Instagram is one of the best tools that you can use to visually boost your brand. There are many creative ways that you can use this social media platform, and we’ve highlighted
some of them in previous posts. One of the most useful Instagram marketing tactics you should consider, especially if you are trying to boost your brand to new and different audiences, is to collaborate with others, especially influencers in your industry. If you want to boost your brand by working with others, there are a few best practices to highlight for a perfect collaboration.
Partnering with Influencers/Bloggers on Instagram
If you want to partner with influencers or bloggers on Instagram by asking them to help you promote your product or brand, there are a few things that you need to do to get started. Make sure that you do your research first. You want to [ctt_hbox link=”cKbT1″ ]pick an influencer or blogger who fits your brand[/ctt_hbox]. It won’t make sense to your audience or theirs if your partner has a different style or personality than your brand, even if they have tons of followers. Authenticity is important!
When you find the right influencers, locate contact information on their website or blog and email them directly. Do not send influencers a direct message on Instagram, because they may not check those often, and if they have a lot of followers, it’s likely that they are inundated with messages.
Send samples to your influencer, and do not expect them to pay you for any products. If you want someone to help you promote your product, you must be generous in sharing that product. Don’t expect your influencer to become an extension of your sales team by offering them incentives or discounts on merchandise for sales as a condition to providing them with product. Send them exactly what you want them to help you promote once you have arranged an agreement.
The Agreement
Make sure that the terms of the partnership are agreed to by both parties and that they are in writing. There are many different ways to collaborate online, and you want to make sure that the collaboration is mutually beneficial. [ctt_hbox link=”2cjgO” ]If you are asking an influencer to help you promote your brand, make sure that you are also promoting them through your platform. [/ctt_hbox]Remember, this is collaboration.
Measure Results
Your collaboration will likely have a schedule, whether that is one hour or one week, or maybe even an on-going partnership for months. Whatever the length of the collaboration, make sure you are recording before and after follower stats, as well as how much engagement you receive on each post during this time. If you plan on doing a sales promotion through your influencer’s account, make sure you set up a special sales code to track how successful the campaign is. As with any marketing campaign, it’s important to [ctt_hbox link=”50SJn” ]measure your results to gauge whether you are targeting the right audience through your collaboration.[/ctt_hbox]
Instagram collaborations can be a great way to broaden the reach of your brand. However, it’s extremely important that you approach the collaboration with a strategy and plan, and not just with the desire to obtain more followers. The right Instagram collaboration strategy can truly boost your brand through recognition and sales.
If you plan on using social media to market your brand or product, give us a call at Miss Ink at (305) 537-6465. We can help you work on the best strategy to get the most exposure for your business. With over 10 years of experience in social media marketing, we can help you find the best way to market your business.
References:
How to Collaborate on Instagram in Four Simple Steps. (n.d.). Retrieved June 14, 2017, from http://www.thecoffeedate.com/blog/how-to-collab-on-instagram
Lua, A. (2017, April 04). Instagram Takeover: How to Host a Takeover in 6 Easy Steps. Retrieved June 14, 2017, from https://blog.bufferapp.com/instagram-takeover
