We all know how important Instagram can be for many businesses in our space, I don’t need to quote lots of statistics to tell you, it can be a fantastic way to showcase your brand, connect with your customers and attract new customers to your business. Here are some ideas to ensure your profile and content is in tip top shape, lots you might already be doing, but hopefully there’s something new in here to make you go “aha!” (Or words/sounds to that effect!).

1. Use a Clear Profile Picture: 

Usually we expect your profile picture to be either your company logo or a clear representation of who you are, such as an image of you. If you don’t have a logo and you can’t afford to outsource, it’s well worth taking a look on Canva to see if there are any templates that reflect what you want to show.

2. Write an Engaging Bio:

Your bio is a brief introduction to your business. It should be concise, informative, and captivating. Include your brand’s mission, what you offer, and any unique selling points. It’s pretty common to change your bio frequently! Please don’t think this has to be your one chance to nail it. Consider your headline title too. It’s a challenge to work out how to maximise every character, you can use a mix of text and emojis. The key is to convey who you are, and make it clear what you offer.

3. Include Contact Information:

Make it easy for potential customers to get in touch with you. Provide an email address, phone number, and a link to your website in your bio. It can be handy to use a site like lnk.bio or bio site to have clear links to your top areas of interest such as events, gift vouchers, or anything else you offer.

4. Switch to a Business Profile:

If you haven’t already, switch to an Instagram Business profile. This unlocks additional features, such as analytics and the ability to promote posts.

5. Curate Your Feed:

Your feed should reflect your brand’s personality and aesthetic. Use a consistent colour scheme, filters, and visual style. High-quality, well-composed images and content are essential. It’s best to load up your brand colours in Canva and create yourself some templates. Think about the type of images you post and ensure they are consistent with the message you want to convey.

6. Post Regularly:

Consistency is key on Instagram. Post regularly to keep your audience engaged. However, quality should always trump quantity. Why not spend an hour on a Sunday planning your content for the week? This will help you to avoid feeling a “what can I talk about panic.”

7. Use Hashtags Strategically:

Hashtags can expand your reach. Research relevant hashtags in your niche and use a mix of popular and niche-specific ones. Create a branded hashtag to encourage user-generated content. Remember to include location specific hashtags… you’re going to have limited visibility with something like #yoga but a regional hashtag might attract the right audience.

8. Engage with Your Audience:

Make sure you always respond to comments and messages promptly. Engage with your followers by asking questions, running polls, or hosting contests. It doesn’t always have to be you broadcasting.

9. Tell Your Story:

Share the story of your business, your journey, and your team. Authenticity and transparency resonate with potential and active customers, they want to know more about you and your passion. Vary the format of your posts to keep browsers interested.

10. Showcase Products or Services:

Highlight your products or services in creative ways. Use Instagram’s features like Stories and IGTV for product demonstrations or behind-the-scenes content. Eg, you could do a reel showing how you set up for class, what goes into planning a class, how you like to practice. It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to be you.

11. Collaborate with Complementary Businesses:

You could consider partnering with other businesses who align with your brand and ethos to reach a broader audience. You could run competitions, share best practices, do a Live together, swap helpful content… a fantastic way to offer your audience something new and interesting.

12. Use Instagram Stories:

Stories are a great way to engage your audience with temporary, time-sensitive content. Use them for promotions, announcements, and sharing daily updates. Remember they are more likely to be seen by your followers.

13. Leverage Instagram Shopping:

If you sell supplementary products, consider setting up Instagram Shopping. This allows users to purchase directly from your posts.

14. Share User-Generated Content:

Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your products or services and repost their content. This builds trust and loyalty.

15. Analyse and Adjust:

Use Instagram Insights to track your performance. Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t, then adjust your strategy accordingly.

16. Go Live:

Use Instagram Live to connect with your audience in real-time. You can host Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, or live product launches.

17. Cross-Promote:

Share your Instagram content on your other social media platforms and encourage your website visitors to follow you on Instagram.

Let’s be realistic, you can’t do all of this tomorrow. It takes time and patience. I know many of you don’t have a lot of time for social media, so select tactics that will have maximum impact. Make time on a Sunday or Monday to schedule in the week ahead so you’re not in a rush. The main thing to remember is be authentic and genuine in your interactions, and your small business can thrive on this popular social platform.