How to Market Your Business on Instagram
Instagram influencers and creators are always tearing their hair out when it comes to the algorithm. Keeping your engagement up, your follower count growing, and your reach high can be exhausting and sometimes feel unattainable. I feel the pain with this too!
My take? It’s always best to focus on nurturing your current followers rather than spending all your time trying to gain more. These are the people who already know and trust you, so keep your focus on serving them and the rest will fall into place.
Here’s how I do that:
Engage!
Set aside 15-20 minutes/day to respond to comments and DMs (especially DMs!! Voice message them back or even start the conversation if you see them respond to a poll or question box of yours). Regularly connecting with your followers is critical to building relationships and growing their trust in you. I also recommend sending a welcome DM to any new followers and providing value to them by linking a free training or guide.
Be consistent
I don’t just mean posting regularly, though that’s important too (I recommend at least 2-3 times/week but showing up on stories on a daily basis provides the best connection with your community). Make sure your branding is consistent so your grid is aesthetically pleasing and people stop their scroll when they see your post because they recognize it’s you.
Partner with an industry leader for an IG Live or webinar
If you’re looking for a challenge, new ways to provide value, and the opportunity to more organically grow your reach, I recommend connecting with someone in the industry whose work complements yours to do an IG live or offer a free webinar. It might feel a little out of your comfort zone, but it’s a great next step for most online business owners.
Create sellable programs for your CURRENT audience
If you have audience members who have already purchased something from you in the past or signed up for a service - cater to them even further! Provide them with the next step. Ask them in your stories via a poll or question box! What are they looking for??
This could be a group coaching program, a new course, a mastermind or an elevated service! People who have bought from you already are much more likely to buy from you again (vs. welcoming a brand new customer/client and starting that relationship all over).
Even though social media can feel so damn frustrating sometimes, it’s a tool that I don’t see going away anytime soon. But it’s just that - a tool. Not the only one in your toolbox (looking at you, email list!), but also one that you don’t want to miss - especially because it costs you $0 :D
If you’re looking to level up your social media skills as a Social Media Manager, be sure to check out my mini course! And if you’re just getting started and need to lay some groundwork first, I’ve got a free 30-minute training on how to start your VA business.
Do you struggle with the highs and lows of Instagram? What are your favorite ways to “outsmart” the algorithm? Send me a DM and let me hear it!
xo Helen
Helen Peterson is a work-from-home mom who has established herself in the online business industry as a Virtual Assistant & Launch Strategy Specialist. Along with helping her clients with launch strategy & successfully creating & selling their online courses, she also coaches other women in starting their own Virtual Assistant business (regardless of their current career path).
Her passion stems from guiding women into living the life they've always dreamt of with no financial boundaries & the flexibility to live & travel the way they want to.