The post 20 Instagram Stats Every Marketer Should Know for 2018 appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

What does this Excel file contain:

• Instagram account name
• Follower count
• Engagement Rating
• Contact Information (Email or KIK for scheduling and pricing)
• Niche audience

Results from past campaigns:

$90 6 hour shoutout = $3,500+ in Gross Revenue = $2,200 Net Profit
$50 4 hour shoutout = $937 in Gross Revenue = $583 Net Profit
$200 2 hour shoutout = $1875 in Gross Revenue = $983 Net Profit

I’ve ran over 40+ shoutout campaigns and have only lost money on 3. These are incredible results compared to any other form of social advertisement.

List Updated Monthly

Click here to download

Want to add your page to this account? Leave your details in the comments.

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Instagram Stories launched in August 2017. This Snapchat like feature had many Instagram users groaning, many refusing to use the feature at all. This all changed after Instagram switched from a chronological timeline to an algorithm based timeline. Businesses and celebrities found the usefulness of Instagram stories, especially after realizing the chronological based timeline was not coming back.

Many businesses are not taking advantage of the Story feature on Instagram. This is a grave mistake, especially when it is essentially another form of free advertising. The Instagram algorithm pulls content it believes users want to see first, and unless your business’s followers interact with the account often, it is unlikely your posts will be seen in a timely manner. Instagram stories give your business quicker visibility, which in turn will help generate more leads. Lost on how to get started with Instagram stories? Here are a few tips and tricks to begin using Instagram stories to generate leads.

Company Culture

Give followers a face with the name. Humanize the company, and buyers will feel a stronger connection to the brand. To do this, take advantage of the silly filters. Take videos and photos of office celebrations. Highlight employee achievements, special events, or volunteer efforts.

Behind the Scenes Look

Much like company culture, giving followers a behind the scenes look generates love and respect for the company. Show followers how products or made. Show them the journey the order takes from creation to delivery. Share photos of the giant shipment going out, or how delicately each and every item is hand wrapped before being put in mailers.

Demos

New products are perfect for demos. Post a video explaining how to use the product and the benefit of using the product. Finally, video someone using the product and talking about how great, easy, or fun it is to use.

“Check out newest post”

Draw attention to your new posts by posting information about it in you Instagram story. Use attention grabbing captions like, “A new surprise awaits in our newest post! Go there now!” or, “Exciting announcement in our newest post!” Create a call to action asking followers to like or comment on posts.

Links

Links are one of the fastest ways to generate leads. On Instagram, a profile must be a business account (or be verified) and have 10,000 followers to post links directly into Instagram stories. Using links in conjunction with demos will draw more viewers to look and purchase products.

If your business does not have 10,000 followers quite yet, put the link in the profile bio. Change the link based on the story, and caption, “Link in bio,” on demos. Each time the link is changed, mention it in the Instagram story. Be sure to only change the link once every 24 hours at the most. Instagram stories are available for a full 24 hours before disappearing, so changing the link multiple times will only confuse followers.

Coupons and Specials good for 24 hours

Sales, deals, and specials should be mentioned on Instagram stories. Since stories only stick around for 24 hours, this is a great way to generate fresh leads that may have not known about deals.

Use this method to mention sold out products that have been restocked. If a product is almost sold out, let followers know to grab one before it is gone.

Popular Stories can be featured in the Search and Explore section of Instagram. Try to get as many views as possible, so your company’s can be featured. If you are successful at this, the amount of new leads is infinite. Put yourself in the followers’ shoes. Post what they want to see. Use Instagram stories to target your target market even further, and you will find yourself generating more leads.

The post Generate Leads with Instagram Stories appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

Content with an expiration date

SnapChat changed the game, and you can expect other social platforms to follow suit. Content that expires does more than give people a way to send naughty pictures without worry (so they thought, anyway). It cuts through all the other content that clutters social media feeds.

The platform simply capitalized on one basic marketing principle—make the proposition an urgent one. You’ve seen the commercials offering a limited price for the next five callers or for the next 30 minutes. This content is no different. SnapChat users need to view the content within a certain amount of time or it is no longer accessible. How do you know this works? Aside from SnapChat’s growing popularity, other platforms—namely Instagram, are trying their own version of this.

Live streaming on multiple platforms

YouTube was a groundbreaking platform when it came out. More than a decade later, however, platforms like Facebook (and the rise and improvement of mobile phones) allows us to stream whatever we are doing as we are doing it. Twitter also has its own version of live streaming thanks to Periscope.

