How Do You Promote on Instagram? 9 Unbeatable Strategies

Instagram has become a powerhouse platform for businesses looking to connect with their target audience and boost brand awareness. With over 2 billion monthly active users as of April 2024, it's no wonder that brands are flocking to this visual-centric social media giant.

So, how do you crush the competition on Instagram? 

This guide will explore 9 unbeatable strategies to help you master Instagram promotion and take your business to new heights. These tactics are your answer to creating a winning Instagram strategy that drives engagement, increases followers, and ultimately boosts your bottom line.

Let's dive in!

9 strategies to promote your business on Instagram

These simple tips help you stand out and connect with your audience without breaking a step:

1. Optimize your Instagram profile

Your Instagram profile is your digital storefront and first impressions matter. To make the most of this valuable real estate:

Choose a recognizable profile picture. Use your logo or a high-quality image that represents your brand.

Craft a compelling bio. In 150 characters or less, tell visitors who you are and what you offer. Include a call to action (CTA) and relevant emojis to make it eye-catching. Fashion Nova, for example, managed to give you shipping details, announce new products, ask for user-generated content, and offer a discount code, all in one short bio.

Utilize the link in the bio. You should direct users to your website, the latest product, or a landing page with multiple links. Look at how Converse uses the link to direct you to their limited edition sneaker on their website.

Switch to a business account. A professional account gives you access to Instagram Insights and additional features like contact buttons and shopping tags. You’re in luck because we’ve got you covered with a detailed article on setting up a shop on Instagram and driving sales. 

2. Create engaging, high-quality content

Content is king on Instagram, and consistently posting high-quality, engaging posts is vital for growth. Here are some tips:

Experiment with lo-fi images and videos. While blurry or low-quality content can deter potential followers, it’s important to remember that low-fi doesn’t always mean low quality. Mixing high-quality, low-fi content with your polished material can be a powerful strategy. Lo-fi content refers to photos or short-form videos with a DIY aesthetic and minimal editing, intentionally embracing imperfections and simplicity. Look how Sunglass Hut integrates high-quality low-fi content with its studio shots. Highlighted is the low-fi content.

Mix up your content types. Take full advantage of Instagram's various formats like Feed posts, Stories, and Reels to keep your content fresh and engaging. 

Instagram Reels is leading the pack in viewer engagement, with rates 35% higher than other content types, so you should consider putting more budget behind them. 

Instagram Reels are also your quickest ticket to racking up views on the platform. Why? Because the Reels algorithm doesn’t just keep them on your profile and Instagram Feed—it also pushes them out on Explore and the dedicated Reels tab. That means your Reels get in front of a fresh yet relevant audience, boosting your views.

Develop a cohesive aesthetic. Use consistent filters, color schemes, and styling to create a visually appealing feed. DKNY’s feed effortlessly exudes an urban city lifestyle with a cool, carefree vibe.

Tell stories. Don’t just showcase products—share the stories behind your brand, team, and customers. And when you need a break from self-promotion, let your customers do the talking for you.

Incorporate user-generated content. Encourage customers to share their experiences with your products and repost their content (with permission). Starbucks shared a user-generated photo—notice how it sparked curiosity and engagement.

🛎️ Remember to maintain a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and expecting new content. Studying successful advert examples can help up your content game.

3. Harness the power of Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are a fantastic way to connect casually and immediately with your audience. They’re perfect for sharing content that’s relevant right now and isn’t meant to last forever. Here's how to make the most of this feature:

Post behind-the-scenes content. Give followers a peek into your day-to-day operations or product development process.

Use interactive features. Polls, quizzes, and question stickers can boost engagement and provide valuable insights about your audience.

Highlight important Stories. Save your best Stories to your profile as Highlights for new visitors to explore.

Create engaging Story ads. Transform your top-performing organic Stories into ads to expand your reach. Gym Shark’s ‘Swipe Up’ animation enhances the ‘Learn More’ button by providing an additional call to action, effectively doubling the persuasion for viewers to engage with their Story.

