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Tag Archives: influencer

How to drive your instagram visitors to your online store

Instagram social mediaAre you using Instagram to market your business?
by Diane Shawe M.Ed

Want to direct followers to your website, appointment form or online store?

With a few simple tactics, you can generate quality website traffic from Instagram.

In this article you’ll discover how to use Instagram to drive traffic to your website

 1: #Add a Website Link to Your Bio

The most common way to lead Instagram followers to your website is to use the “link in bio” tactic. Instagram lets you include one clickable link in your bio, so make sure you use it effectively. To add a link, go to Edit Profile and type it in the Website text box.

In Birchbox’s Instagram bio below, their link directs followers to a customer appreciation day promotion on the company’s website.

birchbox instagram profile bio

Make sure you include a website link in your bio.

With the tool Have2Have.it, you can use your bio link to direct followers to a page with the same look and feel as your Instagram feed, where they can click images to purchase your products or read your content.

The New York Times has a Have2Have.it link in their Instagram bio. When followers click the link, they’re taken to a curated page with the top stories of the day. Users can click on an image to see the story behind it.

new york times instagram images

The New York Times uses a Have2Have.it link to drive traffic from Instagram to their online content.

With an analytics dashboard, you can gain key insights to see what content performs best. Focus on high-performing posts to form a content strategy.

By tracking clicks on Instagram, you can increase revenue and subscribers to online content (such as blog posts), newsletters or email campaigns. Of course, you’ll want to track your click-through rate, so use a shortened Bitly link or vanity URL to know where your clicks are coming from.

Overall, you can use this tactic for any links including an ecommerce website, YouTube channel or company blog. To take it a step further, create an Instagram landing page that captures email addresses through downloadable content like an ebook. The landing page design should mirror the look of your Instagram feed so there’s a visual connection for the user.

2: #Place a Call to Action on Images

Design Instagram photos that convert. You can layer a call to action and your website URL directly onto an aesthetically pleasing photo.

In Canva’s post below, the image has a call to action asking followers to enter a contest for a year of free access. The photo caption then directs users to click the link in Canva’s bio.

canva instagram image

Add a call to action to your images.

This technique is beneficial for Instagram contests where you ask your followers to enter their email information on your website. Now, you have a strong piece of shareable branded content that drives followers to your contest.

3: #Include a URL in Videos

Instagram video brings digital storytelling to life. In fact, videos on Instagram generate three times more inbound links than image posts, so it’s definitely worthwhile to invest in a 15-second narrative.

Brands like Dollar Shave Club use video in innovative ways to spice up their Instagram feed. Their videos work similarly to a television commercial.

dollar shave club instagram video

Include a URL in your videos to direct Instagram users to your website.

Dollar Shave Club’s videos include the URL in a text overlay and a voiceover (“Shave with a fresh blade anytime; try Dollar Shave Club.com”) that further drives Instagram followers to their website. The videos are quick, fun and engaging, making viewers want to learn more.

4: #Invest in Instagram Ads

Instagram recently announced it was opening its API to all companies and brands. By investing in the platform, you can target the right audience demographic through people’s interests. With an ad spend alongside your Instagram strategy, you’re likely to see an increase in website visits and ecommerce conversions.

Clickable links in Instagram ads give you an opportunity not only to be creative, but also let your followers learn more about your digital campaigns or attribute direct revenue from Instagram.

There are three types of sponsored Instagram ads: image, video and carousel.

Image ads are single photos that tell a story with their imagery.

levis instagram ad

An Instagram ad with a single photo.

Video ads differ from organic Instagram videos. They can be up to 30 seconds long, and you can shoot in portrait or landscape format.

jaspersmarket instagram video ad

An Instagram video ad.

Carousel ads enhance your Instagram storytelling because they can include up to four photos. Retailers, car companies and non-profits have been at the forefront of this new ad product. All three types of ads include a clickable Learn More button that takes followers to your website.

instagram carousel ad

An Instagram carousel ad.

To create ads in Instagram, follow these steps in Facebook’s Power Editor.

With Instagram ads, you can create awareness in a broader audience and promote campaigns that prioritise conversions by tracking sales and views.

5: #Leverage the Reach of Influencers

Sometimes you need an extra push to build brand awareness and extend your reach. By working with influencers, you can amplify your message.

Connect with influencers in your niche or industry (whether that’s fashion, beauty, sports or other verticals) to create effective Instagram content. Influencers capture followers’ attention because they’re recognizable and trusted for their product advice and reviews.

instagram influencer example

Instagram influencers are digital celebrities with loyal followers.

When working with influencers,make sure they use effective calls to action to send their followers to your website. This can be done through Instagram videos or with powerful copy that links to your website also check for any costings.

Final Thoughts

As Instagram becomes a revenue-based social channel predicted to outperform Twitter and Google in ad sales by 2017, make sure your Instagram strategy is focused on driving leads to your website. You can learn about follower data to form content strategies, drive revenue and brand awareness from clickable links and promote blog posts right on the platform.