The ability to live stream whatever we want is changing how users engage with one another and how businesses are able to engage with their audience. It offers another way to establish and build credibility. Businesses could even, in theory, host webinars, chats, and Q&As using live stream technology.

Increased challenges getting organic traffic

If you crossover into content marketing or search engine optimization (which you likely do), you already know how much harder it is to rank organically on search engines like Google, thanks in part to the changing format of the search engine results pages. Social media marketing will be no different in the coming year.

Social media marketers will find the field is becoming more “pay to play” on big platforms like Instagram and Facebook. So what does this mean? Don’t depend only on social media marketing for your organic leads. Amp up the organic efforts you already utilize like optimized on-page content and email marketing, which is anything but dead.

Better Real-Time Engagement

Businesses both big and small found that Twitter gave them a way to immediately connect with customers and address their concerns. And doing this on a public forum help them build credibility, improve user experience, and promote their brand image. The result? Nearly three-quarters of Twitter users expect brands they follow to respond within 60 minutes.

This also means that more and more companies are finding they need to implement cross-platform social media strategies to provide real-time support and engagement with their customers. As 2017 begins, we’ll see a growing number of companies shifting their customer service efforts to their social media platforms, with many allocating new resources to handle the demand.

Heavier reliance on social analytics

In the beginning, social media marketing was relatively hit or miss and social media markets lacked the insight needed to target specific groups and understand where their traffic was coming from. As social media marketing grows in popularity, analytic programs are rising up to meet the needs of the marketers.

Small and medium businesses usually find that free programs like Google Analytics, Followerwonk, or Iconosquare are more than adequate to handle their needs. Bigger businesses and enterprise-level companies can find paid software that will help them better understand where their users are on social media and how to market to them effectively.

Personalization

Have you ever noticed an ad on Facebook for a pair of boots at Nordstrom that you were just looking at? If you work in social media marketing, you know it is because you were targeted based on your interests. While it can feel a little big brother, don’t expect this to slow down anytime soon. In fact, in 2017, personalizing digital content will become increasingly important. In all the noise of social media, providing relevant content will be a key differentiator in attracting qualified leads. Luckily, those tools we just mentioned can help you decide who, how, and when.

Increased transparency between consumers and businesses

While we’ve all heard stories of people using Yelp to get free meals from a restaurant, parties on both side of the table can count on increased transparency in 2017. In the past, it has primarily been customers using social media to vent their frustrations, poor experiences, or warning others why to avoid a specific business.

One business changing this paradigm is rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. On these platforms, riders rate the driver, but the driver can rate the rider as well. If you drink too much and vomit in a rideshare car, do not expect a 5-star rating.

When making your social marketing plan for 2017, don’t be afraid to add a few new tactics to the list of things to try or be afraid of letting go of tactics that just aren’t returning the results you want. One thing you can count on for sure in 2017 is experimentation will be key in finding what works for you and what does not in this shifting social media landscape.

The post Social Media Trends in 2017 appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

Tagging your pictures on Instagram is the best way of ensuring you share your photos with more people and also to find new like-minded followers on Instagram. A while back, Instagram used the system of arranging uploaded pictures one after the other, according to the time of upload. Today, the new Instagram feed organizes images according to popularity, and seasoned players find themselves at a disadvantage. This new system of organization means that when your image viewership is low, it quickly disappears, together with the other several million uploaded pictures, into oblivion. You need your image frequently liked. Most of us use hashtags, but in vain, and there is a good explanation of why your hashtags do not work.

Although hashtags are the ideal way to describe and share images with more individuals, tagging can also be very tricky. To get the most benefit from the use of hashtags, you will always need to think about a few things before tagging.

Use popular tags but in a careful manner

Using the more popular hashtags might get your image more views and likes, and in case you are unsure of the popular hashtags relating to your image, a Google search should solve this issue. Be advised, though, popular hashtags might also obliviate your image. Since popular hashtags are widely in use, your image when tagged with a popular tag will be widely viewed, but for a shorter time. Chances are, you do not even get the four hours.

Keep your tagging simple and avoid cluttering your page

Please, do not overdo your hashtags. Simply put, a clutter of hashtags creates disinterest instead of generating interest; most viewers might skip over your image, having at the back of their minds decided that you are not aware of what you want, and your image must be irrelevant. Avoid getting passed over.

