Want to make it big on Instagram but unsure of how to start? I’ve got you covered.
There are over 2 billion active users on Instagram. Of this, 90% follow at least one business account and 70% use it for product discovery and inspiration.
Given these absurd numbers, using Instagram for business is undoubtedly an indispensable strategy to boost your company’s presence and profit. The fact that you can use it without spending a single penny is icing on the cake.
In this article, I’ll outline how to sell on Instagram for free. I’ll cover tips on maximizing your organic reach, leveraging Instagram’s built-in features, and optimizing your content to drive sales. By the end of the post, you’ll unlock the full potential of Instagram as a sales channel.
Step 1: Set Up an Optimized Instagram Business Profile
Your Instagram profile picture, bio, and contact information are the first things potential customers see when they click on your account, so making a strong impression is key.
Optimizing your professional account involves three essential steps:
Choosing a High-Quality Profile Picture
Your Instagram photo should perfectly represent your brand’s identity. It should communicate who you are, what you do, and what your business offers.
If you’re a fashion blogger, for example, your profile picture could feature a stylish outfit or accessories that capture your fashion sense.
If you’re a photographer, your profile picture can either showcase your best work or feature you holding a camera.
You’ll be using this profile picture as the face of your account, so it should be memorable and recognizable.
Writing a Compelling Bio
Instagram limits the account bio to 150 characters, so you should make every word count.
Like your profile picture, your bio should briefly but effectively tell people about the products you’re selling and what your Instagram is all about, with just the right amount of personality and professionalism.
It should also include business-related hashtags that your audience would likely input on the Instagram search bar. It helps increase your discoverability and reach.
Adding Your Contact Information
Your contact information should include your business website, phone number, email address, and physical location if applicable. Potential clients can use the provided information to reach out for inquiries, appointments, or any other matters.
On your business account, tap Edit Profile > Public Business Information. From there, you can add the page or website your professional account is connected to, your business category, and your contact information.
Key Takeaway: Establishing a strong foundation for your Instagram business profile is crucial for building a robust follower base and fostering engagement with other users. Your profile represents your brand and communicates your business core values. So, take time to set it up professionally by selecting a profile picture that embodies your brand, crafting a concise yet compelling bio, and ensuring your contact information is readily available for potential clients to connect with you.
Step 2: Create High-Quality, Engaging Content
Posting relevant and engaging content is arguably the most challenging aspect of running an Instagram business account.
The content should not only attract followers but also keep them coming back for more. On top of that, it should hold the audience’s attention for at least five to eight seconds since that’s about the average attention span of people browsing social media.
To meet these demands, focus on creating visually appealing, informative, and entertaining posts.
It should be high-quality and straight to the point, and more importantly, cater to your customer persona.
Ask yourself what your audience wants to see and how your product or service can help them.
Use good lighting, interesting angles, and aesthetically pleasing backgrounds to capture people’s attention.
As for what your content should be, it depends. You could share behind-the-scenes peeks into your business or showcase the functions and features of your products. Make sure you have a content strategy for Reels, Stories, and your regular posts.
Step 3: Leverage Hashtags and Geotags
Before finalizing your post, add five to eight relevant hashtags in the description or the comments section, whichever keeps your caption clean. Too many hashtags cause it to make your post appear spammy aside from potentially attracting the wrong audience.
Posts with at least one hashtag receive 12.6% more engagement than posts without, so make sure you don’t skip this step.
Unsure of what hashtags to use? Here are some tips:
- Explore hashtags relevant to your niche, industry, or content via Instagram’s search feature.
- Visit your competitors’ accounts and take a look at what hashtags they’re using.
- Use a combination of popular, niche-specific, and branded hashtags to maximize your reach.
- Use Instagram Insights to see which hashtags drive the most engagement and adapt your strategy based on this data
I’ve written a simple guide on hashtags for small businesses that you can check out to learn more about this powerful tool in expanding your audience reach.
If you’re running a local business, consider geotagging your post.
Geotagging adds location information just below your account name, making it easier for people in your area to find your content when browsing for local businesses.
To use this feature, simply tap “Add Location” when making a new post. Instagram will suggest locations based on what you type.
If you can’t find the location, scroll down and tap “Search for Place.”
Here’s an example of what that looks like.
Step 4: Build and Engage with Your Community
A thriving community is the heart of any successful online presence. Businesses in particular rely on building strong connections to create a loyal customer base and drive long-term success.
Growing Your Followers
There’s no shortcut to growing your followers on Instagram. It not only requires time and effort but also strategic planning.
Generally, the best way to grow your followers is to create high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. This can be in the form of reels, posts, or IGTV. Make sure the video or image is clear and steady, with excellent lighting and just the right amount of detail.
You should also develop a posting schedule and stick to it as much as you can to keep your audience engaged and attract new followers. If you’re new to posting on Instagram say once weekly, you can keep a simple process (mostly manual) of keeping track of your posting schedule.
