January 15, 2020 
If you are thinking about adding Instagram to your social media marketing this year or giving it more attention, then you are on the right track! Instagram has been on the rise since its launch in 2010, and there is no reason for that momentum to slow any time soon.
Despite some perceived drawbacks, Instagram is surpassing other social media platforms with the most engaged users. In 2019, there were over 1 billion monthly active Instagram users. Instagram is the most engaged network after Facebook. There is no time like the present to take advantage of the opportunities Instagram has to offer.
Before you dive into Instagram, take some time to learn how to market your brand across Instagram correctly, plus discover how your business can benefit from the platform with these pointers below.
OPTIMIZE YOUR INSTAGRAM BUSINESS ACCOUNT
Convert to a Business Account
If your company is on Instagram as a personal account, there are benefits to converting it to a business account. If you don’t have an Instagram account, use the “Sign up” button to create a new account and designate it as a business account.
Keep your Business Name, Photo & Bio Consistent
Make your account easy for your customers to find and recognize. Use your logo and the same name that you use on other social media platforms, if possible. Keep your audience in mind when drafting your bio.
Use The Link In Your Bio To Generate Leads
Use a specific landing page just for Instagram, instead of your homepage. Customize the landing page for Instagram users. Your bio link can be updated anytime as well as your landing page. Change these elements to drive traffic to your latest video, event listing, product promo, contest, or blog.
PRODUCE VALUABLE AND ENGAGING INSTAGRAM CONTENT
Instagram is completely visual. To master this platform, you need to have a mixture of creativity, imagination, originality, and enthusiasm in every post and video you upload.
Experiment With a Variety of Content
Use photos and videos to tell your company story. Highlight products and services, employees, and shine a light on the less formal side of your business. When you humanize your brand, you create stronger connections with customers.
REACH LARGER AUDIENCES AND INCREASE BRAND AWARENESS WITH INSTAGRAM TOOLS
Use Instagram tools to make connecting with the desired audience a breeze. Scoop up more customers with tools like Location, Hashtags, Tags, Mentions, Search, and Explore.
MAXIMIZE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT TO ESTABLISH LOYAL INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
Building loyalty takes more than sharing pretty pictures. Satisfying interactions with your followers means that you have a plan in place for creating meaningful conversations, answering questions, and acknowledging your followers. This is called Engagement. Converting a casual searcher into a follower, a fan and then a customer will take some effort. Also, following influencers in your sphere and engaging with them, can also have a beneficial impact on your brand.
REVIEW AND ANALYZE INSTAGRAM INSIGHTS TO IMPROVE STRATEGY
Instagram Insights is a free tool within Instagram that allows you to learn more about your audience, how well your content is performing, as well as other information on your profile.
As you can see, Instagram is a whole world unto itself. You want to create an optimized account that is designed to capture new leads. Once your account is established, deliver quality content and variety to connect with your audience. Get familiar with Instagram tools to broaden your reach and don’t forget to engage with all of your followers in a timely manner. Finally, use Instagram Insights to give you the real story on what your customers like, what is working and what is not.
Written by Tomo360’s Digital Marketing Specialist, Kelly Mahoney.