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How Your Business Can Take Advantage of Instagram to Boost Brand Awareness

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instagram for business
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To step up an effective social media marketing strategy, you have to consider the various opportunities on how you can connect with your target market on different platforms. Although Twitter and Facebook can be great when publishing company updates, Instagram is an excellent visual solution to inspire and captivate your audience.

Why use Instagram for brand awareness?

With over 700 million users, Instagram can be a powerful platform for businesses from a wide range of industries. But just like any kind of marketing out there, you have to ensure that you are taking the necessary steps to help you reach your goals. The more that you widen your following on Instagram, the larger your prospective sales will be. In this post, we are going to talk about how you can take advantage of Instagram to boost your brand awareness.

Brand personality should always be consistent

When you are just starting on Instagram, it might be quite tempting to post anything beautiful or interesting, but you cannot attain success if you are just posting randomly and without direction. For you to be able to succeed and widen your reach, you need to follow the same rules that go with any other kind of brand development.

You should have the right brand personality that prompts people to think of you as one of their peers. It also shows your human side. The same way that texts can go a long way in defining your brand personality, images can play a key role as well.

For instance, the photos that you post might tell a story; or the type of colors, filters, and imagery that you use can set a distinctive atmosphere. All of these play a role in showing your brand personality. But it is not just enough that you know your brand personality and incorporate it into your posts only when you feel like it. You need to step it up to show who you are as a brand.

Choose high-quality images wisely

When it comes to Instagram, aesthetics are crucial. Because it is a photo and video-sharing site, images are everything. Therefore, you need to adopt a general brand aesthetic in your account and then stick to it consistently.

Have you ever asked yourself why you are following someone on Instagram? Chances are, you are drawn to the interesting and excellent photography that they post, right? So upload high-quality photos on your account so that people will take notice as soon as they browse your page. See to it that the aesthetics you choose are authentic and directly related to your brand. Avoid switching filters too often, that way, you will maintain a consistent style and theme that people can follow.

Do a calendar for postings and stick to it

Although there isn’t a right or wrong way to publish your content, see to it that your feed is planned so that it is non-negotiable to your followers’ eyes! As we have mentioned previously, creating an Instagram aesthetic that is cohesive is one of the most effective things that you can do to level up your strategy, improve your following, and boost your engagement.

Also, if you want to come up with a feed that simply “wows,” then you need to start planning your posts at least two to three weeks in advance. But what about the posting times? Well, it mostly depends on your audience, because what works well for other accounts might not work well for you. One of the most effective ways to find out is to post and test. That way, you will know what works best for you in the long run.

Incorporate hashtags on IG posts

Hashtags are a great way to boost your exposure and create more engagement around your content. But it is also important to note that you should not abuse these hashtags and rely too much on them to get your point across. When you want to place something unique in your hashtag campaigns, hashtags are a great way to boost your brand. However, there are some rules that you have to keep in mind as well.

It is all about being STRICT. What we mean is:

  • Specific
  • Targeted
  • Relevant
  • Innovative 
  • Concise
  • Thoughtful

Do not just throw in hashtags for the sake of it. Instead, see them as a valuable tool that you can add in your social media arsenal.

Utilize Instagram story feature

Instagram Stories garnered about 100 million daily active users within just two months of its launch. But how can you use Stories to promote your business? Now, let us take a quick recap. What is it exactly? Well, it lets users collate photos and videos in slideshows which can be overlaid with texts, emojis, and graphics. Once a Story is uploaded, it will disappear after 24 hours. Meaning, it is only there for a limited period. Once it is gone, it is gone forever.

This gives you an excellent opportunity to be informal and even playful with your content. It is a unique way to take your audience behind the scenes, promote or host live events, and even hold Q & A sessions.

Instagram Stories gives you a fresh way to promote your brand, products, and services. Get it right and you can build loyalty among your followers and encourage future sales.

Constantly engage with your audience

The thing about Instagram and other social media platforms is that you need to be “social,” meaning you need to learn how to interact with your following. That’s why you need to make sure that you are taking the necessary steps to interact with your audience.

Engage with them by asking questions, joining conversations, and hosting fun contests to improve customer engagement. Holding contests boost your following, a great way to reward your existing customers, and attract more people to your page.

