When marketing your business on Instagram, you have two main options: SEO and hashtags. Both of these strategies can be effective in helping you reach more people and grow your following. But which one is right for you? Here are some pros and cons of each strategy that can help you decide which is best for your business.
What Is Instagram SEO and How Does It Work?
For businesses, Instagram is more than just a platform to post pretty pictures. It's also an incredibly powerful tool for marketing and networking. But to maximize its potential, you must ensure your account is optimized for search engines. This process is known as Instagram SEO. Like any other type of SEO, the goal is to use relevant keywords and phrases to help potential customers find your account. You can do this through both your profile and your posts. In your profile, make sure to include relevant keywords in your bio. Using the right Instagram SEO strategies, you can ensure that your business is seen by the people who are most likely to convert into customers.
How to Use Hashtags for Your Business on Instagram?
On the other hand, hashtags are an easy way to make your content discoverable by individuals who aren't already following you. All you need to do is include relevant hashtags in your posts, and you will display your content to anyone who searches for those hashtags. However, this approach can be less targeted than Instagram SEO, as you'll also reach people who may not.
Pros and Cons of Using Instagram SEO or Hashtags When Marketing Your Business On Instagram
Instagram SEO Pros
Deciding whether to focus more on SEO or hashtags when marketing your business on Instagram can be tricky. Both have benefits and shortcomings, so it's important to consider your goals before making a decision. Below are some of the pros and cons of each strategy:
Pro - You Can Reach a Highly Targeted Audience
By using relevant keywords, you can ensure that your account is being seen by people interested in what you do. When done correctly, Instagram SEO can be a very effective way to reach potential customers. For instance, if you sell skincare products, using relevant keywords in your profile and posts will help people searching for "skincare" or "beauty" find your account.
Pro - You Can Grow Organically
Organic growth is always the best way to go when it comes to building a following on social media. And with Instagram SEO, you can do just that. You can gradually grow your following by using relevant keywords and providing value to your audience.
Pro - People Who Find Your Account Are More Likely to Convert into Customers
If someone takes the time to search for your business on Instagram, likely, they're already interested in what you do. This makes them more likely to convert into customers than someone who stumbles upon your account by accident.
Pro - Your Account Will Be Ranked Greater in Search Results
The higher your account is graded in search results; the more probable people will find it. This can give you a major advantage over your competitors, who may not use Instagram SEO.
Instagram SEO Cons
Con - It Can Be Time Consuming to Research and Implement the Right Keywords
Finding the right keywords for your business can take time and effort. And once you've found them, you need to make sure you're using them correctly in both your profile and your posts. If not, you won't see the results you're hoping for.
Con - You Need to Have High-Quality Content to Rank Well in Search Results
You need to have high-quality content to rank well in search results. Your posts need to be well-written and relevant to your audience. If they're not, you won't see the same results as someone using Instagram SEO correctly.
Hashtag Pros
Pro - You Can Reach a Wider Audience
Hashtags are an easy way to make your content discoverable by persons who aren't already following you. This means you can reach a wider audience than you would only be using Instagram SEO.
Pro - Hashtags Are Easy to Use and Don't Require Much Time or Effort
All you need to do is include relevant hashtags in your posts, and you will display your content to anyone who searches for those hashtags. This is much easier than trying to research and implement the right keywords.
Pro - They Can Help You Connect with Likeminded People and Businesses
Hashtags can be a great way to connect with other businesses and people with similar interests. This can help you build relationships and grow your following.
Hashtag Cons
Con - You May Reach People Who Are Not Interested in Your Merchandise or Service
If you use too many irrelevant hashtags, you may reach people who are not interested in what you do. This can lead to wasted time and effort on your part.
Con - It Can Be Difficult to Stand Out from The Crowd
With so many people using hashtags, making your content stand out cannot be easy. Unless you use popular hashtags or ones specific to your niche, it may be hard for people to find your content.
Con - You Could Be Banned from Using Certain Hashtags If You Misuse Them
If you use hashtags inappropriately or in a way that goes against Instagram's guidelines, you could be banned from using them. This means that your content would no longer be discoverable by people who use those hashtags.
Additionally, always test different variations of hashtags to see which generate the most engagement for your account. Following these tips can increase traffic and reach your Instagram profile, helping you grow your business with this social media platform.
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