Instagram Marketing Tips For Brands this Summer

Sahail Ashraf posted on 22 July 2022

This summer, your brand should be using Instagram in the best way possible. This means taking advantage of the better weather and the holiday feel. Here’s how to do it.

Instagram is a powerful place for brands to be. It is also a complex platform, and while the basic concepts are easy to grasp, it is not so easy to master the platform. In this post we will look at some of the tips and insights we think will help you dominate your space on Instagram in the months ahead.

Push video

There really is no excuse now. Videos are now more popular than any other Instagram Stories elements so if you’re not including video in your content, you’re losing.

The simple fact is that videos in Stories keep the audience engaged for longer than images. Now, while this does not mean you should be pumping out videos all day every day (quality control may suffer), it does mean that you have a clear focus on creating quality videos that will help to boost engagement. 

Spend time working out your video strategy and ensuring that you don’t get left behind. Video is absolutely crucial for your success on Instagram. And with the summer weather being the perfect backdrop to great video, now is definitely the time.

Authenticity

Just like with TikTok right now, brands should be producing more authentic videos. It’s the way Instagram is going and it’s what resonates with the audiences the most. 

What does this look like? Make your business profile more authentic this year instead of just posting “perfect” content. Increasingly, people want to see your brand’s human side.

Engagement

Working hard on community engagement isn’t just an extra, it is what informs Instagram and social media in general. It makes it buzz.

On top of that, if you don’t engage with your community, then you are not likely to make any headway. Instagram works on the promise that you engage, so as a brand you need to use the features the platform offers to boost your engagement.

In order to increase engagement, you can use Instagram’s Story features such as the question sticker. Engage your audiences actively with swipe up, learn more, see more, discover more, and tap the link.

Crack on with Reels

No matter what is going on with TikTok, or any other platform for that matter, Reels is not going anywhere. Brands should focus on using Reels to the fullest if they have a presence on Instagram. 

Being on Reels alongside all the other stuff you do shows flexibility and a commitment to reach your audience wherever they are. Make full use of the stickers and other engagement draws to really get the most out of the set up. And if you aren’t using Effects, you need to get on with that, because everyone else is. Even if you’re not the most dynamic and young brand out there, Effects makes a difference when you’re trying to create visual impact.

Use Link Stickers

A link sticker is an option for adding an external link to an Instagram Story. The sticker redirects people when they tap it.

Here is a guide for beginners:

1. Hold down your profile photo to add a story
2. Upload a photo or take one
3. Click on the Sticker icon at the top
4. Browse the sticker menu for the Link Sticker
5. Click on it
6. You can now add the link and tap ‘Done’
7. Tap to change colors and place it on the story as other stickers

It’s that simple.

Your story will be adorned with a white sticker with the URL of the link.

Clicking the link will redirect your followers away from Instagram to the destination page where they can interact with it.

Use analytics

Analytic tools are essential for measuring your overall performance and comparing your efforts against your competitors to create a successful Instagram content strategy. As a result, you’ll know if your marketing strategies are working and if not, what needs improving.

Instagram is all about the visuals, and with more and more people being outside and snapping photos and videos in the hotter months, your brand should be focused on seeing any spikes in engagement. The platform will be used more and there are plenty of marketing opportunities around stickers and other engagement tools that are fun and summer themed. Use your analytics to monitor what is working and what isn’t and take action on the dtaa.

This summer, use Instagram as it should be used, a space where images and videos can shine. Push engagement and embrace the mood and you should find that you have a successful summer on the platform.

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