Instagram can be an excellent way to interact with your audience and boost your social media strategy. Just see to it that you are crafting the right posts to create better brand awareness and improve your revenue in the long run.

Bryan Mixon is the owner of AmazeLaw, one of top Instagram Advertising agencies and a website building for solo and small firm attorneys. Bryan has been building websites since 1999 and has spent his last four years helping companies like HubSpot, Mill33 and LivingSocial. Bryan knows first hand how difficult it can be for small business owners to get their digital marketing off the ground, so he built AmazeLaw as a super-simple place for solo attorneys to build their sites, collect leads and get on with their days of doing lawyerly things.

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Startups

5 Strategic Power Moves to Successfully Build Your Empire

Transitioning from idea to empire is a journey of strategic planning, execution, and constant evolution

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how to build your empire

The journey from a fledgling idea to a thriving empire is both exhilarating and daunting. The Startup Launchpad is not just a process but also a strategic framework that enables visionary entrepreneurs to become market leaders. This framework comprises five power moves, each a critical steppingstone in building a successful business.

These moves—Ideation, Business Plan, Online Presence, Strategic Marketing, and Launch and Growth—are the blueprint for turning aspirations into achievements. (more…)

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How to Avoid Startup Clichés and Buzzwords When Pitching Investors

Using jargon can make you sound like you’re trying to fill space instead of providing meaningful data

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How to pitch investors better

Entrepreneurs frequently seek startup funding through a variety of channels. Yet, none seem as challenging as successfully pitching to experienced investors. After all, investors are pressed for time and eager for opportunities. These characteristics make it challenging to motivate them, especially if you’re bombarding them with a pitch full of jargon. (more…)

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From Idea to Empire: 5 Power Moves for Your Startup to Thrive in Today’s Market

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial

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How to thrive in the startup market in 2024

As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that understanding market dynamics and choosing the right business model are crucial.

A few months into the startup, I was quick to gauge why it is necessary to go beyond the nuances of operational efficiency and the art of sustaining a business amid growing competition.

Collaboration is key.

The HR and the recruiting teams work with departments to foster a culture of collaboration, but what’s indispensable to business performance is the sync between the marketing and sales teams. What we’d consider as entrepreneurs is the need to ensure seamless collaboration to predict and achieve business goals together. In turn, this will help secure long-term recurring revenue for the business.

Besides, entrepreneurs need to focus on revenue as they gear up to take their startup from $0 to $1 million. The journey is filled with critical decisions, from identifying your target customer base to choosing the right funding strategy.

So, what next?

Read on… because here are five practical, results-driven strategies that you as a founder can implement to make a mark in their industry.

#1. Embrace the Lean Methodology

What is lean methodology?

It is all about pivoting resources to create more value for customers with fewer resources. 

This principle encourages you to be more agile and allow rapid iteration based on customer feedback rather than spending years perfecting a product before it hits the market.

Want to implement it?

Here’s what you can do.

Build “Measure-Learn” Loop: What I did was develop a minimum viable product (MVP), a simple version of the product. You can do the same since it allows you to start the learning process as quickly as possible. After launching MVP, measure how customers use it and learn from their behaviors and feedback.

Here’s what I can recommend here:

  • Identify the core features that solve your customers’ primary needs and focus solely on those to develop your MVP.
  • Know the feedback channels where early users can communicate their experiences, suggestions, and complaints.
  • Analyze user behavior and feedback to make informed product development and iteration decisions.

#2. Focus on Customer Development

Let’s talk about taking our startup to the next level. 

It’s not just about getting customers – it’s about really getting to know them. We need to dive into their world, understand their struggles, and see how our product or service can make a difference in their lives. 

It’s like we’re detectives, piecing together the puzzle of our business hypothesis by actually chatting with our customers

What would you ideally do here?

Understand Customer Segments: I’d say, start dividing your target market into segments and develop a deep understanding of each segment’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and pain points. The idea is to get into their shoes and really feel what they feel.

Ensure your Product Clicks: When starting up, think of what you offer and consider whether it clicks with what our customers need. My thought was “Does my product solve their problems? Does it make their day better?” Put yourself through a tough grilling session to show customers the value proposition and ensure that the product’s promise matches what our customers are looking for.

