3 Key Strategies for Success on Instagram in 2021

As 2020 is coming to a close, Instagram continues to be a vital platform for online marketers and brands. In 2021, Instagram will no doubt continue to hold its spot as one of the most important social channels out there. Over the past few years, I've been working more and more with Instagram, and have become really impressed with it as a marketing platform. In this article, I'll be discussing some important keys to growing through Instagram.

1. Influencer Marketing

At this point, just about every marketer has heard of influencer marketing. This type of marketing is where you reach out to someone who has a social following and you ask them to promote your brand or product. On Instagram, this strategy can prove to be especially effective. But in general, influencer marketing is regarded as being a very good ROI. In fact, "nearly 90% of all marketers find ROI from influencer marketing comparable to or better than other marketing channels" (source: bigcommerce.com).

So it's safe to say that influencer marketing is a real, viable option for marketers. If you don't already have a budget for influencer marketing, you should consider having one for 2021.

2. Instagram Shops

Earlier this year, Instagram rolled out a new feature for Instagram called Shops. This new feature completely changed the fabric of IG. Now, users have a dedicated tab within Instagram that is devoted to the new Shop feature. From there, users can see items for sale from various vendors.

This new feature allows retailers to offer Instagram users a more frictionless purchasing experience. As the new Shops feature is relatively new, I expect this feature to continue to increase in popularity in 2021. Marketers who have products to sell should absolutely be using Shops on Instagram as a distribution and marketing channel.

3. Video

Ever since TikTok took the world by storm with their short, engaging video-oriented platform, others have tried to replicate the company's success. Earlier this year, Instagram rolled out its new Reels feature, which feels eerily similar to TikTok. Because of these developments, creators on Instagram will need to start focusing more on their video content.

Conclusion

There are many things to think about when you're marketing your brand on Instagram, but I think these three key focus areas will be crucial in 2021. As always, remember to be creative with your content, consistent with your posting, and genuine.