With over 500 million daily active Instagram users and a third of the top Stories viewed coming from businesses, Stories are a powerful tool for increasing visibility and engagement.

4. Leverage Instagram Reels

Reels are Instagram’s answer to TikTok and have quickly become a powerful and entertaining way to connect with new audiences. The best part? They don’t need to be high-production masterpieces. Often a simple smartphone is all you need to create engaging Reels that keep the content flowing.

To make the most of Reels:

• Keep it short and snappy. Aim for 15-30-second videos that capture attention quickly.
• Use trending audio. Hop on popular songs or sound bites to increase discoverability.
• Showcase your products or services. Use Reels to demonstrate how your offerings work or creative ways to use them.
• Educate your audience. Share quick tips, hacks, or interesting facts related to your industry.
• Be authentic. Don't be afraid to show your brand's personality in your Reels. 

🛎️ Remember, the Instagram algorithm currently favors Reels, so incorporating them into your strategy can significantly boost your reach. 

5. Collaborate with influencers

Partnering with influencers could be just the trick to get you noticed. These collaborations can help you tap into new audiences and build credibility through social proof.

Here's how to approach it:

• Identify relevant influencers. Look for influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.
• Start with micro-influencers. They often have higher engagement rates and can be more cost-effective for small businesses. Micro-influencers achieve a 6% engagement rate on Instagram, compared to the 1.97% engagement rate seen with mega-influencers.
• Develop genuine partnerships. Look for influencers who genuinely love your products for more authentic promotions.
• Provide creative freedom. While guidelines are important, allow influencers to showcase your product in their unique style.
• Track results. Use unique discount codes or tracking links to measure the success of your influencer campaigns.

6. Use hashtags strategically

Hashtags are still a crucial part of Instagram's discovery system.

Here's how to use them effectively:

• Research relevant hashtags. Use tools like RiteTag to find popular and niche hashtags in your industry.
• Create a branded hashtag. Encourage customers to use it to increase user-generated content when posting about your products.
• Mix popular and niche hashtags. Use a combination to increase your chances of being discovered.
• Don't overdo it. While you can use up to 30 hashtags per post, 5-9 well-chosen ones are often more effective.
• Hide hashtags in the first comment. Hiding them keeps your captions clean while still benefiting from hashtag discoverability.

🛎️ Remember to regularly update your hashtag strategy as trends change and new hashtags emerge.

7. Run Instagram ads

While organic reach is essential, paid Instagram ads can significantly amplify your message and reach new audiences. This is especially important considering that organic reach on Instagram has dropped from 9.34% in 2023 to 7.6% in 2024.

Here's how to get started with paid Instagram content:

• Define your campaign objectives. Choose the right objective for your campaign, whether it's brand awareness, website traffic, or conversions.
• Target wisely. Use Instagram's detailed targeting options to reach your ideal audience.
• Create compelling ad creative. Use high-quality visuals and persuasive copy to stop the scroll. Studying successful Meta ads can provide valuable inspiration.
• Test different ad formats. Try carousel, video, and Stories ads to see what resonates best with your audience.
• Monitor and optimize. Regularly check your ad performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.

To keep quality Instagram ads flowing, you need an efficient creative resource like Madgicx's Creative Workflow. This powerful solution helps you easily create high-converting ads without draining your budget. Within Madgicx’s Creative Workflow is the Madgicx Ad Library, a bottomless source of ad inspiration, allowing you to browse successful ads across various industries. 

Even better, you can send design briefs directly to Madgicx's team of digital artists, who will create custom ads for you in just 48 hours. This process ensures you always have fresh, engaging content for your Instagram campaigns. Try Madgicx's Creative Workflow for free for 7 days today.

8. Engage with your community

Building a thriving Instagram community is about more than just posting content; you’ve got to foster genuine connections and brand allies. 

