You will be aware of Instagram as a social media platform these days, and possibly even use it yourself to share images and news about your daily life, your latest holiday and times with loved ones. But did you know it’s a great platform for letting people know more about your health practice or clinic? In this blog we’ll share tips for how to use Instagram to promote your business.
How does Instagram work?
Users of the social media app Instagram can post videos and photographs to their followers, with filters and other tools used to edit posts before they are uploaded. Instagram is also used by businesses to post pictures and videos of their goods and services, behind-the-scenes images, and customer reviews. It’s a good way to reach a larger audience and engage with potential customers.
For example, hashtags can be used to reach a wide audience. If you’re a homeopath posting about how you manage the symptoms of hay fever, you might use the hashtags #hayfever, #managehayfever or even #pollencount.
Instagram can also be used to establish business alliances. For instance, if you are an aromatherapist. you may collaborate with a company selling your favourite essential oils to run a campaign sharing information about the oils and your practice. Both your practice and the essential oil supplier may benefit from more exposure as a result.
In order to measure the performance of your Instagram marketing, don’t forget to use Instagram’s analytics. Analytics can assist you in identifying the posts that are performing the best and the kinds of content that are most appealing to your followers.
How to make business-related Instagram posts
Start by creating a content plan now. This entails considering the kind of content you want to publish and the frequency of your postings.
Create a content strategy that may include a mix of images and videos as well as several post kinds to get things going.
- Images and videos of products you use
- Clinic tours or behind-the-scenes footage
- Case studies or customer testimonials
- Suggestions or guidance relevant to your field
- Promotions and events you’re hosting
Make a schedule for when you will post each piece of content after you have a content plan in place. Remember that posting three or four times a week usually suffices; you don’t need to do it every day.
If possible, you might want to think about using a social media manager as your business expands to help manage your Instagram account. A social media manager can create and implement a content strategy and control messages and comments.
How do I post on Instagram?
Simply launch the app and click the camera button in the bottom-left corner to upload a photo to Instagram. The next step is to either take a photo or choose one from your photo gallery.
When you’ve chosen your photo, you can add a caption and/or hashtag before pressing “Share,” at which point your material will go live on Instagram and be visible to everyone!
Instagram video posts can be between 3 seconds and 10 minutes in length. If your video post is longer than 60 seconds, then a preview will be played in the feed and users can choose to watch the remainder of the video on your profile.
That’s all there is to it, really! So, start uploading your pictures and videos to Instagram right away and watch how they do.
How to use Instagram hashtags
Type the hashtag symbol # first, followed by the word or phrase you want to use as your hashtag on Instagram. Instagram will suggest a list of relevant hashtags as you type so you can choose one.
Each post allows for the addition of up to 30 hashtags but using too many can make your content appear spammy. Try out various hashtags to discover which ones get the greatest interaction with your posts.
You can view all of the posts that have been shared with a particular hashtag by clicking on it. This is a great method to discover fresh material to publish on your own Instagram account or to generate new hashtag suggestions for your posts. Cheers to hashtagging!
Ten tips for promoting your practice on Instagram
Here are some pointers for utilising Instagram to promote your practice or clinic:
1. Make use of excellent photos
Make sure your pictures are attractive and of an excellent quality. This will draw attention to your profile and make it more likely that someone will follow you. Make use of filters to sharpen, brighten and make your photos livelier.
2. Utilise hashtags
Using hashtags is a fantastic way to increase the visibility of your content. Use relevant hashtags that are associated with your practice, therapy, and location wherever possible. If you’re looking for more local clients, use hashtags that relate to your town and county.
3. Publish frequently
To keep your Instagram followers interested, be sure to post frequently. 2-3 times a week is fine, and the key is consistency – plan to make time in your week to create and post interesting content, regularly.
4. Tell tales
You can write content to accompany your images that creates a connection and relationship to your audience. An insight into your day, or a testimonial works well to engage attention.
5. Employ calls to action
To motivate your followers to act, be sure to include calls-to-action in your postings. This might be anything from booking a call with you to simply browsing your website.
6. Run competitions
A fantastic approach to advertise your business on Instagram is to run contests. Make sure to think up original contests that your fans will enjoy.
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7. Employ influencers
An excellent strategy to reach a larger audience is through using influencers. Make sure to collaborate with influencers who have a sizable audience and are relevant to your practice or therapy. Create a campaign where you share each other’s posts and mention each other’s profiles.
8. Use advertisements
Instagram advertising can be a fantastic approach to reach more people. Make sure to produce relevant, targeted advertisements for your practice.
9. Watch your outcomes
Keep an eye on your Instagram results and follow the development of your account. This will enable you to evaluate the success of your plans and make the required modifications.
10. Mix up content
Use videos as well as photographs. Post some branded content (use the colours of your website for example and create graphics in an app like Canva) and some ‘curated’ content – funny memes, insightful quotes. Keep your feed fresh!
These are just a few recommendations for using Instagram to advertise your clinic or practice. Want to explore more, or need help? We’d love to support you to grow your practice! Just drop us a line!