Since its inception, Facebook has evolved from a social networking site primarily for students into a vital marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, the significance of Facebook marketing has increased dramatically from 2008 to the present day. Based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Active Internet Marketing is a full-service digital agency made up of a team of marketing experts dedicated to providing tailored, results-driven strategies for both local and national businesses.
Instagram’s advertising capabilities are especially beneficial for SMEs. As of 2023, around 75% of UK marketers utilised Instagram for paid advertising campaigns. Even if your platform doesn’t have a B2C market, a presence on the platform is still beneficial for creating a image for the high profile figures in your establishment. It allows the target market to have a glimpse of who is offering the services they may enquire about.
At Active Internet Marketing (UK), we take the time to fully understand your business needs and objectives, ensuring we find the most effective solutions for your advertising strategies. Our goal is to maximise your return on investment while targeting the right demographics.
Instagram serves as an essential tool for branding, allowing businesses to convey their unique identities through eye-catching visuals, stories, and engaging videos. Regular interactions foster a sense of community and brand loyalty among followers.
The platform also enables businesses to host giveaways, collaborate with influencers, and leverage user-generated content, all of which enhance brand visibility. By utilising these features, SMEs can build an engaged community that actively supports their products and services, leading to exponential organic growth.
Despite algorithm changes affecting organic reach, Instagram still offers SMEs a significant opportunity to grow their following. As of 2023, the average engagement rate for posts from UK businesses was 1.6%, which indicates a healthy level of audience interaction. However, there’s always room for improvement.
Without a clear vision of key goals and target audiences, efforts can easily be wasted. At Active Internet Marketing (UK), we develop tailored strategies designed to yield measurable results.
For local SMEs eager to tap into the full potential of Instagram marketing, Active Internet Marketing (UK) is here to help. With our expertise in navigating Instagram’s toolkit, we guide businesses in crafting targeted campaigns that deliver results. Our strategic insights and tailored approaches help local SMEs improve their marketing performance effectively.
Let us guide you through:
Optimising PPC Campaigns
Improving Brand Visibility
Increasing Engagement
Posting Strategy
Posting Strategy
Not at all.
Instagram Marketing can extend to your brand guidelines, your posting schedule, your online store and how to engage your target audience. Its totally possible, with the right strategy that we can implement an Instagram Marketing strategy that is totally free from PPC.
To be totally honest it depends on your business and business needs.
At Active Internet Marketing (UK) we encourage you to do whatever you feel comfortable with. In some circumstances we encourage it, because nobody will be able to represent your brand better than you.
So what we tend to do is develop an Instagram strategy for you, that you can implement, whilst we cater to your other business needs. The Instagram marketing package can be an add on to other services – not a problem at all.
It’s highly visual – Great for showing off products, services, or your brand.
Huge audience – Over 1 billion users, especially younger people (18–34).
Strong engagement – People like, comment, and share more than on many other platforms.
Easy to connect with Facebook ads – You can run ads on both at once.
Tools for business – Like Stories, Reels, shopping tags, and insights to track results.
To set goals on Instagram:
Decide your goal: Want more followers, engagement, website traffic, or sales?
Set a clear target: For example, get 100 new followers in a month or 50 clicks to your website each week.
Track progress: Use Instagram Insights to see how you’re doing.
Instagram is great for marketing because it’s visual and engaging. Here’s how you can use it:
Post Engaging Content – Share photos, videos, and stories that showcase your products or services.
Use Hashtags – Help people discover your posts by using relevant hashtags.
Run Ads – Promote posts or run targeted ads to reach your ideal audience.
Instagram Stories & Reels – Share short, fun content that grabs attention.
Influencer Marketing – Partner with influencers to reach a larger audience.
Instagram Shopping – Allow users to shop directly from your posts.
To optimise your Instagram profile for your business, follow these steps:
Choose a Clear Profile Picture – Use your logo or a professional image that represents your brand.
Write a Compelling Bio – In 150 characters, clearly explain what your business does and include a call to action(e.g. “Shop Now” or “Contact Us”).
Add Contact Information – Use Instagram’s built-in buttons for email, phone number, or physical address.
Link to Your Website – Use the link in your bio to direct followers to your website or landing page.
