Instagram is a great way to build a community, connect with your audience, reach new people, and share fun content. But if you are running a business account, you’ll also want to use Instagram to make sales. By putting a few simple strategies in place, you can use your Instagram as not only a social platform, but also a selling platform.

Here are three strategies to implement on your own Instagram to turn your followers into customers and start making sales quickly and easily.

Show, Don’t Tell

Instagram is a visual platform, so your target audience should be able to see what it is that is so great about your product. You can talk your products or services up all you want, but it will take a lot more time and energy to convince your audience that they should buy something from you than it will to simply show them.

Take great photos of your products. Capture video testimonials from past clients. Show results or transformations that past clients achieved after purchasing from your business. Instagram users are not scrolling through Instagram just to read. It’s easier to just let the visuals sell for you than it is to write out lengthy captions or descriptions.

build social proof

Social proof can be incredibly powerful for your business. Social proof is the idea that people tend to follow the actions of the masses - if many other people are interested in a particular product or service, maybe you should be too. We are a lot more interested and significantly more likely to purchase something when we see someone else that we know/like/trust already has a product and is happy with it.

Encourage past customers or clients to share your products or services to their audiences by offering a discount code or free product in exchange for the testimonial. They have already built up a connection with their audience, so they’ll have an easier time selling to them than you would. Think about how often you go looking for a particular product after you’ve seen one of your friends gush about it on Instagram or in person. Your target audience is no different!

Reward Your Loyal Followers

Finally, think about rewarding your Instagram followers. One of the best ways to boost sales through this particular social media platform is to offer your fans an Instagram exclusive deal.

Set up a special coupon for them, create an image with text about the offer and share the coupon code in the caption. While this isn't something you want to do every week, working in a special coupon, early access, or an exclusive version of a product just for your Instagram followers is a great way to make them feel special while also boosting your sales.

Want to learn more about how to make sales through Instagram?

Natalie Ellis, BossBabe’s founder and creator of Insta Growth Accelerator, has a great free webinar: 4 Reasons You’re Not Making Money on Instagram + How to Fix It