(chill dance music) - Instagram isn't
what it used to be.
True. (bell dings)
Getting noticed on Instagram is a lot harder
than it used to be.
Also true. (bell dings)
Selling a product or service on Instagram
just isn't gonna work these days.
Not true. (alarm buzzes)
Yes, the world of social media has changed big time
over the last decade, but I would argue
that it's actually a great time
to take advantage of what these platforms,
Instagram in particular, can do for you
and your business.
In fact, if you aren't using Instagram as a tool
to promote your business, you might wanna get on that.
Hey everyone, it's Rimi.
Welcome back to the HubSpot channel.
In this video, I wanna walk through the steps
that you should take, if you want
to start selling on Instagram.
If you're running an online business
and you find this video helpful,
then make sure you're hitting the subscribe button
and click the notification bell to get notified
when we upload.
So I'm sure you've noticed
that Instagram has changed things up a bit lately.
They went from being a photo sharing app
to now rolling out new features
that cater more to businesses.
You can now market, sell your products,
and talk with your customers,
without ever having to leave the app.
Now that sounds great
and all, but first we have to talk
about actually getting followers
that turn into paying customers.
I'm gonna share five steps with you guys today,
that'll help you successfully start selling on Instagram.
Step number 1, use scarcity.
So using scarcity is probably one of the smartest things
that you can do to get people's attention
and make sales online.
This is one of those oldie, but goldie marketing tactics,
that never fails.
A great example of a company that does this is Trader Joe's.
So every year for fall season, you see everyone
and their mother running to Trader Joe's
to get their hands on their pumpkin spice everything,
I know, I definitely did.
People know that these pumpkin items are
only going to be in stores during the fall season,
and if they don't get them now,
they're gonna have to wait until next year.
Creating this sense of urgency
by using scarcity works like a charm,
no matter what you're selling,
because no one likes to feel FOMO.
Create promotions, sales, or offers
that have an expiration date,
so that people feel more enticed to buy what you're selling.
Step number 2, post consistently.
I'm sure you're tired of hearing the phrase,
"consistency is key", but it really is.
You have to come up with a strategy
and plan your content so
that you have weekly posts going out
and you're staying on people's timelines
and not being forgotten.
We actually just posted a video
all about creating a social media strategy,
so make sure to check that out if you haven't seen it,
and we even have a HubSpot Academy Course
that you can take for free that'll teach you even more
about building out a strategy for Instagram.
A really great tool that you can use
to keep rolling out content is
HubSpot's Instagram Templates for Business.
This is a free resource that'll make creating content
so much easier for you because you don't have to worry
about creating templates for your posts.
It includes 14 templates for feed posts
and then 8 templates for story posts.
All you have to do is plug in your copy
and that's it, you have 22 posts ready to use for Instagram.
I'll have the link to these templates below
in the description box, so make sure to check it out.
Instagram is a money-making machine.
They're constantly working with advertisers
to keep people on their app, so the more that you post,
the more you're helping Instagram reach
their business goals,
and the more that you do that,
the more likely they are to push your page
on their Explore page.
You help Instagram by posting consistently,
Instagram helps you.
Step number 3, create content
that people haven't seen before on the app.
Taking a photo of your product
and posting it just doesn't cut it these days,
and it's not gonna give you the results
that you're looking for.
People love to see new
and exciting content, so get as creative
as you possibly can get.
Right now, Instagram is really pushing Reels
because they're competing with TikTok.
These short form videos are a great way
to grow your following
and to also sell your products.
Let's say that you're selling clothes online.
Rather than just posting photos of different items
on a white backdrop, a cool idea
would be something like this.
- Oh no, I hope I don't fall. (upbeat dance music)
- A post like this is sure to make people stop
and stare.
It's super creative, you've got a cool transition,
cool music, and the clothes look pretty cool too.
Step number 4, add a human element behind your brand.
Do you guys remember Flo from Progressive,
or Jake from State Farm?
These characters are not only memorable,
but they were able to make something
as boring as insurance more fun
and interesting.
Even if you don't wanna have a character like Flo or Jake,
you can work with influencers,
or show your own employees, so that way,
people are seeing actual humans representing your brand,
instead of only seeing your company logo.
This is also a great way to be less salesy online,
but instead be more relatable.
Step number 5, customer service still matters on Instagram.
I don't know about you,
but there have been so many times
where I've messaged a company on Instagram,
only for them to ignore my message or leave me on read.
Not cool.
Responding to any comments, questions, concerns,
is huge in turning followers
into paying customers, (cash register dings)
especially if they're asking product-related questions.
It's a great opportunity for you to show that you care
and that you're on top of your business game.
It'll also make your brand really stand out,
because like I said, a lot of these pages don't respond.
Those are the five tips that I have for you guys today
on how to start selling on Instagram.
If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below
and make sure to give this video a thumbs up
if you enjoyed it.
Thank you guys so much for watching
and we'll see you in our next video.
Bye.
(chill dance music)