How to Avoid the Most Common Instagram Marketing Mistakes

Are you trying to make your business or brand more successful by using Instagram?

Marketing on social media is fun and affordable (if not free, depending on your personal marketing skills), but it’s not as easy as it looks. Sure, some people have innate social media know-how, but for the average person, it takes making a few marketing mistakes before they find their rhythm.

We want to help you with your marketing efforts by talking about the most common Instagram marketing mistakes that newcomers make. Read on to learn more.

Read: Instagram for Small Business: How to Grow a Successful Profile

Common Instagram Marketing Mistakes

Improper Hashtag Use

Anyone who’s ever browsed social media platforms knows the importance of hashtags. Hashtags are words and phrases that you use to get your content in front of the eyes of the other people on your platform (in other words, your potential clients and customers).

Newcomers to small businesses or the marketing industry tend to make one of two problems.

First, they may choose not to use hashtags at all. They may see hashtags as frivolous or unnecessary. This is a huge misconception.

While hashtags aren’t as useful as they once were, hashtags are also how other people can get exposed to your page. For example, if you’re a Kansas City florist who wants to find local brides-to-be as customers, you’re going to use hashtags like #KCFlowers and #KCweddingflorist so brides who are browsing these tags will find you.

Other newcomers over-use hashtags. You can use up to thirty on any given post, but if you don’t use some strategy, you’re going to be killing your own marketing strategy.

Don’t put all of your hashtags in the caption of your photo. Either create space between your caption and the tags or put the tags in the comments. This way, the tags won’t be distracting.

Poor Timing

When are you trying to reach your audience?

There are several common timing mistakes that we see people make all the time. The first is that people are posting randomly and infrequently. How are you going to get attention if you’re only posting every once in a blue moon?

Other people swing too far on the other end and post nonstop. While this is better than never posting at all, it can also annoy your potential followers.

Read: 25+ Unbelievable Instagram Tips, Hacks & Features Everyone Should Know That

Make a posting routine. It’s helpful to set a schedule for your Instagram posts so you can have a hands-off experience. Aim for a time when your audience is likely to be browsing the web.

Not Putting The “Social” in “Social Media”

Too many people think that they can just set up a social media account, make some posts, and call it a day. This is a huge mistake.

Social media has “social” right in the name. If you’re not using your platform to connect with your potential customers, you’re not using it to its full potential.

People follow brands on social media because they like what the brands are doing. They want to engage with the killer content that the brands produce. People often use social media to ask questions or get more information.

If you want to drive up engagement, you have to interact with your followers. Reply to their comments, respond to their concerns, and consider reposting their posts about your business to your own story.

While you’re waiting for your engagement to boost your profile (and to get legitimate likes and comments), consider getting free Instagram likes for that initial boost.

Avoid These Instagram Marketing Mistakes

These marketing mistakes on Instagram are easy to avoid. Remember, social media is a real marketing tool, and you have to use it like one. That said, you can’t try to take the “social” out of social media if you want to be successful.

Keep these mistakes in mind and start tracking your Instagram metrics for marketing success!

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