UPDATED November 2, 2023
Is your small business struggling to keep up with every new bell and whistle on Instagram? Are you a new small business that’s just getting started and wondering what you should even post on the platform? It can be overwhelming and I get it…You’re busy making cupcakes, or cutting hair, or measuring feet from each member of the local running team. But what if I told you that taking a picture and posting it on Instagram is a 15 to 45 second ordeal? What if we could share 12 Small Business Instagram tips to help you get started? You’re smiling right? Hold the high five till the end.
In this blog, we share 12 tips that most (if not all) small businesses can implement on Instagram.
12 Small Business Instagram tips
1. Pictures of brand new items for Instagram
This is obvious, right? It should be, but it’s also the most effective for driving current customers back into your shop. This surely works best with food, but it can also work well with places like jewelry stores, shoe stores, clothing boutiques, and even animal shelters. Pretty sure a picture of a puppy needing a home will get someone in their car.
2. Research Other Small Businesses on Instagram
It’s pretty simple to see what your competitors are doing through Instagram. Performing an audit is one of our biggest Small Business Instagram Tips. Even if THEY aren’t sharing pictures, their customers may be using Instagram to share their experience. Just toss in a few hashtags using their business name and in a few seconds you’ll have some new ideas and inspiration. Or you’ll find nothing, which means there is an even greater opportunity for you.
3. Research customer photographs on Instagram
Just like you can search out your competitors, you can also find out quickly what your customers think. Again, just toss in a hashtag with your business name and you’ll be amazed at what you find. A new Bad Rhino client of ours was pretty excited to see that many of his customers are posting pictures of his delicious frozen yogurt. See delicious example to the right. Cool thing with this is that you can now use these pictures on Facebook, in the store, or even on your fridge.
4. Post pictures of store hours to Instagram
Why not? Let your customers know in a creative way when you’re open and closed on regular days, as well as holidays or whenever weird hours come up. Use Instagram’s picture filtering tools to make your store hour sign look a bit more creative.
5. Pictures of the inside of your Small Business
Show people what they can expect on arrival. It’s amazing what a few pictures can do to increase someones comfort. And hey, the more comfortable they are, the longer they’ll stay.
6. Pictures of the outside of your location
This is just as, if not more important than showing off the inside. Maybe your store is in an odd location with a weird parking lot. You can now show your future customers exactly where to go and what to look for when they plan to visit. Everyone is happy.
7. Pictures of happy customers or events at your store
Pictures of a few people smiling at a table are just as effective as pictures of a large crowded event. After getting permission, ask a group of people enjoying a snack at your shop if it’s OK to take their picture and put it up on Instagram. They’ll be curious to see it and will start following you, sending it to their friends, and will now be able to see your every move. Don’t fear, cash is near.
8. Pictures of employees on Instagram
Feature an employee of the month or week if you dare. Your customers will like seeing their recognizable faces and your employees may let their friends know of their fame. This is one of the easiest and simplest Small Business Instagram Tips we can offer.
9. Run a contest through Instagram
Maybe your product is perfect visually so you’d like more pictures. Toss up some signage and let customers know that you’re running a contest on Instagram. There are many ways to go about it, but a simple way is to ask customers to take a picture of them with your product and tag the picture with something like #YourShopInstagramContest. You can then pick a random winner once the deadline to post is over. Simple, right?
10. Link to your Facebook page and Twitter account
One of the easier Small Business Instagram Tips is to make sure your existing communities see your work. You can simply link it to your business Twitter account and Facebook page. I remember how busy you are, a new batch of feet just walked into your shoe store so you might as well take a quick picture, Instagram it, and now you have an update for both Facebook and Twitter. How’s that feel?
11. Create Inspiring Reels about your Small Business
Not sure how to get started? Here’s some Small Business Instagram tips from the source!
12. Turn Instagram photos into wall art
Maybe the winning photo from a contest you ran is turned into an actual photo on your wall. Or maybe you’ve just found some really great customer photos when you were searching. You can use a service like Bumblejax to blow those photos up and make them legit artwork. You can even label the pictures with the username of the person responsible for taking the photo. Customers will love it and feel 250% closer to your brand.
Ready to learn more Small Business Instagram tips? Contact us here!