I’d recommend the following actions here:

  • Talk to them – through surveys, interviews, or even casual chats. The goal? To gather real, raw insights about what they need and expect.
  • Use the collected data to create detailed profiles for each type of customer. This way, everyone on our team really understood we were serving. I think this should help your startup as well.
  • Try out different versions of our product with a few customer groups. It’s all about feedback here – understanding if you’re hitting the mark or if we need to pivot.

#3. Foster a Data-Driven Culture

The digital world is highly data driven since it fuels key decisions in a startup. 

I believe it’s essential for us to build a data-driven culture. This means, you’ll move from making decisions based on hunches or assumptions. Instead, the focus should be on data analytics and insights to guide our strategies and improve our outcomes.

What can you do?

Use Data Analytics Tools: You should be using these tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data related to customer behavior, market trends, and our business operations. Here, consider the adoption of pipeline forecasting that leverages AI to find patterns in marketing data. 

In turn, you’ll get areas for improvement since it can analyze historical data and predict the outcome for you to plan your.

Action Items:

  • Pinpoint key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your business objectives and ensure they are measurable and actionable.
  • Next, you can consider training your team to understand and use data analytics tools. This might involve workshops or bringing in experts to build a data-savvy workforce.
  • Once everything is in place, regularly review data reports and dashboards. This gives us a clear picture of a startup’s health and helps adjust your strategies and predict future trends.

#4. Strengthen Your Financial Acumen

A good grip on financial skills is important to steer your business towards growth and making sure it stays on track. For this, you’ll have to understand the money side of things, which helps you manage your cash flow. Think of figuring out smart investment moves and sizing up any risks that come your way.

Here’s a tip on how you can get savvy with your finances.

Maintain Rigorous Financial Discipline: I’m really focused on cultivating a strong company culture, one that truly resonates with our mission. So, I’d suggest fostering open communication and encouraging a sense of ownership and collaboration among everyone in the team.

Action Items:

  • Get to know your financial statements inside out – I’m talking about the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. These are like the vital signs for your business’s financial health
  • Use financial forecasting that helps predict your future money moves. With this, you will have a heads-up on upcoming revenues, expenses, and how much cash you’ll need. Also, research on the available financial forecasting tools that can make predictions spot-on.
  • Don’t go at it alone. Regularly touch base with financial advisors or mentors. With them by your side, you’ll have a fresh perspective on your financial strategies to ensure you’re on the right path to hit your business goals.

5. Prioritize Team Building and Leadership Development

It is crucial to focus on building a solid team and developing strong leaders. This means putting our resources into the people who are going to propel our company forward. 

What you’ll aim for here?

Creating a culture where everyone collaborates and every team member has the chance to emerge as a leader.

What I would do:

Cultivate a Strong Company Culture: This culture should mirror our mission and foster open communication. It’s important that it encourages everyone to feel a sense of ownership and work together.

Invest in Leadership and Team Development: As founders, we’ll have to make way for opportunities for teams to enhance their skills, face new challenges, and grow in their careers.

Some concrete steps that you should consider taking:

  • Begin with clearly communicating your startup’s vision, mission, and values so that every team member is on the same page.
  • Conduct regular team-building activities and workshops to boost skills and strengthen a sense of unity and collaboration.
  • How about starting a mentorship program within our organization? The more experienced team members could guide and support the growth of newer or less experienced folks.
  • Alas… encourage feedback at all levels. We should keep striving to create an environment where open, honest communication is the norm and everyone feels safe to speak up.

I know it’s one thing to get your head around these ideas and quite another to actually make them a part of your everyday business life. But that’s where the real magic happens, right? It’s all in the doing. 

As a startup founder, this means more than just being a big dreamer. How about rolling up your sleeves to be the planner who pays attention to the smallest details. Ultimately, these tips and more tactics around it will help carve a leader in you who listens and cares and the learner who’s always ready to adapt

So, as you’re either starting out or moving forward on this entrepreneurial adventure, keep these practical tips right there.

May these be your guiding lights, helping you steer through the wild and exciting world of building a startup that’s not just a dream, but a thriving reality.

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12 Things I Learned in 12 Months of Working on My Startup

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Image Credit: Unsplash

A few weeks ago I launched my startup. It took exactly 12 months from the initial idea until the moment I saw my app in the App Store. And these were some of the most challenging, fun and exciting 12 months of my whole life. (more…)

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