How I use Instagram for my small business

Mhudge, Market Harborough fudge

Using Instagram for small businesses.

Now Mhudge, Market Harborough fudge, just has marginally over 1000 followers, which in my little world is absolutely huge. To you and your business, it may feel completely out of reach, OR it may be total small fry. But, regardless of the number of followers, Instagram can be used in a number of ways. Here is how I use Instagram for my small confectionary business, this list is not exhaustive and believe me, I’m always learning and striving for efficiencies so may be up for change! If you’ve got some suggestions, I’m all ears.

Updating and engaging customers

I use both stories and the grid posts to update my customers. Any price changes, new seasonal flavour announcements, new retailers, restocking of retailers, website updates, Mhudge out and about doing live events, honestly any news. This keeps Mhudge fudge popping up on customer radars, makes the fudge easy to find, keeps my contact details handy. This essentially keeps sales rolling in. I can schedule content, though not long in advance, this allows me to think about my social media strategy, ensure my content is current and relateable. My stories and grid posts don’t necessarily reach potential customers outside of my followers, but they do allow someone checking out my profile to see that I post regularly, and that my business is current. I also use stories to interact with followers, asking what flavours they might prefer, this or that questions, all boost engagement, personal relationships and build an online, supportive community. And how much better is it to successfully launch a product or service once you’ve already tested the waters with your fanbase?

Reels of reels

I use reels to reach non-followers. The algorithms (lol this word makes me laugh so much), mean that you can get a wider reach when you post a reel, so reels are good for raising awareness of your business. The only thing is, it’s not consistently good for reach, and I have no idea how to influence that! But if you can attract potential customers from outside of your current follower fanbase, then in theory, you increase your customer pool.

Meeting other small businesses

Everyone is a potential customer, but I follow other accounts that I enjoy, and accounts that I may be able to work with to form connections. Some have some fabulous photo ideas, some have amazing ways of writing blurbs, some make THE best videos, and some I just find funny (I’m always all about funny). Building relationships with other small businesses, is brilliant, sharing woes, sharing ideas, and of course making recommendations. I think, when you work on your own business, if it’s a small business like mine, you tend to work alone, so this online community of people working similarly allows you to work together. When we learn about other businesses, and talk about their businesses and business needs, we make better connections. Later on you might be speaking to someone else who has a problem that can be solved by a business you’ve learned about, and hey presto, SO many sales are made on recommendations and testimonials! It’s not all just about sales though, idea sharing is huge, in the fudge world we talk about flavours, packaging, and outside of the fudge world I share ideas for my friends and contacts businesses, because I want them to succeed too.

Keeping in touch

Mhudge is so accessible on instagram. I respond to messages and comments personally, it’s instant connection with a real person that can help build my business. I think my responsiveness shows I care, and give customers a personal connection to my business. In my head, that means better business, it means my customers recognise me, are more likely to remember me, and therefore more likely to recommend me.

Potential

Instagram has more potential than I use currently, for starters, I can link the Mhudge fudge shop to the account, which would mean an easier ‘purchase route’ for the customer so I may ‘lose less sales’. I also am very aware that my very lovely followers are very much like me, in that my instagram customer base are mostly middle aged (sorry!!!) mums. Whilst this is fabulous, because I RELATE and the way I type and talk very much targets this, it could be seen as limiting, I mean, fudge, in theory has more universal appeal?! I am continuously learning, exploring new options and trying different avenues and I think over time, these apps will work harder for me, I just need to unleash their (my) potential.