Are you new to Instagram marketing? If so, you’re probably making some of the same mistakes as other rookies. This can be costly, as these mistakes can damage your brand and cost you, potential customers. Here, we will discuss the 15 worst mistakes that Instagram marketing rookies make—and how to avoid them!
Top 15 Worst Mistakes in Instagram Marketing
We’ve gathered some of the most common Instagram marketing blunders we see, and we’ll show you how to avoid them. Here are the 15 worst mistakes rookies make—and how you can learn from them and do better:
1. Not having a social media strategy.
If you don’t have goals and a plan to reach them, everything else becomes more difficult. Decide what you want to accomplish, then map out how you’ll get there.
One of the worst mistakes is not using an Instagram growth service. Not only will an Instagram growth service help you save time and grow your account faster, but it will also ensure that more people see your posts. Additionally, use relevant hashtags and post interesting content that will engage your followers.
2. Promoting your business before it’s ready for prime time.
A classic rookie mistake is launching an Instagram account and immediately pushing sales messages without first building up trust with followers. To be successful on Instagram (or any other social media platform), you need to provide value before asking for something (e.g., sales or leads).
The major mistake is ignoring the importance of having a strong Instagram followers app strategy, or not utilizing an influencer marketplace like Ainfluencer to identify and partner with key social media stars who have large, engaged audiences that align with your brand’s target market.”
3. Failing to use hashtags or using too many hashtags.
Hashtags are essential tools for getting discovered on Instagram—but only if used wisely. To avoid looking like a spammer, use 1-2 hashtags per post and ensure they’re relevant to the content.
4. Post random content that has nothing to do with your business.
Your Instagram feed should reflect your brand—not a dumping ground for random photos or thoughts. Every piece of content you share should have some connection to your business, even if it’s just visually.
5. Not interacting with other users.
Social media is all about building relationships, so make sure you’re taking the time to comment on, like, and follow other users’ posts. This will get you noticed and help create a sense of community around your brand.
And, Not using behavioral analytics to measure how users interact with their accounts. This will help you determine what content resonates with your audience and what posts are falling flat.
6. Posting low-quality photos.
With Instagram being all about visuals, your photos must be high quality and professional-looking. This doesn’t mean they have to be perfect—avoid posting blurry or dark photos.
7. Not using stories or using them improperly.
Stories are a great way to connect with your audience on a more personal level—but only if used correctly. Don’t just post random thoughts or images; instead, use stories to show behind-the-scenes content, give sneak peeks, or tell engaging brand narratives.
8. Being too self-promotional.
No one wants to follow an account that’s nothing but sales pitches 24/7. Ensure you’re striking a balance between promoting your products/services and providing valuable content.
9. Not taking advantage of Instagram’s features.
It would be best if you were taking advantage of many features unique to Instagram, such as shoppable posts, Instagram Live, and IGTV. Using these features can create a more interactive and engaging experience for your followers.
10. Posting at the wrong time.
Timing is everything when it comes to social media—and that includes when you post on Instagram. Find out when your target audience is most active on the platform and adjust your posting schedule accordingly to maximize reach and engagement.
11. Ignoring negative comments.
You’ll inevitably receive negative feedback at some point—but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Responding to negative comments constructively and professionally can help improve your relationship with followers.
12. Not using analytics.
Tracking your Instagram analytics is essential for understanding what’s working and what isn’t. Without this data, you’ll have no way of knowing which content strategies are successful and which need to be tweaked or abandoned altogether.
13. Trying to do it all yourself.
While it’s possible to handle your Instagram account independently, it’s not always the best use of your time. If you’re serious about growing your brand on the platform, consider hiring an Instagram marketing agency or social media manager to take over some of the work.
14. Not staying up to date with changes.
Instagram is constantly making updates and adding new features, so it’s important to stay updated on what’s going on. This way, you can make sure you’re taking advantage of everything the platform offers and avoid being blindsided by changes that could affect your strategy.
15. Not having a clear vision for your account.
Before posting on Instagram, it’s important to have a clear vision for your account. What kind of content do you want to share? What tone do you want to set? What overall message are you trying to communicate? Once you have a clear idea of what you want your account to look like, it will be much easier to create content that aligns with your goals.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many common mistakes that brands make when using Instagram. By avoiding these mistakes, you can set your account up for success and start seeing real results.