We’ve come to love using Instagram as an avenue for expression. People use it to share personal and real-time experiences. Brands use it to tell their own stories and connect with their customers. Do you also use it to sell your products and services?
Aside from sites like Amazon, and your own website, Instagram is becoming another great channel for you to get that sale. The visual nature of Instagram has provided brands with an ideal platform to promote new products and get customers in the door. If you want to learn more about growing your following on Instagram, that could potentially become your customers, click here to download my free guide.
Now, we’re gonna talk about how you can start posting and raking in those valuable sales with Instagram.
Decide on your goals and craft your strategy. To get you started, you first need to identify what are your goals for using Instagram? Is your intention really to sell products? Or are you just there to promote them and redirect users to your website? Or do you just want to use your posts as a way for people to come to your physical store? Ask yourself these questions and figure out what you intend to do with the platform. Once you figure this out, it will be much easier for you to decide what content to post, and how to create it. It will also guide you in making sure that your accounts are consistent and on track.
Define your metrics. How do you measure your performance? While general goals will still help increase sales or generate revenue, you’ll need some specific targets and metrics. Some sample targets are sales. Keep track of your old raw sales for each platform. Leads. You can make use of analytics tools like Google Analytics, Bitly, or Sprout Social to check how your account manages to redirect users to your website. This is also called a referral rate. Conversions and landing pages. This shows how many users clicked on a landing page you shared, or you linked through your Instagram account.
If you want to learn more about other social media metrics that you can use for understanding your performance, check out my free and complete guide Numbers Tell A Story: Social Media Metrics Made Easy. This easily breaks down the numbers and tells you how to interpret and calculate them yourself.
After you identify the metrics plan out your goals and define a timetable. For example, if you wanted Instagram to contribute at least 10% of your total revenues after six months, outline your plan on how you intend to do that. Then commit to it. Step two, start setting up your profile. Make sure you have a profile dedicated for sales. Have a profile picture that reflects your brand. Include clear information on what your product is about in your bio. Don’t forget to include relevant links depending on what you intend to achieve.
Before you start posting make sure you have identified a distinct look and feel. The right products placement and positioning can either make or break a sale. So make sure you’re always consistent and on the brand. You can use Instagram’s Features, or apps like VSCO to make your images consistent.
Start posting. Use creative photos to grab your user’s attention. Instagram is a highly visual platform. Make the best use of design and color. Give your product description that extra shine and don’t forget to link a relevant website to make their shopping easier. Use relevant hashtags in your posts. By using effective hashtags, consumers who search on Instagram can identify your products on hand. In Instagram Stories, create bite-sized content of what you want to sell. Think of unboxing videos, or product in useful features.
You can also use the new Instagram feature on carousels. If you have a line of products creatively feature on carousels so users can easily scroll through your images. Make a powerful impact on the use of videos, and stories. There are numerous uses and creative ways to feature and sell your product.
If you want to understand and figure out if you’re creating the right content, check out my free PDF The Ultimate Content Share Worthiness
Checklist. This one-stop guide is a great reference material in creating great content.
And now I have three other quick tips for you:
Number one, offer discounts to users who promote you on their own Instagram accounts. Engage these users and show them your appreciation.
Number two, make use of geotags. Especially if you’re a brick and mortar store.
And number three, leverage the call to action buttons when you use Instagram ads.
These are the most effective and proven ways to sell on Instagram!
~Marley Bair
Marley Baird is one of the top video branding leaders of our time and owner of the rapidly growing agency Marley Baird Media, Marley and her dream team use their expertise to position mini-celebrities and influencers as thought leaders in their respective space.
She has worked with top dogs like Cristy Code Red, Alex Charfen, Rachel Pedersen, Stephen Larsen, and having worked events with Gary Vaynerchuck, Seth Godin, Randi Zuckerberg, and Robin Sharma – Marley leads her dream team specializing in their VIP Video Code methodology.
Marley is a expert in creating strategically viral content, getting videos to rank first on YouTube and Google and using cross-channel video marketing for maximum reach, Marley Baird Media brings next level video social selling to the marketplace.
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