Be alert and attentive about the other tags

The other images similar to yours have tags, stay alert and pay some attention to what the tags are. You might get a pleasant surprise and learn the tag you are using is not the favorite tag describing images similar to yours. You may think the tag-line you are using is popular, and it might as well be, but there might be a more popular tag. Imagine this; a majority of your target audience might be missing your image just because of your tag-line choice. Such a simple change might get your images the attention you need.

Provide more specific information on your tags

Whenever you are trying to connect with people, your choice of tags is of significant importance. Specific hashtags go a long way towards informing possible viewers and followers of exactly what an image entails. Narrowing down to the detail in your tag choice means your image is easier to find by people interested in such a picture. For instance, when you are posting a photo of a car, please be a little bit specific and tag the make of the car, #BMV goes a long way towards informing people who like the BMW about your photo, without having to sift through the countless pictures of cars uploaded, as opposed to #car.

For relevance, tag a description of your image

After tagging your image as per what type of car it entails, you could always go a step further and make the tag more relevant. As much as you are already particular about the kind of car, you must also be aware of the differences in tastes relating to your type of car, different models of the BMW will interest different people. Tag your image accordingly; which will ensure your photo gets the right audience, increasing the chances of your image being viewed and liked tenfold.

So please, do not lose hope. Keep sharing, but mind your tags.

The post How to optimize your Instagram Hashtags appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

How Does it Work?

Instagram users are already able to record video through the app or post existing video. Allowing longer videos won’t change the recording and posting processes for most users of the mobile apps, but iOS users will be getting an additional feature to make video production easier.

In the same blog post, Instagram also announced that they’d be bringing back the ability to create videos from photos in user galleries, but this feature will only be available to iOS users for now. No word on when Android will get this feature.

Who’s Using Video on Instagram?

While Instagram is primarily thought of as an image sharing platform, video has been popular since day one. The 15-second video limit didn’t stop people from regularly recording and sharing moments from their lives, and there are already some emerging IG video stars like Rachel Ryle and Jeni’s Ice Cream.

Big brands have also been driving video adoption on the platform with companies like GoPro, National Geographic, and Nike regularly posting clips that get millions of views.

How will Instagram Change?

The change in video length is really about Instagram embracing the popularity of videos and making the format more accessible. You can expect to see brands embracing this right away, and popular IG videographers will probably be looking for ways to increase their current programming.

We should see more video from more sources as people that weren’t comfortable with 15-second clips take advantage of the longer format. We should also expect some video from other platforms to start migrating onto Instagram. Producers on YouTube, Twitter and other social networks might decide it’s worth it to edit and repost their content now that they don’t have to chop it into a lot of very small clips.

Probably the biggest noticeable change will be the number of videos that pop-up in user feeds. Depending on who you follow, you might see your feed taken over by video as brands and some power users decide to focus on video over still photos. It’s too early to really know if longer videos will become dominant, but expect brands to be aggressive.

What’s Next?

In Variety’s coverage of the change, they suggest that longer videos are a step toward monetizing videos with ads. This makes sense, considering that Facebook owns Instagram, already offers Instagram advertising through the Facebook Ads platform, and is always looking for new ways to grow ad revenue. There is no way to know when the monetization will occur, but don’t be surprised if pre-roll ads start making an appearance in your feed.

It’s also likely that Instagram will start offering more tools for video editing, especially if popular creators decide they want more flexibility. Instagram might decide to bulk of the capabilities of the main app, or build a separate tool like they did with Layout.

What are your thoughts on Instagram’s decision to allow 60s videos? Please share below.

The post Instagram Now Let’s You Make Longer Videos appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

Native Advertising

Advertising that fits the natural user experience of a website defeats popup blockers and generates twice as many click-throughs as display advertising. Social media sites and publishers were at the forefront the new advertising trend that blends marketing messages with content streams. Expect more businesses to implement native advertising as they become aware of its effectiveness with mobile users.

Growth in Marketing Automation

Statistics indicate that more than half of all businesses have enlisted an email marketing provider to support their efforts. Of the firms that use email marketing, three-quarters or more have expressed intentions to buy marketing automation software this year. Marketing automation spans all industries and will grow explosively growth as easy-to-use, mobile friendly, and technologically advanced solutions become available. Marketers will enjoy the flexibility of executing their marketing campaigns from mobile devices. Also, advanced analytics capabilities will help firms focus their efforts on the customers that have the most potential.

Design for Devices

Mobile experiences now demand more than one-size-fits-all website designs. As the marketing world discovers more about the behavior of mobile users, more designers will realize the need to develop content appropriately for each device. The trend will continue to grow throughout the year as companies strive to provide the user experience required to achieve sustained growth.

