Just like any other advertising opportunity, you’ll need to set goals for your business on Instagram to gain any real traction or results. Goals will give your business a direction. Without direction, putting your business on Instagram will be a fruitless endeavor that takes up valuable time. So take a moment to evaluate what you want to do with your Instagram account and start setting goals to achieve it. 

Setting Instagram Business Goals

Before you can set goals for your business on Instagram, you’ll need to set up an Instagram business account.

1. It’s recommended that you download the Instagram App for your phone. This can be done using the App Store for iOS, the Google Play store for Android, or the Windows Phone Store for a Windows phone. Install the app, then tap to open it.

2. Tap on Sign Up, then add your email address and tap next. If you want to sidestep this process, you can choose to log in with Facebook which will take your information from your Facebook account.

3. Find settings, then scroll down to Switch to Business Account.

4. Add important information for your business on Instagram, like your business hours, address, and phone number.

Setting Goals for Your Business on Instagram

Your business’s presence on Instagram should be driven by strategic goals. Find out what your business is hoping to achieve by using Instagram and set goals that will point you in the right direction.

Typical goals for your business on Instagram include:

• Increasing product sales
• Driving traffic to your website
• Increasing customer satisfaction
• Attracting top talent
• Increasing brand awareness
• Identifying and establishing relationships with influencers

Regardless of what you’re trying to achieve, your goals will need to be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.

Setting goals will be vital if you are hoping to build an active community and see actual results for your business. Your goals should cover four key things.

When to Post and How Often

Make a goal to maintain an organized posting schedule. You’ll want to be careful that you don’t overwhelm your followers with too many posts, but you’ll want to make sure that you post enough to have a presence.

The only way you’ll know what will work for your business on Instagram is to test out your posts by posting them at different intervals and times, then tracking the results. When you’ve figured out what works best for you, then create a shared content calendar to keep track of what’s going to be posted and when.

Content Themes

Having a few different content themes can help you to achieve different goals for your business on Instagram, and keep things interesting for your followers. The content themes that you choose will be specific to what your business is, but you can always integrate contests, staff stories, and pieces of your life into your main content themes.

Style Preferences

You should have a goal in mind for how you want your business to look on Instagram. Think about exactly how you want to come across. Will you have grammatical guidelines for your business’s posts? Can you use emojis in your captions? What kinds of photos will you post?

Creating style guidelines will cover all of the ways you want your business to be distinct and consistent.

Guidelines for Engagement

Figure out how and when your business will interact with other accounts on Instagram. This includes liking and commenting on other people’s photos. It also includes how your business will handle the incoming comments from your own account.

This is a process that cannot, and should not be automated. Keep your responses real and fresh.

A Few More Tips for Your Business on Instagram

Now that Instagram is no longer in its infancy, it offers a lot of exciting ways to get creative with your business account. Your business can share different attention-grabbing and interactive content that will set it apart from its competition.

Include Captions

Just because your Instagram account seems like it’s only about the visual content does not mean this is entirely the case. Don’t neglect the caption space that you’re given with each photo. This represents a huge opportunity for your business to share its story.

Instagram captions will allow you to expand your image and give it context. You can also choose to make your followers laugh or tie back your image to your business. There are unlimited ways to work your caption for your business which shouldn’t be ignored.

Create Video and Photo Albums

Instagram gives you the option to add up to 10 photos and videos to a single post. This gives your followers the opportunity to swipe through your post and see each piece of content.

These albums are an excellent opportunity for your business on Instagram because it allows you to combine your photos and videos to tell stories and convey your information in an engaging way.

Use Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to create FOMO (fear of missing out) for your business on Instagram. Featuring content and live broadcasting features that have a time limit on them, you’ll be able to draw more people into connecting with your content. Plus, Instagram Stories have over 250 million average daily users, a number that can not be ignored. Utilize these masses for your business on Instagram by taking some creative risks and creating attention-grabbing photos and videos.

SEE ALSO: How to Use Instagram Stories to Promote Your Digital Brand

Work with Influencers

There are going to be people on Instagram that are relevant to your business or industry. Reach out to them and start building a relationship. You can choose to give them control of your account for the day or ask if you can supply them with sponsored content for their account.

Working with an influencer will expose your business to their large Instagram community, which can pay off big time. Remember that working with Influencers may require an advertising bucket, especially if you choose to work with a more prominent Influencer. If you want to avoid this charge, try working with smaller influencers first.

Try Out Instagram Ads

Instagram ads can be an effective way to generate new business. Instagram ads can help you gain access to a huge, engaged audience. This can be great whether your goals are to help build brand awareness, get more website visits, or increase the downloads of your mobile app. Whatever your goals are, Instagram Ads can help you achieve them.

Optimize Your Business on Instagram

Sometimes creating a business account and having goals just isn’t enough. If you’re still struggling then go back over these personalization options and decide if they have been thoroughly optimized.

Username and Bio

Your username and bio on your Instagram account should match the other usernames you’ve created and branded on different social media profiles. You should also add a link to your website and a short bio about your business.

Your bio should explain what your business is about. It should also include what people can expect from your Instagram profile. If you’ve created a branded hashtag, this would be the best place to ask your followers to use it.

Profile Photo

Your business’s logo is an excellent option for your Instagram profile photo. You should also make it match your other social media profiles to create more discoverability. Having your photos match will make sure that people who are already following you on Twitter or Facebook will immediately recognize your brand.

Be a Follower

To have a real presence for your business on Instagram, you’ll have to follow other users. You should follow the influencers in our industry, your customers, and other people relevant to your brand.

Know exactly who you’re trying to target because Instagram demographics can vary widely. Searching industry hashtags can be beneficial for making your presence known on Instagram because it allows you to comment on photos and follow people who participate in relevant discussions. This type of participation can quickly expand your following on Instagram.

Promote Your Account

You should add your Instagram handle to your other social media profiles for cross-promotion. With cross-promotion, you can even send out a message to your existing followers on other networks to follow you on Instagram. This will also make your business more recognizable if people know where you’re located.

Final Thoughts

Setting goals for your business on Instagram doesn’t have to be a difficult process. This is all just another part of your digital brand, and as such, your goals should be the same or correlate. Any time you use your business’s name on social media or the internet you should have a goal in mind. Typically this has to do with getting your digital brand more recognition or growing your business. Whatever your goals are, keep them in mind and keep them fresh. Write them down and put them next to your computer. Don’t forget what your goals are. Use your goals to direct you and help you to find meaning in your social media interactions.

What brands do you like to follow on Instagram?