Don’t get complacent when it comes to social media. Post frequently and in a consistent fashion. It can be tricky to walk the tightrope between ‘spamming’ users and keeping them interested, but we suggest sticking to between 8 and 18 posts per month.

Using relevant, targeted hashtags on your posts and stories is still one of the best ways to get discovered by new audiences on Instagram. And this can translate into more engagement, more followers, and more customers for your business. Every post you create can be accompanied by up to 30 hashtags. Use tools like hashtagify.me to find and analyse top Instagram hashtags, check out what your competitors are doing and create groups of 10 – 20 hashtags to use with particular types of posts.

Taking advantage of user-generated content on Instagram is especially encouraged for travel brands. Have a look in the ‘tagged’ section of your profile for posts from past guests and fellow followers. To use the image, simply download it using this online tool and share on your profile making sure to give credit to the original user. Another place to find ‘tagged’ content is to search your brand by name and select the location listing rather than your profile. Here you will find posts in which your location has been selected.

Instagram Stories allow you to integrate videos, photos, music, text and emojis into a visual story that can be viewed for just 24 hours. They are a great way for you to share ‘in the moment’, more personal content to help users get to know your brand better. What’s more, posting Instagram stories every day keeps your content at the top of everyone’s feed.

It’s no secret that hosting contests is one of the quickest (and most simple) ways to generate engagement. Nothing attracts the eye more than the words “Giveaway!” or “Competition!” on your feed. Important things to keep in mind when creating an Instagram contest are: make it easy to enter, use simple instructions, ensure giveaway prizes are worth playing for and direct users to your website for increased traffic numbers as well.

With the introduction of IGTV in June 2018 and Instagram Reels in August 2020, video sharing has become a major aspect of Instagram life. Incorporating video content into your Instagram marketing strategy is a sure-fire way to increase engagement for your profile. In fact, “Interest in binge-watching content grew significantly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic with 70% of marketers looking to up their investment in video.” according to Sprout Social.

However you choose to keep track of your performance on Instagram, make sure to do so thoroughly and consistently. Post performance statistics are essential to figure out what kind of content works best for your brand. From the amount of hashtags to length of caption, there are many important metrics to keep an eye on in order to find your own winning formula.

CTAs inform the user what you want them to do. Do you want them to visit your website? Do you want them to enquire for rates? Do you want them to share your post with their friends? In your post content use phrases such as “link in bio”, encourage users to “comment” on the post, and use specific promo codes for booking discounts. If you have a business account and over 10k followers, use the ‘swipe up’ function on your stories where possible.

For more social media marketing tips, keep an eye on our blog and our Facebook page. And if you need further help navigating the digital space, feel free to get in touch with our team for a free quote via email at hello@focusonline.co.za.