Now that the holiday season is approaching, it’s time to think about how you’re marketing your toy store online. There are lots of creative ways to do this, from making your website mobile friendly to ramping up the newsletters you send out to customers. And the more you improve your online presence, the more successful your business will be because of all the new customers you’ll get as a result. One of the best ways to improve your online presence is by mastering your toy store’s Instagram account. Especially when it comes to reaching out to younger parents, millennials and Gen Zers, this is a great way to build a customer base and have loyal customers throughout the year.
By using the right strategies on Instagram, you can reach out to many of your customers–and here’s how.
Research your customer base
Before you start posting pictures of your products and advertising exciting Christmas-themed sales, you need to think about your customer base. Understanding your customers is what will help you decide what kind of content to post, and where to focus your sales (for example, toys for a specific age range). Additionally, you’ll know what color scheme to use, what the demographics of your models in pictures should be, and what font will make followers most excited to connect with you. You’ll also know what tone to use for captions and hashtags. Remember: Instagram is a highly visual platform, so these features make a huge difference. Considering that half of the world’s population is on social media, you’ll get lots of new customers if you understand them.
If you aren’t sure where to start, see what competitors are doing on their Instagram accounts. And don’t forget that your Instagram aesthetic should match the same vibe you’ve got on your website and other social media accounts. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be minimalist, as long as all the elements are carefully considered. Take a look at the Jizels site to get inspired.
Get an Instagram for Business Account
Once you’ve researched your customer base, and decided what look works best for your Instagram account and other social media profiles, it’s time to switch to an Instagram for Business Account. This kind of account will automatically get you more views, which means more engagement and follows. Additionally, you can add information about your store, such as your Facebook page, website, contact information (email, number, and address), and a bio. When it comes to writing up the bio, use the same tone of voice that appears in your captions. When it comes to social media, consistency is key, after all.
Another huge benefit you get from this kind of account is that it includes the Insights feature, which gives you information about your most successful posts, and about your followers (demographics such as age and location). Considering that 43 percent of online stores receive significant traffic from their online pages, you’ll sell way more toys if you switch to this kind of account. And if you use a service like Social Gone Viral to improve your engagement, then you’ll get many followers in no time.
Use Local SEO
If you have a brick-and-mortar toy store, then you’re in luck. One of the best ways to stand out from your competitors is by using Local SEO, which means putting your store in easily searchable location websites like GoogleMaps, Yelp, Foursquare, and more. For this reason, you should also include your address on your Instagram. By placing your business on an actual map, you’ll metaphorically make your mark on the online map!
Considering that 29 percent of consumers search for local businesses at least once every seven days, having your store easily searchable with Local SEO will make a huge difference to your success.
Use Instagram Stories
One of the most exciting new ways to reach out to your followers on Instagram is by using Instagram Stories. This feature, which was originally created so that Instagram could compete with Snapchat, has now become so popular that it has given Instagram more success than ever before. Especially if you’ve got lots of millennial and Gen Z customers, they’ll look forward to catching up on your stories as their main way of engaging with you. If it’s your first time using Instagram Stories, then take a look at these tips from Alex Tooby to learn more.
Considering that people spend almost the same amount of time on Instagram as they do on Facebook, this is a great way to get their attention.
These are some of the best ways to market your toy store on Instagram. What other strategies have you found effective when it comes to marketing your store online?
