5 Instagram Myths You Need to Ditch to Maximize Growth

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I once spent $1,100 to receive terrible Instagram advice.

And I will tell you what it was for FREE but only if you promise not to try this at home.

Here are the steps:

Find an image, say…a CACTUS.

But mostly, just make sure it matches your brand colors. Write a caption adjacent to your industry (okay, this part is kinda good.) Use these 3 hashtags in the post: a) one describing your picture, b) one describing your industry, c) a second describing your industry.

Example:

The #1 thing I learned from this event is that anyone can call themselves an Instagram expert and charge you a helluva lot of money to give you crap advice.

But the truth is that Instagram is just a platform to help spread your core message.

It will change over time; the only thing that works is staying focused on your audience. Create a helpful place for that audience to hang.

Honestly, the blog post is over! That’s a wrap! That’s all you need to know! ;)

But if you’re still struggling with growing on Instagram, here are five myths that keep you from succeeding on Instagram.

Heads up! Some links in this post are affiliates. If you click and buy, I may earn a commission (no extra cost to you). Thanks for the support! 🌟

Myth #1 - It’s hard (if not impossible) for small businesses to succeed on Instagram.

I know you probably know this somewhere deep down, but sometimes it can be hard to believe it:

You do not need a big following on Instagram for your business to succeed as a result of your Instagram marketing.

Here’s a great quote for you to hold near and dear as you make every marketing decision:

You might think that what it takes is even 10,000 followers. If you could just get to 10k, you’d be making money!

But what you actually need is a group of your people. You need to go on a quest to find people who geek out over the same things you do and who will really benefit from what you do.

Once you do this, you’ll build a relationship with them and help them.

Not only will they become receptive to buying from you because they like you and trust you- they’ll become your biggest fans. These are the people who will help you grow and sell.

If you are getting discouraged, just remember: you need 100 interested, engaged people- not 1,000 strangers off the street.

Myth #2 - Instagram has changed so much that it’s too scary to learn.

Okay, there’s some truth in this myth.

Instagram DOES change so much, and it can be super overwhelming. Even seasoned social media strategists can get frustrated!

But here’s the secret to being unphased by new platform updates: learn and embrace the core function of marketing, and the tech will become pretty inconsequential.

In other words, focus on connecting with people who need your product or service. If Instagram releases a new feature, don’t let FOMO make you change your whole strategy or cause you to give up. Buddy, you’re there to share your light and help people.

It’s in Instagram’s best interest to keep adding features that their doom scrollers will love. If you’re not ready to switch things up yet: don’t.

Focus first on learning Instagram fundamentals by using Instagram as a user.

When you get curious about using something you’ve seen, explore how to use new features. There’s no rush.

In fact, the top THREE reasons people go on Instagram is to find content that is:

1. Funny

2. Creative

3. Informative

TRENDY is number 4 on the list, so take a deep breath. You don’t have to be keeping up with the latest at all times.

Ultimately, what matters most is the community you’re building– not being the fastest to use a new feature that your customers probably don’t care about yet.

Myth #3 - If you’re not ALL IN on Instagram, you might as well not even bother.

Hi, you little cutie perfectionist. I see you! I AM you!

One often unspoken belief that can keep us from getting ahead in our businesses is that we’ve got to be ALL IN, all of the time…or our marketing won’t work.

Look. You’re a human being. You’re powerful and impressive and can do many great things. But you can’t do everything.

So sometimes you’ll have to ask yourself some hard questions to move forward, such as:

• Am I making the best use of my time by trying to create a PERFECT post?

• Can I afford some help with my marketing, or do I need to elbow grease this?

• Is it better for me to put this out there if it isn’t perfect or skip posting altogether?

Listen. No perfect social media post will give you $1,000,000 in revenue tomorrow morning. Instagram marketing takes time, showing up and letting things flop so you can see what works.

If you’ve ghosted your Instagram- please know you’re not alone.

Don’t let your perfectionism keep you more focused on Instagram than on your core business tasks.

(PS: I know this is easier said than done, so if you struggle with this, please check out this book that has helped me break free of so many of my limiting perfectionist tendencies)

Myth #4 - Marketing on Instagram requires constant self-promotion, which feels uncomfortable for almost all of us.

Quick: think of three people who have promoted wares so aggressively on Facebook that it’s made you cringe.

All of us know someone who has gone way too far in their marketing and made us want to check out/unfollow/unfriend/melt whenever we see that product.

But please rest assured that if you know what this looks like, you probably have a pretty good idea of how much is too much.

I want you to embrace a mindset shift: spend most of your marketing time showing how the stuff you sell can improve your customers’ lives. Instead of talking about how great you are, show how great you are by serving them great content that helps make their lives a little brighter.

When you go to create your posts, try to think: why am I posting this? What can I offer that will help my followers laugh/feel seen/inspire them/make them feel like they are so smart because they just learned a great hack?

Yes, you’ll need to promote. Nobody is going to talk about your business like you do. But first, you want to make your Instagram a helpful and useful place to be.

Then you can sprinkle the breadcrumbs that lead to buying.

PS: the average business posts 1.71 feed posts per day- you’re not going to let them take up all of the talking space, are you??

Myth #5 - Instagram is the only way to market in 2023.

HOT TAKE: Instagram is not the end-all, be-all of marketing, and you can run a successful marketing strategy without using Instagram.

Yes, Instagram has its benefits.

It’s entertaining, highly visual, and it’s versatile.

But the truth is: you’re running a business, and you’ve got services to complete and products to create. You don’t have time to be a full-time social media manager on top of it!

So choose your marketing platform(s) carefully. Consider:

• Who is your target audience?

• How new is your audience?

• How much time do you have to dedicate to marketing?

• How comfortable are you with the technical aspects of that platform?

Once you explore those questions, it may be that you need to choose another platform.

For example: if your goal is to reach professionals about your helpful resume writing services, you may choose to grow your LinkedIn presence because that’s where job-searching professionals go!

Don’t just land on one platform because that’s where competitors are or because that’s what you use for your own entertainment/research.

Try to be strategic, and don’t be afraid to go against the grain if your business needs you to do it.

Conclusion

You don’t need a massive following; focus on engaging the right audience. Embrace the core function of marketing, and don’t feel pressured by Instagram’s constant changes. Find balance, prioritize, and don’t let perfectionism hold you back. Authentic engagement and providing value are essential. Remember, Instagram is not the only platform; explore diverse marketing channels.

Let go of these myths, approach Instagram with a fresh mindset, and watch your business thrive.

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