Why do you want to sell on Instagram?

Before you say it’s because you want people to see you, here’s another quick question, “Why can’t they see you on Twitter or LinkedIn or Facebook?”

Let me help you.

Instagram is the easiest place to leverage visuals to control what your customers see and get them to buy from you. Everyone is selling on Instagram because if customers can’t see it, how will they buy it?

But here’s the twist.

Not everyone who posts on Instagram ends up making sales.

This is because Instagram, like every other platform, has its own algorithm. And to thrive on the platform, you need to have a good understanding of how the algorithm works and put your best foot forward. In this case, properly position your brand to attract sales.

In this blog post, we’ll share some tips on how to position your brand to attract sales on Instagram.

From building trust to creating compelling content, we’ll cover all the essential elements you need to know to take your brand to the next level on Instagram.

So, if you’re ready to increase your sales and grow your brand on Instagram, keep reading!

How to Position Your Business on Instagram To Attract Sales

Here are a few strategies to help you leverage the Instagram algorithm to make sales.

1. Optimize your profile

Your Instagram profile is the first thing people see when they visit your page. Hence, it’s important to ensure that it provides a clear and concise overview of your brand and what you offer.

Instagram name

The first thing to do is to decide on a name for your brand. Do you want to build your personal brand alongside your business brand? Then you can use your name. Otherwise, choose a befitting brand name that sells your brand.

It is important to, however, note that your Instagram name is not the same as your username. Your username is the name with the @ symbol, while your Instagram name is the one that follows it. As shown in the image below.

Make sure to include what your brand does in your name as much as you can. E.g “Beth | Instagram for Business”.

This is because people are on Instagram daily searching for pages of interest to them and for your page to be visible, you have to put in the right search term that your audience is looking for.

In this case, think of Instagram as a search engine and optimize using relevant keywords you want to be known for.

Profile picture

One of the key components of optimizing your Instagram profile is to use an appropriate profile picture.

Your profile picture should be a clear representation of your brand, such as your logo or a product image. This helps to create brand recognition and familiarity among potential customers.

Alternatively, as a creator, your profile picture can be a recognizable photo of you. Notice how we use the word “recognizable”? This is because a couple of creators fall under the Instagram “charm” where they are tempted to use filtered photos of themselves.

If you’re in this category, you can open a personal Instagram account to do so. But if you want to build a profitable brand that attracts sales, then use a recognizable picture.

Bio

Your Instagram bio is also crucial for attracting sales. Your bio should be short, snappy, and provide a clear understanding of your brand and what you offer.

It should also include relevant keywords and hashtags that make it easier for potential customers to find you when searching for relevant products or services.

A good way to create the ideal bio is to think about the major problems your target audience faces and present your brand as a solution to that problem.

For example, if you are a sales and marketing expert catering to SMEs, you can write your bio as “I help SMEs boost sales of their digital products.”

Here’s how Triciabiz, a renowned sales and marketing expert wrote her Instagram bio.

Next, you include a CTA that helps a first-timer take the necessary action. Here’s another bio example including a CTA.

2. Create high-quality content

Creating high-quality content is an essential part of positioning your business on Instagram to attract sales. Instagram is a visual platform, and the content you create needs to be visually appealing, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.

Use high-quality images and videos that showcase your products or services. You can also use Instagram’s various features like reels and stories to create engaging content.

Due to Instagram’s visual nature, the quality of your content directly impacts your ability to attract new followers, build a loyal community, and increase sales.

So, here are a few ways to create high-quality content.

Define your brand voice and visual aesthetic

Before you start creating content, it’s essential to define your brand voice and visual aesthetic. Your brand voice is the tone and personality you use to communicate with your audience.

Your visual aesthetic refers to the overall look and feel of your content. This includes your color scheme, image style, and overall visual style.

Your brand voice and visual aesthetic should align with your target audience’s interests and preferences.

For example, if you’re targeting a younger audience, you may want to use more bright, bold colors and fun, playful language in your captions.

If you’re targeting an older, more sophisticated audience, you may want to use more muted colors and a more formal tone in your captions.

Use high-quality images and videos

One of the most important aspects of creating high-quality content on Instagram is using high-quality images and videos. Instagram is a visual platform, and the quality of your content will determine how engaged your audience is with your content.

Use a high-quality camera to take your images or videos. If you’re using a smartphone, ensure that the lens is clean and free from smudges. Invest in a tripod to keep your camera steady and to create more professional-looking videos.

