Social media is in a boom right now. With almost everyone in the world being tempted to post cute dog videos, or catch up on the news online. It’s no wonder that you constantly hear about trending videos and viral posts from all over the internet. Your business is no different! If you’re thinking that social media is “for the kids” and isn’t important for your small business, you’re off your rocker. Need a little help navigating the online world? Here are a few tips on how to drive more foot traffic with Instagram.

Optimize Your Instagram Profile For Local Business

Getting started on Instagram is fast and easy! The face of your account will help customers recognize you and your business easier. Setting up your profile is the first step to a great Instagram experience. Your bio tells people about your business, and how they can follow you. Use these steps to ensure your company’s profile is up to date, and leads customers back to your website or local business listing.

Add Location Details to your Bio

Make sure your customers know where to find you! Mentioning your town or neighborhood in your Instagram bio is a good start. But when you want to increase local foot traffic with instagram, it’s critical to list your full address so people can easily find your brick and mortar locations. Being local is a great thing to promote – especially in a smaller town. 

Call To Action Button

As a small business owner, you know it’s hard to get customers in the door. You can use your Instagram profile to draw in potential clients, using action buttons and click-to-call links. If you manage an Instagram account for a brick and mortar business that has a physical address, consider using click-to-call links to get customers in your door.

Geotag Instagram Feed Content 

The biggest perk of using Instagram for local business marketing is that your content can appear in two different feeds. When you post to your feed or Stories, your content automatically displays on your profile, like a traditional Instagram profile. When you geotag your content, it can also appear on the location page of your business, giving you an extra opportunity to stand out and attract customers!

Research and Use Local Hashtags

Hashtags can be an effective way to increase your digital presence and drive local foot traffic. To reach residents or tourists in your local area, think beyond your campaign and branded hashtags, which are typically marketing driven. 

When looking for the best hashtags for your Instagram posts, look at those influencers who have similar content to yours and find the hashtags that they use frequently. This will give you a few ideas of what kind of tags might be relevant to your content and help Instagram deliver your posts and reels to the right audience.

Showcase Social Proof

Social proof is a way to drive customers to your business. Whether you manage marketing for a restaurant, a service-based business, or a retail outlet, you can use social proof to your advantage with Instagram and drive more local foot traffic to your establishment.

Social proof is one of the best ways to attract new customers to your business, especially when it comes from local sources. A few examples of social proof include: customer testimonials or reviews, press features, awards your business has won, and recognition from trusted influencers. If you want to add social proof to your Instagram profile, simply write about it in the About section; for example, “Our food has been featured in Best Things Phoenix Magazine and we were voted Best Burger by Phoenix Foodie Awards.”

Boost Instagram Content to Local Audiences

To promote a post that’s been working well, tap Boost and choose a goal. If a specific store visit goal isn’t available, we recommend choosing a broader goal like More Profile Visits to encourage customers to view your address and open hours.

When you build an audience, make sure to target people in your local area. Choose your current location and set a radius that aligns with your customer base.

Instagram is the New Black

We know it can be confusing learning how to drive more foot traffic with Instagram, but it can be easily succeeded. That’s why Three Ring Focus is here to help you craft your next high-quality website, marketing, or SEO strategy. Check out of some the work we’ve done for a little sneak peak. Don’t miss out on the benefits of having an expertly-crafted site. Contact us today for more information about our services!