When it comes to Instagram, it is one of the most time consuming social media platforms. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, your focus is on the photography and content – anything old thing won’t do! There are five mistakes that many businesses make when it comes to using Instagram, whether you’re a B2B or B2C, Instagram is an extremely useful social media tool… when used correctly.

Are you guilty of these mistakes?

Links in Captions

There is only one way to use links in your Instagram marketing and that is in your profile. Unless you manage to get the swipe up story feature, the only way you can send people to your website and products is through that one link in your bio. Even if you place your link in your captions, comments or even as a short bit.ly link – it won’t work. There is NO copy and paste function, text isn’t clickable so NEVER put links in your captions.

It not only looks out of place and like a scheduled post but serves quite literally no purpose to your customers! When was the last time you copied a link letter for letter into Google?…

Solutions: Use a LinkTree account to have one link that goes to multiple hyperlinks. This means you can share everything from blogs, social media and service pages in one place.

Not using local hashtags

If your customer base is only ever going to be local, why not target locally? You have 30 hashtags to play within each post so make sure you utilise some local ones in that. There’s nothing wrong with using the bigger reach hashtags but also think about where your customers are. There is a hashtag for nearly everything and everywhere so get involved and follow your favourites.

Solutions: Use hashtags like #northamptonbusiness #northantslife #northamptonshire to target your local customers, connections and users.

Not geo-tagging your location

On a similar point to above, every Instagram post can hold a location. Locations are determined by facebook page submissions and landmarks. Once you’ve created your photo and got your caption ready. Ensure you tag in a location, do this for every single post you upload. Whether you want to share your shops location, a nearby landmark or even go larger with a town or county – make sure you do it. Why? People can search in locations, follow them and see what’s on in the area.

You’re hitting ANOTHER form of reach by including a location and if you share your shop or restaurant’s location, you can direct people to your business. It’s free to do so, so give it a try.

Solutions: We suggest sharing Northampton, Northamptonshire, Kettering or local towns. You don’t have to be somewhere super specific, just ensure you use the town and area in which you operate.

Lacking engagement with other profiles

If you are using Twitter or Facebook you could keep posting and never need to engage with your followers, users or other profiles. However, Instagram is a different game. You need to engage with other profiles, your followers and look like there’s a user behind the profile. That’s not suggesting you show your face if you’re a bigger business but don’t miss out on liking other’s photos, sharing images you’re tagged in and speaking to your audience.

People unfollow profiles that don’t serve them in engagement or interest so make sure to keep interest there!

Using word art on Instagram

Instagram was originally created as a photo sharing platform. Now, we see businesses utilise the platform from all manners of industries such as solicitors, restaurants, beauty salons, dentists and many more. With this comes a shift in content sharing but this doesn’t mean it’s purpose has changed.

AVOID using word-art (an image that isn’t a photo from a camera and with words on top) and only upload images taken by a camera. You can use your phone or a camera but just keep the word art to Facebook and Twitter. You will see so much more engagement from an actual image than word art due to the nature of the platform. Users aren’t looking for a generic stock image with some wording on top, they want to be inspired and interested. We’ve seen profiles we’ve worked with DOUBLE their reach in a day with a proper photo than word art – so consider what you’re uploading and why it’s not resulting in sales.

Solutions: Try it. Pictures speak a thousand words after all. 

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Are you making any of these mistakes? Need some help or a touch of Instagram consultancy? We’ve helped Northamptonshire businesses utilise the platform to create sales and engagement. Speak to us today.