Ensure that your images and videos are properly lit. Natural lighting is often the best option, but you can also use artificial lighting to create a consistent look across your content. Avoid harsh shadows and overexposure, which can make your content look amateurish.

Be consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to creating high-quality content on Instagram. This includes the frequency of your posts, the style of your images, and the voice you use in your captions.

When you’re consistent, your followers will know what to expect from your brand, and they’ll be more likely to engage with your content.

Create a content calendar to plan your posts in advance. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you’re posting regularly.

Use a consistent color scheme and style for your images to create a cohesive look across your feed. Instagram shoppers are largely swayed by the look of your feed. So, ensure your feed is consistent with high-quality pictures and videos relevant to your brand.

Use Instagram features

Instagram offers a variety of features that can help you create high-quality content and engage with your audience. Some of these features include:

• Instagram Stories: Instagram stories are a great way to share behind-the-scenes content, promotions, and engaging visuals that may not fit with the style of your feed. Use stickers, GIFs, and other interactive elements to make your stories more engaging.

• Instagram Reels: Instagram reels are short videos that can be used to showcase your products or services in a creative way. Use music, filters, and text overlays to create engaging content that your audience will love. Play around with this feature.

3. Use hashtags

Using hashtags is an effective way to increase the visibility of your Instagram profile and attract sales.

It allows potential customers to discover your content when searching for relevant products or services. Hence, it’s important to choose hashtags that are relevant to your brand and your target audience.

You can also create your own branded hashtags to encourage user-generated content and increase engagement. You can use up to 30 hashtags per post, so make sure to choose them wisely.

For example, if you sell fitness products, you can use hashtags like #fitnessmotivation, #fitfam, or #fitlife to attract people interested in fitness. You can also use branded hashtags that are unique to your brand. For instance, Nike uses #justdoit to connect with their followers on Instagram.

Another strategy is to use popular hashtags can help increase your reach and attract new followers to your brand. You can use hashtags that are currently trending or popular among your target audience.

For example, if you are a fashion brand, you can use hashtags like #fashionblogger or #ootd (outfit of the day) to attract followers who are interested in fashion.

You can also participate in hashtag challenges to engage with your followers and promote your brand on Instagram.

Hashtag challenges are popular among Instagram users and can help increase your reach and engagement. For example, the #10yearchallenge or #tbt (throwback Thursday) challenges are some hashtags to use.

4. Engage with your followers

Engaging with your followers on Instagram is a crucial aspect of building a strong brand presence and attracting sales.

Take the time to learn more about your audience and what they’re interested in. Use this information to create content that resonates with them and keeps them engaged with your brand.

Here are some strategies to help you engage with your followers.

Respond to comments and direct messages

Respond to comments and direct messages promptly. Engage with your followers by asking for their opinions or feedback. This will help build trust and strengthen your relationship with them.

Bolaji Ajibare, also known as The Social Media Oga, shared a story of how responding to comments on one of Salem King’s posts, earned her 1000 new followers.

When responding to comments and direct messages, be sure to provide valuable information, answer questions, and thank your followers for their support.

Host Instagram live sessions

Instagram Live is a great way to engage with your followers in real time. By hosting live sessions, you can showcase your products, provide expert advice, and answer questions from your followers. This can help you build a personal connection with your followers, which can lead to increased trust and brand loyalty.

Leverage Instagram stories

Instagram stories are a great way to engage with your followers and provide a behind-the-scenes look at your brand. You can use Instagram stories to showcase your products, share customer reviews, or offer exclusive discounts to your followers. You can also use it to build a personal connection with your followers and keep them engaged with your brand.

Personalize your content

By using relatable language and showcasing your brand’s personality, you can build a loyal community that is more likely to make purchases from your brand. This can help you stand out from your competitors and attract new customers.

By actively responding to comments, and direct messages, and creating meaningful interactions with your followers, you can build a loyal community that is more likely to make purchases from your brand.

Organize Instagram contests and giveaways

Running Instagram contests and giveaways is a great way to boost engagement with your audience. By offering prizes or exclusive discounts, you can encourage your followers to engage with your brand and share your content with their followers. This can lead to increased brand awareness and sales.

5. Run Instagram ads

Instagram ads can be a powerful tool to attract sales. You can create targeted ads that reach your ideal customer based on demographics, interests, and behavior.

You can create ads that showcase your products or services and include a clear call-to-action that encourages users to visit your website or make a purchase. Make sure your ad content is visually appealing and has a clear call to action.

