5 Clever Tips For Advertising On Instagram

They make it look so easy. Every day, you come across people with YouTube channels or other social media pages, and they have thousands if not hundreds of thousands, of followers, and you think: I could do that. Then you get into the actual process, find out a lot more goes into it than you realized, and you throw your hands up, slam the laptop screen closed, and walk away.

Did you know that an estimated 71% of businesses currently market on Instagram? If you're not one of them, getting started can feel overwhelming. Don't worry, we understand. That's why we did the research for you. You need advice on how to advertise on Instagram, and we're here to help. Here are five clever tips that might aid you on your way.

It's all about the hashtag

If "Isn't that a pound sign?" is the first question that popped into your head when you were initially introduced to the hashtag (#) fear not, you weren't the only one. Using the hashtag to signify groups all began with former Google developer Chris Messina. He used it as a way to bring people with common interests together. For example, using #Phillies at the end of a Tweet or comment about the Philadelphia team helps fans easily follow related posts. Create your own hashtags and inspire your fans or customers to use them whenever they post about your product or brand.

Show us, don't tell us

If this sounds like a cliche, that's because it is, but it has to be said here. When it comes to Instagram a picture really is worth a thousand words. Today's customers want to see your product more than they want to read about, according to new research. Between Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr an estimated 5,000 pictures are shared every second. That's a lot of pictures. Show off your photography skills and keep up with current marketing trends.

Call to action

One of the best ways to reel in your customers is through the use of CTA's or Call To Action buttons. You know, those links at the end of most blogs or articles that say things like "for more info" or "click here to learn more"? Those are CTA's. Use these to direct customers to your site for more traffic or try a "Shop Now" button to generate more sales.

It's okay to get emotional

We've already discussed that people prefer visual content, but that doesn't mean any picture will get the results you're looking for. Here's where you'll need to know your audience. According to Courtney Seiter, content marketing manager for Buffer, people experience four basic emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger or disgust. Understanding how to convey these feelings through your ads will significantly impact your sales. Is the sole purpose of an ad for weight loss to ridicule those with a few extra pounds overlapping their belts? Not exactly, but it definitely ignites fear or disgust and drives people to want to lose weight or keep it off. Emotional advertising, whether invoking happiness or sadness, works.

Does it make sense?

Above all, you should ask yourself this question every time you post an image representing your brand. If you're marketing sunglasses, for example, the images you use should represent them specifically, or at least an area where one might need or want to use sunglasses. We all love the infamous Starry Night, but using it in an Instagram ad might not help with selling polarized shades. Use images that make sense, beyond just aesthetically pleasing.