5 Tips for Enhancing Your Instagram Strategy

Instagram started as a simple photo-sharing platform but quickly rose to become the most influential app of the current generation. With over 500 million users per day, Instagram is the fourth most used social media platform globally, only behind Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp, all of which have a significant international presence. 

With more small businesses using Instagram to connect with their audiences and even sell products, you may ask yourself, “How do I make my Instagram business account stand out?” Luckily, there are multiple ways that you can do this. Markentum is a digital marketing agency that focuses on social media marketing and other online services. We’ve got five tips that will help you elevate your Instagram presence—take a look!

1 . Utilize Optimal Posting Times

One of the keys to getting more interaction on your profile and posts is posting at the optimal time. You may have crafted the most engaging, educational, or entertaining post ever, but if you post it when no one’s online, what’s the point? 

You can find data for optimal posting times in the “Insights” section using the Instagram mobile app by viewing your profile page. The data will show you when your followers are most active by the day of the week and time of day. Using this data, you can find that it may be best for you to post at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays, for example. By posting during optimal times, you may start to see more engagement and interaction on your Instagram posts. 

2. Create a Linktree Link in Your Bio

A downside of using Instagram is that links are not clickable in posts. For some posts, this is okay, but if you are trying to encourage a user to visit your website or learn more about an event, this presents a problem. 

Fortunately, there is a workaround for this. All you have to do is create a Linktree link and keep it in your bio. A Linktree is a single link where you can house multiple links in one place. You may have heard people use the phrase “Link in bio!” and this is what they are referring to. Instead of including an unclickable link in your post, you can direct your audience to the link included in your profile, where they can easily click through to your site or another webpage. Having a Linktree can be extremely beneficial as it allows you to include multiple links in one place while also increasing website traffic for different pages. 

3. Post Frequently to Stories

Unlike Instagram “grid posts,” which are typically highly curated and evergreen, Instagram Stories can be more fun and fleeting, appearing on your profile for only 24 hours (unless you save them—see #4). Stories allow your personal or business profile to stay top of mind in a casual, real-time manner and allow for conversation through swipe-ups, story responses, polls, and more. 

No matter how you are using Instagram, Stories allow you to easily be recognized and remembered. You are more likely to show up at the top of your followers’ story list and on non-followers explore pages by consistently posting. Stories allow you to speak about what you’re passionate about, show the behind-the-scenes from your feed, and are a fun way to share things that are actively happening. Stories help your followers feel like they know you and can connect with you, which is likely one of your goals on Instagram.

  

4. Use Story Highlights Strategically

Once you are actively using Stories, you can also create Story Highlights! Story Highlights let you create collections of stories that you’ve already shared. Grouping stories that are related is a great way to utilize highlights. The other great advantage of Story Highlights is that they are featured prominently at the top of your Instagram feed. This is a great way to share content about your services, the things that are important to you and can be a great way to establish your brand in a unique, authentic way. Think of Story Highlights as where users can make first impressions with your content and brand.
 

5. Don’t Be Afraid of Reels

Lastly, don’t be afraid to create Reels! While Instagram began as a photo-sharing app, the head of Instagram has recently announced that it is focusing more on video and making video more immersive. This really means that video content is getting more views and engagement in the latest Instagram algorithm. 

We have tested this at Markentum, and each of the reels that we’ve shared garners significantly more engagement than our static grid posts. If you are looking for exposure and reach, don’t be afraid of Reels! Making engaging Reels doesn’t mean you have to stand in front of your camera dancing, either. You can use Reels similarly to how you would use Stories, sharing behind-the-scenes footage, fun or educational facts, or deeper insights into your services! 

Get Started Today! 

Creating an effective Instagram and social media marketing strategy can be intimidating, especially when you notice accounts with tens of thousands of followers and get over a million likes. It’s important to remember that these are the outliers, though. The most important thing to remember when focusing on Instagram strategy and content is to be authentic and genuine. By sharing your true values and mission, you can create a community of others who do the same. 

Markentum is a digital marketing agency that helps businesses and senior living communities enhance their social media marketing. We invite you to reach out for a free consultation!