What do you think? Have you converted Instagram followers to your website? What are your goals for Instagram conversions? What Instagram marketing tools do you use to optimise leads and engagement? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

If your looking for a social media course visit http://www.crashcourses.academy

Tags: drive traffic, influencer, instagram,instagram ads, instagram api, instagram carousel ad, instagram content creation,instagram conversions, instagram cta,instagram for business, instagram influencer, instagram marketing, instagram video, sme show, storytelling, diane Shawe,

10 Tips for Becoming a Social Media Influencer by Diane Shawe

10 tips on becoming social media influencer by Diane ShaweAre you trying to become a social media influencer?

article by:

CEO at AVPT Ltd. Business Growth Training Provider & CPD Approved by SRA. Startup Loan Mentor

To be considered an influencer, people need to see you as a resource. Consider your audience and share content that they’ll find useful. Post original articles, plus posts from other trusted sources.

Publishing on social media is a great way to share expert knowledge and develop your influencer status.

In this article I’ll share ten tips that can help you become a social media influencer.

Discover ten tips for becoming a social media influencer.

1: Focus on one area and one specialism

To become an influencer, master a specific topic within your niche. If you cast your net too wide, it will be difficult to gain the level of knowledge necessary to be considered an expert.

If your goal is to be an expert in the digital space and become known as an influencer, there are plenty of things you can do to raise your profile. Develop your expertise and use social media to raise yourself to influencer status. To help you find your focus here are some points to consider.

What do you think?
What is your niche?
What platforms get the most engagement?
How have you developed your reputation as an influencer?
In what ways will you engaged your audience and shared your expertise

Either focus on one social media industry such as social media marketing or public relations, or on a single platform like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or Instagram. The Vine is also good for short video clips from your Youtube account.

1: Master one topic to become a true expert.

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Start small and learn as much as you can about your desired niche through research and experimentation. That way, you’ll be able to discover the ins and outs of your specialty and form your own ideas, as opposed to simply restating others’ opinions. This is a very important step on your way to influencer status.

Oh and try not to drill down too much in your articles, more and more people access using a mobile device so think about what you would want to see if it was you reading someone else’s blog.

2: Subscribe to Platform Blogs

Social media is unique because it is in constant flux. Stay on top of the latest platform updates, such as algorithm changes, new analytics and added features, as they can drastically change a social channel and the way it’s navigated.

Whether you want to be viewed as the authority on a social channel or a broader industry, read platform blogs regularly: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Instagram. There’s no better way to keep tabs on any social media channel.

3: Familiarise and Read Relevant Blogs Daily

In addition to platform blogs, read other information outlets to gain valuable insights into your niche. Study news, expert opinions and case studies that are published or shared by people you trust.

Makes subscribing to and reading multiple blogs easy.

By using a tool like Feedly to subscribe to a variety of relevant industry blogs, you will benefit from different viewpoints and helpful advice.

4: Do you use your Alert Settings?

Reading press releases, news alerts and relevant posts is key to staying informed. When you know what’s happening, you can keep your followers in the know.

Since it is impossible to keep track of all of the information from platform blogs and your favourite outlets, invest time into creating alerts directly related to your specialism. A couple of tools that make it easy to stay on top of relevant news are Google Alerts and Social Mention.

5: Populate Your Blog

There is nothing worse than a blog that is several weeks out of date! Write blog posts and publish consistently. You should shoot to publish at least two to three times each week.

To stay on track, create an editorial calendar and stick to it.

Partner with other influencers and reblog them. Interview them, (over the phone, on skype or send them 5 questions to answer. Invite them to contribute to your blog or run a promotion together that gets shared on everyone’s sites.

6: Publish on LinkedIn

In addition to your own blog, re-create your posts on LinkedIn’s publishing platform. Cut and paste your previously published blog posts and add a headline, image and keywords. (I hope you have a linkedin account)

Remember, people generally assume LinkedIn posts are only from the most influential thought leaders. Now, when people in your network and beyond see your articles on LinkedIn, it is likely they will view you as an authority too.

Share your knowledge and get noticed by publishing on LinkedIn.

Through its publishing platform, LinkedIn has created a prime opportunity for influencers to get noticed.

7: Use Sharing tools to share Valuable Content

I repeat again, share content. Once you’ve determined your focus and have implemented a system for keeping on top of the latest news and information within your niche, start sharing high-value influencer content with your audience via social media.

8: Seek out and Contribute to Other Sites

One of the quickest ways to gain influencer status is to contribute your unique content to other blogs and publications. Guest posting increases your visibility, bolsters your credibility and increases traffic to your own blog.

After your content is published, let people in your network know. Tweet a link, share it on Facebook, tell your other online communities and add it to your LinkedIn profile publications. Dare I say it but +google plus is fast becoming a really influential content showcase. Have you got your account set up yet?

9: Be Seen Engaging Online

To be an influencer, you need to be seen and also be engaging. Social media influencers regularly take part in relevant conversations across a variety of networks. Attend and participate in Twitter chats and webinars (and host Twitter chats too), answer questions on Quora and share ideas in LinkedIn groups. Be constructive and you don’t always have to be controversial for the sake of it.

10: Safeguard your Reputation

This area is not often looked at, getting misquoted, having the wrong type of media attached to your blog can often flag up in the search engine above all of your positive content.

Make sure you sign up to a online reputation notify. They are good because they sweep the internet each week and give you a report on any new content found linked to you or uploaded by you. I use www.naymz.com It’s worth becoming a premium user.

Sharing your knowledge is how you’ll truly stand out as an influencer.

How can we help?

We have a Social Media Course that you might find very beneficial. Visit www.shortcourses.expert or give us a call and we will send you the course outline. 0208 1333120

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