As a business owner, you probably know you need a social media presence. But every social media site has its own quirks. What works on one site won’t necessarily work on another. Your audience on LinkedIn is likely to be different from the one on Facebook. For this blog, let’s take a look at some tips to consider when establishing a business account on Instagram.
Find Visual Representations of Your Business
Instagram is more of a visual medium than something like Facebook, even if they are owned by the same parent company. On Instagram, the photos and reels are the draw for potential customers. So think about what parts of your business are visually appealing. For instance, bookstores often post photos of the of new releases that are placed on the shelves every Tuesday. This kind of post creates excitement and encourages people to visit.
Not everything has to be promotional either. People follow a company’s Instagram for a peek behind the scenes, so educational or entertaining content also has a place. If every post is promotional, you may risk losing people who feel like they’re getting the hard sell, so make sure to mix up the types of content you post.
If you’re feeling stuck, look up businesses you admire on Instagram. Make note of what they do that works well. If there’s something they’re doing that you’d like to avoid, keep that in mind as well. Don’t forget to follow some local business accounts as well. You’ll get inspiration, and you might also gain both followers and networking opportunities.
Keep a Consistent Tone
Generally, your business Instagram’s tone should be friendly and informative. However, your tone should also reflect the nature of your business. For example, an Instagram account for a divorce attorney would naturally be more serious compared to that of a cat cafe.
Regardless of the tone you employ to match your specific business, keep the tone consistent. If you can’t personally run your company’s Instagram, assign the role to one employee who can. Make sure to discuss what your brand’s voice might sound like before you start posting regularly. Doing both those things will make it easier to keep control of your company’s Instagram voice and make sure that it mirrors the overall branding of your company.
And if you’re still finding your business identity, that’s OK as well. Branding your business is tricky, so it’s OK to take a little extra time and make sure you create something you’re comfortable with rather than rushing it and then changing course later.
Remember It’s Not Your Personal Account
If you already have or are considering a personal Instagram account, that’s awesome, though not surprising. Instagram has been one of the most popular social media platforms for over a decade! However, resist the temptation to blend personal moments with business promotions on the same feed. Keeping your business’s Instagram separate ensures a polished and professional appearance. It helps maintain a clear focus on your brand’s message and values, avoiding any confusion caused by mixing in snapshots of your pet’s antics or your latest fashion picks (#OOTD). Unless those personal posts align perfectly with your business goals or branding strategy, they’re better suited for your personal account.
A separation between your business and personal Instagram accounts also helps maintain privacy and security, keeping personal information separate from business interactions. Instagram also offers different features to individual accounts and business accounts. With separate accounts you can utilize the privacy options for family photos for your personal account, and then benefit from a public business page and all the cool business-focused analytics and marketing tools.
Ready to see a professional account in action? Follow Northwest Registered Agent on Instagram for a steady flow of business tips, real talk, inspiration, and office jokes delivered right to your feed.