How to Post on Instagram: A Beginner’s Guide for Small-Business Owners

These days, business owners hear all the time that they need to be posting on social media. But social media management is a full-time job. It takes time and trial and error to learn the ins and outs of each platform.

A comprehensive guide like this one can help, though. Learn how to post on Instagram to grow your brand’s online presence. 

Setting Up Your Instagram Business Profile

The first step in learning how to post on Instagram is creating a business account. 

Create a regular business account, then go into your settings, and switch to a professional account. All you need to do from there is select the category your business fits into and add some contact details. Instagram business accounts can access additional useful features, like Instagram Insights, which tracks your account’s performance.

Next, add a profile picture and bio. Many businesses use their logo as their profile picture and add a simple bio that describes the business for any new customers. Make sure you add a link to your business's website so interested users can engage with your brand further. 

Developing an Instagram Content Strategy

Before creating any posts or even brainstorming specific ideas, you need to establish an Instagram content strategy. Start by defining your target audience so you know whom you’re creating content for. 

Understanding Your Target Audience

Instagram has around 2 billion monthly active users, but you’re not creating content for all of them. Instead, figure out which users are most likely to engage with your content and buy from your brand with questions like:

• What problems is your target customer trying to solve?
• Where does your target customer live?
• What is your target customer’s age, gender, and income level?
• What other interests, hobbies, and values does your target customer have?

Understanding your target audience will make it much easier to create content that appeals to them, helping to grow your business's profile. 

Creating a Content Calendar

Once you have a clear understanding of your target audience, you can begin planning your Instagram content. Create a calendar that outlines when you plan to publish each post, aiming for at least one to three posts per week. 

One of the nice things about planning your content ahead of time is that you don’t have to worry about constantly managing your account. With your business's Instagram account, you can schedule your posts in advance, up to 75 days ahead of time. 

Utilizing Instagram's Features

If you haven’t used Instagram in a while, you may still think of it as just a photo-based platform. While it’s true that many Instagram posts are simple photos or images, there are also many other formats and features you can use. 

Exploring Stories and Reels

Instagram Stories are sort of like Instagram’s version of Snapchat. These are either static images or short videos that don’t appear in your main Instagram feed. Instead, users view them by clicking on your profile picture. The key detail to remember about Instagram Stories is that they automatically disappear after 24 hours. Stories are generally more casual than main-feed posts, so they’re ideal for posting multiple photos at once without overwhelming your audience. 

If you’re wondering how to post more than 10 photos on Instagram, try a carousel post. Users scroll through the images horizontally to see them all as part of one post. 

Instagram Reels is another feature you can use to expand the types of content you post. Reels are short vertical videos, similar to those you see on TikTok. Users can explore Reels from accounts they don’t follow on the Reels page, so sharing these posts is a great way to grow your Instagram following. Play around with posting Instagram Reels and Stories in addition to regular posts to see if they help expand your reach. 

Using Product Tagging for E-Commerce

If you have an e-commerce brand selling physical products, try tagging your products when they appear in your posts. Interested users can tap on that tag to see the product’s name, its price, and sometimes a description. They can then either purchase the product directly on Instagram through your shoppable posts or be directed to your own website, depending on the setting you select. Product tagging makes it easier for customers to discover and purchase your products. Next time you have a product launch, consider using this powerful tool to help boost your sales. 

Creating Engaging Content

The content you create is the most crucial factor in determining your success on Instagram. There are so many people posting on the platform — your content needs to stand out to get noticed by your target audience. Make sure you focus on these elements to consistently generate successful Instagram content.

Capturing High-Quality Visuals

Whether you’re posting images, graphics, or videos, you need high-quality visuals. Use a high-resolution camera to capture your original content and use premade graphics that look professional. 

It’s worth taking some extra time to edit your posts to ensure they look good and represent your brand well. If you see a post from another user you think your audience would enjoy, try reposting it. To repost on Instagram, you just find the post you like and tap the “Repost” or “Add to Your Story” option below the post. It’s the same step to share a post as a Story or through a direct message. 

Writing Compelling Captions

Because Instagram is a visual platform, many business owners neglect the caption. That’s a mistake, though. For every post, write a strong caption that encourages users to engage. 

Consider adding a call to action that tells users what to do next, such as:

• Share your thoughts on [post topic] in the comments below.
• Follow us for more tips and tricks like this.
• What’s your favorite [thing related to this post]?
• Click the link in our bio to learn more.
• Guess which of these strategies is most effective. 

Don’t be afraid to use emojis and have fun in your caption. The caption is your chance to add any necessary details to your visual content, engage your audience, and incorporate a CTA. 

Strategically Using Hashtags

Every main-feed post you share on Instagram should have at least a few hashtags to help expand your reach. But don’t just choose any random hashtag. 

Select three to five relevant hashtags that relate to your business and the post you’re sharing. You can browse posts from your competitors to get some ideas for good hashtags to use, but also just think about which terms or phrases your target customers might be searching for on Instagram. 

Instagram Shopping for Sales Growth

Instagram now allows businesses to sell products directly through the app. That way, interested customers don’t have to jump through many hoops to buy your products — they can do so with just a few clicks. 

If you set up an Instagram shop, you’ll be able to tag your products in your posts, Reels, and Stories. Users can also view your products on a dedicated shopping page with your product catalog within your profile. 

Instagram Shopping improves the customer experience, so it’s definitely something to consider. And when you pair it with a social CRM, you can improve your customer satisfaction even more. 

Professional Instagram Marketing Help

You don’t have to tackle Instagram marketing alone. Optimize Digital Marketing has years of experience helping businesses like yours implement effective social media marketing strategies, and we’re here for you.

Contact us today to get started with your customized Instagram marketing strategy.