9 Best Instagram Marketing Tips to Grow Your Brand in 2024

Every business or marketer who wants to stand out on Instagram needs some expert Instagram marketing tips to do so. Otherwise, the competition is just too tough and there is no dearth of marketers trying to reach the same consumers that you are.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms with over 1 billion active monthly users. And that is why it has emerged as an important social media marketing platform as well.

Brands and marketers can’t ignore the importance of Instagram as a marketing platform and are now embracing Instagram marketing.

And you should embrace it too.

However, it is not that easy to make your content stand out on Instagram as it is filled with visually-attractive and engaging content.

So, what can you do?

Let’s take a look.

How to Grow Your Brand on Instagram?

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can get more followers, boost your engagement, and grow your brand’s presence on Instagram.

Here are some actionable Instagram marketing tips for you:

1. Use Instagram Marketing Tools

Instagram marketing can be a time-consuming task.

Is there a short way out?

Yes

To streamline the process, I’ve got a simple Instagram marketing tip for you: leverage marketing tools.

Use Combin to boost the impact and performance of your Instagram marketing initiatives. It is a smart Instagram marketing tool that can help you increase your followers, enhance your Instagram engagement rate, and much more.

What else?

Here are some of its useful features:

• Smart Search – It lets you search for users using advanced search filters. You can perform single hashtag and location searches, as well as multi-query searches (using a combination of hashtags or hashtags and location tags).

• Audience Management – It also helps you manage all of your followers in one tab. And, you can send mass follow/unfollow requests and like and comment on your followers’ posts to enhance engagement.
• Advanced Filtration – This tool uses an advanced machine-learning powered user analysis feature to filter inefficient accounts. It can filter accounts not only based on demographics, but also on the basis of how efficient they are in terms of audience interaction.

So, you can use this tool to boost your Instagram marketing.

2. Switch to a Business Account and Use Instagram Insights

The first and most important thing that you need to do before you start your Instagram marketing is to switch to a business account. You simply can’t ignore this Instagram marketing tip if you want to create a killer marketing strategy.

Don’t know anything about business accounts on Instagram?

Well, let’s get you updated.

Similar to Facebook, Instagram also has a business account option that you can select from your account settings.

You can do that simply by going to your account settings and clicking on, “Switch to business account,” as shown below.

What difference will it make?

Why should you switch to a business account on Instagram?

Switching to a business account will offer you clear and immediate benefits like having a contact button through which customers can directly contact you.

Apart from that, you get access to free Instagram analytics that you can use to gain valuable customer insights. It provides a breakdown of your audience by demographics and gives you a detailed picture of who your audience is.

You can also measure the performance of your Instagram content and get detailed insights about your engagement rates.

Impressive, isn’t it?

3. Use Hashtags to Your Advantage

This is one of the most effective Instagram marketing tips that every brand or marketer should utilize. Running branded hashtag Instagram marketing campaigns takes your Instagram marketing to the next level and makes it much more effective.

How?

Using hashtags has many advantages. Here are some of them:

• It enhances the reach of your posts.
• It helps you reach a more relevant audience.
• It enhances the visibility of your posts.
• It makes it easier for you to track all of the content related to a particular Instagram marketing campaign.

You can use hashtags either specific to a marketing campaign or you can create a branded hashtag that you can use for all your marketing initiatives.

Looking for inspiration?

Take a look at this example:

For example, Lays ran a hashtag campaign during which they asked consumers to select their favorite flavors. They promoted all of their Instagram content, along with influencer content, using the hashtag, #DoUsaFlavor.

Image via Instagram

You can also use popular hashtags from your industry to reach a more relevant audience.

You can also use tools like Hashtagify and RiteTag to get hashtag suggestions and ideas. They will show you trending hashtags from your niche that you can target.

4. Post Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories have several benefits over normal posts and hence should be an integral part of any Instagram marketing campaign.

Not sure about why Instagram Stories are creating hype?

First of all, these are shown right at the top of any user’s feed and that’s why they are more prominent and visible than regular posts. Moreover, active Instagram users usually check their Stories every day, even if they might not see all posts from the pages that they follow.

What else?

Instagram Stories last for only 24 hours and don’t need to be as thoroughly crafted as regular posts. They don’t need to be consistent with your Instagram feed aesthetics, so you can experiment with them. They also don’t need to be very thorough and can be used to promote your posts or any other content.

