With millions of active users and its focus on visual content, Instagram has become the go-to platform for showcasing your brand, engaging with potential customers, and driving sales. 

Even more, it has become a major source of income for many creators and the competition has become fiercer. Everyone wants to build a business on Instagram. But it’s only people who know the right things to do eventually succeed.

So, to make the most of your Instagram presence, here are some tips to help you;

1. Choose portrait form over landscape

Instagram is ultimately a visual platform more than anything else. This means for you to grow, your visuals need to be aligned to the system’s requirements. In this case is sharing visuals in portrait form rather than landscape.

Portrait images are tall and narrow, while landscape images are wide and short. Instagram’s default image size is square, but you can also post images in portrait or landscape orientation. The ideal portrait size for Instagram is 9:16. So make sure to shoot your videos in this size. 

Although both landscape and portrait orientations can be used on Instagram, it’s best to post in portrait size as it aligns with how your audience views content online. 

Why choose portrait over landscape?

• It’s more visually appealing: Since most people use their smartphones to access Instagram, portrait orientation images are visually more appealing and occupy more space on a smartphone screen.

• Enhance Storytelling: Portrait images on Instagram allow you to share your brand story in a more compelling way as the viewer can see more of the image in the portrait orientation.

• Better Engagement: Since Instagram stories and reels follow the portrait orientation, your images are likely to be displayed in the same manner which increases the engagement levels. With the launch of Instagram reels, vertical video has become the main mode of storytelling and you can tell your brand story uniquely and creatively.

2. Collaborate with other creators

Collaboration is important for growing on Instagram. It’s an excellent way to expand your exposure and reach. 

You can collaborate with other businesses and creators to create unique, engaging content promoting your brand and products. 

When considering a collaboration, one of the first and most important steps is identifying the right creators to partner with. This choice can significantly impact the success of your project and how it aligns with your brand’s goals.

Begin by defining your objectives. What do you hope to achieve? Do you want to increase your audience, improve your content quality, or tap into a new niche? This will help you narrow down your search and find creators who align with your mission.

Then check if the creators align with your brand’s values or share similar interests. When you both have something similar, it becomes easier to connect with each other’s audience and create content that will be well-received by your target audience

3. Share photos with faces

Another way to stand out on Instagram and increase your engagement is by sharing photos that include faces. People are naturally drawn to images of faces, and research shows that posts with faces receive 38% more likes and 32% more comments than posts without.

Of course, since it’s Instagram there’s the places of aesthetics and the need to make your page aesthetically pleasing. But as a business owner, aesthetics won’t pay the bills. 

So, whether it’s a picture of yourself or a happy customer using your product, ensure that every photo you post shows a person and evokes an emotion. You need it to build a deeper connection with your followers. 

Here are some tips for using photos to grow your online business on Instagram:

• Use high-quality photos – Make sure your photos are clear, bright, and in focus. Grainy or blurry photos can be a turnoff to potential followers.

• Showcase your products or services – If you’re promoting a product or service, use photos of people using it. This can help your audience envision themselves using the product and increase their desire to buy it.

• Show your team – If you have a team, introduce your team to your audience by sharing photos of them. This can help humanize your brand and make it easier for your followers to connect with you.

• Share user-generated content – Encourage your followers to share photos of themselves using your product or service. You can then repost these photos on your Instagram page, giving your followers a sense of community and connection with your brand.

SEE: How to Position Your Brand on Instagram for Sales

4. Engage with your audience 

You may have heard this severally but it works all the time. Let people know you appreciate them for engaging with your content. It also helps you build a community of people interested in what you have to offer. 

Here’s how it benefits you ; 

• Responding to comments and direct messages is a good way to build relationships and demonstrate to your followers that you respect their feedback.

• Likes and comments on other users’ posts, as well as collaboration with other businesses, can help you gain visibility and attract new followers.

• Who doesn’t enjoy a nice giveaway or competition? Hosting one on Instagram may be a fun and efficient method to generate awareness and attract potential customers to try your products or services.

In addition, always be authentic when responding to your audience online. People can tell when you’re just trying to sell them something or when you’re not being genuine, so aim to be honest and straightforward.

5. Leverage stories to show behind-the-scenes

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.

It helps your audience to see what happens in your business regularly and makes them trust you even further. It’s also an easy way to advertise your items naturally without being aggressive or spammy.

Conclusion

Growing your online business on Instagram can be easier by implementing these tips shared. Of course, growth doesn’t happen overnight, but by doing the right thing consistently, you can be sure of success.

So, go ahead to use any of these tips that work for you and refine your strategy as you grow.