instagram

Instagram is one of the social platforms that you need to be leveraging for your business. This guide is a compilation of instagram hints and tips to help you build your instagram followers ethically.
We are building our Training Profits Instagram account with an initial target of 2000 – 3000 followers over the next few months.
I have spent the last month heavily researching how to ethically build your Instagram account without using any blackhat techniques that might get you banned. That means there is no automatically adding followers or buying followers or anything dodgy like that. Let’s get started!

Strategies for Instagram success:

Use Hootsuite to schedule automatic posting (up to 30 posts on free account)
When you post, use hashtags with between 200k-800k posts. Use up to 30 hashtags per post, or 10 per story. To check post count of a hashtag, Search for the hashtag, click Tags and you will see how many posts under the hashtag
Check out http://hashtagify.me or http://instavast.com (free) for hashtag ideas. Save these to Notes in your phone for easy cut and past for future posts
Post at 2am and 6am ASDT. (Australian time. Check timezones here
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html )
Use Captivate app to follow people who liked a post in your niche / hashtag
Use Followers app to unfollow people who don’t follow you back (after following 5000 people) You can follow up to 7000 people
Once you get some of your posts on explore page, post 10 times a day (or as much as you can)
Post a Story at least once every 24 hours. Simply share somebody else’s post or story (and tag them, also add a main hashtag). Click the paper plane icon, add your @ mention and hashtag #, then click Send To. Click Share next to your story, then click Add to highlights, choose your highlight (or add a new one) and click Done
Your Instagram Page will take off between 2k – 5k followers.
Once you have over 5000 followers, monetise your account:
1. Shoutcart to sell shout outs on your Instagram page
2. Dropship from AliExpress
3. Sell merchandise (merch)
4. Naturebacks on instagram is a good example of selling merch
Post more videos (1 minute long). For videos, click cover when posting and choose the best cover
Post slideshows, select multiple images icon when posting, then choose all images for slideshow
Post viral content to try and get on explore page. For ideas, go to influencer’s pages in your category and look for stand out posts in terms of likes and comments
Try the occasional spelling error to get more engagement
Engage and collaborate with pages in your niche. E.g paid promos, shout outs etc. Every follower / number is a real human being
Create engaging emotional content
Use Instagram stories, Instagram live and Instagram tv
Use Instagram DM (direct messages). DM people that commented and thank them
Build a loyal strong community
Use When to post app to find best times to post
Create all new posts as a story also
Comment for engagement E.g ask question. At least 4 word response
Heart comments on relevant posts
Have longer form micro blog like captions
Rotate hash tags
Post question posts
Run a contest for a $25 Visa gift card. See text for contest below:

How to enter:

1. Like this photo and follow @traningprofits
2. Tag a friend in the comments below
3. You can enter as many times as you want
4. BONUS: if your tagged friend follows @trainingprofits it’s an extra entry

🔥Contest closes today March 8th, 2019 @ 11:59 PM EST 🔥
🎁 We’ll choose a lucky winner tomorrow and contact via DM 🎁
📝 This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, associated with, or administered by Instagram 📝

Daily actions for Instagram:

Add 100 instagram followers
Like 100 photos
Comment on 20 photos
Post 2 photos
Share posts on Twitter
Post 1 video
Share video to YouTube & Twitter
Unfollow non-followers
Post 1 infographic photo
Create an Instagram series
Twitter: follow 100

Examples of hashtags I have saved to my phone’s Notes:

Educate:

Educate #familiarize #school #prepare #learn #nurture #cultivate #teach #advise #sensitize #train #civilize #develop #enlighten #inform #instruct #awareness #informing #sensitizing #acquaint #educational #engage #informed #instil #publicize #instill #communicate #sensitization #aware #apprise #inculcate

Learn:

Learn #teach #discover #see #check #hear #larn #educate #memorize #study #read #find_out #take #instruct #get_a line #watch #determine #get_word #get_wind #ascertain #find #realize #know #tell #understand #lessons #explore #lesson #con #pick_up #relearn

Success:

Success #fruition #successful #successes #triumphs #performance #acclaim #succeed #win #feat #effectiveness #popularity #luck #achievement #achiever #breakthrough #achievements #winner #accomplishments #strength #prosperity #stardom #victory #triumph #accomplishment #glory #progress #outcome #viability #fruitful #succeeding

Motivation:

Motivation #motive #morale #need #motivating #incentive #rationale #inspiration #motivated #passion #motivator #impetus #purpose #encouragement #disincentive #motivates #justification #desire #reason #enthusiasm #momentum #commitment #intention #goal #intent #cause #reasons #reasoning #interest #willingness #explanation

Entrepreneur:

Entrepreneur #developer #promoter #businesswoman #company #creator #ventures #owner #builder #businessperson #enterpriser #proponent #trader #firm #businesspeople #businessman #industrialist #business #operator #ceo #developers #sponsor #undertaker #contractor #enterprises #offeror #holder #undertaking #enterprise #subcontractor #employer

Ecommerce:

Ecommerce #e-commerce #e-business #storefront #commercial_activity #business #crm #e-trade #seo #marketer #outsource #erp #back_end #commerce #ebusiness #merchantry #intranet #webmaster #online #saas #merchant #internet #analytics #retail #sme #website #web #mercature #merchandise #optimization #multichannel

