If you expect good results from your Instagram ads, then look no further than marketing experts who know Instagram inside and out. We share insights for hiring the best.
Tips for Finding the Best Instagram Marketing Agency
If you haven’t noticed, social media has completely changed our lives. Love it or hate it, Instagram has emerged as a very powerful force in marketing in the past several years. With users spending an average of 30+ minutes per day on the social media site, it makes good business sense to elevate your Instagram ad campaigns.
In this article, we share tips for finding the best Instagram marketing agency to help your brand get to the top—and stay there.
Why Instagram?
With over 1.4 billion users on the platform, Instagram can be an incredibly powerful tool to boost brand awareness, drive sales, and better connect with current and potential consumers and partners—if you know what you’re doing!
Aside from posting about your product and engaging with your audience, Instagram offers valuable insights and features to target specific prospects. However, with all the bells and whistles this platform delivers, it’s always a smart move to enlist the help of social media gurus at a reputable Instagram marketing agency. So, why is Instagram a phenomenal platform for your next ad campaign?
Benefit #1: Curate Your “Look”
Instagram is all about visuals. Your account's aesthetic, like the color tones, content quality, and overall feel, can dramatically impact brand recognition. When a user visits your Instagram page, they'll be making an instant connection to your brand and formulating assumptions based on your chosen style. So, especially for brands looking to establish a visually powerful and distinctive brand aesthetic, Instagram is the way to go.
Benefit #2: Boost Engagement
Conversions and consumer engagement go hand-in-hand, and Instagram was designed specifically for people (and businesses) to engage with each other. In fact, as the most engaging social platform for brands, 80% of its users follow at least one of their favorite businesses, and 2-7% percent of users interact with each post.
Benefit #3: Convey Authenticity
Users tend to connect with businesses that are conversational, open, and make it a point to stick to their values. Instagram offers features that allow you to interact directly and authentically with your followers in many ways, including:
- Comments – Replying to questions or suggestions through public comments and in a timely manner can positively impact your brand reputation.
- Likes – Something as simple as liking a comment or post can have a significant influence and even open the door for new opportunities.
- Direct Messages – Chatting through direct messages allows you to connect with consumers, potential partners, or influencers in a more personable way to build rapport.
- Stories – Stories are temporary videos/photos that you can create anytime to speak more casually with your followers.
- Influencers – Collaborating with the right influencers can increase your brand's trustworthiness and likability.
How to Find the Best Instagram Marketing Agency
Now that we’ve covered why it’s smart for businesses to engage with audiences on Instagram, let's see how to find the best Instagram marketing agency that can further your social success!
Examine Their Case Studies
Any reputable Instagram marketing agency should have deep specialist knowledge about all things social. This expertise will typically be demonstrated through available case studies and portfolios of the agency's previous work and results. Take the time to thoroughly comb through this info to determine if the agency has the proper general experience and specific experience for your industry.
Be Straight Up About Your Goals
What’s the point of marketing? Results! The most critical factor in choosing an agency is whether they can deliver the results you're looking for. We recommend that you determine your desired outcomes and defined expectations before reaching out to an Instagram marketing agency.
Choosing distinct goals will also help you to better allocate your budget and resources. Some possible goals you might be striving for include:
- Lead Generation & Community Growth
- Increased Brand Awareness
- Higher Sales
- Provide Better Customer Service
- Drive Traffic to Your Website
- Establish Relationships with Influencers
Check Out Their Toolbelt
The best Instagram marketing agencies are masters of all the latest social tools. Instagram for Business, Facebook Business Manager, analytics tools, and testing tools are imperative for crafting impressive ads and creative campaign concepts.
Without proper knowledge of these tools and how to use them for generating leads, building perfect landing pages, and creating the best retargeting ads, your business will have a more challenging time reaching goals. Don’t throw money away, and be sure to take the time to really dig into agency options and ask plenty of questions.
Consider Testimonials
When choosing an Instagram marketing agency, always read through their client testimonials. Any business can provide case studies and results for their work, but they most likely won't mention if the project had some hiccups along the way. Testimonials can help you determine the type of service to expect. Be sure to read through a few and look for agencies that clearly provide high levels of communication and collaboration.
Snoop On Their Current Clients
Agencies will always have a list of clients they've worked with, so go take a peek! There's no better way to understand the kind of work they provide than to see it for yourself. Ask to see the end product from past clients in your same industry and evaluate their tone, relevancy, and messaging. Also, think about how well your audience would've received something similar had it come from your brand.
Evaluate their Communication Skills
The right Instagram marketing agency will prioritize transparency and communication, among other fundamental good business practices, including:
- Being Upfront Regarding Deadlines & Budgets - Lack of clarity around deadlines and budgets shows untrustworthiness and will hurt your business in the long run.
- High Responsiveness - Communication is key, so your agency should respond to any pressing questions or concerns with urgency.
- Ability to Listen to Your Needs - You should always feel heard and valued, so you know your needs are being met.
- Passion for Social - You should work with an agency passionate about social media and always up to date with all those rapidly-changing trends. From paid social media to bold and brilliant creatives, they should do it all.
- Strong & Similar Values - Especially if you'd like to work long-term with an agency, it's best to ensure their values align with yours.
Work with the Best of the Best
If you're looking for an Instagram marketing agency that’s dedicated, knowledgeable, creative, and offers a proven successful track record, meet the experts behind Social Ktchn!
We're a full-service digital marketing company with experience in creating successful social media campaigns. We'll work closely with you to deliver customized services that produce the results you expect.