Instagram Marketing Secrets: Millennial Entrepreneur Shares Four Proven Instagram Tips
By Haylee Winard, ShopExcessBaggage.com
With over 80 million users on Instagram, it is currently the hottest and most talked about social media forum. We all know that Instagram was sold to Facebook for a ton of money, but the app’s success has benefited many more companies than just Instagram and Facebook. Take for instance, my business, a multi-designer retail website shopexcessbaggage.com.
When I first signed up for Instagram, it wasn’t really being used as a promotional tool for businesses in the way that Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest were being used. Even with 80 million users, it still seems to be a relatively untapped market. Initially, I posted photos from my personal life, and much of my personal life is surrounded by shopexcessbaggage.com. I would post photos of new inventory, behind the scenes photos of our office and photoshoots, and photos of stuff I simply liked — food, LA scenery, etc. As my followers grew, I learned what they responded to and what turned them off. I found a balance that kept my followers engaged on Instagram while also sparking curiosity that drove them to my store’s website.
Immediately, the response was incredible. Within months I saw shopexcessbaggage.com‘s web traffic double, and then triple.
For businesses that want to use Instagram as a marketing tool, I have compiled my top four tips to finding Instagram success:
- Stay on Topic. Assess your demographic and determine what the focus of your Instagram should be, and make sure to stay on topic. Since shopexcessbaggage.com sells contemporary women’s clothing, I make sure to post things that my demographic will be drawn to such as nail art, travel photos, ‘outfit of the day’ pics, cupcakes, Los Angeles scenery, etc. Followers like when they know what to expect from someone they are following. If I were to post a photo of my favorite football team, I would definitely lose followers.
- Use Relevant Hashtags. Hashtags are your best friend on Instagram. Using hashtags will expose your Instagram to new potential followers. Make sure the hashtags are relevant. For example, if you are a local flower shop you would want to hashtag keywords such as #flowers #roses #lilac etc. This way people will be able to find you easier, and you will be attracting the right audience.
- Pay Attention to What Works. If you get more LIKES on photos that you post at night, don’t waste your time posting in the morning! Find out the time of day that your followers seem to be most engaged and stick to posting during that time frame. You want to get as many LIKES on a photo as possible, since this is what could land your image on the ‘Popular Page.’ Being on the ‘Popular Page’ guarantees hundreds to thousands of new followers.
- Don’t Flood a Newsfeed. Never post multiple photos in a row. Most Instagram users follow under 200 people, so if you post 5 photos in one hour, you have flooded their feed. This usually results in getting unfollowed.
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25-year-old entrepreneur Haylee Winard spent several years in the fashion industry before setting out to create a shopping destination that breaks all the rules. At the age of 20, she bought a one-way plane ticket and left Arizona to head to the city where fashion dreams come true – no, not NY – the other city where fashion dreams come true…. Los Angeles! Starting with next to nothing in her wallet, Haylee went on a mission to create an online retail store that offers all of its designer merchandise for up to 60% off every day of the year. Eventually, ShopExcessBaggage.com became an underground fashion sensation with customers buzzing over the opportunity to purchase the same labels found at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and Saks without paying the same price tag. Haylee resides in Studio City, CA.
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