A comprehensive guide to using Instagram to increase brand exposure and sales
As a modern social media platform, Instagram provides a variety of functions to assist brands in marketing and sales activities. The following are the main functions of Instagram and its application in business marketing, especially for cross-border e-commerce.
The main functions of Instagram
The core functions of Instagram include posts, Stories and IGTV, through which users can share and interact to build micro-communities.
1. Post function
Posts are the basic form of communication on Instagram, with users sharing beautiful images and short text. Content interactions such as likes, comments, and shares are key to an active community. In order to attract more fans, merchants need to focus on the quality of posts and interact with relevant users to increase the number of followers.
2. Stories
The story function allows users to share life moments within 24 hours without requiring likes or public comments, making sharing easier and more free. This feature imitates Snapchat’s “burn after reading” mode, encouraging users to show their personal lives in a more relaxed way. Merchants can use this feature to launch limited-time promotions or new product promotions to enhance the interaction between brands and consumers.
3. IGTV
IGTV is a video sharing function specially designed for mobile phone users. Users can upload vertical videos to enhance interaction with the audience. This feature allows videos to be between 15 seconds and 30 minutes long, suitable for displaying long-form content, and provides audience interaction data analysis to facilitate merchants to optimize content strategies.
How cross-border sellers use Instagram functions to sell
Cross-border sellers should take advantage of the following features to improve conversion rates and user experience when using Instagram to sell:
1. Shoppable posts
Brands can tag products in posts, provide detailed product information and prices, and users can directly visit the seller’s website to purchase. This feature enables sellers to provide buyers with a seamless shopping experience, helping brand exposure and sales increase.
2. Shoppable Stories
Similar to shopping posts, brands can mark products available for purchase in Stories to entice users to click and complete the purchase. Since Stories has more than 500 million daily active users, this feature can effectively drive sales.
3. Instagram Shop
Set a store button in your personal profile so that users can view the seller’s promotional products and shopping information at any time. This full-screen presentation increases the likelihood that users will stay within the app, thereby increasing conversion rates.
4. Store tag
With the increase in online orders through social media, the use of store tags can significantly increase a brand’s sales potential. Merchants need to update content and display attractive products to enhance consumer trust.
Conclusion
Instagram provides diverse functions for cross-border e-commerce, helping brands enhance exposure and sales. By leveraging posts, stories, and shopping features, merchants can create more engaging shopping experiences that drive customer engagement and sales conversions.