Instagram is a very popular social media platform with billions of active users. It’s perfect for growing your brand, finding followers, and sharing images and video content. Is it free to use for business?
Yes, creating a business profile on Instagram is completely free. You can use various organic methods to grow your followers and experience more engagement. Using the right growth strategies and best practices will enable you to get the most out of being on Instagram. If you want to build your business on Instagram by using your MacBook instead of a mobile phone, the following information will help you.
Create an Instagram business profile
It’s important to set up a business profile on Instagram because it will give you access to various features, especially for businesses. For example, you can set up an Instagram shop and see insights/analytics.
Is there an official Instagram desktop app? Instagram is a mobile-only app, and you can only access it through a mobile device. There is no official desktop app. The good news is that there are ways to get around this issue when you want to use your MacBook. You can create and publish posts by using the web browser version of the app.
Instagram on the Mac web browser has all the features of the mobile app. You can view the feed, follow people, share images, and like and comment on photos. If your Mac is slow, it could be because you have too many junk files. Go here for the details on how to clean your Mac. Once implemented, you will see a substantial difference in how your MacBook works and how it positively impacts your productivity and efficiency.
Access the web browser version: To access the browser version of the app, log in to your account, open your browser, and go to www.instagram.com. To view the desktop version of the site, click the Request Desktop Site button.
It appears in the top-right corner of the screen. If you open the Settings menu and select Desktop Site, you will view the desktop version at all times. This is a straightforward option which means you don’t have to install anything on your computer or mess with settings.
Optimize your business profile: There are various ways in which you can optimize your business profile. It means filling in the information, such as the business name and contact details. Providing such information to potential followers gives them a good idea of what your business does and why they should follow you.
- Most brands use their logos for the profile pic.
- Describe your brand and showcase your brand voice in your Instagram bio using 150 characters or less. Create a link to your website on your bio page, and you will get more traffic.
- You can even add a call-to-action button in your profile, like Get Quote.
Come up with a strong marketing strategy
As Instagram is a visual platform, your strategies will involve finding or creating visuals to share. You will also need to:
Define your target audience
Look for profiles on Instagram that align with your target customers. Follow them and see what type of content they share. See what brands they follow and what content these brands share as well. This will help you to develop your own strategies.
Set your goals and KPIs
You may have a variety of different goals, and you will need to formulate different strategies for each one.
- Followers and engagement.
- Website traffic.
- Sales.
- Partnering with influencers.
- User-generated content.
Track metrics
Instagram Insights allow you to track your performance, including follower growth, engagement rate, and reach. Use this data to adjust your content strategy and improve your performance over time. Seeing which of your posts gets the most traction will help you to create more of the same kind.
Create a content calendar and publishing strategy
You will need to create a content calendar and start scheduling your posts. The type of content you share and when you choose to share it must align with your business goals.
Best practices when creating quality content
You will need to find the right tools and apps to create and edit your Instagram posts. This will help you to create the type of content that is more visually engaging for viewers.
Use the right software products: Designers prefer using MacBooks for good reasons. There is a variety of software products like the Adobe Suite you can use to create posts and edit them. You can use templates and edit them or create your own images and use software to create effective videos.
Write engaging captions: Writing captions from a mobile phone’s keyboard can be challenging. It’s often much better to use the keyboard on your Mac, especially for longer captions. Make sure your captions are short and sweet. Asking a question can help to get viewers to comment. Incorporate emojis and use the right lingo if you want to make the right connections.
Create different post types: Users find it boring to see the same type of content over and over. Add different types of content to your content calendar. You can share stories, branded graphics, carousel posts, Reels, live video broadcasts, and more. Features like Stories and live videos will help you to connect with followers because they are more engaging.
Make posts shoppable: For sales, you will need to set up an Instagram shop and tag products in your posts. This means that followers are able to click on a product listing and buy a product in your Instagram shop.
Post-quality content:
- Go to the Instagram website and sign into your account.
- Click on the plus symbol in the top right corner of the screen.
- You will see a Create New Post window.
- Drag your files into the window or use Select to browse and pick files from your Mac.
- You can click the frame icon in the bottom left corner to change the ratio of an image.
- Select one of the Filters or go to Adjustments to adjust brightness, contrast etc.
- Write your caption, pick emojis, type in a location and add alt text before clicking Share.
Are there Mac apps to use for posting photos and videos from Mac to Instagram?
Yes, there are various apps you can use to simplify and enhance the experience of using Instagram on your Mac. You can download and install apps such as Grids, Uplet or Flume. The apps all have different pros and cons. Some of them are simple to use with less functionality. Others are more complex to use but offer more functionality.
Grids is the only app that supports Instagram stories. It offers similar functionality to what you get when using the website with a browser, although it doesn’t have some of the functions. You can find it in the Mac App Store. Uplet is an app which is very simple and easy to use. Flume makes your Instagram feed look like a vertical flow of photos. You can open and see them all in the original size. You can create posts and edit existing Mac images.
Grow your Instagram follower account
This may be a vanity metric, but it helps with social proof if you reach a wide audience. A few tactics to increase followers include:
- Comment on other Instagram posts that align with your target audience.
- There are a number of ways to get followers quickly, such as using bots, but such practices can have negative consequences. It is best to use organic Instagram growth strategies, such as creating high-quality content and using hashtags.
- Post a variety of content types on a consistent basis.
- Use hashtags to help users find content. If your posts have relevant hashtags, they can increase your visibility and reach. Research popular hashtags in your niche and use them appropriately.
- Collaborate with influencers so you can extend your reach. Influencer marketing benefits both your business and the influencer. The role of influencer marketing is to promote your products through influential personalities. It can be a cost-effective marketing technique if you choose the right influencer.
- Cross-promote your Instagram account on your other social media accounts.
- Create brand awareness ads.
It is worthy noting that there are helpful tools that can boost your followers, but at the same time, there are low-quality tools and spammy sites that talk about increasing followers. With other tactics, the drop rate is high, and there’s also a chance that Instagram might flag you or even block your account forever. You should avoid such tactics and focus entirely on tools that help you organically grow your followers.
Instagram for business with MacBook: Frequently asked questions
Is Instagram free to use for business? Yes, it is free to create a business profile on Instagram. The only time you will pay is if you want to advertise.
Is there an official Instagram desktop app? Instagram is a mobile-only app, and you can only access it through a mobile device. There is no official desktop app. The good news is that there are ways to get around this issue, such as by using the web browser version.
Conclusion
Meta-owned Instagram is the most used social media app worldwide, and its popularity is increasing more than ever with the Reels feature. With an active user base that keeps growing, Instagram provides a great way to market your business. If you have a visual story to tell and want to extend your reach, you can use your Macbook to post on Instagram. Use the web browser version of Instagram or download Mac apps to help you post. Your Mac also enables you to produce creative business posts that will wow followers.
