When it comes to developing a strategy for Instagram, it can often feel like there’s a lot of pressure to get it right straight away, especially for B2B companies. So where do you begin?

HubSpot might have a solution. The marketing software firm runs a free online course designed to help businesses with Instagram.

Here are four key ways it suggests you can make the most of your account.

1. Make sure your goals are Instagram-specific

Instagram is limiting in the sense that it doesn’t allow you to post many URLs. So you will need to make sure your strategy focuses more on engagements and brand awareness than clicks on links and website hits.

2. Update your profile regularly and include lots of detail – your biography is key

When people visit your Instagram page, the first thing they see is your profile. So it’s crucial to be clear what your company does and what people can expect from it on Instagram. You have 150 characters, clickable tags and hashtags at your disposal – make them count. And don’t be afraid to use emojis to help break up the text.

Your profile is also the only place you can post a clickable link. Keep it updated and mobile compatible, and include a call to action in your biography.

3. Understand the algorithm

HubSpot’s course outlines some of the misunderstandings around Instagram. Its algorithm doesn’t prioritise video over images, or accounts that regularly use and post on IGTV and Stories.

It does, however, analyse a post’s engagements and the amount of time a user has spent looking at it. The more engagements and the longer the view time, the higher the post will rank.

The algorithm also prioritises posts from the accounts that users interact with the most and that the user has actively searched for.

4. Check your hashtags

We all know hashtags are essential for getting eyes on your content, but you need to make sure it’s seen by the right people. Before posting, search the hashtags you use, and make sure your content aligns with the top posts.

These are just a few tips to help you get started on your Instagram strategy. But remember – the world of social media doesn’t stand still.

Follow the steps above, stay up to date with the latest news and look out for significant updates from Instagram, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering the platform.