Dependence on Big Data

Mobile data has fueled a boom in Big Data as marketers learn how users interact with brands. As firms sift through unprecedented amounts of information gleaned from mobile users, they hope to find clues about consumer behavior that can provide a competitive advantage. Information about referral traffic, and user flow through mobile sites and apps directs the efforts of developers as they capitalize on user preferences. Social media continues to attract a high percentage of mobile traffic, contributing more to the growing pool of available data.

Companies will increasingly use Big Data to predict the needs and desires of customers both online and in physical stores. The personalized customer experience provided by Big Data insights will improve customer satisfaction and increase sales throughout the client’s life-cycle.

Vertical Video Advertising

Video advertising has proven its merit, but mobile users only reluctantly will turn their phone sideways to see a full-screen video. Vertical video eliminates that problem. Statistics affirm the promise of video ads that run in full-screen portrait mode on smartphones and other devices. Early adopters such as Macy’s, NBC, and Periscope have begun a trend that will gain momentum throughout 2016. As data reaffirms the new marketing tactic, expect more companies to develop compelling vertical video ads that will captivate the attention of users for extended periods, resulting in higher conversion rates.

Mobile dominance has fueled the urgency of marketers working tirelessly to keep up with evolving technology and increasing user demands. As the year unfolds, expect the trends listed here to guide your marketing campaigns. New developments will continue to alter the dynamic mobile landscape, so keep your eyes open for more new and exciting opportunities.

The post Mobile Marketing Strategies and Trends for 2016 appeared first on BuyLikes.net.

Instagram can be fun, but it can also be a very useful tool in branding yourself or your product, and even attracting brands that may be interested in partnering with you. There are some tricks of the trade, so to speak, to creating the most engaging Instagram feed you can. The tips below will help you hone your photo sharing skills in no time.

Create a theme

Creating an Instagram theme is a sort of unofficial rule. If you are unfamiliar with Instagram themes, it is probably only in the sense of the term, itself. A theme is simply a similar aesthetic that is applied to each photograph you upload to your account.

The similarity can be something as simple as the background your pictures are taken against. For instance, you may look for solid black walls or backgrounds and choose to only take your photos against a black back drop. Eventually, all of your Instagram photos will contribute to your “theme” and you will start to see it come together.

A theme can also be achieved by applying the same filter to each picture before you upload it. As with choosing a consistent background, your filtered look will begin to develop into your feed’s theme.

When coming up with a theme that works best for you, always consider how your feed will look as a whole. If you were to print out each picture and make a collage, you would want the overall look to paint a picture that best expresses what you want to put out to the social media world.

Be consistent

Aside from developing a theme, consistency is also key to getting the most from you interactions on Instagram. The people or companies that follow you, do so because they either enjoy how your pictures look, or they enjoy the message you use your pictures to send. Being consistent in uploading will keep followers engaged and interested. You may even want to schedule when you upload photos. However you decide to do it, come up with a way to give your followers what they want on a regular basis.

Be social

At the end of the day, Instagram is a social media platform. You should use it to be social. Comments and direct messages allow followers easy access to you. Reply to comments and messages and encourage conversations below your pictures. You can do this by placing a question in your photograph’s caption. If not a direct question, you can caption your picture with a provocative phrase or even a call to action that suits your brand.

Don’t spam

Spamming is always frowned upon. It is no different in the world of social media. Genuine engagement with followers is what yields the best results. There is no wrong in promoting your business or brand or even using calls to action; just do it sparingly. Your followers should not feel like each time they go to your feed, they are being asked to do or buy or support something that benefits you.

As listed above, the main goal is to engage and encourage interactions, while presenting an accurate image of what you stand for, to the Instagram world. That being said, the majority of your actions on Instagram, or any social media platform, should be aimed at interacting with people you may not otherwise have access to.

Return the favor

Following other Instagram accounts and liking and commenting on their posts, is a great way to stay involved with other users. By staying involved, you will remain up to date on the current mood of the environment, so that you can adjust accordingly and keep your own posts relevant.

Also, you will make contact with others who share your interests. If you are following and commenting on a particular account, chances are, the other people following that account also share some of your interests. This is a great way for others to find you and follow your Instagram account. It also leads you back to one of the basics, which is engagement.

Overall, Instagram is one of the most powerful social media tools available. With its ease of use and accessibility, there are endless possibilities for interaction and direct branding with your audience. With these tips, you should be able to take your photo sharing to the next level.

The post How to get the most from your Instagram Feed appeared first on BuyLikes.net.