Instagram is a popular social media platform with over one billion monthly active users.

According to Statista, the United States has the highest audience on Instagram with over 130 million monthly active users.

This is a huge audience, and small businesses are tapping into it to promote their products and services.

Are you a small business wondering how to do Instagram marketing? Then you should stick around because I will give you 6 Instagram marketing tips small businesses can use in 2022.

1. Establish your brand

 Your business has an identity that can be seen in the name or logo. These are what your target audience uses to spot your business.

Use colors associated with your brand when creating any visual that you want to put on Instagram. Attach your logo in your videos and pictures where your audience can easily see it.

You also want to have a consistent brand voice, one your audience will notice in your posts and stories, and when you respond to their messages.

2. Spy on your competitors

Your competitors want to outdo you in all aspects, including giving your loyal customers reasons to dump your products and services for theirs. So, how do you move ahead?

One way you can do it is by spying on them. Use keywords related to products and services you offer to identify competitors in your niche. Take note of the type of content they post, hashtags they use, their brand voice, and the time they post. Above all, identify the type of audience they have and the level of engagement they get.

This information will give you an insight into their marketing strategy and you’ll know where to up your game.

3. Know what and when to post 

Not all of your content will do well on Instagram. It’s up to you identify the root cause and make any necessary adjustments.

It could be content type and/or timing. Certain types of content may do well at certain times.

Analyze the previous content you have posted on Instagram and take note of timing and content type. That’ll show you the best times to post content for your audience.

4. Grow your followers 

You need followers that engage with your content on Instagram to grow your business. It can be difficult to grow the number of followers you have if you’re not a social media marketing expert.

While posting good content will help, it will still take time to grow your following.

Acquiring an already built Instagram account with huge followers in a particular niche is an easy way to take off.

There’re credible companies like Socialtradia where you can buy an ethically built Instagram business account in any niche.

5. Have a content strategy 

Ask yourself what you hope to achieve within a specific period. Tailor your content to suit the needs of your audience. That will inform the type of content you create.

For instance, if you’re in the food niche and you created a course on making home juice, your plan would be to sell it to your audience – right?

Your content should support promoting that course. That way, you can create a sense of urgency for your audience to purchase it immediately after you launch.

Here are examples of brands using Instagram to grow their business.

6. Engage your audience 

When you post content, your audience engages with it by liking, commenting, or sharing it. Reciprocate such gestures by replying to their comments. You also can mention or tag them. People appreciate it when you make them feel special, and that could be a good reason to jump on your offers no matter the price.

Also, don’t shy away from negative comments. Mistakes happen and some customers may criticize your business. Take it in good faith and promise in the comment section or in a direct message that you’ll get it right next time.

Final thought 

Instagram marketing is becoming competitive, yet small businesses are getting results from it. But results don’t just happen – you will need to start taking action and implementing the tips you’ve learned in this post.