Instagram has proven to be a great place for companies and business owners to advertise. There are a lot of people on Instagram, that give you the opportunity to increase your brand’s visibility, increase brand awareness, and engage with your customers. As of June 2018, there were a billion, monthly active users on Instagram and the number is expected to increase this year, but there’s a question in every businessman’s mind, what are the reasons for using Instagram for business?

Creating a business account on Instagram seems like an easy choice to help boost your company’s revenue because you have the ability to reach so many people. You can create stories that are relatable for your target audience using photos and videos, in addition to partnering with influencers who will increase your brand’s visibility. Currently, the latest technology is so good, people can purchase your products directly through the app.

If you are not on Instagram and have considered setting up a business account, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does my target audience have an Instagram account?

This is the most important question to ask yourself. According to the recent data on the distribution of Instagram users, the majority of users were between eighteen to forty-four years-old. Just fifteen percent of people on Instagram were over the age of forty-five, and only two percent of people on Instagram were sixty-five years of age or older. This means you have to do your research and figure out the age of your ideal target market.

2. Can I upload photos and videos using a desktop?

The sole purpose of the Instagram app is to share pictures seamlessly via phone. You need to use the app primarily from your phone. It is difficult and time-consuming to upload videos or photos from a desktop. The desktop version of Instagram doesn’t give you the same view as the phone app, so you won’t have an accurate reality of what you are presenting to your target audience.

3. What type of content should I post?

Instagram for business was designed for brief messages, photos, and videos. Reading a lot of text on a smartphone isn’t easy for the eyes or quick to do. There are a lot of other platforms to share content such as your own website, or even Facebook. You will lose followers if you post anything with a lot of content. A picture is worth a thousand words.

4. How much does it cost to advertise on Instagram?

The cost to advertise on this social media platform is more than the cost to advertise on Twitter or Facebook, which owns Instagram. While Instagram for business advertising campaigns can be extremely successful, keep in mind Instagram charges advertisers a cost-per-thousand impression (CPM).

Each click could cost you as much as two dollars. If your ad had millions of views, you spent millions of dollars on your ad campaign, but don’t fret. Instagram allows advertisers to set a budget for spending just like you can for Facebook.

5. What should the post be like?

You can share photos or videos that are created to be entertaining or educational, so your brand will be remembered when people are in the initial stages of the buyer’s cycle.

Some people don’t feel comfortable shopping or making purchases on Instagram. So whenever you’re posting on Instagram, try to keep your post neutral and give the user a natural feel. As such, this is an opportunity to focus on building your brand awareness.

It is very important to question what to post on Instagram because one post can decide your business status. Think wisely before posting and be creative as much as you can.

If you would like to contact Dignitas Digital, a leading digital agency in Philadelphia and get more information about advertising on social media, send an email to hello@dignitas.digital.