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#MillennialTalk Recap – How To Grow On Instagram and Expand Your Influence!
When Instagram first popped onto the scene back in 2010, it was just like any other social platform: filled with selfies, pet pics, and photos of food.
Fast-forward to 2018 and Instagram’s has evolved from a simple photo sharing app to a full-on marketing channel that is dominating in the social space. Instagram has become a primary platform for developing and growing one’s business and personal brand.
Almost 90% of marketers say their social media marketing efforts have increased exposure for their business, and 75% say they’ve increased traffic. Instagram, specifically, can play a prominent role when it comes to growing your target audience.
In the last year alone, Instagram has released dozens of new tools for businesses, including advanced analytics, shoppable Instagram posts, new ways to drive traffic from Instagram Stories, Highlights, and more.
So, if your looking for ways to increase your impact on Instagram, We’ve got you covered!
This week on #MillennialTalk, we spoke with Amanda Bucci (@amandabuccifit) about “How To Grow On Instagram and Expand Your Influence!”
Check out the recap of our chat Q&A with Amanda Bucci as well as some of the interaction that flowed during this weeks #MillennialTalk
@ChelseaKrost: Social Media can help radically put a brand on the map if the company has a true understanding of their audience, knows how to use Instagram effectively, and creates consistent quality and compelling content!
@amandabuccifit: Instagram is the fastest growing, MOST ENGAGED app. Connection to your ideal client is stronger than ever.
There’s essentially 4-5 different platforms in one. Feed posts, Live Stream, Stories, DM, and more. Utilizing all of them makes it incredibly dynamic. It encourages authenticity, creativity, and connection. We need more of that.
@thetalillama: Instagram has two channels built into one (feed posts + stories) so you can cater to different segments of your audience pretty easily. Some watch stories more than they engage on posts and vice versa.
@tschill86: It’s become the most popular platform, but the functionality is separating themselves with Stories, Live video and live chat with multiple friends. It’s becoming a great way to discover content and engage with people in your industry.
@ChelseaKrost: Check it out… What businesses and brands should be on Instagram.
@amandabuccifit: All personal brands whom YOU are your business. Fitness coaches, doctors, service providers, chiropractors, business coaches, influencers, musicians – almost everybody. Everybody aside from those whose leads come from corporate business or audiences who are “offline” (but will likely eventually be online in 5-15 yrs).
@tschill86: Some markets can be more effective but any business that wants to establish a brand online and engage with potential customers. Even B2B can find ways to market their businesses and show the world who they are and what they do.
@ChelseaKrost: Define who and where your target audience is on social media. Don’t just post to post – create a content strategy, build a content library, and post consistently. Provide value.
@amandabuccifit: Research what your audience is already engaging with, and put your magic dust on it. Think: Images are for eyeballs, captions are for connection, DMs are for relationship building. Think: Humans connect to humans. Take and post pictures of something who you’d go up to at a party when you’re posing for photos.
@thetalillama: Can’t stress this enough: stalk the trends in your space and get to know your audience through frequent questions and surveys. (this is why I use polls every day for a “question of the day” series on stories) oh, and test everything.
@CardozaGab:
- Listen (to audience, competitors, ect)
- Get creative
- Be consistent
Remember, captivating content leads to conversation. Capitalize on it… learn, add value, generate leads.
@ChelseaKrost: Use Instagram Highlights to help give you insight into what your audience likes most!
@amandabuccifit: Use topics your clients care about and are interested in. Think of them like YouTube channel playlists. Separate out what you do into sections – but be intentional, thinking of your end customer.
@CardozaGab:Get creative with IG Highlights:
- Polls
- Interviews
- Behind-the-scenes
- Contests
- Testimonials
- Share tips
- Collaborations
- UGC
Share your authentic voice + your USP (Unique Selling Proposition).
@ChelseaKrost: The Instagram Explore page feeds the needs of empowered customers, giving them the relevant content they crave based on posts that they’ve liked. The algorithm monitors how you interact and generates content that specifically syncs with how you use the app.
@amandabuccifit: The explore page is where people find content that provides them the best experience, i.e. the algorithm decides based on data gathered from the user. If your end customer already likes/engages with certain types of content, you sharing similar kinds will get you onto their explore page. #MarketResearch. Engaging content and distribution. Think lots of comments and shares fast, along with an engaging, curious, interesting image. Fitness Industry Example of a viral post:
Get inside of an engagement group – ideally people with similar size [of slightly bigger] followers, similar (with slight variances) niches. Engage with their posts – it will help cross promote your audiences.
@amandabuccifit: Continual app – IG story rants you can cut up into 15 second clips without having to stop and start! Instagram itself has been stepping its game up on the tools + editing front – especially in IG stories. I believe there’s something to be said for using what they have inside the app as well.
@thetalillama: I use Canva daily to make clean-looking graphics, Google Snap Speed for photo editing, and Instagram for hashtag searching.
@tschill86: I like to use Canva to enhance images and for creative video, InShot is a great app that lets you easily edit, add graphics, create the right IG canvas size, and easily post.
@amandabuccifit: [Engagement] Polls are the easiest way to get people to connect with and engage with you. It’s like performing a physical action is almost like a hug or handshake! Story Telling – sharing a lesson or teaching through a 6-10 story share, face to video. (Building A Storybrand Framework helps so much to keep it fluff-free). [Engagement] Sending to DM – starting a relationship is ALWAYS good long term ROI for your business.
@thetalillama: Stories are my favorite part of IG. Engagement: Sharing other users stories (newer feature), polls obviously, tagging locations, using 1-2 hashtags on stories, screens hotting DM conversations so your audience feels like they’re part of a larger conversation.
@tschill86: Use the right hashtags, locations, and polls. And actually tell a story. Create visually attractive stories with just words to tease the next story, ask a question that keeps them interested to view more. I know it’s just 15 seconds but you can get creative. I do a few PopQuiz stories where I ask a question, give hints, add clips of video, insert a poll, and answer question. About 3-4 videos and it plays pretty well.
@amandabuccifit: Ask your audience what they need and use THEIR words as you write. THINK – Story, Social Proof, Teachings, Opinions, Casual/Funny, Short Questions. Rinse and repeat. Keep a list of topics you think of when you’re feeling most inspired, connect to your audience, or problems you can solve. My best ideas come on planes, in the shower or on the toilet lol. The “turkey sandwich” method for captions: Bread = Hook, Cheese = Story, Meat = content, Bread = CTA.
@tschill86: Asking a question always works well because you’re instantly getting a reaction from your audience.
@ChelseaKrost: Want to spark Instagram comments…?
@amandabuccifit: Create content the end consumer gets value from. End of story. Research viral content in your niche and recreate it in your own way. Along with that, having an engagement group who will comment and engage with the post quickly. Question your belief surrounding the need for mass amounts of followers and likes. Focus on a PROFITABLE, connected following – not a mass one.
@thetalillama: For follower growth: get other accounts to repost your content! My stuff gets reposted daily and that brings in a steady stream of new eyes on my profile.
We hope that you will become part of our #MillennialTalk community on Tuesday’s at 8 pm EST.
