If you market your business with Instagram, you know the struggle almost every wedding vendor experiences at some point. You want engaged couples to follow you and see your posts, but no matter how hard you try, it seems like the only people you can get following you and engaging with your posts are other wedding professionals.
There are three main reasons for this:
- Many businesses set up bots that automatically like photos and follow users who use specific hashtags. If you use those hashtags, you may get followed by lots of other vendors automatically. This is a problem that is difficult to avoid, so don’t worry about these likes and followers.
- You may not be using enough or the best hashtags to reach couples.
- You may not be actively searching for engaged couples on Instagram or interacting with them, which makes it difficult for you to reach them. If you have tried to do this, you may struggle with trying to find users who are engaged in your area.
So how can you fix these issues and get real engaged couples to follow and engage with you?
Fix your hashtags
One of the easiest ways to start reaching couples on Instagram is to use hashtags strategically. Start by using 20-30 hashtags per post, and always put the hashtags in the first comment. This will maximize your reach and make sure your caption doesn’t look cluttered with hashtags.
Next, go to the profiles of successful competitors in your area. Take note of the hashtags they commonly use in their posts, and use them in your own. Think about which hashtags engaged couples are likely to search for on Instagram and use those, as well.
Here are some ideas for hashtags to use:
- Location specific hashtags (examples: #nycweddingplanner, #PAweddingphotographer, #nashvilleweddings, etc.)
- Wedding inspiration hashtags (examples: #weddingdetails, #weddingphotoideas, #fallweddinginspiration, etc.)
- Branded hashtags to promote your business (examples: #MADbeautiful, #whitneyweddings, #howbostongetsengaged, etc.)
Use the LLLF strategy to reach couples
LLLF stands for like-like-like-follow. The strategy involves finding couples’ Instagram accounts, engaging with three posts either by liking or commenting, then following them. When you do this, make sure to comment something genuine and thought out, rather than quick and vague. The goal is to get the user to notice all of your engagement, click on your profile, and then follow you back.
So how do you find engaged couples to like, comment, and follow? Here are three great strategies:
- Search for hashtags engaged couples may use in their own posts to find users who are engaged. Make sure you include a location so that you find couples local to you. Here are some examples of hashtags to search: #NYCbridetobe, #dallasengagement, #LAgroom
- Search for engagement photographers in your area and look for users that they tag in their posts, then go to their accounts and implement LLLF. You can also check comments on posts without someone tagged in case the bride or groom commented. If the user is private, you can start by following, then engaging with their posts.
- Search for local bridal shops and jewelry stores, and then look for users tagged in their posts. Lots of bridal shops will post, “I said yes to the dress!” photos, while jewelers will often feature customers with their engagement rings.
If you start implementing these two strategies and spending only five minutes per day reaching out to engaged couples on Instagram, you will start to see more couples following you and engaging with your posts. In time, you may even begin to receive inquiries through your Instagram inbox.
Photo by Something Blue by Susan Elizabeth.
The post How to Get Engaged Couples to Follow You on Instagram appeared first on WeddingWireEDU Blog.
