Developing a store on Instagram is perhaps one of the fastest-growing ways to make money online today. While it’s a widely effective platform for developing a brand and start selling, it’s also something that takes quite a bit of investment into in order to be competitive. Which, if this has always been something you’ve wanted to do, then luckily for you, we’ve broken down the basics of how to get started. Check them out below:
Acquiring the Proper Tools
As a lot of doing well on Instagram is knowing how to work within the numbers, you’ve got to have the proper tools in place to ensure you’re not only hitting the metrics you want but steadily improving towards the future. Whether it’s how to buy Instagram likes or looking at how to start gauging your metrics in different terms, having the proper Instagram tools is a clutch. However, knowing which ones your business might need can be somewhat boggling.
In looking at the size of your business and what’s necessary for it to succeed, jot down the basic necessities; for example, a photo-editing software, a design platform, or even a way for you to track analytics. Depending on your skill set, one of the most important things is to take into account where you’re lacking versus how that can be improved; including if there’s any software that might be a little easier for you to adapt to.
As you start digging through certain tools around the web, be mindful of the ROI you’re getting for what you pay too; for example, sometimes analytics platforms are priced out to more of an enterprise-level, whereas paying for just a small mom and the pop Instagram store would be too much of an expense. Finally, if you’re looking to direct buying, always implement a link service like Linktree or LinkInBio, providing your customers with the chance to dive into what you’re delivering without having to click around too much.
Establishing A Strong Brand
If you’re aiming to have a store that people are going to seriously consider buying from, then it needs to have a strong brand behind it that’s worth gravitating towards. As a lot of the power behind your curation is going to come from those who respect what you’re about, a lot of that’s going to come from high quality your brand is.
No matter if you’re selling clothes, home goods, or even bouquets, the first thing any customer you’re trying to attract will see is your logo and brand. And if you’re trying to garner more respect towards and foot traffic based on your profile picture, then a lot of that starts with your brand.
In looking at your brand, ask yourself what you feel like the general image of it represents, as well as how you’d describe it in one sentence to someone. What type of tone do you feel like it has? What would someone’s first impression of it be? Compiling answers to questions like this will not only help you gauge how outsiders view your brand but how you can improve to make it more multi-faceted and well received by a variety of customers.
As branding doesn’t come overnight, taking the time to really invest in this and bring on the right designers will be crucial, especially if you’re trying to become a brand that people pledge allegiance to for years to come.
Working With The Right Influencers
Influencer culture is abundant on Instagram, and a big reason is why the return they bring to marketing teams. With influencers, the results can range from paying for someone with only 10,000 followers but a high return rate for the niche audience they have in a particular metro area to someone with 100,000 followers who are bound to help your brand go viral.
The biggest consideration you should make with influencers is what type of ROI you’re looking for, which all starts with you want to approach them with your store.
Starting out, it’s wise to go after influencers within a reasonable grasp compared to your brand size. For example, if my brand has around 2,000 followers, then going to an influencer around 10,000 to 12,000 is the highest I’d go while still feeling like what I was delivering is worth the effort (unless of course your base is of a highly engaged, specific group of a subculture).
Additionally, knowing what type of budget you’re willing to spend, as well as having the influencer show numbers on their end as well is also important, giving you insights into what exactly the nuts and bolts of the campaign will look like. Ultimately, linking with the right influencer will be an organic fit, as one that will help you build into a more successful reliant base overall.
Giving Yourself Enough Time To Develop Content
With your foundation in place, the most vital step to really having an Instagram store is starting to develop content around your products.
This involves not only having the proper pieces in place such as a consistent place to take photos, editing software, and a direct method to sell it, but also knowing which products are going to go out and why. A big part of your selection for certain products will come down to what season they’re in, as well as what’s been a successful seller before. Which, the best way to organize all of that is with a content calendar.
In your content calendar, the goal is to establish what dates things are going to be produced, edited, and shipped. For example, if I have a spring line coming up, then looking at what dates I want to be dropping products based upon what previous days during the week have been the most successful for previous launches.
Additionally, looking at what time I should be posting, as well as even what demographic my store should try to breach with each post first as well (I.E.: If men or women respond first to postings). All-in-all, developing a method to your content distribution will take time, but can also lead to the best results towards gaining more engagement.