It’s a wild world for Instagram, being the business industry’s latest go-to social advertising platform. With over a billion users and engagement rates that surpassed Facebook, Pinterest and even Twitter, it’s no wonder why marketers want to have their share of attention on IG. Because of their latest algorithmic shift that led to organic campaigns being overshadowed by sponsored ones, some businesses are having a hard time competing in the landscape. But here are 5 useful tactics to make sure you can keep seizing online.

Be consistent with your branding.

Some small businesses tend to forget how their feeds should look like. Be clear and be creative on how you want your audience to remember your brand. It’s the same with a person meeting someone for the first time: it leaves a lasting impression. If your brand’s online presence displays quality content and good online engagement, you will be easily recognized.

Avoid under or over posting.

Not posting for nearly a week nor posting 6 times daily does not make things better for your brand’s IG presence. In order to attract engagements from your audience, you must post at least 1-2 times a day. How to determine the best time to post? It actually depends on your audience’s browsing habits. Use Instagram Insights on your Business Account to find out when are the times that these users are most active.

Never sound like you’re trying to sell something.

Have you ever seen a successful brand that’s loved by millions of consumers worldwide trying to sell the features of their product? Consumers don’t want that. They want experience. They want to know the value that they can get from what you can offer to them.

Maximize IG Stories (and go Live!)

One-third of the Instagram Stories actually comes from businesses and 300 million people viewing Instagram Stories daily, so it’s a no-surprise that engagement and view rates are significantly higher than only templated Instagram posts.

Use social e-commerce.

Consumers nowadays have it easier when shopping online, thanks to Instagram and Facebook’s latest e-commerce feature which lets users shop through their feed instead of going through the actual website. Social e-commerce is the real breakthrough for online purchasing, since it allows easier transaction for “users/shoppers”.