Written by: Vanita Lee-Tatum, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
You know social media. You post content, your audience responds to it, and you experience slow but steady growth in followers. So what’s next?
Leveling up on social media is one of the keys to taking your business to new heights. Refocusing your content strategy will unlock your potential to expand your brand, grow your social media community, drive traction on your website, and increase sales.
In this article, we explore ways to unlock more growth opportunities and enhance your performance. Let’s start by conducting a social media audit! We’ve picked one of the most popular platforms today – Instagram – however, the strategies can be applied across ALL social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, etc. Read on!
1: Define Your Goals On Instagram
Define your goals using the SMART method. SMART, i.e., Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. ‘What do you want to achieve on Instagram’ is the first question to ask yourself. Is it the reach that you want to increase by a certain percentage at a certain timeline? Do you want to generate leads? Or boost conversions?
Goals could be any; make sure they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable (is it reasonable given your resources and bandwidth?), Relevant (does it support your long-term vision of success?), and time-bound. It is good to be ambitious while setting up a goal; however, it is equally important to be realistic. Setting reasonable goals is a stepping stone to success. So, be smart and make SMART decisions.
2: Content (Strategy) Remains Supreme
No matter how much we advance with tools and techniques on social media, great content will always be king. Are you using content pillars to guide your strategy? List them out! If not, it’s time to brainstorm. For the purpose of this article, I referred to a very helpful worksheet on Later, a popular social media content scheduling platform, for my Instagram audit. As a certified Later Product Pro, I advise you to level up on Instagram by implementing an effective reels strategy. Instagram reels have 2.35 billion active monthly users. There’s an immense opportunity to achieve your business goals through Instagram only by focusing on reels. Also, collaborating with influencers and other brands can help your Instagram grow.
3: Optimize Your Instagram Profile
Does your Instagram bio reflect what you do and who you target? From the profile picture to your bio to the quality of photographs and reels you post on Instagram, a lot could be optimized on your profile. Keep your bio spot on! Short and informative. Do not ignore Stories Highlights; they increase your brand value. Follow people within your target audience to check what they are up to and what you should focus on to cater to the content they love to see. Following competitors and other brands and occasionally engaging with their content can also help establish collaborative opportunities.
4: Streamline Your Workflow
When was the last time you worked on your Instagram workflow? An hour of working on your workflow strategy can save you hours further along. Your content creation strategy, posting schedule, and content distribution – all the steps you follow should align with your Instagram goal. Repurposing the existing content should be one of the things to include in your workflow strategy. Cross-promoting your content on other channels, engaging with followers, etc., also fall under streamlining your workflow.
5: Boost Your Growth With Analytics
Lastly, regularly track your account insights, content, and audience analytics. Analyzing the metrics is the only way to boost your Instagram growth because your professional dashboard mirrors what you do on the platform. What type of content is performing the best on your Instagram, what content is the audience primarily engaged in, and when are they most active? There are so many things that analytics give you, and it’s up to you how effectively you use your data!
Follow these 5 simple steps and your Instagram is guaranteed to SHINE! All the best!
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Vanita Lee-Tatum, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Vanita Lee-Tatum is a world-class business developer and strategy consultant, specializing in helping organizations and individuals grow their business potential. Drawing on her own experience as an entrepreneur and her financial skills honed as VP of Banking, Vanita inspires and ignites business owners to create financial growth by teaching them the business development skills needed to flourish. Dedicated to making an impact by sharing her knowledge and expertise to encourage business owners and entrepreneurs of all types, Vanita is a positive force of nature who clients and partners enjoy collaborating with.