Growth:

Growth #rise #economy #recovery #development #growing #grow #upturn #ontogeny #improvement #expansion #slowdown #emergence #ontogenesis #increment #increase #outgrowth #maturation #increases #prosperity #rate #economic #evolution #inflation #investment #upswing #expanding #boom #gdp #expand #advancement

(Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Medium.com)

The effective use of social networking sites can significantly help your company to improve its public image and make it more accessible to your clients. Having public profiles accessible to your clients and potential customers gives your business a chance to interact with its customers like never before. The use of social networking sites will significantly improve the reach and visibility of your business and services, at little or no cost to your business. You will have more chances to introduce new products and services, while simultaneously being able to receive feedback on whether the ideas are working or not.

Here’s a guide on marketing your business using some specific platforms:

Instagram

Set Up Your Instagram Account
Sign up on the Instagram app (It comes as a personal Instagram account).
Switch to a business account (Go to settings in your profile and tap ‘switch to business profile’, add your contact information and tap ‘done’).

Create A Strategy

Define Your Target Audience
Figure out who already buys from you.
Do your research and understand what kind of contents your audience wants from you.
Find out how they interact with other similar brands and your competitors.
Set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals related to business objectives. Goals could be in term of numbers of likes, follows, and comments.
Commit to a regular posting schedule.
Achieve Maximum Visual Aesthetic For Your Brand (Instagram is all about visuals)
Go for a consistent visual look. (consistent colors and filters, visual aesthetic among contents).
Take and post amazing photos.
Edit your pictures like a pro (or get a pro to do it).
Write compelling captions.
Grow and Engage Your Audience
Engage and follow similar Instagrammers.
Use Instagram tools correctly (hashtags, stories, tags, e.tc).
Respond to relevant comments and mentions.
Use Instagram Influencers and Ads to promote your business.
Promote your account on other channels.
Track your progress.

Twitter

Get Started
Pick a nice twitter handle to username related to your business name.
Choose a captivating profile picture. (Your business logo is best).
Pick an eye-catching image for your header photo (Pictures of; your product, your team or a one relating to your brand personality).
Create a cool and descriptive bio. Use brand related keywords.
Build Your Community
Follow and engage with people (your customers, informative users, colleagues, related influencers, related businesses).
Post! Post!! Post!!!
Post short and sweet things.
Post more frequently. (The more you tweet, the more engagement you get. Thrice a day at spaced intervals is good).
Optimize the timing of your tweets (Know when your target audience will be online to check tweets. Timing is very important. Tweets are seen within seconds of posting before expiration).
Balance your self-promoting and non-self-promoting tweets. (A 1:3 ratio will do).
Have Great Customer Service
Have great listening ears.
You can have a separate handle for customer service.
Keep on tweeting to build your community, reputation, influence, and brand.

YouTube

Create a YouTube business channel.
Make a research on your target audience.
Make a research on your competition. Learn from them too.
Learn from channels you love. What captivates you?
Upload and schedule your videos
Post videos related to your business.
Use captivating captions.
Make your videos fun and engaging.
Optimize your videos for SEO and get more views.
Build your subscriber’s list.
Engage with people in the comment sections.
Optimize your YouTube channel to attract followers.
Utilize YouTube Ads to create awareness for your business.
Work with YouTube Influencers.
Keep on learning and adapting.

Facebook

Create an official Facebook account for your business.
Set up your profile. Keep it professional but also fun-looking.
Know your target audience and what they want.
Blend in. Become a part of the community.
Don’t try to hard sell.
Create a human voice.
Post frequently, captivating, engaging, business-related posts.
Make sure to encourage and reply to comments.
Post attractive pictures and videos too.
Let your post end up promoting your business, one way or the other.
Have fun.
Get interactive with contests, surveys, games, offers. You can create them to improve awareness too.
Build good relationships with Facebook users. Your customer is nearby.
Promote your Facebook page.

LinkedIn

Create a rock-solid profile.
Connect with everyone. The larger your expanded network grows, the more opportunities you get.
Customize the links to your website.
Post valuable content.
Post high-quality, captivating, business-promoting videos.
Set engagement targets.
Create a posting schedule.
Liven things up! It’s LinkedIn but you’re not a robot.
Give recommendations to others. The more you give, the more you’ll receive.
Join and own business-related LinkedIn groups. You can easily spread your message, create awareness, connect with potential customers and partners.
Connect your account with Twitter for more engagement.
Put up your company profile in the company page section.
Focus on your search ranking.
Build a good reputation.
Market your business, brand, and product.

Medium.com

Create a profile with your business name.
Add links to your other social media platforms and websites.
Study your target audience and what they want.
Post quality, attractive business-related contents.
Publish regularly
Create a posting schedule.
Cross-link between contents
Follow people who like your posts.
Build up your network.
Request for sharing of your posts to increase awareness.
Attract email leads.
Brand your business.

Following these steps, you’re sure to be able to market your business, solidify your brand and move your business to the next level. Use these social media marketing strategies and see what happens. Good luck!