Instagram Marketing on a Small Budget

Getting your brand off the ground takes a lot of work. In the early days, you may not have much money budgeted for social media marketing. Fortunately, there are ways you can start to build a marketing plan, even if your budget is small.

You don’t have to wait for someday to start building your business on Instagram. There are many tools available that you can use for free or a small fee. And as your budget grows, you can incorporate ads and marketing that help you create a bigger reach. Get started with your Instagram marketing today, even on a small budget, with these tips.

Set Your Goals and Start Building Your Foundation

You have to start somewhere, so even if your budget is nonexistent, start laying the foundation today. Begin by asking yourself some key questions:

• What does my brand or business do or sell?
• Who do I want to reach?
• What value do I offer?
• How can Instagram help me achieve my goals?

Once you know your goals and how Instagram factors in, you’ll have a better idea of which tools to try first and where to invest your budget most efficiently.

Set Up Your Instagram Business Account

If you only have a Personal account, it’s time to transition. On Instagram, you can choose a Creator or Business account. They share many features, but there are some key differences. If you’ve answered the questions in the previous tip, then you’ll know which account will work best for you.

For most who are providing a product or service, a Business account offers the most benefit. To set it up, you’ll need to:

• Go to Settings
• Find your Account, then tap Switch to Professional account
• Instagram provides categories, and you’ll need to choose which one best fits your business.

Instagram Offers a Free Marketing Plan

If you’re just starting out and on a strict budget, then take advantage of Instagram’s free marketing plan. You can personalize the tips and advice you get.

In addition, Instagram offers a downloadable guide with information from other small businesses and provides tutorials and courses that walk you through the basics. You’ll learn about how to craft more compelling content and the value of adding key hashtags. If you’re new to marketing, the free Instagram marketing features are a great place to start learning.

Test Out Some Third-Party Apps

Your Business account on Instagram will offer tons of great features, including analytics. But many third-party apps offer in-depth analytics and so much more.

When you’re on a budget, you want to be careful about purchasing a Pro plan on a third-party app when you aren’t sure it’ll fit your needs. Many apps offer a trial period or a free version that you can work with to see if it’s going to be right for your marketing strategy.

Some apps that you can get started with for free include:

• Canva

  With Canva, you can create professional-grade designs and content even if you have no design background at all. You can also learn more with Canva’s tutorials. The free version offers plenty for you to explore, but if you want to create on Canva with your team, you’ll need the Pro version.

• Hootsuite

  Get a free trial of up to 90 days to test out Hootsuite’s massive array of features. You can use Hootsuite to plan and integrate all your social media channels, as well as schedule content, so you’re staying consistent and on-brand. Hootsuite is an excellent app for managing brand outreach and sales across multiple social media accounts.

• Blastup

  Mastering the algorithms can get your fabulous content in front of a bigger audience. Get a big boost by using a service like Blastup that helps your posts get real Likes. You can try the app and get free Likes to see how it works, and then plans start at just pennies per Like.

  As your posts get more Likes, they’ll be more likely to do better in the algorithms, making you more visible and searchable for your potential audience.

Take Notes from Your Competitors

There’s nothing wrong with looking at the techniques of successful businesses on Instagram. In fact, scouting out other brands in the same niche as you can help you find useful hashtags. And you don’t have to copy their posts. Take notes on what their audience is interested in and what types of content seem to do well for them.

In addition, consider using some of the same tactics other companies have used to increase brand awareness and loyalty. Some brands have launched promotions, contests, and challenges. Others have successfully implemented other marketing strategies, including:

• Working with micro-influencers

  Working with big influencers can get expensive quickly. But micro-influencers carefully cultivate an intensely loyal following and can be a fantastic way to funnel loyal followers to your product.

• Creating a branded hashtag

  You can create a branded hashtag that you use for a specific campaign, in addition to a hashtag that ties back to your overall brand. This helps your audience interact with your content better and helps you track that engagement and collect crucial data.

• Incorporating user-generated content

  Many people today value authenticity and relatability in a brand. When you incorporate user-generated content, you signal that you care about and value them. It helps you develop a relationship that is more peer-to-peer rather than buyer-seller.

Explore Instagram’s Latest Features

Instagram is continually innovating and adding features. While some may work better for you, trying things out is a good idea. Taking advantage of new filters, effects, and ways to publish content could boost your standing in the algorithms and get you in front of more people. For example, many Instagram users watch Reels or engage more with brands that go Live often.

To make your content feel more effortless and professional, practice making Reels and Lives first before publishing the content on Instagram. Remember, if a feature is trending, then your followers will be more likely to engage with your content if it includes that trending feature.

Your marketing budget doesn’t have to break the bank. Be smart and creative and take advantage of the free tools available, and you can begin building a solid marketing foundation that’ll help you get the business ball rolling.