Tag Archives: Instagram Marketing

Finding the Sweet Spot: Balancing Organic and Advertising Strategies on Instagram

Are you using Instagram to boost your brand’s online presence and wondering whether you should focus on organic content or invest in advertising?Instagram Marketing Tips

Well, you’re in the right place because today, we’re going to debunk the myth that it’s an either/or proposition. In fact, savvy Instagram marketers know that the real magic happens when you combine both organic and advertising strategies. It’s not a battle; it’s a beautiful synergy.

Let’s start with the basics. Organic content is the heart and soul of your Instagram presence. It’s what makes your brand relatable, human, and authentic. It’s those posts that you create without spending a dime on ads. These are the stories, images, and videos that tell your brand’s story and engage your followers. Now, here are some fantastic organic post ideas:

  1. Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks: Showcasing what goes on behind the scenes can humanize your brand. Whether it’s a peek into your office, the making of your product, or your team’s daily rituals, it lets your followers connect with you on a personal level.
  2. User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your product or service. Reposting UGC not only acknowledges your customers but also builds trust among potential buyers.
  3. Educational Content: Share informative and valuable content related to your industry. This not only positions you as an expert but also keeps your followers engaged. For instance, if you sell fitness equipment, you can post workout tips and nutrition advice.
  4. Inspirational Quotes: Inspirational quotes resonate with a wide audience. Find quotes that align with your brand’s values or industry and pair them with eye-catching visuals.
  5. Contests and Giveaways: Hosting contests or giveaways can rapidly increase engagement and follower count. Ensure that participants must follow your account and engage with the post to enter.

Advertising on Instagram

Now, let’s talk advertising. Instagram offers a powerful advertising platform that allows you to reach a highly targeted audience. These paid campaigns can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and drive conversions. Here are some advertising post ideas:

  1. Sponsored Posts: Promote your top-performing organic posts to a wider audience. This can help you gain more followers and increase engagement.
  2. Carousel Ads: These allow you to tell a story or showcase multiple products in a single ad. Use them to highlight the various features of your products or services.
  3. Video Ads: Video content is incredibly engaging. Use short videos to showcase your product in action, share customer testimonials, or tell a compelling brand story.
  4. Instagram Stories Ads: Take advantage of the Stories format to create immersive, full-screen ads. You can include interactive elements like polls and swipe-up links to drive traffic.
  5. Influencer Collaborations: Partner with influencers in your niche to promote your products or services. Influencers have a dedicated following, and their endorsement can boost your brand’s credibility.

Now, here’s the magic: these organic and advertising strategies aren’t at odds; they’re allies. They work together in harmony to elevate your Instagram game.

When you have a strong organic presence, it provides a foundation of authenticity and trust. People are more likely to engage with your ads if they’ve already interacted with your organic content and found value in it. Additionally, advertising can amplify your organic efforts by reaching a broader audience and driving targeted traffic to your profile.

Conversely, your advertising strategy can benefit from insights gained through organic posts. Analyzing which organic content performs well can inform your ad targeting and creative choices. It’s all about learning from your audience’s behavior.

Understanding marketing on Instagram isn’t an “either/or” scenario. It’s a dynamic blend of organic and advertising strategies working hand in hand. Your organic content humanizes your brand and builds trust, while advertising helps you reach a wider, more targeted audience. Together, they create a powerful marketing synergy that can take your Instagram presence to new heights. So, don’t choose between organic and advertising; choose both!

 

What is a Hashtag?

The goal of social media marketing is to “build your brand” and (ultimately) “sell more stuff.” One way to do this is to engage in online customer conversations. “Hashtags” are essentially the markers of “online conversations.” People who are talking about “organic food” will mark their conversations (on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok – primarily) with hashtags such as #organic or #organicfood or #natural. Continue reading

What is an Influencer & What is ‘Influencer Marketing’? NOT WHAT YOU THINK

People often ask, ‘What is an influencer?’ or ‘What is influencer marketing’ especially on Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok? Well, this question gets me a little ticked off because what you read on the blogosphere isn’t exactly what is going on in “real life.” Let’s investigate. Continue reading

How to Find Trending Hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Maybe Even Facebook

Hashtags, of course, are “topics” around which people talk, post, and share on social media. They began on Twitter, and now exist on nearly every social media network. If, for example, you want to see what people are saying about Tulsa, just go to Twitter (or Instagram) and type in #Tulsa. Or, it can be something that’s abstract, like #Globalwarming or something silly like #Spacealiensongs. If you’re not sure what a hashtag is, check out this article. Continue reading

JM Internet Announces New Word for Marketing: Twaggle

San Jose, California – August 20, 2018. The JM Internet Group (https://www.jm-seo.org/), a leader in books on SEO, Social Media Marketing, and AdWords for small business marketers, is proud to announce the creation of a new word for marketing, “Twaggle.” “Twaggle” is a key concept of the new book by Jason McDonald, The Marketing Book, now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format. Continue reading

Instafamous: Tips and Tricks for Marketing on Instagram

There’s that old quip about it taking something like “ten years” to be an “overnight sensation,” and anyone who has ever either had fame or pondered fame quickly realizes it’s very true. It takes knowledge, skill, perseverance and of course timing and “luck” to be an “overnight sensation” on anything, including Instagram. Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas about using Instagram to be “Instafamous.”

Updated: 7/29/2024 Continue reading

Instagram Basics for Business: Get Started with Instagram Marketing

Excerpted from the Social Media Marketing Workbook 2017.

Instagram is phone-first, meaning it is an app that really is meant to be enjoyed on the mobile phone. 99.9% of your users will use Instagram on the phone or tablet, and I doubt that many people even know you can access Instagram on the desktop (although you can). So get out your iPhone or Android Device and visit the Apple App Store or Google Play on your phone. Search for “Instagram App” and download and install the app if you haven’t already. For personal use, it’s best to use Instagram on your phone, and as a marketer I recommend that you do so so that you experience Instagram how it’s meant to be experienced, and how most of your users will experience your own brand. Continue reading