If you’re building your posts to 3x a week and would like to automate your posting schedules then I would suggest using calendar planning tools so you can prepare your content and schedule them ahead of your posting schedule.If you like to delve deeper into strategizing your Instagram content creation process, you may look into my guide that explains how to effectively prepare your content and schedule with easy-to-use tools.
Engaging With Followers
Every post you make opens the opportunity to engage with your followers.
According to recent Instagram statistics, posts typically receive an average engagement rate of 0.98%. Anything around this figure should be a good start, but you should always aim for higher if possible. Here’s how to further boost your engagement rate:
- Reply to comments, questions, and suggestions. This shows you value your audience’s input and are attentive to their needs.
- Host giveaways and content to incentivize people to follow your account and share it with their followers. Your giveaways don’t need to be extravagant; just make sure the prizes are relevant to your brand.
- Conduct polls, quizzes, and ask questions using posts and Instagram Stories. You can also host an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with your followers where you answer their questions in a series of Stories.
- Promote your Instagram account on other social media platforms like X, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube. Encourage followers to check you out on Instagram for exclusive content or behind-the-scenes updates.
- Host live videos to connect with your community in real time and answer questions directly.
- Post sneak peeks or hints of upcoming products to entice followers to regularly visit your profile.
Step 5: Collaborate with Influencers and Brand Ambassadors
Collaborating with other content creators and influencers lets your business reach a wider target audience and establishes you as an industry leader.
It also provides social proof for your brand, as another creator’s endorsement validates your products or services in the eyes of their followers.
During your collaboration, make the most out of Instagram’s Collab feature. Collab posts show up in the feeds of both your followers, increasing the chance for engagement.
Here are some key tips for finding the right influencers and brand ambassadors who align with your brand values:
- Choose influencers whose personalities, Instagram aesthetics, and audience profiles resonate with your brand. For example, if your brand is known for sustainable and vegan-friendly products, partner up with a vegan foodie.
- Assess the quality and style of their content. Make sure it aligns with your brand image.
- Analyze engagement metrics like posts, likes, comments, and shares and gauge their audience’s interest. The higher the engagement rate, the better the influencer’s ability to connect with their followers authentically.
- Look beyond the followers count. Some Instagram accounts have over 100k followers but less than 50 likes and comments on recent posts, which indicate low engagement and possibly fake or inactive followers.
Collaborating with influencers and brand ambassadors is an exciting initiative that you can do for your business account. If done right, you can see an immediate traction in your followers and engagement, boosting product sales or service booking.
Key Takeaway: Building a robust Instagram community hinges on fostering genuine connections and leveraging strategic partnerships. By posting quality content consistently, engaging with your audience, and collaborating with influencers and brand ambassadors you are guaranteed of growing your follower base while solidifying your brand’s authoritative position within your industry or niche.
Step 6: Utilize Instagram Shopping and Product Tags (If Eligible)
These days, customers rarely click on external links due to mistrust or not wanting to leave the app they’re on.
So rather than directing customers to your website, bring your shop to your account via Instagram Shopping.
Instagram Shopping is a feature that lets people shop on your profile. You can tag products in your Instagram stories and posts, create shoppable posts and collections, and even run Instagram ads to direct users to your Instagram shop.
Note that this feature is only available for business accounts, so switch your account to Business if you haven’t done so. You also need a Facebook business account.
Here’s how to set up Instagram Shopping:
- Go to Settings > Business > Shopping.
- Tap “Set Up Shopping” and connect your Facebook Shop to your Instagram account.
- Once connected, Instagram will review your account to ensure it meets basic eligibility criteria. This can take anywhere between a few hours to a few days.
- Upon verification, you can start tagging products in your posts and stories. You can tag up to 5 items per post.
FAQs: How To Sell On Instagram For Free
Is it free to sell on Instagram?
Yes, it is free to sell on Instagram. If you want to sell a few items to test your market without having to set up a website, then using the Instagram shop is a practical idea because it’s free to use. You will only start spending money if you want to run paid Instagram ads to boost your product page and drive sales to it.
Likewise, it is strategic because you no longer need to direct your followers outside of the platform to sell your products, causing a high conversion rate.
What are the requirements to sell on Instagram?
You must comply with Instagram Terms of Service to avoid any selling pitfalls and disruption in your sales operation.
– Acquaint yourself with all the policies tied to selling on the platform.
– If you have a website housing all your official product list, ensure that your Instagram (and Facebook) account represents that domain.
– You must be located in a supported country.
– You must meet a sufficient follower base that demonstrates your reputation on the platform.
How to Sell on Instagram for Free: A Summary
Making it big on Instagram involves strategic planning, consistent effort, and authentic engagement.
By leveraging Reels, IGTV, and Live, you can showcase your products, share behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engage with your followers in real time.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results right away. Creating and managing your business account is only half the battle. Keep experimenting and refining your strategy until you find what works best.
