Instagram is one of the fastest growing online platforms that businesses are using to advertise and increase their brand and business visibility in today’s digital age.
It can be difficult enough to create an engaging stream of content, but once you’ve mastered this then the next step is to convert your followers into loyal clients!
In this blog, we’ll teach you how you can convert your Instagram followers into clients that will stick with and benefit your business in so many ways!
Let’s Talk Sales Funnel…
At a basic level, there are typically four stages to a sales funnel; if you weren’t aware these are: Awareness, Consideration, Conversion and Loyalty.
For a business to make revenue and convert customers into clients, a stellar sales funnel is absolutely necessary; here we will discuss some key content to include for each stage.
- Awareness
Optimise your Instagram bio: make an easy-to-follow purchase path’ (e.g. website links).
Create helpful and entertaining content (e.g. FAQ’s, product teasers etc.).
Add relevant hashtags to your posts, in order to drive discovery and engagement.
Partnerships with relevant influencers increases your business’ radius for awareness.
- Consideration
Share expert, tailored advice, in order to build credibility and trust.
Create tutorials videos/ posts to explain how your products/ service features work.
Allow customers to test your product for free, via trials or interactive/ in-person formats - this is what I have done myself with my Styled Stock subscription plans.
Run Traffic and Lead Generation campaigns (if it’s in the budget).
- Conversion
Use the ‘Instagram Shopping’ feature to show off products and drive purchases.
Create limited, time-restricted offers to generate excitement and drive purchasing behaviours.
Schedule ‘product drops’ and host ‘live shopping’ events on Instagram, to increase interest.
Run Conversion and Catalog Sales campaigns; marketing to past, current and future clients.
- Loyalty
Show your gratitude for your customers, involving related businesses and partnerships.
Share some ‘Customer Success Stories’; this helps to generate loyalty and interest.
Encourage your followers to share their own content (User Generated Content).
Run Remarketing campaigns to existing customers, turning one-timers into loyal fans.
Consider affiliate or rewards programmes for those who advocate one your behalf and drive new custom your way.
Content Creation – Uniqueness is the Key!
Do you know there’s one thing that will scare potential clients away the most? And that’s boring, repetitive content!
You want to keep your followers consistently engaged with relevant, informative and entertaining content – that’s constantly changing, in accordance with trends and what they’re interested in - although not so much that they can't keep up with you either.
Once you’ve achieved the hardest part: attracting their attention by standing out from the crowd, now you have to maintain it!
With the content that you create, you are endeavouring to nurture their interest and trust in your brand, encouraging them to make a purchase from you in the future – of which will result in them becoming a loyal customer.
Draw Your Audience in With Special Offers and Incentives
If there’s one thing that customers love most, it’s a special offer!
Advertising special promotions and offers will not only encourage users to act quickly and purchase from you – but it will also increase your overall engagement rate too, it’s a double whammy!
Moreover, encouraging followers to take part in organised contests, (for example, sharing photos of themselves with your new product), will also encourage them to purchase – as well as driving engagement in the long-run.
The thing to remember when trying to convert customers into clients is to never underestimate the importance of Instagram-only discounts or contests.
By creating a sense of urgency and excitement around your brand, users will be more inclined to interact with your brand and thus purchase from you – becoming engrossed in what you do, and remaining loyal as a result.
If you're wanting more advice on promotional content be sure to check out our Seasonal Promotion blog and Marketing Tips blog later after you've finished here!
Promote Your Customer Service: Warranties, Exchanges and Guarantees!
Customers can be sceptical about buying from a business, especially if they have never purchased from you in the past – they are reluctant to part with their hard-earned money, in case the product they receive is substandard and cannot be returned.
The best way to avoid this scepticism, and generate more clients, is to promote your policies regarding returns and refunds – if a customer sees that you offer a warranty or guarantee, then they know there’s a safety net in case their standards aren’t met.
For example, by posting about how a client has come in to have their product replaced, this will reassure your audience that your service quality is stellar – and your support is impeccable.
Always remember to advertise the fact that you offer these guarantees: to be able to convert customers into clients, they need to trust your brand and be reassured that they are buying into a quality service.
Maintain an Active Presence: You Need to Be Seen to Be Heard!
It’s no secret that you need to be active on Instagram to gain followers and generate clients – it may be a taxing process, but it is a necessary one.
Here are some simple ways that you can be seen to be active on Instagram:
Like, follow and interact with other similar influencers from your industry.
Reach out to followers individually: comment on their support, offer them a discount code or mention something you’ve noticed about them.
Respond to comments, tags, DM’s and other interactions from your followers: let them see that you’re interested in what they have to say.
Remember this necessary task, and commit to address these points each and every day when running your business.
Be Personal: Tell Your Story
By offering a unique insight into your business and brand, potential clients will see a new side of your business – encouraging them to purchase from you.
- Examples of Posts:
Behind-the-scenes of making a product.
Unpacking/ wrapping an order.
What your work is for that day.
Personal facts about you/ your business.
Your weekend/ weekday plans.
Moreover, posting these insights – about you, your daily life and business inner workings – will allow customers to see (and thus connect with) you and the human side of your business.
This is a vital thing that businesses need to use when advertising and marketing their brand: if a customer can engage with and identify with you and your business, then they are more likely to purchase from you.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article helpful – and are now ready to start converting your friendly followers into loyal clients that are excited to be a part of your business and brand.
If you want to develop and better your Instagram profile, then check out some of our other blogs on Instagram: ‘How to Promote Your Services on Instagram’ is a great one to check out after you’re done reading here!
Are you a small business owner?
If you're looking for some updated, personal branding shots to reflect you, your business and it's story... feel free to pop me a message or a call, and let's work together and why not sign up for our monthly business tips; they handily come through to your email – ready to be accessed from anywhere at any time, whenever you need them!