Here's how:

• Engage with other accounts. Like and comment on posts from your followers and other relevant accounts in your niche.
• Respond to comments. Take the time to reply to comments on your posts, showing that you value your followers' input.
• Host Instagram Lives. Use live video to connect with your audience in real time, answering questions and showcasing products.
• Create interactive content. Use polls, quizzes, and question stickers in Stories to encourage participation.
• Repost and credit user-generated content. Doing this provides you with great content and makes your customers feel valued.

9. Analyze and adjust your strategy

To keep your Instagram game on point, keep an eye on how things are going and tweak your approach as needed. Here’s how to do it:

• Use Instagram Insights. This native tool provides valuable data on your followers, reach, and engagement.
• Track key metrics. Focus on metrics that align with your goals, such as follower growth, engagement rate, and website clicks. Understanding important social media KPIs is crucial for measuring success.
• A/B test your content. Try different types of posts, captions, and posting times to see what works best.
• Stay up-to-date with Instagram changes. The platform frequently updates its features and algorithm, so stay informed to adapt your strategy.
• Set realistic goals. Use your analytics to set achievable, measurable goals for your Instagram marketing efforts. 

Regularly checking in and fine-tuning your approach will keep your Instagram strategy sharp and aligned with your goals. Putting together detailed social media reports can give you valuable insights into how you’re really doing.

How do you promote on Instagram? FAQ

Check out these frequently asked questions to get all the answers you need.

How to promote a post on Instagram?

Promoting a post on Instagram is a straightforward process:

1. Ensure you have a business or creator account.

2. Go to the post you want to promote and tap ‘Boost’ below the image.

3. Choose your goal (more profile visits, website visits, or messages).

4. Select your target audience or create a new one.

5. Set your budget and duration for the promotion.

6. Review your promotion and tap ‘Create Promotion’ when ready.

Is it free to promote on Instagram?

While creating and maintaining an Instagram account is free, promoting posts or running ads does come with a cost. However, Instagram offers flexible budgeting options, allowing you to spend as little as $1 per day on promotions. This flexibility makes it accessible for businesses of all sizes to start advertising on the platform.

How much does it cost to promote on Instagram?

The cost of promoting on Instagram varies widely depending on several factors, like your target audience, the type of ad you're running, your bidding strategy, and the time of year (costs can increase during peak shopping seasons).

Studies show that the average Instagram CPM is about $10.07 in August 2024, while the average CPC comes in at $1.12. 

In terms of the cost per engagement (CPE), you’re looking at around $0.059.

Remember, these are just averages, and your actual costs may differ. It's best to start with a small budget and adjust based on performance.

🛎️ You can also check out Facebook ad costs here.

Why can't I boost my Instagram posts?

If you're having trouble boosting your Instagram posts, there could be several reasons:

1. Your account must be set up as a business or creator account.

2. Your post doesn't comply with Instagram's advertising policies and best practices.

3. Your Instagram page or post contains content that's not eligible for promotion (e.g., political content, alcohol, etc.).

4. You must still set up your payment method in the Facebook Ads Manager.

5. Your account is still too new or has violated Instagram's community guidelines in the past.

If you still have issues, check Instagram's help center or contact their support team.

Conclusion

Promoting your business on Instagram requires a multi-faceted approach, combining organic strategies with paid advertising. By implementing these 9 unbeatable strategies, you'll be well on your way to building a strong Instagram presence that drives tangible (💰) results for your business.

Remember, success on Instagram doesn't happen overnight. It requires consistency, creativity, and a willingness to adapt to the platform's ever-changing landscape. Keep experimenting, analyzing your results, and refining your approach.

And if you're serious about your Instagram ads, Madgicx's Creative Workflow has your back. With a vast library of high-performing ads and custom designs from expert digital artists, you’ll have everything you need to create ads that stop the scroll and drive real results. Why not give it a go?