Here are some tips to help you run ads that convert.

• Set clear objectives: Whether it’s to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or increase sales, having clear objectives will help you create effective ads that align with your goals.
• Know your target audience: To create effective Instagram ads, you need to know your target audience. This involves understanding their demographics, interests, and behaviors. This helps you to create ads that resonate with them and encourage them to take action.
• Use eye-catching visuals: Use high-quality images and videos that capture the attention of your target audience and showcase your products or services in the best possible way.
• Write compelling copy: Your ad copy should be compelling and persuasive. Use clear and concise language that highlights the benefits of your products or services and encourages people to take action.
• Include a clear call-to-action: Your Instagram ads should include a clear call-to-action (CTA) that tells people what action to take. Whether it’s to visit your website, make a purchase, or sign up for your newsletter, a clear CTA will help you convert potential customers into paying customers.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms with over 1 billion monthly active users, making it an excellent platform for you to showcase your brand and attract potential customers.

6. Collaborate with influencers

Collaborating with influencers has become one of the easiest ways to position your brand for sales on Instagram.

However, it’s easy to move in the wrong direction by seeking influencers with a large following. When working with influencers, a rule of thumb is to find influencers in your niche and collaborate with them to promote your products or services.

In this case, you can find other creators within your niche and partner with them to create content promoting your products.

Here are some tips to help you work the right influencers for your products;

• Look for influencers who are in your niche or industry. This will ensure that their followers are likely to be interested in your product or service.
• Check for engagements on their posts. Influencers with high levels of engagement indicate that their followers are actively engaging with their content and will be more likely to engage with your brand.
• Look out for influencers who have a large reach or following. This will ensure that your brand is able to reach a large number of people.
• Check for influencers who are authentic and genuine. This will help to build credibility and trust for your brand.
• Work with influencers who have a good reputation. This will ensure that your brand is associated with influencers who are respected and trusted by their followers.

By partnering with influencers who align with your brand values and target audience, you can create authentic content that resonates with your followers and ultimately attracts sales.

7. Maximize all of Instagram’s features

Another important aspect of positioning your brand to attract sales on Instagram is using Instagram’s features to their full potential.

For example, Instagram stories are an effective way to showcase your brand and products to a wider audience. You can use stories to highlight new products, offer exclusive promotions, and give followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business.

Instagram reels are another feature that can help you attract sales. Reels allow you to create short, engaging videos that can be used to showcase your products or services in a fun and creative way.

You can also use reels to provide educational content that helps to establish your brand as an authority in your niche.

Instagram shopping allows you to tag products in your posts and stories, making it easy for customers to purchase them directly from the app.

This feature helps to streamline the purchasing process and can lead to increased sales and revenue for your business. If available to you, make sure to set up an Instagram shop and tag your products in your posts.

Leveraging Instagram’s features to their full potential helps you to create a strong presence on the platform that drives sales and growth for your business.

8. Show that you’re trustworthy

Selling on Instagram has grown popular over the years. But, with this increasing popularity is an increasing number of fraudulent merchants.

Since Instagram has no clear systems in place to prevent fraud, it’s up to you to convince potential customers that you are trustworthy and can be held accountable.

Here are a few ways to show trustworthiness and position your brand for sales.

• Be authentic: Make sure that your messaging and content reflect your brand’s identity and don’t try to be something you’re not.

• Provide value: To attract sales, you need to provide value to your audience. This means creating content that is informative, entertaining, or educational. By providing value, you show your audience that you care about them and their needs.

• Show feedback from previous customers on how your product/service has helped them. Include reviews from those who were skeptical about buying your product at first and how they were convinced.
• Be transparent: Honesty and transparency are essential to building trust with customers. Be upfront about your products or services, pricing, and policies. If there are any issues, address them openly and take responsibility for them.

SEE: 5 Tips for Growing Your Online Business on Instagram

Ready to position your brand on Instagram?

Yes, you are. Positioning your brand on Instagram requires a strategic and thoughtful approach which has been highlighted in this article.

But it’s important to define your brand’s unique value proposition and use that to guide your content strategy, including the type of content you post, the visual style and tone you use, and the hashtags, and keywords you use to make your content discoverable.

Consistency is key, so if you want to be visible, you have to be consistent. And while you’re at it, host your products on Selar to enjoy the ease of managing an online business.

You can start by hosting your ebook for FREE.