Is your Instagram marketing not working? Want to know where you make mistakes? In this article, we’re going to talk about the three most common mistakes that users make on Instagram.
1. Misuse of Instagram hashtags
In 2018, Instagram finally allowed hashtag clicks in the profile description from mobile devices.
Many people’s mistake was to dump a bunch of hashtags into their Instagram bio just like they did in their Twitter bio. There are several reasons why this is not a good idea.
First, the hashtags in your Instagram bio don’t affect your Instagram search results. This means that if someone searches for a keyword on Instagram, your bio (and any hashtags you add) won’t show up in the search results. The only fields that a search on Instagram scans are the “Name” and “User Name” fields.
Second, if you use popular Instagram hashtags or hashtags that lead to other people’s content, you are sending visitors away from your own content.
If you are a photographer using #Photography in your bio, clicking it takes people away from your profile to a gallery of millions of unrelated posts. There is no good reason to send people away from your bio like that.
Thirdly, the list of hashtags in the biography of Instagram looks amateurish and often repels new subscribers.
To avoid these problems, do not put hashtags in your biography. The exception to this is the use of a single brand hashtag that leads to content related to your brand or business.
2. Publishing without a content strategy
Too many people make the mistake of posting random content that doesn’t fit their strategy.
Instead of posting randomly or making assumptions about what content your audience needs, you should rely on your data to guide your strategy.
Take a look at your Instagram stats. Start by scrolling through your past content. It is necessary to compare and analyze the reaction of your audience to the type of media, topics and results.
Look for a common theme:
What visual content your audience is already reacting to;
Which topics have elicited responses;
• What do these posts have in common? Is there a particular filter, background or style your audience prefers?
Once you identify what works, turn successful posts into additional visual content using the same elements.
Let’s just say you are a nutrition coach. Your Instagram stats show that your audience likes health and fitness tips that show you how to eat right without starving, refusing to eat, and never snacking.
You could write a blog post about healthy ways to eat the foods you enjoy while losing weight. Instead of producing lots of disposable or random Instagram content, take a section of that post that fits your analytics findings and turn it into several visual pieces.
Focus on the benefit, solution and transformation your audience will feel.
Look at the data to tell a story, direct your strategy and expand your audience with a focused visual strategy.
3. Growth over engagement
People tend to think that more followers will mean more customers. But are you converting the followers you already have into customers?
You need to double your current audience and serve it well to turn current subscribers into customers. We need to go deep, not wide.
You need to understand why your current followers are following you.
Do you talk to your followers? Reply to every comment, speak to everyone in your direct messages and pay attention to every poll response.
How many comments have you left on other people’s accounts?
How many personal messages were sent?
If you want one comment, leave 10 comments on other accounts. If you need a private message, send 10 messages.
When you talk to your followers, then you understand them. When you understand them, you know how to talk to them. And when you talk to them, you know how to help them.
The next time you decide you need more customers, do not assume that means you need more followers. Instead, have substantial conversations with your existing audience and address their problems in ways that resonate with them.
In a sea of other accounts offering the same services or products as you, you will be the only choice for your audience because you understand them differently than others, talk to them differently and help them differently.
To automate Instagram profile promotion, use professional tools. We recommend reviewing their list here — Promotion in Instagram.