Use Instagram Highlights – Organize your stories into categories (e.g., “Products,” “Reviews,” “Sales”) for easy access.
Keep a Consistent Aesthetic – Use a cohesive color scheme and style to make your profile visually appealing.
Enable Instagram Shopping (if applicable) – If you sell products, tag them directly in your posts.
Switch to a Business Account
Go to your Instagram settings, select “Account,” and tap “Switch to Professional Account.” Choose “Business” to unlock features like analytics, contact buttons, and ad tools.
Use a Clear Profile Picture
Opt for a high-quality image that represents your brand—typically your logo. This ensures consistency across platforms.
Craft a Compelling Bio
Write a concise description of your business, incorporating relevant keywords. Include a call-to-action (CTA) and a link to your website or a landing page.
Choose an Effective Username
Select a username that’s simple, recognizable, and aligns with your business name. This makes it easier for users to find you. Oberlo
Add Contact Information
Provide essential contact details like email, phone number, or physical address to facilitate customer inquiries.
Utilize Story Highlights
Organize your Instagram Stories into Highlights to showcase products, services, testimonials, or behind-the-scenes content. Use branded cover images for a cohesive look. Bluehost
Maintain a Consistent Visual Aesthetic
Develop a cohesive visual style by using consistent colors, filters, and typography. This helps in establishing brand identity.
Incorporate Relevant Keywords
Enhance your profile’s discoverability by including pertinent keywords in your bio and content. This aids in appearing in relevant searches.
Engage with Your Audience
Respond to comments and messages promptly. Encourage interaction through polls, questions, and interactive stories to build a community around your brand.
No, Instagram does not pay users directly for views on posts or Reels. Previously, the platform had the Reels Play Bonus program, which compensated creators based on view counts, but this program was discontinued in March 2023 and is now only available in select regions like Korea and Japan.
However, creators can monetize their content through various methods:
Sponsored Posts: Collaborating with brands to promote products or services. Earnings can vary widely based on factors like follower count, engagement rate, and niche.
Affiliate Marketing: Promoting products and earning a commission for each sale made through your referral link.
Selling Products or Services: Using Instagram as a platform to sell your own merchandise, courses, or services.
Subscriptions and Badges: Offering exclusive content to subscribers or earning through badges during live videos.
Create Shareable Content
Focus on crafting posts that resonate emotionally or humorously with your audience. In 2025, shares—especially through direct messages—are a key metric for content visibility on Instagram.
Leverage Reels and Trends
Utilize Instagram Reels and participate in trending challenges or hashtags. Reels are prioritized in Instagram’s algorithm, offering higher chances of reaching new audiences.
Collaborate with Influencers
Partner with influencers in your niche to tap into their engaged follower base. Collaborations can introduce your content to a broader audience, leading to increased views and likes.
Optimize Posting Times
Post when your audience is most active to maximize engagement. Use Instagram Insights to determine optimal posting times based on follower activity.
Use Strategic Hashtags
Incorporate relevant and trending hashtags to enhance content discoverability. This strategy helps attract users interested in specific topics, increasing the likelihood of views and likes.
Engage with Your Audience
Respond to comments, messages, and engage with your followers’ content. Active engagement fosters a loyal community and encourages reciprocal interactions, boosting your content’s visibility.
Know Your Product or Service
Clearly articulate what you offer and the benefits it provides. This clarity helps in identifying who would be most interested in your offerings.
Create a Buyer Persona
Develop a profile of your ideal customer by considering:
Demographics: Age, gender, location.
Interests: Hobbies, values, lifestyle.
Needs: Problems your product or service can solve.
Use Instagram Insights
If you have a business account, Instagram provides analytics about your followers, including:
Age range and gender distribution.
Top locations.
Active hours and days.
Use this data to tailor your content and posting schedule.
Research Competitors
Analyze similar accounts in your niche:
Examine their followers’ demographics and engagement.
Identify which types of content perform well.
This can provide insights into potential audience segments you might have overlooked.
Engage with Your Audience
Interact with your followers through comments, direct messages, and polls.
Ask questions to gain insights into their preferences and needs.
This engagement not only builds relationships but also provides valuable information about your audience.
Monitor and Adjust
Regularly review your Instagram analytics to see what’s working.
Be prepared to adjust your content strategy based on what resonates most with your audience.
