They can provide tremendous value to you and your business and all it takes is a single direct message to start building a relationship. Pay attention to micro-influencers that are within the region you’re targeting. If the relationship between their following and their engagement is strong, that means that they have their audience’s ATTENTION, which is so crucial in today’s digital world. If every single post that Instagram user creates has 60 likes and 20 comments, REACH OUT via DM. REMEMBER: Pay Attention to Engagement!Įven if the account you’ve targeted only has 190 followers, they may have high engagement. In other words, follower count does not equal attention! Focus on how they’re actually using their platform. For example, some big accounts may buy their followers, or do “follow for follow” tactics to grow their numbers, etc. The truth is, even though follower count can be important, there are tons of instances where accounts with large followings actually produce zero ROI for a business. There are so many people out there who focus on top level metrics like follower count when trying to determine which accounts to contact. Now, spend about 30 seconds scrolling through their account(s) and understanding their likes, dislikes, and activity on the app. Look at the Instagram Profile and Audit Their Account If you can activate “micro-influencers,” or people with smaller followings but tremendous engagement that live nearby, you can win. Unless you’re a big time business with a big budget, you don’t need this approach. Too many people get caught up thinking they have to identify people with 100,000+ followers. When deciding which accounts to target, don’t overthink it. These people could be prospective customers! Go to the search tab in Instagram and select “place”, then look at the top and most recent posts and start examining each account for possible people to DM. Alternatively, you could also filter by location using the address of your store.
For more information, read How To Use Hashtags Correctly. You can easily begin your Instagram strategy by searching the hashtag “haircut” and find posts you would like to engage with to create conversation and gain visibility for your business. Let’s say you’re a hairdresser on the Upper East Side of New York.
For instance, If you’re a business and you want to grow your audience, start by searching hashtags for the most used terms in your industry and engage in a meaningful manner. You can choose to search by location, hashtag, or user. The beauty of Instagram is that you can find a nearly infinite amount of leads through a number of unique search methods. First, you need to cut through it all and locate your point of interest by doing a quick search through the Instagram app. In the world of social media, there is a lot of noise. Here’s what you need to know - my top 5 keys to remember when connecting on instagram.
You can connect with anyone from a social media influencer to a nearby business to a Fortune 100 CEO, all the way up to a famous celebrity…IF you are persistent enough ? With that said, Instagram is one of the most under-utilized resources when it comes to networking. This is the essence of my book “ Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook.” Remember, business lasts a lifetime, not a day. There are not enough people thinking, “how can I actually solve a problem?” or “how can I bring value?” The key is to connect first, provide value, and THEN - given the right opportunity presents itself - ASK.
In a world full of salespeople, there are so many individuals just trying to market, sell, or take advantage of you, and not enough people leading with service. Do this, and you will win! How to Network in 2021:
Here’s my step by step guide to deriving the most value from Instagram direct messaging to upgrade your networking strategy. For the purposes of this article, we’re honing in on one of my favorite features of the app - DMs. If you’re a veteran user and looking to grow your platform, read 10 Ways to Get More Followers on Instagram. If you’re late to the IG game, check out my blog, How Does Instagram Work? Everything You Need to Know, for a comprehensive guide.
Instagram DM (Direct Message) is the single biggest networking or business development opportunity of this decade.