There’s more.

Stories give you the option of displaying content in a carousel format, showing one picture after the other. This makes the Instagram Stories format a perfect way to tell a story or intrigue viewers by revealing one piece of information at a time.

For example, check out this Instagram Story that Starbucks posted during the 2018 holiday season. They used one Story after the other to engage their audience and disclose their holiday promotions.

Image via Instagram

5. Partner with Influencers

No list of Instagram marketing tips is complete without the mention of influencer marketing.

Why, you may ask?

Influencers can help you increase your reach and brand visibility and even drive conversions. Influencer marketing is very versatile and can help you boost your marketing efforts multifold.

You can collaborate with influencers for brand mentions, sponsored posts, product reviews, or simply to promote your other promotions. You can also collaborate with them to run a social awareness or social-cause-based marketing campaign aimed at improving your brand’s image.

How?

Check out the example below to understand it better:

Olay’s #faceanything (another good use of hashtags) campaign is a perfect example of this. In this campaign, the brand partnered with several women influencers to encourage women to be their authentic selves. Instead of promoting their products directly, they ran a campaign that women around the globe supported and joined.

Image via Instagram

6. Run Instagram Contests and Giveaways

When it comes to Instagram marketing tips, this one really is a no-brainer.

Why?

What are the benefits of running Instagram contests and giveaways campaigns?

Running contests and giveaways is a sure shot way of engaging customers and maximizing your content’s reach.

Since these contests usually require that the participants follow the brand and tag their friends, it also increases your follower base. If you want to maximize the reach of your contest further, you can collaborate with influencers and ask them to promote it.

Here’s an example of a brand collaborating with an influencer to promote their giveaway:

Image via Instagram

7. Post at the Right Times

When it comes to posting on Instagram,  here is another interesting Instagram marketing tip that, you should be more strategic about it and choose the right days and times to post your content.

So, which is the best day and time to post on Instagram?

According to a Sprout Social study, Wednesday is the best day to post on Instagram. And, 10 am to 11 am are the best times to post, but you can stretch that to 10 am to 3 pm throughout the week. That’s when you will get the maximum engagement and views on your Instagram content.

Image via Sprout Social

8. Leverage Instagram Ads

Instagram Ads are a good way to reach people that you could not have reached organically. Though it is a paid method, it is quite effective and helps you reach more people that fit your intended target consumer persona. (This makes it one of the most promising Instagram marketing tip out there.)

So, what’s the catch?

Out of all the above mentioned Instagram marketing tips, this one might require you to loosen your purse strings.

You can select the kind of audience you want to show your ads to and then target them more effectively.

Just ensure that your ads are engaging and created keeping your target audience in mind. And, always add a call-to-action to ensure that viewers have a way to reach your website or buy the displayed products.

Here’s an example of an Instagram Ad with a clear call-to-action along with the price and a high-quality product image.

9. Use Instagram Highlights the Right Way

Another amazing Instagram marketing tip is the Instagram Highlights, if leveraged right, can take your Instagram marketing to the next level.

How?

Highlights are shown right at the top and center of your Instagram profile and hence immediately grab your audience’s attention.

The best part is that this Instagram marketing tip is very easy to incorporate. With minimum effort, you can improve your Instagram marketing strategy.

Image via Instagram

There are several ways in which Highlights can help you with your Instagram marketing. You can use Instagram Highlights to:

• Showcase different product collections
• Launch new products and highlight them right the top
• Post pictures from events, behind-the-scenes action
• Answer FAQs

Here’s an example of a brand showcasing their new product collection via Instagram Highlights.

Image via Instagram

FAQs

Q1. How can I improve my Instagram marketing?

A. The following are tactics you can leverage to improve your Instagram marketing:

• Leverage Instagram marketing tools that streamline processes like search, audience management, etc.
• Start using a business account and leverage features such as the call button and analytics.
• Leverage relevant hashtags.
• Publish Stories, Reels, and IGTV videos.
• Partner with influencers.
• Run giveaways and contests.
• Post at optimum times.
• Use Instagram ads to reach more people.
• Leverage highlights to grab audience attention.
• Track performance and optimize.

Q2. How do you master Instagram marketing?

