Instagram has become a social media powerhouse, a virtual home to millionaire influencers, and a great place for businesses and brands to connect with their followers and increase sales. But I still hung back on using it because, as an online biz owner, I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to use it to drive traffic, add subscribers to my list, or make sales (the three things that ultimately increase your bottom line).

I found some great free resources, that I always mention in my posts about Instagram. If you haven’t checked them out yet, I recommend this FREE 7-day Instagram course from Alex Tooby, as well as this useful FREE download from CoachGlue that teaches you how to connect with potential clients on Instagram (it’s aimed at coaches, but the tips can be adapted to almost any service-based biz).

These resources helped me see how I could start generating leads and sales on the platform. If you’re not yet using Instagram for business, you should definitely consider it. We’re going to look at 5 reasons why.

Disclosure: Links in this post (and anywhere on The Savvy Solopreneur) may be affiliate links. Find out what that means here.

Using Instagram For Business Is Easy 

One of the biggest reasons to consider using Instagram for business is that it’s very easy to use. Even if you don’t have a lot of experience when it comes to social media sites, you’ll find that Instagram has a very user-friendly interface that you’ll get used to in no time. Setting up an account is quick and you can either set up a business account or convert your personal account to a business account, if you’re going to be using Instagram entirely for business purposes.

Using Instagram For Business Is Free

You typically have to spend at least a little money when it comes to tools and resources to improve and grow your business, but not with Instagram. It’s free to set up an account, even a business account, so you won’t have to spend a dime. You can download the app for free on any smartphone or mobile device, and there are no limitations whatsoever.

Sure you can spend money on Instagram ads if you want, but see what your organic reach is like first. If you’re strategic about things like gaining quality followers, using Instagram stories, and optimizing hashtags, you may well find your reach is much better than on other platforms, especially Instagram’s sister site, Facebook.

Gain Valuable Insight into your Followers

When you create a business profile on Instagram, you will be able to gain valuable insight into your followers. This is specific information only available to owners of business (rather than personal) accounts. You’ll find out more information about who your followers are and when they’re online.

Use this information to tweak what and when you post. And don’t forget to pay close attention to the kinds of comments you receive, too, as this will definitely give you some insight into who is following you and why.

Millions of People use Instagram Every Day

Hundreds of millions of people all over the world use Instagram every day, so there is definitely the potential to reach a huge number of individuals in different areas across the globe. Hashtags make this even easier, by getting your posts in front of people searching for specific topics, but who may not be following you yet.

Flex Your Creativity

Using Instagram for business will encourage you to get creative with the photos and videos you post. It’s a very visual platform, so you will do best if you come up with fun and creative ways to use the images you create to show off your products, your services or your clients, and improve brand recognition for your business.

I find creating images for Instagram is a fun, creative part of my business and a nice break from creating written content, which is the core activity in my particular business. And of course, you can re-use your Insta pics on all your other social channels.

Want to learn how to set your Instagram up for success and grow it like a pro? Check out this awesome Instagram training program from Alex Tooby. Alex really knows what she’s doing when it comes to growing your business with Instagram.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, for pretty pics and useful tips for solopreneurs.

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