to hashtags, the best method is to ensure they describe all of your content, not just a singular photo this way, you'll constantly be attracting your target market and not random people. Who don't need what you're offering. 

For example. If you're a florist, you want to use hashtags that describe your offering or your target market, such as hashtag floral arrangement, wedding flowers, and newly engaged, not hashtags like hashtag lilies or bouquet while the latter aren't wrong. Se they aren't going to attract the right person. Anyone might like lilies and want to look for them on Instagram, but people soon to get married and looking for a florist or most likely to be searching for hashtag wedding flowers, six don't stress about all the features of Instagram. 

If you're not stoked on making reels, then don't post stories and daily interaction with your target market is all I personally think you need to generate business with Instagram. So I would start there if you want to do more like a weekly live or reels that show off your product. That's great. Just make sure to track your efforts. And if they aren't leading to sales, stop doing them or change your strategy. Seven, use an incentive. Like I said, at the beginning of this video, Instagram is a lead generation tool. 

So that means most sales don't actually happen on the app. It's just where you get the attention of potential customers. From there. You want to incentivize them to take the next step in your marketing funnel. For me, it's a free masterclass that leads to a paid offer. But for you, it might be a 10% off coupon code, a free trial, small gift, or a helpful download. This incentive will help push them over the edge by making your product more appealing or by providing further information that makes them more confident in the purchase. 

So as you can see, I'm not focusing at all on the likes followers, comments, or any other vanity metric. For me, what's important is that I'm getting my Instagram followers and feed visitors into my marketing funnel. So no matter what your business is, you should be able to adopt these tips and start seeing results right away. [Credit: Alex Tooby]

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is Instagram free for businesses?
Yes, anyone can create a business Instagram account — it's free, and you don't need to even prove that you have an official registered business. Nevertheless, having a business account still helps make your brand look serious and professional.

What does an Instagram business account allow you to do?
An Instagram business profile gives you access to promoted posts and Instagram ads, providing you with tools to grow your reach and engagement. Instagram ads use the same powerful advertising tools as Facebook, so you can set up, run, and track campaigns the same way you do with Facebook ads.

Should I switch to professional account on Instagram?
There are definitely pros to switching to an Instagram business account, like: You get insights and statistics about your followers. You also get data on impressions, reach, website clicks and can see viewer trends without leaving the app.

Is Instagram good for small businesses?
Using Instagram for small business is a powerful (and affordable) way to grow your company. With Instagram, you can reach new customers, stay connected to your existing ones, and even make sales right from the app, which makes it the perfect platform for marketing your small business.

How Much Does an Instagram Business Account Cost? 
Nothing! It doesn't cost anything to convert your account to a business account and there's no fee unless you run ads.

What should be the first post on Instagram for business?
Your first posts on Instagram should make it clear what your business is. Take some time to introduce yourself or your business and the services you offer. Talk about the benefits you provide. At this point, it's not about being salesy, but rather breaking the ice with your new followers.

Is selling on Instagram free?
With no associated cost to sell online with Instagram, it's a free marketing tool that can be used to expand your reach. And with over 1 billion users, why wait to set up your Instagram shopping page.

How can I sell my photos on Instagram?
The most direct and simple way to sell prints is to create an Instagram post that tells your audience about your offer. You can create a graphic with a free tool like Canva. If you want to sell a particular photo, you can also use that image to promote your work in the Story section.

How can I sell on Instagram without a website?
But you can still create a simple process without a website. One way to do it is by adding an online order form to your Instagram bio. You can quickly create one using a tool like Getform. You'll be able to customize the form and link to it right from your Instagram bio.

Does Instagram have a marketplace?
The launch of Instagram's new online marketplace in March 2019 was good news for marketers, especially those whose target audience is millennials. The feature called “Instagram Checkout” allows companies and brands to sell their products directly without leaving the platform.

How many followers do you need for an Instagram shop?
There is no minimum number of followers required to have an Instagram shopping account. You can start tagging products on your Instagram even if you have no followers. If you have 10,000 followers, you can use the swipe-up feature in your stories, but that isn't related to a shopping account.

How long does it take to get approved for Instagram shopping?
Overall, it takes between 1 day to 2 weeks for Instagram to give shopping approval. The good news is that the average is somewhere in between this time bracket, which means that you might not need to wait two weeks. In the best-case scenario, you can get approved even by the next day!

Why is my Instagram business account not eligible for shopping?
If you do not see Shopping under Business Settings, it probably means your account is still under review or it hasn't been approved for shopping on Instagram.

Why are some products not approved on Instagram?
If items in your posts, shop or collection are not approved: It's likely that your item goes against our broad-level policy. Review the item(s) in your catalog or collection(s) in Commerce Manager to make sure it complies with our Commerce Policies.