A. Use these tactics to master Instagram marketing:

• Open a business account.
• Define your goals and know your audience.
• Optimize your profile.
• Create quality and compelling visual content.
• Create a consistent aesthetic that helps with brand recognition.
• Incorporate informative, relevant, and entertaining captions.
• Use hashtags the right way.
• Leverage Stories and Reels.
• Go live.
• Engage your audience.
• Leverage features including filters, stickers, polls, questions, gift cards, etc.
• Experiment with Instagram ads.
• Partner with influencers.
• Post at the right time.

Q3. How can I market my Instagram for free?

A. The following are free ways to market your Instagram account:

• Have an optimized and public business profile.
• Cross-promote your account via email, other social accounts, and your website.
• Cross-share content on other social channels.
• Engage your audience.
• Ask for and share user-generated content.
• Publish visually captivating content consistently.
• Take polls or ask questions.
• Include relevant and branded hashtags.
• Leverage features such as Stories, Reels, Story Highlights, IGTV, and Instagram Live.
• Use Instagram to make announcements, launch products, and promote sales.
• Join conversations surrounding trending topics with relevant and quality content.

Q4. How do I grow my Instagram followers organically?

A. Use these tactics to grow your Instagram followers organically:

• Outline goals and know your audience.
• Create visually engaging content.
• Plan content and post consistently at ideal times.
• Benchmark competitors.
• Follow competitors’ followers.
• Encourage brand advocates and employees to share your content.
• Engage followers authentically.
• Promote your account on other social sites, your website, and via email.
• Use hashtags that drive engagement and conversions.
• Optimize your profile.
• Mention users and share user-generated content.
• Write creative captions.
• Host giveaways or contests.
• Optimize with insights.

Q5. What content should I post on Instagram?

A. The following are creative content ideas for your Instagram account:

• Run polls or ask questions.
• Share short tutorials.
• Share footage as you create products or of employees' work.
• Invite your audience to ask questions about your brand.
• Share great lessons, tips, and hacks.
• Interview thought leaders.
• Join trending conversations, challenges, or memes.
• Share audience-generated content.
• Use hashtags wisely.
• Humanize your brand by sharing mistakes and successes.
• Show before and after images after a client uses your product.
• Crosspost content from other social networks.
• Share influencer content.

Q6. What should I post first on Instagram?

A. For a personal account, publish a high-quality photo of yourself. Then, use an intriguing caption to introduce yourself, your interests, hobbies, and what followers should expect from your account. You can also ask your followers a question right from the start and get them talking.

For a business account, include an engaging image or video of either your brand, product, feedback, reviews, etc. Use a caption that tells followers what you offer and a call-to-action directing them to your website or asking people to follow you. Ensure your caption offers your target audience a reason to follow you.

Q7. Which type of page is best for Instagram?

A. Some of the best types of Instagram pages include those that deal with:

• Food
• Photography
• Printed products
• Fashion
• Baking
• DIY
• Travel
• Makeup
• Lifestyle
• Hairstyling
• Graphic design

Q8. How often should you post on Instagram?

A. Post consistently while ensuring your schedule falls in line with when your audience is online. Doing this improves the chances your audience gets used to seeing your content, thus increasing engagement.

Posting consistently also means they don't have to struggle to remember why they followed you or what your account is about.

Ultimately, try to post consistently at a pace you find comfortable. You should also only post when you have something valuable to offer.

Q9. What's the worst time to post on Instagram?

A. When your audience is not likely online.

Survey your audience and find out when they are most active. Post at different times of the day or week, then use your analytics to discover when you get the most engagement. You can also benchmark competitors to identify the times when they get the most engagement.

Also, only post when you have something valuable to say since posting poor quality or uninteresting content will give you less exposure and disappoint followers who see your post.

Q10. How many likes should I get with 1000 followers?

A. If you have genuine and engaged followers, then 1000 followers should give you about 50 to 100 and above likes for every post.

Conclusion

Instagram is one of the best platforms to grow your reach, visibility, and engagement. To stand out among your competitors, you can get creative with your Instagram Stories and Highlights.

What else?

It’s also a good idea to post at strategic times to ensure that your content is able to reach and engage maximum people.

Ready to ace the game of Instagram marketing?

Leverage the Instagram marketing tips we’ve discussed to get the best out of your marketing initiatives.

If you know of any other useful Instagram marketing tips, please share them with us in the comments section. We would love to hear from you.