Social media marketing has been increasingly gaining traction and popularity over the last couple of years. Trends are constantly changing, and it can become confusing to navigate all these platforms and their ever-changing features. So how can we utilize different social media strategies to increase reach, follower count, engagement, and sales? There are a few simple strategies you can implement into your social media posts, such as using hashtags, alt-text, geo-tags, trends, and other user tags. But what is the importance of these added features on your posts? Continue reading to learn more about the ins and outs of Instagram!
Hashtags
Hashtags are a great tool if you want to grow your account and boost your reach & engagement on Instagram. However, it is essential to not use irrelevant or too many hashtags as they may look spammy and inauthentic, and in fact can have a negative effect on your content.
One strategy is to start by choosing a high-traffic hashtag and then add other keywords to make it more specific and relevant to your content and brand.
Location/Geo-tags
Another function that can increase your social media reach is tagging locations on your posts. If your post is location-specific, be sure to add it even if it is just in the city or at a landmark/ building. People in your area who search on that location or landmark's landing page may stumble across your posts and end up checking out your page. Plus, your content may also appear on the discovery page alongside other posts tagged in your location.
Alt Text
We have talked about this before on our Instagram, but we want to reiterate just how important using alt-text can be. Alt-text is Instagram's version of search engine optimization (SEO), which is the description that's displayed when an image is uploaded on a web page. Thus if someone looks up something you tagged in alt-text on the explore page, your image will come up. Before you post your content, scroll down to advanced settings to add in some Alt Text.
Tagging other accounts and working with influencers
This is a simple way to reach more people and gain exposure. If another account is connected to your post, consider tagging them in the post to elevate your reach. If you decide to go the route of working with influencers, be sure to choose ones that align with your company's values, vision and make sense with your goals..
Following Trends
By hopping on trends (especially with reels), you can reach a greater audience with your organic content. People who search up a trending audio or video idea will come across your video and see your products in action. Trends allow businesses to break the boundaries of the market and find new audiences.
When trying to expand your social media reach, it is crucial to both engage with your target audience AND make compelling and creative content. Don't be afraid to try new things, experiment and play around with trends. Ultimately, you are more likely to end up creating engaging content if you are having fun producing it. However, if you are unsure how to create relevant content, Etched In Marketing can help with all your social media and content creation needs.
