If you are new to social media, you are probably thinking: How does Instagram work? This blog offers you an inside scoop on how to use Instagram like a pro. We cover important aspects such as how to share a post on Instagram, how to add a link to an Instagram story, and more.

What is Instagram?

Instagram is a free-to-use social media platform owned by Facebook. The primary use of Instagram is to share photos and videos. Similar to most social media applications, you can follow other Instagram accounts and earn new followers. You will see all the recent posts shared by the accounts you follow. To interact with a post, you can like and add a comment. 

Getting onto Instagram is a tactical way to grow your brand. Over 200 million Instagram users visit at least one business profile daily. In addition, Instagram’s potential advertising reach is estimated at 928 million users. 

While Facebook continues to be the largest social network today, Instagram follows suit in the second rank. What gives Instagram business accounts the edge is the algorithm. Unlike Instagram, Facebook prioritizes content from close friends and family; making it difficult for businesses to cast a wider net. As such, Instagram is now known as the “new home for brands”. Instagram is where you can build engagement, brand-loyalty, and achieve your business objectives. 

How to set up your Instagram profile

Once you have downloaded Instagram, open the application to create your account. Pick a username that’s recognizable to your brand. For example, Swift Bakery should ideally be @SwiftBakery —  instead of @Communitybakery etc.

After you’ve settled with an ideal username, follow the simple steps as prompted by the app. Do note that you will need an existing email to set up an Instagram account. 

The next steps for getting set up are your profile photo and profile information. These steps determine how your Instagram profile will look to other users. Needless to say, you’d want your first impression to count. So put some time into planning.

Profile photo

Every Instagram profile photo is cropped as a circle. Profile photos are displayed on the top left corner of your profile page. 

Most business accounts use their business logo as their profile photo. Make your profile photo prominent by centralizing it. You might also want to adjust the size of your photo by pinching in/out of the screen. 

Profile information

Fill in your profile information under the “Edit Profile” section. Fill in your company website (if you have one) and your bio. 

Your bio should highlight what your page is about and important points regarding your business. Information such as your location and whether you ship packages internationally or not is helpful. Additionally, you can point out what makes your products and services distinct. For example, the product you offer is 100% plant-based etc. 

Unfortunately, Instagram bios are set to a limit of 150 characters only. But what if we told you there’s another way to add more information about your business on your profile?

Switch to a business profile

There are many perks to a business profile, including the ability to add in more information. Here is a list of what a business profile offers:

• Contact information

You can link your email address, phone number, and location on your profile. When you fill in your business contact information, Instagram creates the corresponding buttons on your profile. These buttons — Email, Call, and Get Directions — allow users to connect with your business directly with just a click. 

• Category

Pick the category that your business falls under. This will tell users your field of expertise.

• Call-to-action buttons

You can add an action button to let users book an appointment, make reservations, buy tickets, and more. All through your Instagram profile! 

• Promotions

Instagram allows business profiles to promote their posts. Simply go to “Promotions” and select which post you wish to promote. By promoting, you increase your reach to people who don’t follow you but are found to be interested in your content. 

• Insights

The best part about a business profile is that you have access to Insights. This is a metric of how your profile has performed over the last seven and thirty days. Insights display an overview of your account’s reach, content interactions, your audience demographics, content you’ve shared, and your active promotions. 

Doesn’t a business profile sound like everything you needed and more? To switch your personal profile to a business profile, you will need a Facebook Page set up first. Afterwards, select “Switch to Business Profile” under settings and link your Facebook Page to your profile. Fill in the necessary information and your business profile is all set up!

How to add a link to Instagram stories

Now that your business profile is ready, it’s time to get active and take advantage of Instagram’s functions. Apart from uploading posts on Instagram, Instagram stories are a revolutionized method of sharing content. More than 500 million people use Instagram Stories every day. 

Instagram stories are posts that only last for 24 hours. Unlike a normal post, stories do not appear on your profile page. 

What makes Instagram stories so handy is the “Swipe Up” feature. As the name goes, users can swipe up on a story and access the link that you’ve added. Businesses love this feature because it is a fast and easy way to gain conversions and organic traffic to your website. So how do you add a link to your Instagram stories? 

Instagram requires you to meet certain expectations before you can use the swipe up feature. You would have to be set up as a Business Profile and have at least 10,000 followers OR you need to be verified (the blue check beside a username). Though the second option might be less attainable since verification is usually given to celebrities and international brands only. As such, you should focus on gaining more followers. 

