Your Beginner’s Guide to Instagram

WIth over one billion users worldwide, Instagram is a valuable tool for reaching an audience and spreading your brand awareness. But you can only do this successfully if you use Instagram the right way — otherwise, you are wasting your time. 

These steps can help you learn how to incorporate Instagram as an effective part of your marketing strategy. This will allow you to create a connection with new and existing patients.

 1. Make your Instagram account a Business Account

Becoming a Business Account on Instagram gives you access to useful information like analytics. Analytics allow you to promote your posts and give your audience an easier way to connect with you. You’ll also be able to link your Facebook Business Profile to your Instagram account.

How to turn your Instagram account into a Business Account:
  • Select the “Settings” button under your profile.
  • Select “Switch to Business Profile”.
  • Choose the Facebook Page you would like to link your Instagram Account to on the “Connect Your Facebook Page” screen.
  • Finally, review your business contact info, make necessary changes and select “Done”. This is all done on the “Set Up Your Business Profile” page.

For more detailed instructions, check out this video.   

To set up a Facebook Business Page, watch this video.  

Please make sure the two links above are bold and stand out.

2. Get your first followers

Your main goal in the beginning should be to build a strong foundation of local followers. Having them share your posts within your local market is a great way to build an audience of potential new patients.

Tips for getting local followers:
  • Ask your employees to follow your business account and interact.
  • Follow local businesses, popular groups, news outlets, food places, etc.
  • Find local hashtags and engage with content that other local people post. 

Use this hashtag generator link to find popular hashtags. 

When working to build your base group of followers, make it a priority to like and comment on their posts. When you interact with an account, you will have a better chance of gaining another follower.

3. Connect your Instagram account to your other social media platforms. Cross-posting is okay!

Under your Instagram profile settings, you are able to connect to your other social media accounts by selecting Linked Accounts. From there you can choose which accounts to link to. This will allow Instagram to automatically share anything you post across the other platforms.

Watch this video to follow steps for connecting your Instagram and Twitter accounts.

4. Post often! Timing is everything. 

Following a posting schedule is a great way to grow your followers.

Check out this FREE posting tool that we recommend! 

If you stick with a regular posting schedule, your followers will know when to expect new posts and will be more apt to like and share what you post.

Posting weekly should be the bare minimum. Ideally, you should have a goal of posting once a day. You can post at different times of the day to test the best schedule for getting the most interaction from followers. Once you’ve narrowed down the best times to post, stay within this window and follow a consistent posting schedule. Testing out a lot of different times will help you narrow down your best options.

You can see analytics from Instagram like the example below. On a Business Account you are able to see insights underneath the analytics. This will allow you to see the best times to post and see the times your followers are more active on your account.

5. Use local hashtags

Using hashtags will get your posts more traction and in front of more potential followers. Hashtags help people who are not yet following you, but have similar interests, to see your posts.

Local hashtags are the best choice for increasing the popularity of your posts and reaching followers in close communities. Performing a simple Google search for popular or trending hashtags within your targeted market will give you the best chance at visibility. Do this research before choosing your hashtags. 

Note: a few, effective hashtags will go a long way. Never use more than 4-5 hashtags or else they become ineffective.

6. Geotag

If you post something related to a local business, food place, or popular hotspot, be sure to tag the location in your post by using the Geotag option. There are two ways to do this. Once you’ve edited the photos you are about to post, you will be able to use “Tag People” or “Add Location” options. This will connect you to your community and also notify a business or location that you have shared something about them. This step can make a big difference in getting your name out in the community and let them know you are taking advantage of social media. 

Don’t skip this step! You will possibly reach a new audience that has never heard of your dental practice if an account you tag shares your post. Not only that, but you will also make a connection with patients who love that same restaurant, local spot, museum, etc.

7. Include strong CTAs

Calls-to-action (CTAs) direct people towards what they should do next. You can ask them to buy your product, visit your website or get in touch with you.

However, not all CTAs are the same. The key is to get creative: try testing new versions to see which one engages your customers the most. Effective CTAs will help your audience engage with your account now and in future posts.

For more examples please visit this guide ‘Creative CTAs to Test on your Account’.

8. Set goals 

In order to measure your Instagram success, you need to set reachable, short-term goals. Make a list of weekly and monthly goals you aim to reach. By doing this, you can track your work and observe if anything needs to be changed.

Sample goals:
  • Gain 10 new followers in a week
  • Gain 50 followers in a month
  • Post every day for a month
  • Host a contest with a CTA and generate responses from 20 people

These are all well within reach if you’re active and strategic on Instagram.

To learn more, check out: “10 Tips To Get More Engagement on Instagram.” 

Need Help Managing Your Social Media? 

Contact us today!