How to use Instagram to promote your business

It’s no secret that Instagram is a very effective marketing tool for small businesses.

With over one billion active users, two million active advertisers, 25 million businesses and 300 million people using Instagram Stories every day, there’s a lot happening on the platform and so many opportunities for promoting a brand.

So how can your business take advantage? To explain, Starling Bank has created a brief guide that provides straightforward information on Instagram as a key aspect of your marketing strategy.

What the guide covers

• Choosing which images to post

The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than it does words. That’s why Instagram has grown so popular. Get tips on how to select photos and visual material that will resonate with your customers.

• Scheduling content

Having a plan is much easier than creating content on a whim. Find out why planning and automating your content is so important.

• Tracking and reviewing past posts

There’s some trial and error to understanding what content is most successful for your audience. So you need to be tracking engagement and results, particularly if you’re using paid content. Learn more about this key part of your Instagram marketing process.

• Building a consistent brand

Niche is nice, so aim to carve out your own unique look and feel. Find out how to make your feed coherent, by ensuring photos, colours and graphics reflect your brand identity and values.

• Using video

Built-in features like Instagram Stories get a lot of traction – indeed, a third of most viewed Instagram Stories are from businesses. Read how this and other Instagram features give you the scope to be creative in your marketing and brand promotion.

Where to find the guide

Click the image below to download the business guide.

Relevant resources

How to grow your small business brand on Instagram

Enterprise Nation adviser Martha Keith gives her thoughts on how businesses can use Instagram to its fullest potential.

How to use Instagram Stories for your small business [VIDEO]

Alison Battisby, a social media consultant, shares some tips and tricks on the Instagram Stories feature.

How to do Instagram Reels: Everything small businesses should know

Social media and content strategist Victoria Brown explains Reels and how the feature can help small businesses produce mini video ads for their products and services.