Once you’ve reached the requirements, you will see a link icon on the top of your story page. Tap the link icon and paste the link you want to add. You can then track your analytics to see how many users swiped up to see your link. 

How to add links on Instagram if you don’t have 10k followers

It’s not the end of the world if you don’t have 10,000 followers on Instagram. Luckily, there are a few alternatives to add links. 

Link in bio

This is the most common way to add a link. In fact, you might already have done this when setting up your Instagram profile. Simply click on “Edit Profile” and paste your link under “Website”.  

You can only add one link to your Instagram bio. However, there are new link-in profile tools that allow you to add multiple links to one landing page. Linktree and ContactInBio are popular options.

Remind followers through stories and use your DMs

Adding a link in your bio is useful. But not many of your followers would visit your profile page on a daily basis. On the contrary, your followers are more likely to see your Instagram stories. So remind your followers through your Instagram stories that your link is in your bio. Furthermore, you can craft a Direct Message that includes your link. A DM is a fruitful way to build stronger bonds with your audience. DMs also feel more personalized and encourage users to click on them. 

How to share a post on Instagram

Sharing a post is another rewarding practice to do on Instagram. When you share a post, you show that you are engaged and appreciative of the content created by other users. 

From a business marketing perspective, you can share User-Generated Content (UGC) on Instagram. UGC are posts that your customers made regarding their experience with your brand. This could be a photo they took when visiting your store or a review of your product/service.

UGC is a credible source to promote your brand. As 79% of people say, UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions. Here are the two main methods for sharing a post.

Add post to your story

You’re scrolling down your feed and you see a post you like to share, but you don’t necessarily want it to be displayed on your profile forever. Sharing posts on your story is a temporary yet efficient way to show your appreciation of a post. 

Simply click on the arrow button shaped like a paper airplane. Then click on the option “Add post to your story”. You will automatically be directed to your Instagram story page with the post. Design your story by adding text, hashtags, and GIFs. Or you can just share it as it is — it’s up to you. 

Once you’ve shared the post on your story, the user who posted it will be notified via Instagram. 

Using Repost for Instagram

If you want to share a post on your profile as a new post, you can download the Repost for Instagram app on your mobile device. The app will be associated with your Instagram account, making it easier for you to use it. 

All you have to do is choose a post you’d like to repost from Instagram and copy the post’s link. You can get this link through the “...” icon on the top right corner of a post. 

Paste this link on your Repost for Instagram app. The post that you selected will then be displayed on your screen. You can also edit the post with new filters and add a new caption. Once you’re ready to share your reposted photo, click “Share”.

Remember to always credit the creator of posts you’ve shared. 

Conclusion

You’ve successfully learnt to apply the fundamental tricks to elevate your business presence on Instagram. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the many more functions the platform has to offer. 

We hope that this blog served as an insightful guide to the start of your Instagram expedition. 

FAQs

How can I gain more followers on Instagram?

Truth is, there is no one-way method to gaining more followers on Instagram. With that said, posting consistently, using hashtags, and sharing UGC are a few ways to boost your follower count.

We recognize that accounts need at least 10k followers before they can use the swipe up function on Instagram stories. However, your follower count should not be your main goal. We encourage you to focus on your engagements; develop a deeper sense of authority and connection with your audience. Because that is what brings in sales.

What should I post on my Instagram stories?

There are many ways to make use of your Instagram stories. Since stories only last for 24 hours (unless you add them to your Highlights), there is more flexibility in what you can post. The type of content you can post on your Instagram stories is endless. Try sharing promotions, in-store announcements, tutorials on how to use a product/service, a preview of a product/service, and interesting facts. 

You can even make use of Instagram stories features like Polls, Questions, Countdown, Quiz, and Ask a question, to make your stories more interactive. 

Is Instagram the best social media platform to promote my business?

There are plenty of social media platforms to promote your business. We highly recommend Instagram because it is the second-largest social network, right after Facebook. Instagram is also more suitable for promoting businesses. 

However, there are many factors that can influence the effectiveness of a social media platform. For example, the type of business industry and your target audience. Planning a social media strategy will help you determine which social media platform works best for your brand. Alternatively, you can reach out to a digital marketing specialist to do the work for you. 

Would you like us to help you with your Instagram business strategy?

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