▷ Freelancing? How to find customers on Instagram?
With more than 2 billion monthly users on Instagram, this platform is one of the most used social networks in the world, the perfect hunting ground for freelancers looking for new clients. But how do you actually go about attracting prospects through Instagram?
Why choose Instagram for my business?
The choice of this social network acquired by Meta in 2012 as a prospecting tool is due to the fact that it is mainly based on visuals. Unlike other platforms, it emphasizes visual content, an approach that attracts millions of users every year. Photos, videos, stories galore, these are the 3 ingredients that make Instagram attractive to professionals and individuals.
With a story or a classic post, you can easily reach your followers who can become customers or new prospects. In addition, Instagram offers a real opportunity to constantly listen to their community and stand out from the competition.
This training module “Implementing a social media strategy” of the certification course “Developing your webmarketing activity” will teach you more.
Start by improving your profile
When a user visits your profile, they will naturally judge you on your content. The bio is one of the first things he will see, so make it clear and show the basic information: profession, services offered, values, location, etc. The goal is to introduce you easily and quickly to the visitor. Therefore, your bio should not be too long or too detailed.
Remember, the visual is one of the main points and the first guarantee of the quality of your Instagram profile. So use a good camera (a smartphone is enough) that can produce professional and quality rendering. You will need to choose a profile photo that will allow you to be easily recognized and enhance your feed with other photos.
Opt for a professional account
Are you already on Instagram and have a personal account? That is enough, but it is not enough. Switch to professional mode to enjoy more features.
One of the main advantages is, for example, to include a professional category in your profile, in addition to data on your company (email address, website, location, etc.). It will also allow you to access detailed statistics on your publications, your stories and profile analysis of your followers so you know what type of content works best.
Be active regularly
Although it seems simple, it is important to be active in your account. The reason is simple: Instagram’s algorithm highlights you based on your activity rate. So, the more active you are, the better visibility your publications will have.
How to do it?
- Post content regularly;
- Comment on publications that match your field of activity;
- Like posts from accounts you follow;
- Interact with the stories you’re watching.
Improve your visuals
We can’t say it enough, but Instagram is a visual-first social network. Take care of the quality of your content, both visually and textually. Avoid low quality, blurry or pixelated images.
Always keep in mind that these images will be used to make your feed attractive or not, which is the basis of your success on Instagram.
Show yourself always in the story
Static posts have long been considered the best way to retain subscribers. But stories, this content in portrait format that lasts a maximum of 24 hours, turned everything upside down. In fact, they create a unique link with your subscribers and allow them to interact directly with you. Stories also promote better visibility for your account.
Showing your face and responding to your followers, if you like, is also a great way to generate engagement. You can, for example, share an experience, your news, take a survey, announce news about your company. To be more present on Instagram and thus give your potential customers time to get to know you better.
Work with local influencers
Working with local influencers is a great way to build your community presence and reach a relevant audience. But influencer marketing is an art, as evidenced in this white paper outlining the 10 influencer marketing trends of 2023. Develop a strategy that’s right for your business, then find and approach local influencers for collaboration. Work together to find a concept that works for both of you, then commit to the whole for better results.
The right hashtags can put you in the spotlight. Your target audience should have interests related to your brand and/or industry. This also means they will use or follow hashtags related to the industry. So, include it regularly in your publications. In addition to your regular Instagram posts, don’t forget to tag your stories with the right hashtags to get more visibility and get more leads and customers.
Ready to take your strategy to the next level?
